Read Online Highland Protector (MacCoinnich Time Travels Book Five) by Catherine Bybee - Free Book Online Page B

family.
Change the path of time as you know it.”
    “Change time?”
    Kincaid ran a hand through his hair.
“Yes. Some caught word of Grainna and want to stop her from ever being
destroyed. Others simply want your power to enhance their own. With only two of
you in this time…you’re vulnerable.”
    “Grainna is dead.”
    “But what if any part of her journey
to death was altered? I’m a warrior, Simon. I have fought by your ancestors’
sides my whole life. They haven’t known we were there, but we’ve stopped the
others from changing time more than once.”
    “You’ve been to MacCoinnich Keep?”
    “Many times. After your time and in
my own time.”
    “It’s still there now?”
    Kincaid wanted to laugh, but didn’t.
“Of course it’s still there. Cloaked and hidden from the eyes of many, but it’s
very much still standing.”
    Simon shook his head. “Then why
weren’t we sent there to live? Why here?”
    “That I don’t know.”
    Simon gripped the steering wheel hard.
“Now’s a good time to hide your thoughts. Amber doesn’t need to worry about
what’s going on in your head.”
    “And who will cloak your thoughts?”
    When Simon didn’t answer, Kincaid
knew he couldn’t, and that Amber would suffer the knowledge and worry of her
cousin.
    ****
    The soup Helen had brought Amber
earlier was now stone cold and untouched.
    Downstairs she felt Helen and Mrs.
Dawson’s pain. They knew it was nearly time for her to leave this world. Even
though Simon was far away, she felt him inside her, too. His anger rose with
the thought of her life washing away like a tide and removing all evidence of
her existence.
    Amber clutched the edges of the sink
in an effort to hold herself upright. In the mirror, a reflection stared back
at her. The dark circles under her eyes and distinctive cheekbones were a living
testament of her failing health. The heat billowing inside Amber’s head grew to
an impossible girth. Her fevered skin should have left her flushed. Instead,
she was sheet-white and appeared to have been drained of all her life-blood. In
the center of her chest, her heartbeat sped too fast, making her gasp for air.
Around her neck was a sacred stone centered in a necklace that could take her
back to her family. In a moment of weakness, she scraped a razor against her
finger and placed it on the stone. She didn’t want to die here. She wanted her
mother and father at her side.
    A lone tear fell as she placed her
bleeding finger on her necklace and closed her eyes. Maybe she wouldn’t make
the trip. At least she’d know her parents could place her next to her ancestors
and mourn her properly.
    They would survive. They always did.
    A shuddering breath left her burning
lungs and she began her chant. “In this day and in this hour…”
    Light glazed the back of her eyes and
the bathroom started to spin.
    Her last thought before her body hit
the floor was, ’Tis over.
    ****
    At least there’s a gate around the
main house. Kincaid
couldn’t believe the lack of security for the Manor. He felt no magical wards
protecting the house, the property. How can this be?
    Simon pressed a button and killed the
engine.
    Kincaid stepped from the car and
stared up at the familiar fortress. The landscape had changed, and the house
itself wasn’t as large as in his time. Yet it still felt like home.
    The front door of the home hit the
wall and a petite woman ran down the stairs, ignoring him, and franticly
screamed at Simon.
    Tears ran down her face as Simon
caught her. “What is it, lass?”
    “It’s Amber. She collapsed. I can’t
wake her, Simon…I can’t wake her.”
    Simon ran toward the house, Kincaid
followed. His stomach turned stone-cold. Were they too late? The walls of the
home shot past him as he took the stairs three at a time, keeping pace with
MacCoinnich. They spiraled up, turned down a hall, and ended up at his bedroom
door. Or it was his bedroom in the future.
    Simon skidded to a halt and