Amber remembered the final battle with Grainna, how each of them was needed to fight against her in order to win.

“There are other times, when the knights of this Keep are outnumbered and would have been overthrown if not for our intervention.”

“Wait! Are you saying you’ve fought in this very hall to protect the stones?”

Gavin nodded. “Yes. Many times.” As if to make his point, he stood and walked to the hearth and ran a hand over its massive stone mantel. When he reached the third stone on the end, he placed his palm over it and watched it turn. Inside, a sacred stone lay alone.

“One of the original stones?” Gavin directed his question to Ian.

Her father said nothing, but she noted the flare of his nostrils and the rigid set of his shoulders.

“’Tis but a rock.”

Gavin lifted the sacred stone she knew was anything but a rock and grinned. He moved the stone closer to his arm and the Celtic marking on his arm appeared to glow. “More than a rock. But I understand your need to protect it.” Gavin returned the stone and closed the strange door.

“I have served this family, our cause, since I knew of your existence. I am but one of your knights, Laird Ian, sworn to protect this family and all the secrets you hold.”

Amber’s gaze shifted from her father to her husband and she held her breath.

“How is it you came to know my daughter? Did someone in your future tell you to find her?”

Gavin settled his eyes on her. A soft smile met his lips. “I noticed her portrait hanging in the stairway of this hall. It captured my attention because I’d never seen it before.” And because of your beauty.

Amber smiled.

“I asked Giles to search for the name behind the picture. After that a series of events brought me to your daughter’s side.”

“If your one purpose is to protect this family then how is it you didn’t know Amber on sight?”

Gavin turned to her family. “I have seen every one of your pictures. Portraits that even in my time are preserved in this Keep. But not Amber’s. The books say very little of her. Giles and I thought perhaps she’d passed away as a child. Obviously that isn’t the case.”

“You should tell them what Giles learned right before we came here,” Amber said.

The prophesy?

Aye.

Kincaid shook his head but launched into the driving force behind Amber’s speedy retreat home. “Giles found out that Grainna had a child. And that the powerful child was thrown away by her at birth. Throughout time, each offspring has only one child, only to give the baby up. A mother giving away a son, a father giving away a daughter. It’s repeated, making it difficult to follow the child’s ancestry.” The mention of Grainna’s name brought every eye in the room on him.

“Go on.” Ian’s strong voice ordered him to continue.

“The passage Giles believes pertained to Amber and myself said this: Only when the powerful one bonds and completes their union with one of equal gift, will the cycle be broken…and then the gifts of the forefathers and mothers will come together. This bond will come from two opposing families…enemies. A crossroad will follow where the path of good or evil will be chosen. Power, in this time, will mean everything, and the path of right will have been nearly forgotten. From this day forward, the path will not be recorded to protect and preserve the future.”

Amber noticed the sobering expressions of her parents.

“I have no proof I am or am not, a descendent of Grainna. However, I do know when attempting to record our marriage and our bond in the books we leave for the future, those recordings do not keep.”

“You mean the writing disappears?” Lizzy asked.

“Nearly as fast as it’s written. Which then leaves only word of mouth, but it seems even that doesn’t stand in time.”

“What of this crossroads?”

Gavin shrugged. “I have no idea. Amber and I bonded less than a week ago. I know she worried about not seeing any of you again, and I have concerns about where and, more importantly, when we are meant to live our lives. Those are the only crossroads I can see.” He turned to Amber. “Do you feel anything looming?”

“Only the approval of my father and my mother. I too wonder where it is we will live. It seems a fortress needs to be made of Mrs. Dawson’s home and with only Simon and Helen there to do the task—”

“Oh, Amber, this is not a crossroads.” Lora, who had remained silent, spoke now commanding the attention of everyone in the room. “You are not meant to live in this time. That I know. Your time will be in the future, that I felt when I saw your knight saving you. When in the future I cannot say, but I do know your time here with us is limited.”

Amber’s heart sank in her chest.

You didn’t want to hear that.

Amber looked at her husband. They are my family.

“I’m sorry, m’dear. I too wish it were different. Perhaps I will have another premonition giving me more details of our future.”

“Maybe the passage has nothing to do with you. You’re obviously bonded, the union complete. Do either of you feel the weight of new gifts inside of you?” Myra asked.

“I feel Gavin’s shield. The strength of it increases every day. My gift is difficult to reach.”

“Or you fear its return,” Gavin said.

“Aye. I do fear the pain.”

“Amber’s gift hovers over me. I felt your fear when I arrived, sensed your distress about our union, and experienced your joy that Amber will survive what once was killing her. As for multiple gifts? There’s nothing I didn’t have before.”

“Perhaps the passage isn’t about us after all,” Amber whispered.

“Or your union isn’t complete,” Tara’s small voice said from the back of the room.

Gavin reached for Amber’s hand and weaved her fingers together with his. “I assure you, we are bonded. Before we spoke the vows I couldn’t let Amber go without her gift crippling her.”

Amber nodded her agreement. Tara was mistaken, which must mean the passage didn’t apply to them.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Selma and Jake held the girls long after their tears had dried up, and their swollen eyes finally closed in sleep.

Jake was reluctant at first, but he decided Mrs. Dawson’s was the best place for all of them while the police feverishly attempted to find his ex-wife’s killer.

He eased off one side of the bed while Selma did the same on the other. The girls snuggled closely together in their sleep.