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DUMBFOUNDED, he stopped breathing when he heard the unthinkable. What wasn’t supposed to happen ever again.
“It’s a heartbeat,” Madison murmured. She placed her hand over her womb and looked at him with teary eyes. “A dragon heartbeat.” She shook her head, confused, but overjoyed at the same time. “How is this possible?”
He shook his head, putting his hand over hers, awe-struck by the tiny sound.
“’Tis possible because verra clever dragons have been at work without you knowing,” Grant said softly, smiling at them. “Not just yours, Madison, but Cray’s and your wee one, Ceann.”
“Ceann?” they exclaimed at the same time.
“Aye.” Adlin beamed. “He’s a fast learner too!”
When they looked at Adlin in confusion, he and Grant explained the well-executed plan that ultimately brought their family back together.
“Ceann’s been a ghostie for some time,” Grant revealed. “He tried to return to you via Maeve, but sadly, we know how that turned out.”
“He didnae give up, though, and it paid off when Madison came along,” Adlin continued, grinning. “You cannae imagine how excited he was to find you, lass. To have you and his da back together against all the odds.”
“I can only imagine,” Madison replied hoarsely, a tear spilling over. “I wish I’d known he was there sooner.”
“Aye.” Adlin shook his head. “But nay, ‘twas best you didnae, and he knew that.”
“Whilst your dragons couldnae see him either, they sensed him,” Grant went on. “’Tis verra likely why Cray’s dragon kept appearing as a ghost around him.” He shrugged. “In a sense, he was drawn to his son’s spirit, astral-projecting so he could be subconsciously closer without even realizing it.” He looked between them. “Anyway, Madison’s dragon went into heat the moment she connected with Cray’s across time, so everything was aligned to bring wee Ceann back.”
“Your dragon did well keeping her state of fertility hidden, Madison,” Adlin said, impressed. “As much as she could from Cray anyway.” He chuckled. “His dragon knew all along but kept it to himself lest the brotherhood caught wind of it.”
“So ‘twas really just a matter of time,” Grant added.
“Which,” Adlin noted, rocking back on his heels. “Was really quite important.”
“Indeed,” Grant agreed. “For ‘twas best Ceann remained a ghost for as long as possible to stay off the brotherhood’s radar then make his way to a heartbeat at just the right time.”
Madison and Cray looked at each other baffled.
“I don’t understand.” Madison shook her head. “If I’ve been pregnant since the last time we made love, how was Ceann just at the Stonehenge? Moreover, I thought he had to sacrifice himself so that we could have more children?”
“Aye, ‘twas quite the ruse.” Grant chuckled. “And where Adlin came in.”
“Not just a ruse but a bloody good feat.” Adlin’s eyes rounded. “For your wee lad learned how to astral-project in record time.”
When Madison and Cray continued to look mystified, Adlin elaborated.
“Your wee lad’s heart has been beating for some time now,” Adlin divulged. “But by the grace of God, and likely practice hiding from you two when a ghost, he hid it from you at first. Rather he used it to lure the monsters who once lured his parents. Then and only then, did he astral-project from the womb into the form he once possessed.” He chuckled, informing them that such allowed Adlin himself to astral-project without Grant around. “Your bairn will be verra powerful in his time.”
“Indeed, he will,” Grant agreed. “For he tricked the brotherhood well, thinking they ever had a chance of consuming his wee spirit.”
“An impossible feat,” Adlin added. “Considering he was already safely nestled in Madison’s womb.”
“Och,” Cray exclaimed, full of pride as he looked at Madison. “This one will be jumping off the tallest MacLeod Castle turret to be sure!”
“To be discussed at a later date,” she countered, clearly never so happy before her expression faltered, and she looked at Grant. “Does this mean...”
“Aye, I’m afraid so, lass,” he replied softly. “Wee Ceann will be your only dragon.”
“Protecting well his numerous siblings,” Cray whispered in her ear, offering her comfort. “We can repopulate the planet just as readily with wee humans that will likely be witches and wizards.”
“Very true,” she murmured, wiping away a tear.
Shortly after that, Grant and Adlin poofed away, and they said their goodbyes to friends and family. Aidan and Chloe would return to Hamilton Castle for a time so Chloe could rest. Tiernan and Julie would return to King David to keep an eye on him until Ethyn returned with whatever Broun was meant for him. Marek, with strict orders to deliver the Viking sword to Ethyn, had strode off into the woodland, determined to find a way to New Hampshire.
After everyone left, Cray wasted no time ensuring a future he had waited a lifetime for.
He started by cupping Madison’s cheeks and saying no truer words. “You know how much I love you, right, mate?” He brushed his lips across hers. “My wee dragon?”
“I sensed it,” she murmured. “But it’s nice to hear.” The corner of her lip curled up. “And you know how much I love you, too, right?”
“Aye,” he said gruffly, sweeping her up in his arms, done with asking and back to ordering. “You will marry me then.”
“Well, aren’t you dashing?” Yet he didn’t miss the flare of desire in her eyes as their ley-line swept them back to MacLeod Castle. “Maybe if you asked properly.”
“Och, nay,” he teased but realized that was precisely what he would do.
This was far too important.
She was far too important.
So he lowered her to her feet, well aware his kin had appeared on the drawbridge as he sank to a knee. First, he checked to make sure her Claddagh ring with its brightly shining stone was centered. Then he looked up at her with his heart in his eyes and said something he never thought he would with any woman. “Will ye marry me, mo anam cara?”
“Yes,” she said softly, tears in her eyes. “I’ll marry you now, the next life, then all the ones after that.”
So it was that they married that night, eager to start their life together.
The enemy was not defeated yet, but it was only a matter of time. They were drawing closer to an ultimate destruction that the MacLeod’s were determined to be at the center of. So said a Scot’s resolve when faced with losing everything that mattered most.
Scotland would be saved as would their magic.
After all, as they had proven time and time again, there was nothing they would not do for king and country.
More than that, there was nothing they would not do for family.
