Time and Space (3 page)

Cadence could feel a buzz in the great hall during dinner. Everyone was talking about Carter’s return and still celebrating the birth of Cardinn, Fionn’s son and heir. She was hoping to meet the little boy as soon as Fionn and Carter managed to make it out of bed. So far, no one had seen the happy couple since they returned from 2015.

“Ah, there you are, Cadence. How was your time in the kitchens?” Donnall was standing at her elbow, an eager look in his golden eyes.

She had to keep reminding herself Donnall thought of her as a lady, accorded the same treatment and rights as Fianna. He thought it was an outrage a woman of her “class” would volunteer to work in the kitchens. It wasn’t his fault he felt this way, he was a product of his times. “It was wonderful. So many things have changed as time marched on, but baking bread isn’t one of them.”

“I am glad you enjoyed yourself. The bread served at dinner was very tasty. Will you excuse me for a moment?”

Cadence nodded and Donnall headed off, slapping the shoulders of a couple of warriors as he passed them and stopped to talk.

“Good eve, Cadence, daughter of Brigid.”

Cadence turned around to see a beautiful raven-haired woman standing at her elbow. She was dressed in royal purple with her hair loose and spilling down her back in waves.  “Hello, you must be Islynn.”

A magnificent smile lit her face. “Indeed I am. It is my happy pleasure to welcome you home.”

Home?
Cadence remembered her brother mentioning Islynn having the sight and also claimed to have been her foster-sister Bree’s lover in past lives. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you. Carter told me all about you but failed to mention how beautiful you are.”

A rosy blush bloomed across her pale skin. “Thank you for your kind words.  I am surprised Carter took any notice of me, he was far too enamored with Fionn.”

“I believe it. I don’t think he and Fionn have left their room all day.” She couldn’t blame him. She’d spend all day in bed too if she had a lover who looked at her the way Fionn looked at Carter.

“They have much time to make up for. Have you found the time and space your broken heart seeks?”

Cadence was taken aback. Had Carter told the healer about her ex-fiancé getting arrested the morning of their wedding?

“You carry your heartbreak in the stooped set of your shoulders, as if you do not wish to catch anyone’s attention.”

It was as if Islynn were reading her mind. Straightening her shoulders, she stood a bit taller, thankful for her new friend’s insight.  “It’s getting better every day. Until you mentioned it, I hadn’t thought of him all day.”

“Our handsome Donnall has been foremost in your thoughts.” It was a statement, not a question.

It was Cadence’s turn to blush. “Is it that obvious?”

Islynn took Cadence’s arm and led her away from the noisy crowd in the great hall and toward a private alcove. “It is nice to see you have found each other.”

Raising an eyebrow in challenge, Cadence leaned in closer. “Was I supposed to find him?”

“I cannot say.” Islynn’s giggle was musical.

“I know what that means,” Cadence laughed along.  “It means you won’t say.”

“If you had known how it would end with Liam, would you have still gone for iced cream on your first date?”

She supposed it was possible Carter had told the healer about Liam, but there was no way she could have known they’d gone out for ice cream cones at Castle Island in South Boston on their first date. “Yes. If only so Carter would have come to Ireland with me. If not for Liam, Carter and Fionn never would have met.”

“You learned what you needed from Liam and now you are free to move on to whatever is to come next.” Islynn reached for Cadence’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

“The pain was worth it to see my brother so well loved.” She wouldn’t trade what Carter found with Fionn for anything.

“It may be worth it for you as well, Cadence. Time tells.”

Not wanting to think about the role Donnall would play in her future, she hurried to change the subject. “Carter told me about your relationship with Bree.” The idea of Islynn knowing Bree from past lives had rocked her Catholic faith, but now that she’d had some time to consider things, the idea had grown on her.

Islynn raised an eyebrow. “Do you believe in past lives?”

“If you asked me two weeks ago, my answer would have been no, but after time-travelling five hundred plus years into the past…” Pausing, Cadence grinned at Islynn. “Let’s just say my mind is open to many things.”

“Ah, I believe I see one of those
things
approaching.” Islynn tilted her chin to the left and started to laugh.

Cadence joined in when she saw Donnall walking toward them, a devilish grin on his face.

“I have a ton of pictures of Bree on my phone. Let’s get together soon. I’d love to share them with you and hear about your adventures together through time.”

“I would like that as well. Why don’t you come to tea one afternoon?”

“Good eve, Islynn.” He bowed over her hand before winking at Cadence.

“Hello Donnall.”

“May I steal your charming companion?”

“Of course you may. Make sure she’s early to bed. We don’t want her falling asleep over the bread.”

Donnall rolled his eyes and offered Cadence his arm. “I will make sure she’s abed soon enough.”

The all-too familiar tingle of attraction pulsed through her body when she took Donnall’s arm. The heat of his body sank into her hand. Annoyingly, it felt good touching him and she was in no hurry to let him go. Not that she’d admit that, not even under penalty of torture.  “Where are you taking me?” There was so much of the castle and grounds she had not yet seen.

Donnall’s eyes glowed golden in the torchlight as they walked down a deserted corridor. “It is a surprise, my beauty. Rest assured your virtue is safe with me.”

Cadence bit her bottom lip, not wanting to ruin Donnall’s surprise by telling him she lost her virtue four years ago. “I know I’m safe with you.”

“Even though you call me an irritating barbarian?” His voice was warm and deep, causing the roosting butterflies in her stomach to take wing.

Not able to help herself, Cadence burst out laughing.

Her laugh was the most lyrical sound Donnall had ever heard. He would have to make sure the fiery lass laughed often. He would never tire of that sound.  “Why do you laugh?”

“I was thinking about the misunderstandings you mentioned between Carter and Fionn. Being men, they wouldn’t have the same misunderstandings that we would have.”

“How so?”

“I call you a barbarian because you don’t know how far women’s rights have come in the last half-millennium. Some of the things you say and do are old-fashioned to me.”

“Are the old ways of courtship offensive to you, lass?” Donnall had no idea how men treated women in Cadence’s time, but she had a point, some of the fights Carter and Fionn had seemed to be born of the differences between generations.

“No, they’re not offensive, just different.”

“Do you trust me?”

Cadence nodded without hesitation. “I do.”

“Close your eyes for me and no peeking.” When she obeyed, he scooped her up in his arms, laughing when she squeaked in surprise. “Remember, eyes closed. I don’t want you spoiling the surprise.”

Cadence giggled and cuddled closer. “My eyes are shut.”

No matter how old he was, this place would always be magical to him and he hoped Cadence would be similarly affected. “I’m going to set you down, but keep your eyes closed.”

“Okay.”

Donnall shivered when the ghost of Cadence’s breath brushed across his face. It took all the willpower he had not to be the barbarian she thought he was by kissing her. Here, under the light of the full moon, Cadence was nearly irresistible. Its pearlescent glow brought out the red in her hair, while her dewy, full lips beckoned to him like the sirens of old. The final straw was his cock stirring to life.  “Down we go.” He set her on her feet before she could feel his arousal for herself.

“Can I open my eyes yet?”

Donnall placed his hands on her shoulders, moving her a bit to the right, so the light of the full moon was behind them. The moon was spectacular, but not the main attraction this night. “Now, my beauty.”

Cadence opened her eyes to see they were standing on top of Fairy Hill. She blinked a few times to get her eyes adjusted to the bright moonlight. Back in Boston the moon never shone this bright. It was always washed out by the lights of the city.  She twisted around to see an expectant smile on Donnall’s face.  “The moon is behind us.”

“Trust me.” Placing two fingers against her cheek, he urged her to face forward again.

His fingers were hot and rough against her face. Once she had turned back around he removed his fingers, much to her disappointment and annoyance. What was it he wanted her to see?  “Oh!” Cadence gasped, when the air began to light up all around them. Bright flashes of neon green light dipped and swirled all over the hill.

“Do you see them, lass?”

“Fairies!” she gasped breathlessly.

“’Tis how the hill was named.” Hesitating for a moment, he reached out for Cadence’s hips and pulled her back against him, leaving his hands on her slim waist.

“Donnall, this is incredible. They’re everywhere.” She turned to smile at him, catching the awed look in his eyes.

“Do you know the legend of Fairy Hill?”

“Only that the hill is named for the fireflies the locals fancied were fairies.”

Knowing the truth behind the legend made it seem less magical. Donnall smiled when the cool autumn wind sent Cadence’s silky hair brushing against his face. “In case you have failed to notice, you are a local now.”

Even with her back to him, Cadence could hear the amusement in his voice and knew if she turned around Donnall would be wearing a devilish smile made even more devastating by the light of the full moon. Fighting her attraction to the barbarian wasn’t getting any easier especially now that Islynn mentioned how good it was that she and Donnall had finally met each other.  Cadence shivered knowing Islynn wasn’t telling her all she knew about her future and what role Donnall would play in it.

“Let me warm you, my beauty.” Donnall pulled her closer and held on tight. “The idea of fairies dancing under the light of the full moon is certainly more magical that the truth of knowing we’re standing in a swarm of bugs. Legend has it your true love would be revealed on a night when the fairies dance under the light of the full moon.”

Was Donnall looking for true love? More to the point, was she? Thoughts of Liam’s betrayal were pushed from her mind when Donnall brushed her mass of strawberry-blond hair over her right shoulder and leaned closer to her ear. Being this close to him certainly was warming her up. If he got much closer she might burst into flames. She could feel his beard prickling against her sensitive skin and couldn’t help shivering in his arms.

She struggled to pull herself together rather than turning and kissing Donnall’s lips off. “Well, the fairies are dancing in the moonlight, what’s next?” She shouldn’t be asking at all. She should be pushing out of his arms and running for the castle as fast as her legs would carry her.

“We need to dance around a fairy ring and kiss.”

Cadence snorted. “I knew kissing would be involved somewhere.” Donnall had set her down in front of a large fairy ring. The mushrooms seemed almost luminescent in the silvery light of the moon. While her mind cautioned her to run, her body had something else in mind. Warmth pooled in her belly and spiraled down to her damp core.  “What happens after the kiss?”

“Well, it’s said if two people are fated to be the first kiss will lead to a second…”

“And a third?”

“Exactly, lass. What say you? Should we give it a go?”

No. They absolutely should not give it a go. Cadence turned in Donnall’s arms, one eyebrow raised skeptically. “Is this a real legend or one you just made up?”

“Only one way to find out,” Donnall teased. The moon was casting a silvery glow over Cadence making her ginger hair glow like fire. If he weren’t careful, he’d be the one getting burned. What was he doing out here with Cadence, telling her the legend of the fairies? He should be with the men back in the great hall, drinking ale and telling exaggerated stories about battle scars and women they fucked. Instead, he was here on Fairy Hill with Carter’s opinionated sister, who if he were honest with himself, was the most beautiful woman he had ever known.

“Show me the dance steps.”

Cadence startled him back to the present. Her smile gleamed in the moonlight while her eyes danced with daring. The excitement in her voice was like a lightning bolt to his cock. Moving slowly, so as not to arouse suspicion, he swiveled his pelvis away from Cadence. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to touch her, but more that he didn’t want to ruin the magic of the night with his rampant erection.

“Take my hand.” He offered his large, battle scarred hand. How small her dainty hand would look in his own if she took him up on his offer.