When her eyes drifted shut, she could almost will herself into that spot in her mind where the dreams took over. So close to the place she wanted to be. The dream place where Colin waited. She’d be safe if she could only run fast enough to reach his arms. He’dcatch her up and hold her tight and none of this would hurt her anymore.
“Try again. Say the damn words out loud. There’ll be time enough for rest when you’ve got me back where I belong.”
Her head jarred back against the tree when he slapped her, and a fresh new wave of pain flowed through her body.
Twelve.
“Move away from her, Nuadian.”
Abby forced her eyes open, surprised that her dream place had come to her, but in a bizarre déjà vu sort of way. It was like reliving those moments in the glen.
Colin entered from the trees, just as he had that day, but this time he carried an enormous sword in front of him.
“The only place yer going is to hell, on the end of my sword.”
Just as he had before, Jonathan lifted his arm, aiming the gun he held at Colin.
This was wrong somehow. The words were different and she couldn’t play her part this time. There was no knife for her to use.
“Or will it be on my sword?” Across the clearing, Dair stepped from the trees. “I did promise you’d no seen the last of me.”
Jonathan’s head swiveled in his direction, his arm swinging to aim at the newcomer.
And then, just like in all her other dreams, everything happened at once.
Two shots cracked from the gun, one after another.
Colin’s sword flashed down toward Jonathan, the sun glinting off the blade as if wielded by some avenging warrior out of mythology. Both the gun and Jonathan’s hand fell to the forest floor, bouncing when they hit like a poorly inflated rubber ball.
The air reverberated with his screams until Colin’s blade flashed again. Then there was only silence, and her magnificent dream warrior was at her side, gathering her into his arms.
Forty
Colin?” Abby’s eyes fluttered open, dark and deep-set in her oddly pale face.
“I’m here, love,” he answered, just as he had all those other times she’d awakened on the ride back to MacQuarrie Keep.
When they entered the bailey, Leah waited at the head of the stairs, quickly taking charge and directing him to follow her to the nearest bedchamber.
“Leave us for a moment. Allow my maid and me to see what ails her. You can wait right outside the door if you like. It’ll only be a moment, I promise.”
“She’s strong. She’ll survive this.” Dair’s attempt to reassure fell short of its mark.
Colin nodded wordlessly, noting the look that passed between his brother and his friend. An unmistakable look of sorrow. Of pity. For him.
The bedchamber door opened, and Leah stepped into the hallway, pulling the door shut behind her before she spoke.
“I’m not liking what I’m seeing in there one little bit. At least two of her ribs are broken. She’s short of breath and there’s a wet, wheezing sound that’s really worrying me. I’m afraid the rib has punctured her lung.”
Colin felt as if he’d taken a tumble from a horse, falling, falling, waiting to hit the ground, knowing how bad it would hurt when the moment came.
“What can I do?”
He should have done something sooner. Should have insisted she go back to her own time. Should have gone with her if that’s what it took to get her to go. Instead, he’d dragged her deeper into danger and this is what it had gotten them: Abby lying in a bed behind that door, fighting for every breath like it was her last.
“Nothing. There’s nothing you can do.” Leah sighed, crossing her hands over her stomach. “But there is something I can do.”
“No!” Drew stepped between them, taking her by the shoulders. “I can’t allow you to put yerself through that, Leah.”