Highland Blood (The Celtic Blood Series Book 2) Read online

  “Of course,” Madelaine said, nodding.

  A tear rolled down my cheek. I was trying to be strong, trying to do the right thing, but my heart hurt. After Duncan’s violation, I never thought I’d be able to love my children. Now, I loved them more than anything. My heart felt so heavy.

  The following morning, I dressed for riding then sat alone with Crearwy for the longest time.

  “Don’t forget me,” I told the little baby.

  I prayed that she would not begrudge me for what I had to do. The tiny baby looked at me with barely open eyes. My heart broke. I bade myself remember the Crone’s words. But when I looked at her, all seemed lost. She was a part of me. How could I ever leave her behind? I panicked. I wanted the baby. I thought about Lulach and how hard it would be for him without his sister. I thought of a million excuses to take Crearwy with me. But in the end, I knew what I had to do.

  When I could take no more, I kissed the baby and opened the door.

  Epona, Sid, and May came back inside. I handed Crearwy to Epona.

  “I’ll watch over her,” Sid told me. “As will Nadia. We’ll always watch over her. You have my word.”

  “Thank you, old friend,” I said, squeezing her hand. It was then I made a promise to myself that when I returned to Cawdor, I would find Eochaid and keep him close to me.

  Epona fixed her eyes on me. “This sacrifice is not in vain.”

  I nodded. “I know.”

  “Cerridwen,” May said, embracing me. “I’ll love her with my whole heart. I promise you.”

  I nodded then went outside. Madelaine and Uald were waiting.

  In tears, I mounted Kelpie.

  “Be safe. Be well,” Uald told me.

  “You too,” I replied.

  I looked back once more. Sid stood in the doorway of her house. Behind her, I saw May holding Crearwy, Epona hovering nearby. They were both smiling.

  Sid raised her hand and waved farewell.

  I turned and rode from the coven with Lulach hidden under layers of clothes. Madelaine wept as I tried to freeze my heart. I couldn’t allow myself to feel. I couldn’t allow myself to process the loss of my child. So much uncertainty was headed my way, and I needed to be strong for Lulach.

  It seemed like it took forever before we met Tavis.

  “But one child lived,” I heard Madelaine tell Tavis. It surprised me to know she would lie, even to him, to protect Crearwy. But she did.

  “My boy,” I told Tavis who kissed the sleeping babe on his forehead.

  “Handsome little lad. I…I’m sorry about the other child. Do you think the journey from Moray...”

  “No,” I said, not wanting Tavis to take on any guilt for nothing more than a lie. “It was just not meant to be.”

  Tavis nodded. “All the same, I am so sorry. Let me get ready so we can leave at once,” he told me, moving quickly to break down his camp. How loyal he’d always been to Madelaine and me. True love and loyalty were hard to come by. With Banquo, I’d had love. With Gillacoemgain, the relationship had started as loyalty but had blossomed into more. I clutched Lulach tightly, squinted my eyes hard, and prayed my vision had been false. I prayed that Gillacoemgain was alive. I thought of how he would feel, how proud he would be, when he saw Lulach. The image filled my heart with endless joy…and sorrow.

  We rode off, leaving the coven, and my daughter, behind us. My heart ached. It was too much. I tried to close myself from my emotions as nagging pain started to creep across my head. My body, fresh from childbirth, hurt. I was exhausted. My heart broke for Crearwy, and there was an ache in my chest for Gillacoemgain. My hands started to shake. A sharp pain shot from temple to temple. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to stop thinking, stop feeling, and ride ahead toward an uncertain future.

  Chapter 26

  It was dusk when we arrived at Madelaine’s keep. The snow was falling lightly. The sky was bathed in a deep red color as the sun set. The castle was a black silhouette against the early evening skyline. I could see the glowing blobs of torchlight moving inside the castle. Outside, however, it was eerily silent. All the hairs on the back of my neck rose as we passed through the castle gate.

  “See what the matter is,” Madelaine whispered to Tavis as we dismounted.

  Hurrying, Tavis headed into the castle. Wordlessly, one of the stable boys took the horses. A few moments later, Tavis and Ute came outside. Ute held a torch above her head. The flame made a patchwork of orange light and black shadows dance across her face, but I could see her eyes were red and puffy from crying.

  “Oh, My Lady, thank goodness you have returned,” she said.

  “What has happened? Why is everyone so quiet?” Madelaine asked.

  “My Lady,” Ute said, turning to me as she fought back tears, “word has come that,” she paused, cleared her throat, and then said, “that Gillacoemgain and fifty of his men were burned to death in a fire. Lord Macbeth and Lord Thorfinn have won the war. We’ve had word that Duncan is racing from the south and Macbeth from the north to lay claim to you.”

  Madelaine gasped.

  My body shook.

  It was true.

  He was gone.

  “Ute, dress in your riding clothes,” I said.

  “My Lady?”

  “We ride north…for Macbeth.”

  Thank you

  I hope you enjoyed Highland Blood; The Celtic Blood Series, Book 2

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  Acknowledgements

  With many thanks to Becky Stephens, Naomi Clewett, Lindsay Galloway, Cynthia Twohy, Nadege Richards, the Airship Stargazer Ground Crew, the Blazing Indie Collective, and my beloved family.

  About the Author

  Melanie Karsak is the author of the bestselling series The Airship Racing Chronicles, The Harvesting Series, the Celtic Blood series, and numerous other works. She grew up in rural northwestern Pennsylvania and earned a Master's degree in English from Gannon University. A steampunk connoisseur, Shakespeare nerd, white elephant collector, and zombie whisperer, the author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. She is an Instructor of English at Eastern Florida State College.

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