They still died.
My hand reached for his and even though he couldn’t know the dark thoughts I contained, the miserable future we were living out in the past, his fingers wound into mine and gave a firm squeeze.
More than love…
“Show me the soldiers, maybe they will help me remember?”
“Remember what?” Phil’s expression was etched with remorse and she smiled at me hopefully.
I grabbed her with my free hand and tugged her into my side. “It’s okay. I know it’s nuts.”
“Hey, I’m all about the crazy, you know that.”
“Better get on board the crazy train, my friend.”
She grinned, letting out a deep sigh. “Boarding the train in three, two, one.”
“Come on, show me the soldiers.”
“I’m doing better than that. I was speaking to the cooks. There is an old lady who lives in the village. She thinks she’s a witch.”
My heart boomed in my chest. Now wasn’t the time to tell Phil if she wanted to be on my crazy train she’d have to accept the fact magic was real, and that I was a witch of some kind too.
“Then let’s go break some rules and go find her.”
Tristan’s fingers squeezed mine. “I think you’ve broken all the rules.”
I smiled at him, my blood warming again. More than love. “I’m a rule breaking Yank.” And a Druid priestess. And… who the hell knew what.
We were passing out the dorm and I glanced back. This was the place everything changed. As I walked through I held myself straighter. It was time to find out who I was.
“I called Mum and Dad,” Phil pulled me from my thoughts as the three of us trailed through the dark hallways. “They are coming back.”
“What did you do that for?” I glanced at her.
“Mae, they’ve spent all their lives trying to find out what happened to this land. I couldn’t not.”
I shrugged. “I guess.”
My eyes met Tristan’s and we watched one another in the dim light. The past was the past. We may have ended our previous lives on those stones together, but this was our life now. And I wanted to know him, every part of him. The future, no matter how this turned out, was our chance to do just that.
We’d found one another again, and I had to believe it was for a reason. Fate, serendipity, whatever it was called.
“Let’s go.”
17
“Philomena Potts!” We turned, caught in the act of sneaking out the arched doorway. Mrs Barlow, the Romeo and Juliet fanatic was coming from the office.
“Just going for some fresh air.” Phil hooked her hand through my elbow.
Mrs Barlow gave that wan smile all teachers specialise in when they are having trouble remembering who you are and don’t really care because whatever they say goes. “Your friends can go get fresh air,” she said, reinforcing my perception she didn’t know who Tristan and I were. My gaze peeked at Tristan. She must be damn blind to not know who he was. As far as I could tell there wasn’t a single person in the student body who looked quite like he did. Mrs Barlow fiddled with the pencil securing her greying bun. “Your parents have just called, Philomena, they’re on their way from the airport.” Sharp eyes travelled over Phil’s dishevelled appearance. “I suggest you tidy up. We wouldn’t want your parents thinking we don’t take care of you, now, would we?”
“Heaven forbid.” Phil’s lips turned down at the edges and Mrs Barlow waddled off, her round backside swaying. “This isn’t fair, why have they come so quick?”
I rolled my eyes and caught Tristan smirking. “Because you called them and told them you’d found ancient standing stones and an army made from the earth.” As we’d walked the corridors, Tristan had filled me in on the rare and perfectly formed soldiers. I was torn between finding the village crazy who believed she was a witch, or seeing the soldiers.
“Still what did they do? Jump on the first flight they could get?”
I smiled at my friend and gave her an unexpected hug. She stiffened under my touch before relaxing and squeezing me back. “We won’t do anything without you, I promise.”
She was still pouting but turned back in the direction of the girl’s wing. “Hey,” she called back as she was about to push through the fire door.
“Yep?”
“No birthday kissing!” She grinned, and I blushed with the heat of the sun. I should have known she’d find out from my files. She probably knew my shoe size too.
Tristan’s lips quirked at the edges, his dark gaze focused on my face. Thanks to Phil, all I could do now was stare at them and think about kissing.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” My eyes still focused on Tristan’s lips. They smiled further until the cutest little dimple dipped in his cheek.
I closed my eyes, trying to access my memories. Had he always had a dimple? When I opened them, he was watching me with a dark, cryptic gaze.
“I’m glad you’re here with me now.” The words blurted from my mouth, but once they were out there I was relieved I’d said them. It was the truth. We may be strangers in this life, but I knew him deep down within me.
“I’m glad I don’t want to kill you anymore.”
“Me too.” We watched one another for a moment. “Mrs Cox told me some stuff.” I took a shuddering breath.
“Mrs Cox? She’s a harpy of hell if ever there was one.”
I grinned. “You know her—or at least you did. Heather?”
Tristan’s burning coal eyes widened. “Wow, I didn’t see that coming.”
I shrugged. I didn’t see any of this coming. “I can’t believe this is real. It’s all crazy, right?”
His fingers tangled with mine and he tugged me closer until his warm breath tickled the skin of my face. “Insane, Mae, but I know what I know, and I know you.”
“Apparently, I hold the magic of the old ways.” I shuddered another uneven
