Amber didn’t answer. Water dripped from somewhere and the sound echoed off the rocky walls. Other than that, complete silence reigned here. Was this what it sounded like in a grave or a crypt?
No sounds came from outside, either. That meant the police weren’t looking for her in the ruins. Yet. They must think she was making a run for it.
“Do ye want to hear a story while we wait?” Sìneag said.
A story? It was an odd thing to do while waiting to be captured by the police, but maybe it would keep Sìneag from asking any personal questions. And it might help Amber relax a little.
“Yes, please,” Amber said.
“Well, ye canna see it, but we’re sitting right by that ancient rock I mentioned.”
As she said that, something began glowing to Amber’s left, and she jerked away.
Sìneag laughed. “Aye, that’s it. Do ye see the carving glowing?”
Amber watched in disbelief as the glow grew stronger. It was a picture resembling a child’s drawing—a circle made of three waves and a thick line. Next to the lines was a handprint etched right into the rock.
“What the hell is that?” Amber said. “Why is it glowing?”
“Ye wilna believe me. None of ye mortals do at first. But ‘tis ancient Pictish magic. It opens a tunnel through time.”
Amber didn’t know whether to laugh or run? “A what?”
“A tunnel through time. Those who go through the tunnel, meet the person they’re destined to be with.”
The hell?
“And there’s someone for ye, too, Amber.”
Amber frowned. “How do you know my name?”
“If I told ye I’m a Highland faerie who loves matchmaking people, even if they’re separated by time, would ye believe me?”
This was sounding more and more ridiculous. “No.”
She laughed. “’Tis what I thought. But there is a man ye’re destined to be happy with, and he lives more than seven hundred years in the past.”
Feet pounded outside and neared the entrance. Cold crept down Amber’s spine.
Sìneag turned to her and took her hands. With the glow from the rock, Amber could distinguish her face. Sìneag’s eyes were wide and worried.
“Just remember, ye need to look for Owen Cambel.”
Someone was coming down the stairs. A man swore, something heavy fell, and more F-bombs followed.
“Go through the tunnel, Amber,” Sìneag insisted. “Either that, or prison.”
Go through a tunnel in time seven hundred years back? Someone was coming. Light from a flashlight moved across the wall.
“Don’t move!” a man called. “Police!”
Amber’s heart beat violently against her ribcage.
“Put yer hand in the print, and think of Owen,” Sìneag said.
A gun clicked. “I’m armed. Do not move.”
I must be crazy.
But this was it. Either she would be taken now, or she could try this one last thing. It was completely loony, but what could it hurt? Maybe it would open a revolving door or something that led into a secret room.
She turned and placed her palm in the handprint.
Owen, she thought, feeling foolish. Owen.
A vibration went through her, similar to the buzz of a hair clipper. Her hand fell through the rock like through empty air. Her body followed. She tumbled, headfirst, her body spinning. Her stomach flipped, bile rising. She waved her arms, trying to grab at something.
She screamed as she fell into darkness.
And then it consumed her.
Keep reading Highlander’s Love to return to the arms of desire today!
Also by Mariah Stone
Called by a Highlander series (time travel):
Sìneag (prequel) - grab for free
Highlander’s Captive
Highlander’s Hope
Highlander’s Heart
Highlander’s Love
Highlander’s Christmas (novella)
Highlander’s Desire (coming February 2021)Called by a Viking series (time travel):
One Night with a Viking (prequel)—grab for free!
The Fortress of Time
The Jewel of Time
The Marriage of Time
The Surf of Time
The Tree of TimeCalled by a Pirate series (time travel):
Pirate’s Treasure
Pirate’s PleasureA Christmas regency romance:
The Russian Prince’s Bride
Scottish slang
aye – yes
bairn - baby
bastart - bastard
bonnie - pretty, beautiful.
canna- can not
couldna – couldn’t
didna- didn't ("Ah didna do that!")
dinna- don't ("Dinna do that!")
doesna – doesn’t
fash - fuss, worry ("Dinna fash yerself.")
feck - fuck
hasna – has not
havna - have not
hadna – had not
innit? - Isn't it?
isna- Is not
ken - to know
kent - knew
lad - boy
lass - girl
marrit – married
nae – no or not
shite - faeces
the morn - tomorrow
the morn's morn - tomorrow morning
uisge-beatha (uisge for short) – Scottish Gaelic for water or life / aquavitae, the distilled drink, predecessor of whiskey
verra – very
wasna - was not
wee - small
wilna - will not
wouldna - would not
ye - you
yer – your (also yerself)
Acknowledgments
Highlander’s Heart is the labor of love. I had the idea for Ian already while writing the Viking series but had to set it aside as there seemed to be no story for his character that would have fit well. The idea for amnesia for Kate seemed exciting in the beginning, but I discovered that it’s not the easiest one to write well. Thank goodness for my editor Laura Barth who helped me made this story as amazing as I had envisioned it.
My proofreader, Laura LaTulipe, again did a fantastic and thorough job also with checking the timeline of the series which keeps getting more and more complex with each book.
My readers who make it possible for me to not live the life of a business consultant and spend my life in hotels and airports, but to do what I love and be with my family every day.
Thank you!
Mariah
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