“I couldn’t do that,” Tavis said.
“You bloody fool.” Faelan hit him on the shoulder, but Tavis knew it was really a hug. “I wish you hadn’t come, for your sake. But for mine, I’m glad you did. I thought I’d lost everyone.”
“I wondered if I’d ever see you again. I thought you might be dead. We all did. Druan’s sorcerer said he thought you were alive.”
“It was a smart thing you did, killing Druan’s sorcerer.”
“Do you know who he was? Old Donnal.”
“From the apothecary shop?”
“Aye. His real name was Selwyn. He was working on Druan’s virus there. And Druan had Selwyn following another demon who was there to kill a warrior. Selwyn couldn’t remember the demon’s name but said it started with an L. That was when Liam died.”
“The demon came to kill Liam?”
“Aye. Da wasn’t the reason Liam died.”
“I thought he grabbed him because he was the easiest target, the youngest of Da’s boys. Did you tell Da?”
“He was dead when we got back to Frederick and Isabel’s. I wish I could have told him. That would have been one less guilt to carry to his grave.”
“I’ve thought about the demon often,” Faelan said. “I think I should know him, but I can’t place his face.”
“I can’t either. I can see him, but I can’t. It was a demon who helped us find the sorcerer.”
“A demon? The clan still tells the story, but no one mentioned it being a demon.”
“Ian wouldn’t have told. We don’t know who it was, and who would have believed it anyway?”
“You don’t know him?”
“Neither of us could remember his face. It was like he stole our memories.” Tavis frowned. “Just like in the fortress.”
“I don’t know how Ian did what he did.”
Tavis could still see the tears running down Ian’s face as the lid closed. “I near had to knock him over the head to get him to see that it had to be me. He had the mark for Bessie.”
“That soon?”
“He was hiding it. I didn’t have anyone, so it had to be me.” Tavis thought about Marna, her plain face that looked pretty when she laughed. “I hope he was happy.”
“He didn’t live long,” Faelan said. “He died three years after Da.”
“No.” Tavis’s throat tightened. He’d hoped Ian lived a long life and had lots of sons and daughters. “How?”
“Druan killed him. Unless he lied about that too. But he showed me Ian’s casket just before I destroyed him. He put his hand on my head, and I saw it all. Ma and Ian’s son mourning.”
“He had a son?”
“Three. His wife was expecting twins when Ian died. I saw their graves.”
“Bloody demon. I thought Ian would live a good long life. What about Ma and Alana?”
“Ma died when she was fifty-three. Alana lived a long time, had lots of bairns,” Faelan said. “But we can’t focus on what we’ve lost now. We have to focus on keeping you alive. On the clan’s safety. Are you sure it was Tristol and Voltar?”
“I’m sure. I didn’t recognize Tristol at the fortress, but as soon as I saw Voltar, my memories came back.”
“You shouldn’t have attacked him. You could have been killed.”
“Voltar’s my demon. Michael assigned him to me right after Ian and I found Da dead.”
“An ancient demon?” Faelan ran a hand over his face. Then he frowned. “But if Michael assigned him to you, then…”
“I walked away from the assignment.”
“Shite.”
“Family comes first. I’d sworn to myself that I would help you get rid of Druan.”
“I can’t believe you ignored Michael’s order. And an ancient demon, no less. You can’t fight him now. You’re weak still.”
“I’m not even sure he’s still mine.”
“Maybe he’s been reassigned,” Faelan said. “But I haven’t heard, and I think news like that would travel.” He frowned. “Druan was still mine, even after all that time.”
“Voltar said he’d been waiting for me.”
“Then he knows? Well, you’re not to go near him.”
“Don’t start playing big brother. I’ll heal,” Tavis said. “You can’t fight my battles.”
“Like you always try to fight mine? Whenever I’m in trouble, you’re right behind me. You came after me to finish Druan off for me, thinking I might be dead. Isn’t that so?”
Tavis shrugged.
“You’ve always been watching out for me,” Faelan said. “Well, you’re weak, and I’m not letting you near Voltar.”
Tavis grinned. “You haven’t changed a bit. Other than got yourself a bonny wife.” Something he would never have. He’d decided long ago that love was a dangerous thing. He didn’t believe in destined mates, the way some of his clan did. Not that it didn’t happen sometimes. But more often than not, love led to heartache. Just look at their mother, losing her husband and two sons. He bore the burden of choosing to leave, adding to her pain, but he’d had little choice. It’d had to be him or Ian. Ian had Bessie. Destined mate or not, Ian loved her. Tavis had nothing but his family. He’d failed them once by letting Liam die. He hadn’t been about to fail Faelan too.
“Faelan,” a woman’s voice called softly, interrupting them.
“That’s her now, hardheaded woman. She’s supposed to be resting,” Faelan said, but his voice was soft, like their father’s had been when he spoke of their ma. “But she won’t listen, no matter that she’s carrying my bairn.”
Tavis felt an odd jolt hit the middle of his chest. “You’re having a bairn?”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
AYE.” FAELAN SMILED. “You’re going to be an uncle.”
Tavis was glad that his brother had found happiness, after all he had lost. “I guess there was no marrying your mate, under the circumstances.”
“Bree is my mate.”
“You’re not even from the same time.”
“I think it was meant to be this way. Perhaps it was meant for you to be here too.” Faelan laid a hand on Tavis’s shoulder, but Tavis was lost in thought.
“How did you know she was your mate?”
“I knew as soon as I looked at her. I recognized her. Well, first I tried to cut her head off. I thought she was a demon.”
“I’m surprised she married you.”
Faelan got a wistful smile. “Aye, it still surprises me too. To think that I would lose everything and find a wife from the future. It’s bloody strange.”
“It is, in other ways too.”
“How’s that?”
“Does your wife know that her family was watching over your time vault?”
“What?”
“Isabel and Frederick swore someone in their family would always protect you.”
“Damnation. I don’t think she knows. But Bree’s grandmother did ask if I was the one in the crypt…bloody hell. How could I know that? Bree’s grandmother died before I was released from the time vault. I guess I dreamed it. I think the vault messes with your mind. I feel like I know things I couldn’t know. Like Bree. I’m sure that I knew her before. But it’s impossible.”
Just like it was impossible that he could have known Anna. “We left letters for you explaining what happened.”
“I didn’t get them.”
“They were in the bottom of Da’s trunk in Isabel’s attic. She said she’d protect them.”
“I’ve seen the trunk. I heard something rattling inside, but there wasn’t a key.”
“We wanted you to know what happened, that I was coming, so you could wake me.”
“I was to wake you?” His face paled. “I didn’t even know. If Angus hadn’t found you…”
He could have been locked in there forever.
“Faelan,” his wife called again. “If you don’t answer me, I’m coming out there. I don’t care if there might be demons watching the place.”