Alexis quickly realized she had nothing to fear as the morning progressed. Sal explained that Michaelmas was a celebration of the end of the harvest season and a time to collect rent from the clan. It was also a day to honor St. Michael in the hope he would in turn protect them in the dark months of winter. From one of the kitchen windows, she watched children laughing and playing around the large house grounds.

She smiled then lowered her head to the dough in front of her. Sal was busy teaching her how to make the perfect St. Michael bannock while she supervised the cooking of the goose they’d be having for supper. The kitchen was alive with activity but also singing of ancient songs. She didn’t understand the words or even know what they meant, but the songs touched her very soul. After the last bannock was placed into the oven, Sal shooed her from the kitchen stating the Lady of the House shouldn’t be slaving away in the kitchen. Well, she didn’t use those exact words, but Alexis understood what she meant.

She washed her hands, dried them, then stepped outside to join the men and children of the clan. She watched Lucian laughing and talking with the men for a while admiring how caring he was of his kinsmen. She may not know Lucian yet, but she could see just how big his heart truly was. The sight warmed her own heart.

She walked over to Sal’s granddaughter, and sat down beside her. “Hi, Emily, what are you making?”

“‘Tis a corn dolly.” Emily held up the almost finished doll completely made from sheaves of grain.”

“It’s coming along nicely.”

“Thank ye, my Lady. It will stay safe in my house ‘til the spring.”

“What will happen to it then?”

“It will be placed in the field to return the spirits to their home in time for the new growing season.” Emily smiled then returned her attention to her doll.

Alexis smiled and rose to her feet. She spotted other children hard at work on their own corn dollies. The children of Clan Fullarton were clearly determined to keep the grain spirits safe this winter. She walked up to Lucian and gave the men a warm smile. Many returned the gesture, but most simply nodded their head toward her acknowledging her presence. She stood there for a few minutes before several other children pulled her away so that she could dance with them.

She sat on the edge of the bed that night brushing her long auburn locks. She looked over her shoulder placing the brush on her nightstand as the door opened and Lucian quietly walked in. He closed and locked the door then approached the bed. “Today was a fun day. Is it always like this every year?”

“Aye,” Lucian said, sitting down on the bed.

“Well, it reminds me of Christmas.” Alexis bit her lip so that it wouldn’t tremble, and brushed away the tears before they fell.

“Aye, but that celebration will always only be made up of ye and I.” He turned toward her and frowned. “What ails ye, lass?”

“It’s nothing really. Christmas used to be my favorite holiday, but since my mom passed on Christmas Eve, it just hurts my heart trying to celebrate it.”

Lucian nodded his head, leaned over kissing her temple, then he sat up. “From now on December twenty-fifth will be just another day for us.” He continued preparing for bed then blew out his candle after settling under the covers.

“That sounds good to me.” She paused for a moment then sighed. “Lucian, are your people safe with me here?”

Lucian opened his eyes and slowly sat up in bed. He looked at her for a moment then shook his head. “As long as Marcus and Thalia live, no mortal is safe near us.”

“Then we need to leave. I won’t be the reason your people suffer.”

“Where would we go, Alexis? There is no place that will be safe as long as they an others like them continue to hunt us.”

“We have to go somewhere, Lucian. I felt Marcus’s disgust that night at Seton Palace.”

“Aye, an Thalia will not rest ‘til ye are dead. He has probably reached her by now.”

“Great, yet another person who doesn’t care for me. At least Victoria doesn’t want me dead.” She slid her hand into one of his and gently squeezed it. She saw a deep frown cross his features and he opened his mouth only to shut it when she shook her head. “Don’t ask, Lucian. Victoria is my Step-Mother, and it’s a very long and painful story.”

He nodded his head then lifted her onto his lap. “Ye have a good heart, Alexis. Where would ye like to go?”

Alexis thought for a minute. She knew they were in the highlands, but being in the past she didn’t recognize anything around her. “Where’s Inverness from here?”

“‘Tis a short ride away. Is that where ye wish to go?”

“No, I want to go to Clava Cairns.”

“What is Clava Cairns?”

“It’s a sacred site of standing stones I’ve heard about recently. It’ll also give me the chance to see Culloden again.”

“I dinnae why ye want to see Culloden Moor. ‘Tis naught but marshy land.”

“It will be the location of a battle between the Jacobites of Scotland and the English. It’ll take place on April 16, 1746. It’s the last battle waged on Scottish soil. The standing stones also reside southeast of Culloden.”

“What about Sal an the rest of the house staff?”

“Give them the next few days off. I think we can fend for ourselves without them. A break would be good for them.”

“They always receive a ‘break’ this time of the year since the house will be empty.” He smiled at her while he ran his hands up and down her hips.

“What?”

“We will be gone for the next two weeks collecting the rest of the rent. We will stop at yer standing stones on the way back home.”

“That sounds wonderful. It’ll also give me a chance to meet more of your people.”

“Aye, an meet them ye shall.” He leaned up giving her a searing kiss.

***

The next two weeks flew by as she and Lucian traveled the Highlands collecting the rents from the remaining members of Clan Fullarton. She’d learned from the ladies of the clan that Lucian had been Laird for many generations. Most didn’t question Lucian’s eternal youth simply because he always put the clan first, but there had been a few times he’d been challenged for the title of Laird. Had he been a mortal man he would have lost easily, but because of his immortality he never lost a challenge.

“Alexis, are ye all right, lass?”

She looked up in the vanity mirror watching him sit on the edge of the bed and begin to undress for the night. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just thinking.”

“What aboot?”

She sighed then turned around and faced him. “I’m worried about your clan, Lucian.”

“I have no clan, Alexis.”

“What? Then what name does this clan go by?” She lifted her hands and pointed toward the closed and locked door.

“The name for the people in town is Clan Nairn. Out here the people go by Clan Rose, Clan Calder, an many others.”

“But you aren’t laird of them all are you?”

Lucian smiled and shook his head. His chocolate brown eyes seemed to sparkle in the firelight. “I am laird to none of them.”

“Wait, that doesn’t make any sense. If you aren’t the laird, why do the villagers treat you like you are?”

“‘Tis because I care aboot them unlike the lairds of their clans. They do as I ask so that their families arena punished by the lairds.”

“So, the rents you’ve been collecting…”

“Will go to the lairds of their clans.”

“What about the challenges over the generations I heard about?”

“I am the only person they have seen, so they assume I am their laird comin’ to collect their rents. In Nairn, they know I am not their laird.”

“You’re the rent collector who will help them if they come up short.” Alexis smiled as she rose to her feet and walked over to him. She remembered a couple who had a look of pure terror in their eyes, but Lucian quickly calmed their fears by pulling money from his own pocket.

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“Aye,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her onto his lap. “The people of the Highlands work too hard to be punished for tryin’ to support their families.”

“It’s also a way for you to be a part of a family since you can’t have a family of your own.” Alexis settled in his lap and ran her hand through his curly dark brown hair.

“I may not ever have a family Alexis, but ye will once ye are returned to yer own time.”

“Except by the time I complete my task, I might be too old to have children.”

“I willna allow that to happen, lass. I will find Artemis myself and demand she send ye back.”

Alexis’s smile grew bigger and she leaned down planting a kiss on his soft lips. Once she pulled back, she stared into his eyes seeing the promise and determination deep inside them. “Are you tired of me all ready, Lucian Fullarton?” She laughed as his jaw dropped open only to gasp when he quickly threw her onto her back. He gently pinned her body to the mattress and looked down at her.

“I shall never get tired of ye, Alexis Fullarton.”

He lowered his head, capturing her lips with his own. Her body arched off the bed moments later as he turned his attention to other parts of her anatomy. She thrashed underneath him seeking a release he was holding back, and it was driving her crazy. “Lucian, please,” she begged, pulling his head up and claiming his lips once more. He groaned in her mouth, spread her legs, and joined their bodies together.

***

Alexis woke the next morning to Lucian whistling. “Good morning, husband.”

“Good mornin’, wife. Are ye ready to see yer standing stones this morning?”

“Yes, I’m more than ready,” she replied, sitting up in bed.

She smiled up at him as he leaned down planting a soft kiss on her lips. She threw off the covers and rose to her feet before sinking into the warm water filled tub. She’d only known Lucian for almost a month, but she was already madly in love with him. She knew it could be a sexual infatuation instead of love, but she quickly squashed that thought. He’d risked his immortal life to save her from Marcus. Granted they’d only just met at that time, but they’d talked about each other every night since the wedding.

She stopped mid scrub and looked over at Lucian who was staring into the fire burning in the fireplace. “Lucian, Marus has had almost a month to reach Thalia and tell her about me.”

“Aye, he has.”

“And I know we’ve been moving around almost everyday since we met, but from what you’ve told me she doesn’t seem like the patient type. Yet we’ve managed to stay a step ahead of her this entire time. I’m not wanting our luck to run out, but we can’t become complacent either.”

“I know.” Lucian sighed before he turned away from the fire and glanced down at her. “‘Tis only a matter of time before Thalia or another of my kind catch up to us. An they willna care how many mortals are around. They will all be in danger.”

“Then we need to return to Nairn, gather our things, and return to Jame’s court. He wanted us to be back in a month’s time anyway.”

“Are ye sure?”

“I am. I keep forgetting that I have an immortal hunting me, and no matter how strong you are you’re only a single man. The Clava Cairns aren’t going anywhere.” She finished her bath, stood up, and stepped out of the tub with Lucian’s help.

“Then we will return home.” Lucian grabbed a large towel and wrapped it around her wet body.

They were back on their horses ten minutes later after eating breakfast, heading for Nairn. She closed her eyes and breathed in the crisp mountain scent. She loved the smell of rain in the air. It had a scent all its own much like the stuffiness of a hot muggy night. She opened her eyes again hearing Beauty snort loudly. She gasped as she glanced at the standing stones.

“Lucian, what are we doing here? I said I could see this place another time.”

“Will they look the same in yer time?”

“No, the Cairns’ roofs will be missing.”

“Then I am glad ye can see this place whole before it changes.” Lucian smiled and climbed off his stallion’s back.

Alexis climbed off Beauty and gently patted his hindquarter then walked up to the tallest standing stone. Her eyes filled with tears as she brushed her fingers over the rough stone. She watched the rising sun rays hit the doorway of the “passage” Cairn. Some of the rays entered the doorway lighting the room inside.

“Lass, why are ye cryin’?”

She glanced over at him, wiping away her tears and laughing slightly. “This is a special place that will survive several wars and five centuries of mortals. It’s amazing.”

“Then explore to yer heart’s content.”

“Thank you, but you shouldn’t have brought me here. It’s out of our way.”

“There are several ways to get to Nairn from where we were last night. So, I dinna lead us astray.”

“No, you just found a loophole.” Alexis stepped inside the room and sat down on the dirt floor crossing her legs indian style.

Lucian glanced down at her frowning for a second before he shook his head and followed her inside the Cairn. He sat down across from her and closed his eyes. She watched him breathing for a moment as her mind wandered. “You can smell my blood?” Up until Wyatt’s attack, she’d always felt like she was nothing special. She was just like all the blue eyed auburn haired women in the world.

“It’s your time to fly, Baby.”

Tears suddenly filled her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away. Had her mom known what they were before she died? If she had or even suspected they were different, why hadn’t she ever said anything? Why would she keep it a secret from her? Just as quickly as the question entered her mind she dismissed it. People like Marcus were the reason her mother never told her about her family history.

Alexis shook her head glancing at Lucian then frowned. His face was contorted and his brow furrowed in apparent pain. “Lucian, are you all right?”

Lucian’s chocolate brown eyes snapped open and he focused his gaze on her. “We need to leave, Alexis.” He climbed to his feet and offered her his hand.

She took it and allowed him to pull her to her feet. “What’s wrong?”

“The villagers in Nairn are in danger.” He released her hand and turned away from her then walked out of the Cairn.

“What…how do you know?” Alexis quickly caught up with him trying to keep pace with his long strides.

“I can hear Thalia in my head. She is angry that she dinnae find us in Nairn.”

She untied Beauty and climbed onto his back. “Are you a telepath?”

“Am I what?” He climbed onto his stallion’s back frowning over at her.

“A telepath…that’s someone who can hear the thoughts of others, or read the minds of others.”

“I see.” Lucian nudged his horse into a galop. “No, I am not,” he said over his shoulder.

She gently urged Beauty to catch up with the other stallion. She knew there was something he wasn’t telling her, but it could wait. As they galloped over the marshy land, she hoped they would find the villagers of Nairn safe. The ache in her heart told her they were going to find devastation.

The sun had just begun dipping between the trees when they reached the outskirts of Nairn. She frowned feeling the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She looked around and her frown deepened as they entered the village. It was too quiet. Where was everyone?

“I don’t like this, Lucian. It’s too quiet.”

“Aye, ‘tis too quiet. Do ye still have the silver dagger I gave to ye back at Seton Palace?”

“Yes, I still have it.”

“Good,” Lucian said, locking his eyes on hers. “I want ye to keep it close, Alexis. ‘Tis yer only protection from my kind.” Luican tore his eyes away from her and drew his sword.

She could smell the smoke from a fire mingled with the smell of decaying bodies. Looking up the crest of a hill, she could see where the fire smell was coming from. Their stone manor house was still smoldering and black smoke billowed out of the shattered glass windows. She covered her nose and mouth with the sleeve of her dress to ease the smell. Death wasn’t a new concept for her, but this was her first experience of smelling death. She closed her eyes as the first body came into view.

“Oh, God, I think I’m going to be sick.”

She quickly steered Beauty toward some trees and slid off of his back. She stumbled over to a patch of grass and collapsed to the ground. Most of her breakfast was already out of her stomach, but what food she did have left in her system came rushing up. It wasn’t until the dry heaves stopped that she realized Lucian was holding back her hair. She sat back wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and closed her eyes.

“How are you not getting sick right now?” Alexis opened her eyes feeling his gentle fingers brush her sweat soaked bangs out of her face.

“The smell doesna bother me. ‘Tis a part of death. Fur a lass as spirited as ye are, ye have a weak stomach.”

“Yeah, I do because for me seeing and smelling dead bodies isn’t normal.”

He stood up saying something in Gaelic as he helped her to her feet. She knew he was being honorable by not using language she’d understand because she was a lady. The thing was that she wasn’t a sixteenth or even a twenty-first century lady, but his outburst had drawn some attention. Several doors creaked open and once the villagers eyes fell on them several people came rushing toward them.

She spotted Emily hiding between Sal’s squirts. She moved away from Lucian kneeling down to her level. She gave the little girl a smile when her tearfilled eyes looked at her. The next second the terrified child was in her arms holding her in a death grip. Alexis held her to her chest and rose to her full height. She looked around at the gathered terrified villagers, but she didn’t see any other children.

“Sal, where are the other children?”

Sal spun on her heel giving her a frosty glare. “They are dead. Thank the Gods Emily wasna here when Thalia attacked. She demanded that we give her the Phoenyx our laird was protectin’. She will be back in two days to kill the rest of us if we dinnae do as she demands.”

“I willna allow that to happen, Sal. Thalia willna attack this village again. Ye will be safe.”

“Nay, my Laird, an I mean ye no disrespect. We fought her, and we couldna stop her,” Sal said turned to face Lucian.

“My freins…”

Alexis shook her head walking back to Lucian’s side, and placed a hand on his arm. “No, Lucian, she’s right. You’re a strong warrior, but you’re only one man. You need to let me go. Let me save your people by either facing her or returning to Loch Ness. I’ll find a way to convince Artemis to send me home.”

“Ye arrived here from Loch Ness?” At her nod, Sal rushed forward and grabbed her arm. She smiled down at Emily who was still in her arms. “Please forgive me, lass.”

Alexis smiled and nodded her head. “There’s nothing to forgive. You’re looking out for your neighbors and this little one. I don’t know what difference it makes that I arrived here via Loch Ness, but I also want to do what’s best for you and the people of Nairn. I refuse to stand by and watch people get slaughtered just to save myself.”

“No, child, ye are too important to lose,” Sal said.

“Sal is right, Alexis. My freins, gather only what ye can carry. Ye will make yer way to the lowlands. Ye will be safe from Thalia.”

“We canna leave ye or the lass, my Laird,” Sal protested.

“Aye, ye can an ye must, Sal. We will be alright. There is no time to lose. Awa wi’ ye,” Lucian commanded.

“Go with Sal,” Alexis said, putting Emily on her feet. She rose to her feet turning toward Lucian once the child ran to her grandmother’s side. “Where are we going?”

“Athens,” Lucian said, brushing his fingers through her hair.