Alexis woke the next morning to a blur of activity. She sat up frowning seeing that she was alone in bed. Where had Lucian gone, and when had he left? There was a soft knock on the door drawing her attention. She smiled seeing Mary enter the chamber. The young woman didn’t look like she’d been beaten or harmed in any way.

“Good morning, my Lady. I hope you slept well.” She gently laid out a pale blue dress on the quilts then glanced up at her giving her a small smile.

“I did indeed, Mary. Do you know where my husband is this morning?”

“I believe he is wi’ the king discussing travel arrangements.”

“Travel arrangements…where is he going?”

“The two of ye will be traveling to his home of Nairn. The king isna happy about Lord Lucian leaving, but he has given his permission.”

“I see. Will we be traveling by horse and carriage?”

“No, my Lady, ye will be travelin’ by horse.”

“And what about my trunk? Beauty can’t carry that and me on his back across the Scottish countryside.”

“The king expects ye both to be back here in a month’s time for Queen Anne’s arrival.”

Alexis nodded her head as she glanced at the closed trunk. She needed to retrieve her cell phone from it. There was no way that she was leaving it behind for one of the castle staff to find. “Then I need a small bag that I can take a bit of clothing with me.”

Mary smiled and held up a small travel bag. “I thought ye might win to take somethin’ wi’ ye to Nairn.”

“Thank you, Mary. I’ll get dressed then pack my clothes.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Mary set the bag on the bed.

Alexis quickly dressed much to Mary’s displeasure. The servant's job was to dress her mistress, but Alexis would have none of it. She did take advice from the young woman, but insisted on doing it herself. After she was fully dressed, she told Mary the reason she’d wanted to do it all herself. Mary wouldn’t be traveling with her, and she’d have to do it on her own on the road. This piece of information finally brought a smile to the young servant’s face.

“Do ye need any help packin’?”

“No, but thank you, Mary.”

“Ye are welcome, my Lady.” Mary smiled, nodded her head, curtsied then turned around and left the room closing the door behind her.

Alexis hated leaving Mary behind, but she also knew she couldn’t save everyone. She walked over to her trunk and opened the lid. Sliding her hand through the clothes, she smiled feeling the solid case covering her cell phone. She glanced at the closed door listening for any sounds of Lucian or Mary returning. She’d been honest with him last night about who she was and he seemed to believe her, but she still had a nagging doubt that he accepted the truth. It really wasn’t until she’d mentioned Artemis that his body language changed.

Not hearing anyone outside her door, Alexis stood up straight pulling her cell phone free of the clothing. She turned the device over in her hand and sighed. A part of her wanted the small piece of technology to actually work so that she could at least take discrete pictures to show Mira when she returned home. She would need to aid some modifications to the dresses so that her phone would be on her person at all times. Until then, she slipped the phone into her travel bag under the dresses she’d already placed inside. She looked up over her shoulder quickly hearing the door open and Lucian walked through it.

“Good morinin’, Alexis. I see Mary has told ye of our trip.”

“Yes, she has.” She buckled the bag closed, shut the trunk, then turned around and sat down on the lid. “How far away is Nairn from here?”

“‘Tis a five day ride from here.”

“Okay, well, I’m not riding that far using a side saddle.”

“‘Tis not proper for a lady…”

“Lucian, I’m from the twenty-first century, remember. Women don’t ride side saddles any more.”

“Verra well, I will have yer horse resaddled.”

“Thank you,” Alexis said, rising to her feet and picking up the travel bag.

He nodded his head and held the door open for her. They made their way to the courtyard where both stallions stood. She waited until the side saddle had been replaced before she secured her travel bag to the back of it. As they galloped away, she glanced back over her shoulder. Would she ever see Lady Seton or Mary ever again?

As they crested a hill, Alexis gasped, spotting a building off in the distance. The closer they got to it the more certain she was of what it was. She pulled Beauty to a stop admiring the beauty of the ancient chapel.

“Alexis, are ye alright?”

“I’m fine, Lucian. I’m just admiring Rosslyn Chapel.”

“Have ye seen it before?”

“I’ve seen pictures of it, but I’ve never seen it in person.”

“What are pictures?”

“Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to show you, but in simple terms it’s a painted portrait. The biggest difference is this type of portrait can be made in seconds instead of days.”

“That would be a sight to behold. Come let me show ye the chapel. We have time.” Lucian nudged his stallion forward leading the way.

Alexis smiled and gently nudged Beauty forward. They reached the chapel a few minutes later. They dismounted at the closed door, and Alexis glanced up at the breathtaking architecture. She knew the real wonder and magic of the chapel was locked away on the other side of the door. She frowned slightly as Lucian approached the door and knocked.

“Lucian, during this time period the chapel is closed to public worship. There’s probably no one even inside.” She quickly closed her mouth hearing the lock on the door release and the door slowly open. “Okay, never mind that I said anything.” She stepped up beside Lucian and smiled at the middle aged woman.

“Lucian Fullarton, what brings ye back to Rosslyn?” The woman opened the door a bit wider then pulled Lucian into a tight hug.

Lucian smiled, wrapping his arms around the woman. “‘Tis good to see ye again, Mrs. Lennox. How is William?”

“He is well. He has wondered what new adventure his Great-Great Godfather has been on,” Mrs. Lennox said smiling.

“Great-Great Godfather,” Alexis said, raising her eyebrows she leaned close to Lucian and gently pulled him closer to her. “They know about you,” she whispered.

Lucian just smiled and nodded his head. “Aye, they know, and they have kept it a secret for over a century. It was William’s Great-Great Grandfather who realized there was somethin’ different about me.”

“William…the one who built this chapel?”

“Aye, the verra same. Mrs. Lennox, my wife, has never seen Rosslyn Chapel from the inside. Would ye mind if we went inside for a short time?”

Mrs. Lennox glanced from Lucian to her then back again before opening the door wider. “Lucian, ye and yer bride are always welcome here. Ye ken that.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Lennox,” Alexis said, carefully stepping past her and into the darkened chapel.

Alexis looked around at all the carvings on the walls, ceiling, arches, and the pillars that held the heavy stone roof. She shook her head as she examined carved images of angels, flowers, dragons, knights, pagan motifs, the famous Green Man, and the Apprentice Pillar. She walked around admiring every inch of the chapel while Lucian and Mrs. Lennox talked. Stepping up to the back of the chapel, she carefully lit three candles in remembrance of the recent family she’d lost.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Lady Fullarton, take as long as ye would like in the chapel. I must return to the castle. Will ye lock up, Lucian?”

“I will, Mrs. Lennox. ‘Twas good to see ye again.” Lucian hugged the aging woman close.

“I hope it will not be the last time.” Mrs. Lennox pulled back, smiled, and brushed her fingers against his cheek before leaving the chapel.

“She seems nice,” Alexis said once they were alone.

“They are all nice. Who did ye light the candles for?”

“My mom, grandmother, and grandfather. This chapel is so beautiful. I’m glad it was saved.” Alexis sat down on one of the pews.

“What do ye mean?” Lucian sat down beside her.

“It’s all because of the Scottish Reformation. Henry Sinclair or St. Clair is going to be forced to destroy the altar in a few years, and once that happens this chapel will fall into ruin. It’ll be Queen Victoria in the 19th Century who saves it. Lucian, you told me the Elders would kill any metal who knew your secret. How have the Sinclairs not been harmed?”

“‘Tis like I said before. They have kept it a secret for over a century. As long as it remains a secret, they will be safe from the Elders. Come, it is gettin’ late. We must reach Stirlig before nightfall.”

Alexis nodded her head, and rose to her feet. She took one final look around the ancient chapel then walked out the door. She stopped just outside and turned to watch Lucian pull out a key and lock the heavy door behind him. They walked in silence back to their horses then climbed onto their backs and galloped away from Rosslyn Chapel.

They traveled over the Scottish countryside toward Stirling Castle. They stopped a few times along the River Forth several times to rest and water the horses. On the second stop, they had a picnic lunch. By the tie they’d reached Stirling Castle’s large Gatehouse, she was tired of riding and her inner thigh muscles ached.

They entered the courtyard and pulled their horses to a stop. She climbed down and instantly grabbed the saddle to keep herself from falling as her legs buckled. She patted Beauty after she was sure her legs would hold her weight. She then untied her travel bag, and glanced up at Lucian as he wrapped his arm firmly around her waist. She smiled at him and leaned into his embrace knowing he’d catch her if she started to fall. They entered the palace after walking through the courtyard.

“Welcome to Stirling Castle, Alexis.”

“It’s beautiful.” Alexis looked around the room. She spotted a middle aged woman standing at the base of a massive staircase.

“Welcome back, Lord Lucian. I see ye have brought a guest wi’ ye this time.” The woman frowned slightly and wrinkled her nose.

“She is more than my guest, Mrs. Collins. She is my wife.”

“Please tell me ye are jokin’, Lucian. She is a…”

“Aye, she is Mrs. Collins, an I am not jokin’.”

Mrs. Collins sighed, closed her mouth with a grimace, and nodded her head. “How long will ye an yer bride be stayin’?”

“We will only be here for the night, Mrs. Collins.”

“Verra good, sir. Will ye be takin’ yer supper in the Great Hall?”

“No, our room will be fine. It’s just the two of us.” Alexis smiled at the woman in front of them who in turn kept her eyes on Lucian. She looked at Lucian who sighed and shook his head.

“I agree wi’ my wife. Dinnae go to the trouble of dressing up the Great Hall. We will take our supper in our room.”

“As ye wish,” Mrs. Collins said, turning on her heel and walking up the stairs.

Once they were alone, Alexis sat down at the small table and crossed her arms over her chest. “What was that? I could feel her disgust since she never truly acknowledge my presence with a look.”

“Ye sensed that did ye?” Lucian smiled as he took a seat opposite of her.

“Yeah, it was hard for me not too, Lucian.”

“I am truly sorry, lass. This will be the type of reaction ye will receive from my kind.”

Alexis raised her eyebrows but remained silent hearing a knock on the door. After the food was set on the table, and they were alone once more did she continue the conversation. “She’s an immortal?”

“Aye, and she has been serving here since before I was born.”

Alexis sat back in her chair and shook her head. If all immortals held the same amount of disgust for her kind as Mrs. Collins, then why did Lucian even marry her? She picked u over plate and filled it with the delicious smelling food before them. They ate in silence, and once they’d finished eating she helped Lucian gather the dishes together. She offered to help him take them to the kitchen, but he refused the offer. He wanted her to remain in their room where he knew she’d be safe.

She agreed with a nod of her head opening and closing the door behind him. She quickly changed into her night clothes and climbed into bed. It was still early in the evening, but after a day full of riding she was exhausted. Lucian walked into the room, closing and locking the door behind him. Being an immortal with superhuman strength, she knew a locked door wouldn’t keep Mrs. Collins out if she wanted to attack her in her sleep. She watched Lucian change into his nightshirt and climb into their bed.

“Lucian, what do you know about the Phoenix?”

“I dinna know much I am afraid. I do know that the Phoenyx is as old as the immortals. The stories of yer kind began in Egypt.”

Alexis nodded her head leaning back against the pillows. “That part I knew…about the Phoenix myth starting in Ancient Egypt.”

“There is an Elder I know who will know more about yer kind.”

“Who”

“His name is Endymion.”

“Endymion…are you serious?”

“Aye, I am. Why?”

“Because I know a story about an Endymion and the Greek Goddess Selene. They fell in love and he wanted to stay with her for all eternity. He asked Zeus to put him into an eternal sleep, so that he would never die and leave her. The story also says that she bore him fifty daughters.”

Lucian laughed and brushed his fingers through her auburn locks. “I love watchin’ yer eyes light up with excitement. The story ye ken isna the whole truth. Selene and Endymion did fall in love and she did give him daughters, but she also gave him sons as well.”

“Tell me the story Lucian, please.”

“Verra well,” Lucian said, sitting up against the pillows. “Centuries before I was born Endymion lived in Greece. He was a mortal king of Elis, and he was loved by his people and family. He lost his wife twelve years after the birth of his daughter Eurycyda. Still a young man, he could no longer stay in Elis because it reminded him so much of his beloved wife.”

“He left his family behind to start a new life?” Alexis bit her lip in order to keep the curse on the tip of her tongue from escaping. Endymion wasn’t her dad, and unlike her own painful past, she didn’t know all of his yet.

“He left because of his love for his bairns.”

“I don’t understand.”

“He would have been expected to marry again and have more bairns. According to him, he didna wish to do that. He organized a race between his sons, and when Epeus won he crowned him king and left for Caria. He almost reached Caria when a beggar nearly ended his life. That is when Abreo De La Cour found and turned him.”

Alexis dropped her gaze on the soft quilts on the bed. Endymion was willing to live out the rest of his days alone because of his love for his children. The same couldn’t be said for her dad, but she also never wanted him to be alone for the rest of his life either. She wanted him to be happy, but she just couldn’t see how he could be happy constantly ripping her heart to shreds. She blamed Victoria for the longest time as the reason he changed, but if she was honest with herself she knew it wasn’t all Victoria’s fault. She never held a gun to his head, so the changes in his personality had been all his own choosing. He chose to make her the black sheep of the family then blamed her for feeling like she was in fact a black sheep.

She lifted her head quickly, wiping away her tears and cleared her throat. “How long did he stay with Abreo?”

“A century or two is what he told me. He soon tired of huntin’ yer kind, and left for Caria where he met Selene. They fell in love and have been together ever since.”

“What a fairytale story they have. I know I wouldn’t be able to give you fifty children, but who knows what will happen.” Alexis smiled at the thought of a little boy or girl with Lucian’s looks running around Scotland or Navarre.

“We willna ever have any bairns, Alexis.”

She jerked her head toward him and immediately laid her hands on her stomach. “Why?”

“Ye may be a Phoenyx Alexis, but ye are still mortal. Immortals canna create a bairn wi’ a mortal.”

“But the Greek Gods do or did it all the time. They’re immortal.”

“Aye, and it was Zeus who had forbidden such a union from succeedin’. In the beginnin’ Abreo created a bairn wi’ his first wife. Zeus killed her and the babe, so that it wouldna try to compete wi’ his own Demigod bairns.”

“But you aren’t Gods, so why did it matter?”

“It mattered because of yer myths.”

“He didn’t want any stories of your children taking away from the stories about the children of the Gods.” Alexis shook her head in disbelief. “What a hypocrite. But what’s to stop one of your immortal children from trying to take control of Olympus?”

“We may be immortal, but we have no power to defeat them in battle.”

“And neither would a child created in a union between an immortal and a mortal.”

“I agree, but Zeus doesna hold the same opinion. I am truly sorry, Alexis.”

“It’s not your fault, Lucian. It’s just sad.” Alexis slid down into the bed blowing out her candle before rearranging her pillows. She heard Lucian sigh then the room fell into darkness. She closed her eyes and her pillows were soon soaked with her tears. It wasn’t fair for Lucian to never know the joy of being a father while he was stuck in a marriage with her.

They rode away from Stirling the next morning. The days passed quickly as they reached Dundee, Stonehaven, Huntly, and finally Nairn. She wasn’t expecting the warm reception she received from Lucian’s people. They all welcomed her with open arms, and a celebration was planned for the Lady of Clan Fullarton.

The celebration would take place three days later coinciding with Michaelmas Day. She had no idea what Michaelmas consisted of, or how long it’d last. She was pulled away from Lucian the next morning by the ladies of the clan to begin the planning for both the celebration and Michaelmas. Of all the ladies she’d met, the one she connected the most with was Sal. She was a sweet middle aged woman who was in charge of the other staff of the house, and who was also raising her small granddaughter all on her own. The day of Michaelmas arrived, and she stood by Lucian’s side silently praying she didn’t embarrass him in front of his entire clan.