Page 55 of Stone Guardian
“He’s not a jerk, Emma,” Laynie laughed. “He’s just hard-headed. He kind of reminds me of you.”
“Thanks a lot.” Emma snorted before wagging a motherly finger in Laynie’s face. “Are you sure? You think he’ll really make you happy?”
“Positive.” Laynie fished a roped bundle from the back of the truck. “Now, come on. Gaynor said we needed to watch the position of the sun or this isn’t going to work and then you’ll be stuck waiting another year.”
Emma looked up at the hazy orb straining to glow through the cloud-banked atmosphere. December twenty-first. Winter solstice. She smelled the cold clean scent of an impending snowstorm lurking on the horizon. The gray sky covered the hillside like a cozy flannel blanket draped across the land. “I hope Gaynor knows his stuff and hasn’t led us astray.”
The closer she drew to the upright columns at the head of the path, the heavier her footsteps grew. She hadn’t been backsince the day she had lost Torin to Arach. To look at the gray-black spires sprouting up from the ground, no one would ever imagine the hideous explosion the rocks had withstood. Emma hitched her coat snugger around her, battling against the frigid cold surging from within.
“Remember Gaynor said that as soon as Torin’s hand joins yours on the sword, the two of you will cross into whatever realm Torin chooses.” Laynie caught her lower lip between her teeth as she wrestled Torin’s monstrous blade out of the confines of the cloth bag.
“I remember.” Emma stared at the handle of the intricately engraved blade. Its surface swirled with Celtic knots and whorls all across the steel’s ancient patina. She still didn’t understand why she couldn’t just pull Torin back to this reality, at least long enough to ensure that Laynie was happy with her newfound love. But Gaynor had insisted that once she summoned Torin with his own sword, the Continuum would demand that they travel to somewhere other than the present world. Since, Torin loved her and held her presence in his heart; the Continuum would allow her to travel with him. Gaynor had grinned when he assured her that this was a guaranteed way to discover if Torin’s love was true. If she didn’t hold a place in his heart, the sword would cast her aside and send Torin on without her.
Noting the position of the faded sun struggling in the pale gray sky, Emma took the sword from Laynie and swallowed hard as an eerie tingle transmitted up her arm. The magic of the sword recognized her touch. Gaynor had warned her it would be so.
She tightened her grip on the sword, balancing the weight of it between both hands. The long blade nearly doubled the height of her body as she hefted it above her head. As she screamed Torin’s name, she plunged the sword into the column on theright. Gritting her teeth, she shoved the blade deep into the rock by slamming her body against the hilt.
A dull roaring rumble shook the ground. It started as a muffled grumbling and increased to a heart-stopping growl. The air crackled and popped with conflicting energy as though an explosion neared. Lightning bounced between the columns of stones, ricocheting off the imbedded crystals. The space between the spires shattered into a murky darkness swirling with flashes of light.
Emma yanked the sword from the grasp of the stone and stumbled toward the chaos. Glancing over her shoulder, she mouthed the wordsI’ll always love youto Laynie. Blinking hard against the threat of tears, she forced a reassuring smile on her face. They had sobbed their goodbyes at the croft last night and promised each other no regrets and no drama at the stones. Emma needed to focus all her energies and emotions on contacting Torin.
Pending tears glistened in Laynie’s eyes as she nodded and blew Emma a kiss.
Emma turned to the gateway, fighting the gale wind of chaos battering against her. Forcing the weight of Torin’s sword over her head, she closed her eyes and screamed his name again.
A jolting heat engulfed her hands, wrapped around the hilt of the sword and seared down both her arms. Emma barely opened her eyes, squinting against the debris-filled maelstrom and found herself locked in Torin’s gaze.
“Torin.” His name caught in her throat. She never thought she would see him again.
“Emma.” Torin reached out, cradling her cheek in one rag-wrapped hand while gripping the sword with the other. “Are ye certain, my love?” His hoarse roar rang out above the howl of the wind; his breath brushed hot against her face as he crushed her against his chest.
Emma pressed her mouth against the salty sweetness of his throat, inhaled his familiar, comforting scent, and reveled in the warmth of the man she feared she would never see again. “More certain than I have ever been about anything,” she said as she closed her eyes and laid her head against him.
“Then let our life together begin.”
