Page 149 of After 5
He shook his head. “I’m better if I stand.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and sat down on the edge of my bed.
“When I was a wee lad, I had the worst crush on Victory. I thought she would’ve been the one I married. You know, young love.”
I raised my eyebrows at him. Not the words I wanted to hear, but I understood. I had felt the same way about Jake.
“I beg ye to jest hear me oot.”
Him begging, I liked. “Continue.”
“She told me she had a vision of me opening the gate to the King’s key. My gift. The one ye dinnae know of, is that I’m the gatekeeper.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ve no idea. She also told me a woman with blond hair would drive me crazy, steal my heart, and end me from time traveling.”
“You didn’t want to give up your gift,” I said.
“Rattled me to my very core. I was afraid. If a blond woman came near me, I ran.”
“You didn’t run from me.”
“Naugh exactly, but I’ve been keeping a lid on my feelings for ye.”
“How did you meet Victory?”
“My grandfather raised Victory since she was a wee lassie. Her parents died early in her young life. When he died, we were taken to the WTF. I met Elma, and I thought she was the one who would end me. And then Victory was taken away, and I was lost. That day in Gettysburg, Elma saved me.
“Maybe it’s not me who ends you.”
“Oh ’tis you.” He moved closer, standing an inch away, his spicy scent causing my toes to curl inside my fuzzy socks. He tucked his index finger under my chin and lifted it to meet his eyes. “You drive me completely insane. Yer all I thought aboot while I lay in the hospital, helpless. If I lost ye in Gettysburg, it wouldae ended me. I don’t care if I never travel again, as long as I have you.”
I turned away. “If you want me, then I want to know everything. No more secrets.”
“I’ll tell ye whatever ye want to know.”
“What did Aint Elma mean by you’re responsible for my grandfather’s death?’
“When I was first brought to the WTF, she sent me back on a mission. An unauthorized travel.” He lowered his eyes. “’Twas a time in the past when her brother John.” He paused, then lifted his eyes and they met mine. “Yer grandfather, died. She wanted me to change history, to warn him.”
“She was trying to change the past.”
He confirmed with a soft nod. “My grandfather was also there. He was stealing a key, and John was the agent assigned to stop him. It hadnae been long since my grandfather’s death. I couldnae find the nerve to go against my grandfather, so I didnae warn John. I failed on purpose, and he died.”
“Elma was right,” I said. “His wasn’t your life to save. You can’t change the past because the past bites back.”
“Aye, I feel it in my gut, literally.”
“Why did you almost marry Mahlia?”
“’Twas naugh legal. I knew Toches was the priest, but she didnae. Besides…” He paused, lifting his gaze and held mine as if he wanted to pour all his thoughts into my soul.
A strong sense of hope, respect, and love whooshed through me. I’d read him without making contact.
“She’s naugh the one I want to marry.”
My insides clenched. Was I ready? Did I want to marry Caiyan?
