Kaitlyn cried out in pain as she was shoved in behind me and landed on my back. This was not m’first time being forced intae one of these god-awful machines, not even my first time being in one of these machines with Kaitlyn captured alongside — still, there was never goin’ tae be any gettin’ used tae it.
The soldiers jumped in around us, strappin’ intae their belts. The helicopter lifted off from the courtyard of m’thirteenth century castle. I managed tae push Kaitlyn up with m’shoulder and flipped myself over ontae m’back. I lifted my bound arms so she could put her head on my chest. She sobbed. “I’m sorry, Magnus, I’m so sorry!”
“I ken, mo reul-iuil, we will get back tae them.”
“My poor babies!”
“I ken... I ken mo reul-iuil. I ken.” I put my arms around her.
“What are we going to do?”
“Survive and then kick some arse, not necessarily in that order.”
She nodded her head.
We were headed somewhere I dinna ken. We both raised our heads tae look down as we left — Kaitlyn said, “Oh no, oh no, oh no...” as the helicopter swooped out over the land.
My castle was destroyed. The walls torn down, our bairns were standing in the desolate courtyard watching the sky as we were taken away.
CHAPTER 52 - BLAKELY
LIAM AND BLAKELY CAMPBELL, NEWLY ARRIVED FROM THE US TO BECOME CARETAKERS OF TAYMOUTH (BALLOCH) CASTLE - PRESENT DAY
Iwoke up and usually I would partake of some hot, hot Liam-loving to go back to sleep, but instead I stared blearily up at the ceiling of this grand bedroom. It was unfamiliar, ornate and gilded. And I was seriously jet-lagged. Also I had forgotten to turn off all the lights, so the room was lit up, making sleep difficult.
I took stock of everything: the carved four-poster bed, the velvet bedspread and luxurious sheets. The antiques. The sweeping windows and long drapes. The mural on the ceiling, the carving over the door.
I had lived in nice homes before. I had been quite rich back in Los Angeles, an agent to the stars, used to luxury, but this was a palace.
I pulled a pillow over and tucked it under my leg, it was all so comfortable.Why couldn’t I sleep?I focused on the victorian-style desk, imagining the people who had written letters there through history… I would need to research who had lived here. The doorway was so wide, tall double doors…was that for the big skirts and the tall wigs?Would there have been guards stationed outside for the kings who lived here?
But not kings, this castle had housed the Earl of Breadalbane, I had looked him up on Wikipedia. I was amazed that an Earl had lived in this much opulence…
That was an exquisitely painted door handle… I needed to bring my best-friend Jess soon, she needed to see this place. She would never believe it until she saw it for real.
Our suitcases were wide open on the furniture, clothes strewn around on the floor, as if we were the American Hillbillies from near Asheville, North Carolina, come to Scotland to rule the palace.
Liam had been sleeping like he often did on his stomach, his big wide rugby playing shoulders stretching his shirt, his face scrunched into the pillow. He mumbled. “Ye are awake, Woodshee?”
I ran my fingers along his back, feeling the warmth of his skin. “Yeah, sorry I tossed and turned, I have a hard time sleeping in a new bed.”
“Me as well, daena let the snorin’ fool ye, tis hard tae get used tae our new home.”
“This is all ours?”
“Aye, courtesy of m’mysterious cousins.”
We rolled onto our sides and faced each other. “What are we going to do first?”
He grinned and his big rugby hand pulled my hip closer to his. “First we might want tae welcome ourselves tae our new home.”
I wrapped my arms around his head and kissed his forehead. He tucked his head to my chest.
We were fully entwined as he stroked his hand up and down my thigh.
“That sounds good, because it’s the middle of the night. I’m all turned upside down.”
He chuckled against my neck, “I will turn ye upside down.”
