Highland Shapeshifter by Clover Autrey

anything, not a word, just stood quiet and patient beside him.

    Chapter Fourteen

    It was simple really. What he had to do.
    Stop Charity from going back to yesterday. If he could keep her from grabbing onto Toren’s time rift, he could keep her from following him back to the thirteenth century.
    Col’s heart clenched.
    That also meant Toren would be left to the witch’s torture and most likely perish. Yet Edeen would not be caught within a magical slumber to perish seven hundred years later, nor would Shaw be captured, his magic turned and misshapen into a dark ugly thing by the witch.
    And Col would not be thrown into the time rift and…his gaze slanted to the lass, who was aiding her grandmother to her feet.
    He would never meet Lenore. Or ever know of her existence within this far distant future.
    Grief as shattering as he felt for Edeen’s passing, speared his heart with loss, graying everything at the edges, throwing him into a blind panic to grasp onto her tight, to not let the possibility of what they could have together sift away.
    He was all too aware of what he would be sacrificing, knew with a surety he didn’t fully comprehend that she was meant only for him and he for her.
    And when he stopped Charity, when everything returned, righted itself, back to the beginning, he would not even remember what it was that he had lost.
    But his heart would know, wouldn’t it?
    Somehow, he believed, it would.
    His heart had to know why a large chunk of it would never fill.
    He knew exactly what he was sacrificing for Edeen, for Shaw, and for the world.
    Hopefully for Toren as well. Col had to believe that. He and Edeen had planned a rescue before Charity plunked into their world. He had to believe they’d be successful on their own without her. Even without the healing she had performed upon his battered brother.
    Toren had to live.
    “I’ll be alright.” Judith patted her granddaughter’s hand. “I’m not exactly without my own contacts among the magical wielders. I’ll call in a few favors and get to the bottom of what those creatures are and where they came from. I’m not thrilled about those youngsters toting strange guns around either.”
    “Not to mention why all of them are bent on attacking young Col here.”
    Both women looked over at him. He’d like those questions answered as well.
    Judith smiled tightly. “Your grandfather cut his meeting short in D.C. He’s on his way. His contacts are a little higher up the official governmental chain than mine. They may know something.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry. We’ll get to the bottom of this and keep Charity safe with us.”
    Lenore nodded.
    “Good.” Judith looked sideways at Col. “You. Watch over my granddaughters. Both of them.”
    Col nodded. Nothing would get past him to harm either of them.
    Judith kissed Lenore’s forehead. “Go to your sister and don’t let her do anything rash. And you, sweetheart, don’t be reckless either. I’ll call you as soon as I know anything. We’ll meet up at Charity’s place in a few hours.” She squeezed Lenore’s arm.
    A horn blasted outside. “There’s my taxi.” She handed Lenore a small ring with smaller keys on it. “Take my car.”

    ~~~

    Lenore watched the taxi pull onto the street. Grandma was unlike anything else and she was so grateful for her. Well into her nineties, she was as fit as an active sixty-year-old. Then again, as Grandma liked to remind them, if a healer can’t keep herself and those she loved healthy and in tip-top form, what good was she?
    She slanted a glance to Col. The lost and lonely sorrow in his eyes physically hurt. He’d lost his family, everyone he loved. As eager as she was to get to Charity and keep her sister from jumping down the rabbit’s hole, she hurt for Col. One brother had gone to the dark side and his sister was a casualty of World War Two. She knew how she’d feel if she lost Charity. Which was a stark possibility if they couldn’t get