“We understand how history works, Giles. And we already knew the MacCoinnich’s raised a strong family, both for the times and in their Druid abilities. What about this book struck you as unique?”
Right! Moving on. “You see, before you arrived, Kincaid, Helen attempted to search for more information inside the book. Power beyond us flipped pages inside, stopping often, and continued on.”
“Power beyond us?” Kincaid asked.
Amber sat forward. “You mean the Ancients?”
Giles exchanged glances with Kincaid. Neither of them had a strong faith in Ancient power, but he hadn’t seen such a strong reaction out of a simple request before.
“That’s what Helen said. Anyway, last night I read the pages where the book stopped. It talked about generations of MacCoinnich’s and other strong Druid families.”
“A lesson about the family tree?” Kincaid asked.
“At first, that’s what I thought it was, but this afternoon I found these other books and attempted to cross reference the information to see if there was something linking them together. What I found was each of the couples both came from Druid families. Both had Druid blood.”
“That can’t be rare,” Amber said.
“Actually, as the years move on from your time, it does become rare. As each century passes without guidance, some Druids never even know of their heritage. And in this time, we know many Druids think of themselves as witches, or that they’re crazy.”
“Selma thought herself a witch until she met Lizzy,” Amber reminded them.
“Exactly. It appears after the millennium more Druid connections occurred. Maybe because of the time travel brought on by your family…or awareness on a more secret level. Who knows, maybe Kincaid and I being in this time as we are, was predetermined to set the course for the future. It’s hard to say.”
“The books led you to learn about the strong gene pool between Druids. How does that help us?” Kincaid’s voice was all business and no smile met his lips.
Giles dropped his gaze to their joined hands sitting on the table. “Amber, tell me, were your parents bonded? Had they exchanged Druid wedding vows?”
“Aye. As are Tara and Duncan.”
“I’m assuming, only by what I’ve seen of course, that Helen and Simon are not bonded.” Giles refused to meet Kincaid’s stare, knowing the man would probably follow his line of questions.
“No. Nor are Lizzy and Fin.”
Kincaid turned to Amber. “Why not?”
Amber shrugged. “When we were battling Grainna, there was too much uncertainty about the outcome. I don’t believe my brother, Fin, wanted to risk Lizzy’s life. Then there was always the question about how time travel would affect the couple if they were separated for any amount of time since bounded couples share part of their souls.”
Giles pinched his eyes together. “You mean to say your family believed the other partner would perish if they traveled separately in time?”
“Is that not true?” Amber asked, her eyes wide with question.
Kincaid released breath. “No, Amber. It’s not true. It’s only when the soul has left this world, this plain, that the surviving mate yearns for the other. Yes, most die within a short time when that happens, but not when one travels in time.”
Amber brought a hand to her neck and played with the necklace she wore.
“The bound couples in the books I’ve read about often outlived their unbound cousins. Which is why in our time,” Giles waved a hand between him and Kincaid, “when couples are married, Druid wedding vows are always exchanged. It has made us, as a race, and the couples stronger. You know each Druid has a unique power, some more than one. Bound couples, with enough practice, can use their mate’s power as well.”
“I’ve never seen my mother create lightning as my father can.”
“She probably hasn’t been encouraged to try. The power is never as strong, but it does happen. The more powerful the couple, the more powerful the bond.”
Giles sat back and let the information soak into the two Druids in front of him.
“Your mother had the gift of premonition, is that right?”
“Aye.”
“She told you to live here.”
“Aye. If I were to survive I had to come with Simon to this time to live my life.”
“Did she say anything else?”
Amber’s eyes fluttered several time, her face lost all color, not that it held much.
“She did.”
Giles held his breath and Kincaid started to squirm. The man never squirmed.
Amber stared directly at Kincaid. “She said a Druid awaited me in the future, and that this warrior would be the balm that saves me.”
Chapter Twelve
It’s not me. I’m no one’s balm.
Yet as Kincaid stared at his hand already bound to Amber’s, he knew how wrong he was. No one in his time had the ability to shield others. Some had the ability to shield themselves, but only for short periods of time and not beyond their own life force.
It’s what made him valuable to the team.
It’s what made him valuable to Amber.
It’s what was keeping her alive.
A massive wave of sorrow vibrated between the two of them as Giles’s words soaked in.
Bonding with anyone wasn’t his plan. If this was the only solution Giles was going to find in his books… “Keep searching for answers,” he told him.
“Of course.” Giles wouldn’t look at him.
Kincaid stood and Amber followed.
“Before you leave.” Giles stopped them. “Kincaid, were your parents bonded?”
“My father raised me. My mother was not Druid.”
Giles scratched his head. “That’s right. I seem to remember that. And your grandparents?”
“My father spoke of a mother. I didn’t know my grandparents.”
“It’s safe to say they weren’t bonded either?”
“One can assume.”
“Yet your powers are stronger than most.” Seemed Giles was thinking aloud.
“Your point?”
“No point. An observation. Perhaps another answer is in your lineage.”
Was he suggesting another man for Amber?
Kincaid swallowed hard, not liking the taste of that on his tongue. “I’m an only child.”
Giles turned pages in his book, already moving to the next option. “Right. A cousin perhaps…”
“What are you suggesting, Giles?” Amber asked. “That I bond with just anyone because of their gift?”