#dunvegan house

[livesunique]

Dunvegan House, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, United Kingdom

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Here’s a very unique fixer upper- it’s a former tourist attraction miniature replica of the famous Dunvegan Castle, built in 1962.  The property has some new wiring, new plumbing, new well, upgraded flooring, and some septic work. Located in Grenville Parish, Prince Edward Island, Canada, it’s only $275,000 CAD.

Here are some examples of what it looks like now, and what it could look like after it’s renovated.

Whoever designed the kitchen made it all modern. I would do something different.

Not lovin’ her unimaginative after ideas.

Heart shaped tub. Who did this? Tacky.

It’s a real little castle and actually looks like a castle, unlike some of the homes we’ve seen. There’s a little cottage in the back. Looks like the turret needs some stone repair.

This is really nicely built- as the description says, the bones are there.

There’re 2.79 acres, so there’s plenty of space to build another house, also. I think that there’s another castle next door b/c it used to be a tourist area. 

https://www.oldhousedreams.com/2023/01/19/1962-dunregan-castle-in-grenville-parish-prince-edward-island/

[fullmetalscullyy]

i was recently on the isle of skye for a week and these are my fave misc wee moments i took pictures of on my travels ✨

details for each pic below the cut

1. looking over to the isle of skye from the isle of raasay whisky distillery

2. the view from the pub, looking outside the sligachan hotel

3. lunch at the isle of raasay distillery - chicken bites with garlic mayo and a spiced pulled pork bao bun (i would leave my house rn to drive back up there to catch the ferry over in the morning for another one of those bao buns omg)

4. my whisky flight at the isle of raasay distillery - their signature single malt, a distillery exclusive whisky, and their slàinte club exclusive whisky for winning tourism destination of the year 2022 (cask strength baybeeee)

5. some nice decor in the distillery shop lol

6. a shelf of the dram glasses at the distillery

7. a wall of craft beer logos in an independent whisky shop

8. more decor from the distillery (!! big fan of this one)

9. a snapshot from the coral beach in claigan, dunvegan - there's no sand on this beach and it's technically not actually "coral", the beach consists of small shells and fossilised seaweed!!! called "maerl"!!! so cool

and one final pic to emphasise the wind on the ferry back from raasay. let's just say after more than a few whiskys combined w it blowing a hoolie, the phone was almost ripped out my hands on more than one occasion while taking a group selfie 💀

anyway i love this photo it's so candid and it's chaos and i had the BEST TIME

if u made it this far ily MWAH

[cooldrfred1]

Dunvegan Castle, situated on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, has been the ancestral home of the MacLeod clan for over 800 years.

Built in the 13th century, it is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. Notably, the castle houses the Fairy Flag, a legendary artifact believed to offer magical protection to the MacLeods.

Visitors can explore its grand interiors, historical artifacts, and picturesque gardens overlooking Loch Dunvegan...

[educationinaustralia]

Tourist Places in Scotland:

Scotland is known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture. Here are some top tourist places to visit in Scotland:

Edinburgh:

Edinburgh Castle: Historic fortress overlooking the city. Royal Mile: A historic street with shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. Holyrood Palace: The Queen’s official residence in Scotland. Arthur's Seat: An extinct volcano offering panoramic views of the city. Scottish National Gallery: Houses an impressive collection of art.

Glasgow:

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum: One of the most popular museums in Scotland. Glasgow Cathedral: A stunning example of Gothic architecture. The Riverside Museum: A museum of transport and travel. Glasgow Botanic Gardens: Beautiful gardens and glasshouses. The Necropolis: A Victorian cemetery with impressive monuments and views.

Highlands:

Loch Ness: Famous for the legendary Loch Ness Monster. Inverness: The capital of the Highlands, known for its historic sites and beautiful surroundings. Isle of Skye: Renowned for its rugged landscapes, picturesque villages, and medieval castles. Glencoe: A beautiful valley known for its stunning scenery and hiking trails. Ben Nevis: The highest mountain in the British Isles.

Isle of Skye:

Fairy Pools: A series of beautiful waterfalls and clear blue pools. The Quiraing: A landslip on the Trotternish Ridge with breathtaking views. Old Man of Storr: A rocky hill with iconic pinnacles. Dunvegan Castle: The oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland.

Stirling:

Stirling Castle: One of Scotland’s grandest castles with a rich history. The Wallace Monument: A tower commemorating William Wallace. Bannockburn: The site of a major Scottish victory in the First War of Scottish Independence.

Aberdeen:

Aberdeen Maritime Museum: Showcases the city’s maritime history. Duthie Park: Known for its Winter Gardens and floral displays. Footdee (Fittie): A historic fishing village with quaint cottages.

Outer Hebrides:

Luskentyre Beach: One of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland. Callanish Standing Stones: A prehistoric stone circle. St Kilda: A remote archipelago with stunning landscapes and rich wildlife.

Orkney Islands:

Skara Brae: A well-preserved Neolithic village. Ring of Brodgar: A large stone circle and henge. Maeshowe: A chambered cairn and passage grave.

Shetland Islands:

Jarlshof: A prehistoric and Norse settlement. Sumburgh Head: A stunning location for birdwatching and enjoying coastal views. Lerwick: The main town, known for its charming harbor and annual Up Helly Aa festival.

Other Notable Places:

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park: Offers beautiful scenery, hiking, and water activities. Cairngorms National Park: The largest national park in the UK, known for its mountains and wildlife. Melrose Abbey: A historic abbey with stunning architecture. Eilean Donan Castle: A picturesque castle situated on a small tidal island. https://www.aecglobal.com.au/ Falkirk Wheel: A unique rotating boat lift connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. These destinations offer a diverse range of experiences, from exploring historic castles and cities to enjoying the natural beauty of Scotland's landscapes.

[celticbarb]

Book: Enchanted by the Highlander

Author: Gerri Russell

Series: Guardians of the Isles, Book #6

Publisher: Tule

Release Date: May 23, 2023

Page Length: 237

Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars

Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags

Dunvegan Castle, 1743

Isle of Skye, Scottish

The saga continues: Keiran MacLeod who had been kidnapped as a month old infant, which had been ordered by the fairies King Oberon and taken to live in Fairyland. Now nine years later he finally returns to the human realm to his MacLeod family expecting him to be a nine year old child, not a grown man of twenty-three years! However the Oberon Fairy King did not want to care for a helpless infant so with magic aged him immediately to a fourteen year old teenager. Keiran had been told he was abandoned and that Oberon saved him and was his adoptive father which was a big pack of lies and deception. Kieran had been living in a trance under an enchantment spell all this time doing all the King’s bidding, never questioning anything no matter how wrong and awful it may be. He nearly killed his own half fairy cousin Aria who was only trying to save him. Luckily she did save him and break the enchantment spell and returned him to his true human MacLeod family. Aria with the help of other fairies helped destroy the king where he is now living in limbo but once he rejuvenates himself stealing powers from another magical wood sprite. Now Oberon wants to destroy everyone who tried to destroy him starting with the MacLeods! The Guardian of the Isles saga continues and this is Keiran’s story.

Dunvegan Castle, 1743

Isle of Skye, Scottish

Rosalyn de Clare is treated horribly by the English even though they do not know their families secret that she is half Scottish. Since her mother had been Scottish. An English Captain tries to take advantage and force himself on innocent Rosalyn and is caught by a snobbish cruel noblewoman and the ton. It was the escape her brother needed who put pressure on this soldier to marry her. As the woman he wants to marry does not want his sister in the house so he says. Now this Captain is being stationed getting reading to destroy the Scottish where the Jacobites want to put the exiled Stuarts back on the throne. If Roslyn does not marry she feels she will be ruined and feels she has no choice but to marry this horrible man who had been her first awful kiss and everyone makes her out to be a harlot.

On her way to Scotland her traveling party are all attacked and murdered even though she was killed as she felt an out of body experience and vision! She had been saved by this beautiful sad and lonely man, Kieran MacLeod, who saves her in a very confusing way. He is very much like her in many ways, always feeling alone and lonely. Even though the English were attacking the English and saying she was a worthless abomination and does not deserve to live due to her Scottish blood. To Kieran it made no sense and is shocked when he learns sweet Innocent Roslyn who feels like an outsider had been the target! He brings her to MacLeod castle where she will be safe. He must convince her to stay with them, but she does not understand why this Scottish family is being so kind to their common enemy, herself an English woman!

Furthermore even with the Jacobites trying to put their exiled King back on the throne which is another human thing Kieran does not understand. Plus the Battle of Culloden is only three years away and will change Scotland forever! However there is another threat King Oberon seems to be healing quicker than expected and Kieran fears he will want their fairy flag back and bring him back to Fairyland and under another enchantment spell. What Kieran does not realize is that Oberon’s plans are much more cruel and vindictive than he can imagine, Especially now for the first time in his life Kieran has fallen in love and will do anything to keep Roslyn free from harm. Can a mock marriage turn real?

Do these star-crossed lovers even have a chance with so many people and obstacles against them? With the English and a Fairy King all wanting to destroy the MacLeods, do Kieran and Roslyn even have a chance for a future? Will Kieran be forced back to Fairyland and under an enchantment spell where all his memories of Roslyn fade and disappear? Read and find out in this magical read that I could not put down and read in one setting!

Again Gerri Russell, one of my go-to-authors for the past twenty years writes another enchanting paranormal masterpiece! A Scottish historical that will sweep readers off their feet and into her magical world. A book I highly recommend that I could not help but love as it is absolutely brilliant. It is filled with all the elements that historical and paranormal romance readers will absolutely love!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy from the author. I voluntarily agreed to read, review and blog an advance copy of this book. All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my own.

[influencermagazineuk]

Lights, Camera, Action! Stunning Locations in the UK to Shoot Your Next Masterpiece

Looking to shoot a cool reel for your Instagram, a music video or even a film? The United Kingdom boasts a wealth of captivating landscapes and architecturally rich settings, making it a filmmaker's paradise. Whether you're crafting a heart-wrenching indie flick, a pulse-pounding music video, or a social media reel, the UK offers a diverse backdrop to bring your creative vision to life. For the history buff with a camera, Scotland's dramatic castles like Eilean Donan or Dunvegan provide a touch of medieval charm. Imagine epic battle scenes or brooding monologues set against the backdrop of these ancient fortresses, their windswept ramparts whispering tales of the past. London, a bustling metropolis, offers a different kind of grandeur. Iconic landmarks like Tower Bridge or Buckingham Palace can add a touch of quintessential British flair to your production. Explore the cobbled streets of Notting Hill for a quirky, bohemian vibe, or capture the fast-paced energy of Piccadilly Circus for a truly urban feel. The rolling hills and picturesque villages of the Cotswolds are perfect for a story that oozes quintessential English charm. Think thatched-roof cottages adorned with vibrant flowers, charming country pubs, and babbling brooks – a scene straight out of a Jane Austen novel. For a taste of the otherworldly, head north to the Scottish Highlands. The dramatic landscapes, with their rugged mountains, vast lochs (lakes), and sweeping valleys, are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. Imagine a lone figure silhouetted against a fiery sunset over the Isle of Skye, or capture the mystical allure of the standing stones at Callanish. Wales, with its dramatic coastlines and moody mountains, offers a wild, untamed beauty. The dramatic cliffs of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park or the fairytale-like beauty of Snowdonia National Park are perfect backdrops for stories that evoke a sense of adventure and mystery. But the UK's beauty isn't limited to wide-open spaces. Abandoned industrial sites offer a unique, post-apocalyptic aesthetic. Picture a gritty music video set against the backdrop of a derelict steelworks, or a dystopian film shot in a forgotten warehouse.Don't forget the power of the unexpected. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden alleyways, quirky cafes, or colorful street art – sometimes the most captivating locations are the ones you stumble upon unexpectedly. So, grab your camera, unleash your creativity, and get ready to explore the UK's cinematic treasures. With its diverse landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, the UK is a filmmaker's playground waiting to be discovered. There are many films shot in the UK on the places we mentioned, and are a lot to explore! Films shot in the United Kingdom A - Aaja Mexico Challiye - Ahir Bhairav (film) - Angel Has Fallen - Animal (2023 Indian film) - Annapolis (2006 film) - Avatar (2009 film) B - Bad Apples (upcoming film) - Barun Rai and the House on the Cliff - The Beatles: Get Back - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - Bhaijaan Elo Re - A Bit of Light - Born a King - Butterfly (unreleased film) C - Carla (film) - Carry on Jatta 3 - The Cave (2019 Thai film) - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film) - City Under the Sea - Close (2019 film) D - Danielle Cable: Eyewitness - The Dark Knight - The Day of the Jackal (film) - Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father - Den of Thieves 2: Pantera - Dunkirk (2017 film) E - English (2013 film) - Entebbe (film) G - Gadgetman - Ganapath - The Giant Behemoth - Gladiator II - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (film) H - The Haunting (1963 film) - Heart of Stone (2023 film) - Hedda (upcoming film) - Helen (2008 film) - Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard - Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans - House of Salem I - Inception - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade K - Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... - Kanchana 3 L - The Last Letter from Your Lover - Let Them All Talk (film) - Lloyd & Hill - London Bridge (film) - London, Paris, New York - Loving You (2003 film) M - Mission Raniganj O - One Day (2011 film) - One More Shot (2024 film) - One Shot (2021 film) P - The Parent Trap (1998 film) R - Raiders of the Lost Ark - Rebus (film) - Red, White & Royal Blue (film) - Rogue (2020 film) S - Sat Shri Akaal England - Saving Private Ryan - Statement of Youth - The Swimmers (2022 film) T - Tenet (film) - Tere Sang Yaara - That Is Mahalakshmi - Tropic of Ice U - Upgraded (film) W - The Wasp (2024 film) - What Became of Jack and Jill? - Wicked (2024 film) - Wicked Part Two Y - Yaariyan 2 Z - Zam Zam (film) Read the full article

[niftyandinterestingstuff]

The Great Sword of Dunvegan. This type of sword is known as a "claymore" in modern English. This sword belongs to the Castle (House) Dunvegan, home of the Clan MacLeod on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Castle Dunvegan has been continuously occupied for 800 years by Clan MacLeod although the current Chief of the Clan, Hugh Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod, divides his time between Dunvegan and London. Hugh Magnus was born in 1973 and took over as thirtieth Chief from his father in 2007. He currently represents the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies in the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.

[fairytalesandfandoms]

well folks, first Wicker Man (1973) complete

thoughts below (mostly silly, contains spoilers)

Despite having come across quite a few spoilers for this film over the years, I had somehow missed the memo about them all being Scottish, so I was VERY surprised when I heard Howie's Rs during his reading at the start

The start was all very Rocky Horror in that it reminded me of Brad and Janet's wedding.

He flew over Skye and I was like I'VE BEEN UP THERE (Old Man of Storr). And it would be so much fun to be in a plane on water

Chocolate babies, totally normal thing for a shop to have. Gives a new meaning to the phrase ‘aw you're so cute I could just EAT YOU UP.’

When they started singing in the pub: well this is all very awkward for the poor girl

*Christopher Lee appears* HE

And for those of you who also like kilts.... there you go, double whammy

I don’t know what kind of red flag all this Aphrodite stuff is but it sure is one

is that a metaphorical snail

(I meant symbolic but anyway)

THAT'S A FLIPPIN POEM I KNOW THAT ONE

...they were indeed metaphorical snails

‘yes, in comparative religion’ the boot’s on the other foot now or however the saying goes

Ye Ancient Lawnmower

The POOR FROG having to go in the girl's mouth

(seeing the picture in the registrar's office) Oh there’s Rabbie Burns

(when Lord Summerisle's castle/house appears) Now I should know where that is. But do I? No. Could be Dunvegan if it was filmed on Skye

Inside it just looked like a posh stately home which isn't really what I expected for a pagan dude [edit: what I meant was a movie pagan dude]

Lord Summerisle popping out of the chair like

What is his hair doing

He's more affable-seeming than I expected (I know he's actually not)

‘It’s much too dangerous to jump through the fire with your clothes on’ I hate to say this but he does have a point

Something something tension between Christianity and nature/paganism, but alas I am distracted by Christopher Lee

(body falls out of the wardrobe) OH SHIT

Oh they’re all just messing with him now. Is this turning into a comedy

(Howie hits McGregor with a candlestick) Here we go

Okay the 70s guitar music really isn’t lending itself to the atmosphere

(they appear on the cliff) Oh fuckin’ ‘ell

Er, technically is it now not his own free will, since clearly he doesn't want to be sacrificed?

'Willing-king-like-virgin-fool' that’s a lot of words put together

They could’ve just thrown him into the sea right there but I guess that wouldn’t fit their ceremony

Oh come on, you didn’t need to put ducks in there. And a goat!

Lee is going full Saruman now I see

And with the wisdom of someone who has read A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil: that’s gonna take a while

I wasn't expecting the whole Christianity thing to be so pronounced, it did make it more interesting at the end

I should have watched this instead of Midsommar. I was able to be silly about this one. (That is not a criticism!) There were some 'oh shit's fucked up' moments but it wasn't as unsettling to me

I'm watching the second one for Nicolas Cage (and the meme) but I definitely watched this one for Christopher Lee. I wish he'd had more screen time.

[cpbhomes]

[livesunique]

Dunvegan Castle, Dunvegan, Isle Of Skye, Scotland

[the-quotable-alberta-hansard]

March 16, 2017

Ms McCuaig-Boyd: I do not need people from the other side mansplaining to me about electricity.

An Hon. Member: Point of order.

The Speaker: Point of order noted.

Ms Phillips: Such a snowflake.

Mr. Nixon: Point of order.

The Speaker: Two points of order. [interjections] Hon. members, please stop.

[scotianostra]

The 16th of February 1746 saw Government forces under Lord Louden attempt to capture Prince Charles Edward Stewart at Moy Hall.

The story is about the outwitting of the Hanoverian Army by five servants of the remarkable Jacobite supporter, Lady Anne Mackintosh of Moy Hall. The tale is like a scene worthy of Diana Gabaldon in an Outlander novel.

While Charles Edward Stuart was a guest in her house with only a small number of men, she learned that the Hanoverian Army was on its way to capture him. She came up with a daring plan to save Charles and deter the Hanoverians. As the Army approached, her five servants darted in and out of the trees yelling war cries and firing pistols, pretending to be the whole Jacobite Army.

The plan was a success and the Hanoverians fled back to Inverness.

The only death in the “Rout of Moy” was Duncan Bam MacCrimmon, Hereditory Piper to the MacLeods of Dunvegan, who took the Hanoverian side in the ‘45. The full story can be found here http://iainthepict.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/rout-of-moy.html18Helen Douglas-Andrews, David Cairns and 16 others

[tomtenadia]

Island Dreams - Chapter 26

Hello people! Chapter 26 is finally here.

So, Aelin and Rowan go on an adventure for a while because something happens (you will found out what in the first line)

Toward the middle, they have a Harry Potter chat. I am not a fan but i inserted the dialogue because of where they are. And guess where Rowan gets sorted? Also, sorry I was nasty to Gryffindors... the little I know about them it's enough for me not to like them. Once a Slytherin always a Slytherin.

All the locations I have mentioned and the restaurant actually exists. Please google them if you are curious :)

Aelin during one part of the trip sings a song (near Loch Lomond) The song she sings is Loch Lomond by Runrig. This is a very, very sad song but is also one of those that it's almost impossible not to sing along. At least the version by Runrig. You can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHu0h9XaNcg

As of this morning I officially wrote the last sentence in the fic. One chapter still has some parts that needs developing, plus my usual editing but i wrote the end this morning.

Anyway, for now I'll leave you with chapter 26.

Have fun :)

-------------------

It was the beginning of May and Aelin and Rowan were packing for a small adventure. Two months before they had received an invitation from Elide and Lorcan to attend their wedding in Glasgow. They had accepted and they were now getting ready for their little getaway. This was going to be their last chance to have a holiday before the arrival of the twins. Lysandra was going to look after Rowan’s shop. She and Aedion had arrived a bit earlier than scheduled as he had been asked to start working a bit earlier. Lysandra, on the other hand did not have as much luck on the work front. Her job had been put on hold for the foreseeable future so when she had overheard Rowan talking about hiring as assistant for the shop she had volunteered. She had admitted that she was not a book nerd like the two of them but she liked to read so she was happy to run the shop. He had given an intensive training and once he was happy he decided to leave her in charge while he was away with Aelin.

“I can’t find my hoodie.” Aelin grunted while she was finishing packing her case. Their house was now a sea of boxes. They were a few weeks away from moving to their new place. The works had taken longer than expected which in the end it turned out to be a blessing. Lys and Aedion were there and they had offered to help with the move. Aedion had joked that they were Aelin’s personal removal company. “Which one?” “Yours. The uni of Glasgow one. It’s big enough that I can fit my huge belly in it.” Rowan came back two minutes later with the hoodie in his hands “You can’t function without me.” She stuck her tongue out and donned the hoodie “It’s far too early in the morning.” “We need to leave in half an hour. Is your bag ready?” “Yes. It was ready last night but then I realised I forgot some bits.” And she placed her Scotland’s guide in her carry on backpack. “You don’t need that.” He said pointing at the book “I know Glasgow very well.” “It was mostly for the drive from Skye to Glasgow.” “I know that very well too. I have done it a million times.” He grabbed the book from her. “Fine.” And he put the book aside. Ten minutes later she announced to Rowan that she was ready to go and he sighed in relief. They had a ferry to catch and he was being his paranoid self. He grabbed her suitcase and his duffel bag and walked out to the car to load it. Once he was done he went back to the house. Aelin was already in the car and noticed him coming back with a bulky pillow that he bought her to help her for the long road trip and stay as comfortable as possible. She smiled and noticed his other hand holding a bag. A moment later she found out that bag contained snacks for their very long car ride. Since the accident with the Korean he had been even more careful with her food. “Are you ready?” He got in the car and made sure she was all set to go. Aelin smiled “Punch it.” They arrived in Tarbert with plenty of time for their ferry. Rowan had gone to buy the tickets and Aelin waited in the car all excited for this big adventure. She had driven a part of the road they were taking when she arrived a year before but she knew that with Rowan as a guide it would be much, much more different. She had a look at her phone and realised that a year ago exactly on that day she had arrived on Lewis and walked into his shop and changed their lives. She patted her belly “It’s a big day today for mum and dad.” “I am back.” Said Rowan while getting back in the car and placing a ticket on the dashboard of the car “They should start loading soon.” “Is this one of those where we can go on deck?” “Yes, we will be able to go on deck. It’s a gorgeous day. This is an amazing crossing.” Aelin took Rowan’s hand a placed it on her bump “Do you know which day is it today?” He stared at her “hmmm… I think it’s the day when my favourite menace walked into my shop looking for books and never left.” “Happy anniversary.” She whispered while leaning forward to kiss him. “Thank you for coming into my shop.”

It was over an hour later when they docked in the tiny village of Uig on the Isle of Skye. And Aelin was in hyper mode already. When he told her they were going via Skye she had started reading all about it and it looked like the most magical place she had ever seen. They would stop in a few places along the road but they had planned to stop a bit more on their way back when they had more time. They got back on the road and not long after she noticed Rowan taking a very small road “Where are we going?” “There is a place I need to show you.” They arrived not long after and Aelin’s mouth fell open. The place in front of her seemed like it came out from a fairy tale book. And she could not stop staring at how green and lush it was. “Welcome to the Fairy glen.” Aelin’s head whipped to his side “You are kidding.” “No, that its name.” He got off the car and reached her side “We’ll go for a short walk. We’ll stop again in Portree and have proper lunch there, but I had to show you this place.” Slowly they walked to the small hills. Aelin spotted what looked like the remains of a castle and was annoyed that she could not climb there. Rowan held her from behind and turned her “Look over there.” And he pointed at the big hill in the distance and Aelin spotted a few waterfalls “This place is amazing.” “Why is it called Fairy glen?” “Skye has a connection with the Fairies thanks to the Fairy flag at Dunvegan castle, which will visit when we come back.” “Is Schatach’s castle far away? According to the legends she was a warrior on the Isle of Skye and there should be a place called Dun Scaith which allegedly was her home.” His arms tightened around her, he loved her interest in Celtic mythology “It’s in the south. I’ll take you there when we come back. I promise.” Then he grabbed his backpack and took a couple of sandwiches from it “Sit down and have a little snack” He helped her sit down in the grass and she took food and strawberry milkshake from him. Once their breakfast was over Rowan helped Aelin to stand and hand in hand they walked around the glen and Rowan had to restrain Aelin from climbing in places where she shouldn’t “Seriously?” And he folded his arms at his chest. “Fine, I am not climbing.” They explored a bit longer and then Rowan pressed to go back in the car and on the road. “I was planning on getting into Portree for lunch. Fancy doing a very touristy thing?” “If I can get a fridge magnet, yes.” Rowan roared with laughter. That had become their recurrent joke “I think so and you will be able to get more once we are in Portree.” “Good. Our new fridge will be fully covered.” “I have not agreed to that.” He complained, giving her a smile at the same time. “Where are you taking me?” “We can take a detour to Carbost and we can have a tour of Talisker distillery. All the tourists go to whisky distilleries when they come to Scotland.” “Yes. I know I will not be able to drink but I don’t care. I always wanted to do it. Yes, let’s be tourists.” “As you wish, Fireheart.” An hour later they had arrived at the distillery and Aelin jumped out of the car “This is so awesome and I can smell the whisky.” Rowan took her hand and they walked in. The next tour would be in half an hour so they explored the shop and Aelin bought her magnets and a bottle of whisky for Aedion, she knew he’d love it. She just had to find a nice present for Lysandra now as a thank you for covering the shop. “Let’s go and sit outside, it’s gorgeous.” The view in front of the distillery was breathtaking. The loch in front of them seemed infinite and it was framed mountains in the background. Aelin ate another sandwich while suntanning. She had shed her hoodie and was in a t-shirt, her bump pointed at the sun “The girls and I are suntanning.” Rowan sat on the bench beside her and kissed the bump “how are you three doing?” “They are quiet. They kicked a couple of times but now they are probably snoozing.” And caressed the belly. “If you get tired you let me know. I have enough breaks planned so you don’t spend too much time sitting in the car.” “We are doing fine. I promise.” She brushed his hair. After her night trip to the A&E he had been even more over protective and his fussing levels had sky rocketed. But he had been wonderful to her. He had gotten her all the food she was craving and cooked for her all the recipes she wished. He was with her at every single appointment and he had started reading a lot of books about pregnancy and parenting. She had realised a while ago that Rowan had been brooding. He had confessed to her that he had wanted a family for a very long time and she knew that Lyria was against it and Aelin had a feeling that it had been one of the things that destroyed him the most about the failed relationship. “Let’s put the bag in the car and go for our tour.” He offered his hand and she took it and followed him.

It was later when they came out of the distillery and Aelin was ecstatic. “I had no idea you guys had so many varieties of whisky and it was so fascinating.” He kissed her head “glad you loved it.” “One of the ladies in our group kept staring at you.” Rowan took her hand “Thank you for leaving her alive.” “She got some cold stares from me. Seriously woman, stop staring at another woman’s man.” “Let’s go, menace.” Aelin followed him back to the car and not long after they were on the road to Portree. Rowan had explained it was the main town and after a year on the islands she had an idea of what main town meant. Once in Portree, Rowan parked the car, Aelin grabbed her backpack and off they went. When in the main square, she noticed the tourist office and she dragged him inside explaining that that was the perfect place for another fridge magnet. Rowan sighed and followed her inside. He waited for her in a corner of the office and she came back later with a big bag. “That’s a bit of an oversized magnet.” He joked. “It’s Lys’ present. I got her a lovely bag made locally here on Skye. Lysandra loves bags and I know she will adore this one.” “It’s actually really nice.” He added, looking at the present she had bought. They dropped the bag in the car and Rowan had convinced her to put her stuff In his backpack so she didn’t have to carry anything. Once they were all sorted they walked to the marina and Aelin squealed when she saw the houses painted in pink and blue and green “That is so lovely.” For a while they followed the path along the marina until Rowan declared it was time to feed her and for her to sit down for a while. Aelin did not protest at the idea of food and followed him to his favourite seafood restaurant. The meal had been superb and Aelin leaned back on the chair with a satisfied smile on her face “I wonder if the desserts here are nice.” Rowan scoffed “How can you still have space?” “You should know that you have agreed to marry a bottomless pit.” Once lunch was over they were back in the car. Rowan had told her they were taking the ferry across to Mallaig instead of the bridge back to the mainland. They would do that on their way back. He had also explained that once across the water there were some amazing beaches they could stop to and have another break and Aelin was easy to convince. During the trip down to Armadale he had chatted away being her personal guide and she realised they might need a week just to explore Skye. She loved the islands but she realised there was so much on the mainland that a lifetime might not be enough “we should take breaks more often. There is so much to discover.” “We can definitely do that and it would be nice to travel with our two girls.” She put her hand on his knee and in that moment one of the girls or both kicked “They agree.” “Are they moving?” Aelin smiled as his hand moved to the bump. “Every singe time, it amazes me.” And she saw love in his eyes “It just the idea that there are two small human beings growing inside you. It’s just… incredible.” She took his hand and kissed it “just don’t be too in awe. You will be less impressed by the process when you will see how it happens, live.” “I will be in awe of you and what you will do.” She turned to him and blew him a kiss “You will be such a loving dad.” “I will do my best.”

They were just about to dock in Mallaig when Aelin’s phone went off and she noticed it was Lysandra. “Hi Lys, how are you doing?” “I am doing amazing and the shop is fine. I had a busy morning and I had no idea how fun it was to work in a bookstore. Tell Rowan the shop is fine and that I had good sales as well.” “He will be happy to hear that.” Aelin gave Rowan the thumbs up after she noticed the worry in his face when she said it was Lys on the phone. “How are you guys doing?” “We are about to dock on the mainland in Mallaig. The weather down here is amazing and we are having fun.” “Gotta go. Customers. Keep me posted.” Lysandra hung up and Aelin followed Rowan back to the car “Lys says the shop is fine and that she had a busy morning with good sales and that she is having a great time.” Rowan laughed “good. You can tell her that she can keep being my interim assistant until she gets a job at the hospital. It seems like she has a knack as well. She might want to keep busy and well, I need an assistant and we could not find anyone I liked so…” “You had very high standards.” “No. I just wanted someone who had a bit of interest and willingness to work.” “Time to drive, old man.” Joked Aelin when one of the car deck crew motioned them to move forward and disembark. They drove for a very short distance until Rowan pulled in, in a car park. Aelin was giddy, while they were driving past Morar bay, her face was attached to the window. There were sands everywhere, but Rowan kept driving. She was dying to get off the car. She new he was trying to get them as close as possible to their destination. Walking for long was getting very problematic for her so he was just being his thoughtful self. Once at the car park, she opened the door as soon as the car stopped and was out. “Come on, Buzzard. I need to go to the beach.” He grabbed the backpack and put a hat on her head “Now we can go.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the small path. Usually he was the guide, but when it came to beaches, she was the one leading the way. Rowan would joke saying that she would smell beaches like a bloodhound. Aelin stopped when the beach finally appeared in front of her. It was not Luskentyre but the water was still crystal blue and the sand white. “This is Camusdarach beach.” Aelin toed off her shoes and started walking to the water. Rowan picked up the shoes and followed her. By the time he got there, she was already in the water, waves gently brushing her ankles. “Come on, this is beautiful.” Rowan smiled and toed off his shoes as well, dropped his backpack on the sand and joined her in the water, right behind her with his arms folding on her bump. His smell of pine engulfed her and Aelin leaned against his chest “I am glad Elide and Lorcan are getting married and invited us, it gave us a lovely excuse for this amazing trip.” Hand in hand they walked the length of the beach and eventually Rowan dragged her back on the sand and they sat down enjoying the sun. Aelin started playing with the sand and began building a sand castle and Rowan joined her a bit later. “Aelin’s castle.” After her castle was finished, Rowan pulled her down on the sand and he rolled to the side, facing her “thank you for not giving up on me.” “You were a bit of a hopeless case,” she added, flicking his nose “but being cute saved you.” “Just cute?” He pouted. “Fine, as Lys would say, you are sex on two legs.” “Poor Aedion.” “Ach, she just looks. She loves him.” His hand caressed her face “You can look as well, but remember that I exist. I can be jealous too.” Aelin snuggled closer and five minutes later she was snoozing and Rowan let her. They had a very early start and he wanted her to relax as much as she could. He rolled back on his back but then sat up and kept playing with the sand castle she had built. When she woke up it was an hour later. “Hello, sleeping beauty.” “Did I just fell asleep on the sand?” He leaned forward to kiss her “that you did.” “And you let me?” “Yes.” Aelin fought to stand but failed miserably so Rowan helped her. “We can’t waste too much time dillydallying. We need to hit the road again.” She tried to bend over to grab her shoes but she had no such luck. Rowan stood and patted the sand away from her and squeezed her ass in the meantime. “Aye, aye captain.” He said picking up her shoes and patting the sand away from him as well. Ten minutes later they were back on the road and Aelin was happily sipping on her smoothie. “This road we are on is called the road to the isle because it’s the road that connects Fort William to Mallaig where you can get the ferry to the islands.” “Were you a Harry Potter fan?” He asked. “Not really. I have only seen the movies to keep company to Lysandra. Why?” “There is one place on our way that became quite famous in one of the movies.” “Oh, the viaduct?” She asked. Lysandra on the other hand, was obsessed with Harry Potter and they had watched the movies together. “Lys is a huge Harry Potter fan and since I haven’t read the books she convinced me to at least to watch the movie. She had told me the viaduct was in Scotland.” “We will pass Glenfinnan and if you want we can stop there.” “Yes, I need to take a picture for Lys.” They arrived at the site half an hour later and Rowan parked in a small car park and Aelin could see the viaduct in the distance. “There is a visitor centre and you can get your magnet there.” He joked and they started the walk to the viaduct and Aelin took a lot of photos and started sending them to Lys via WhatsApp. “Were you a Harry Potter fan?” She took his hand. Rowan shook his head “I read the books just to see what all the fuss was about but I never got into them. Not my kind of thing.” “You could be a Slytherin.” Added Aelin looking at him with a wicked smile. Rowan looked away for a moment “Lyria made me took a test. She was into the books. I was sorted in Slytherin.” Aelin lifted the hands they were holding to his mouth and kissed his “Let me guess, the bitch was a Gryffindor.” Rowan laughed “that she was.” “As if I needed another reason to hate her.” Rowan squeezed her hand “you don’t like them?” “I hate them. And I hate Potter. He is the most annoying, most useless and most boring character ever written.” She confessed “Lys made me take the test and I am a Slytherin too, Lys is a Ravenclaw and Aedion is alas, a Gryffindor.” “Poor Lys.” They finally arrived under the viaduct and Aelin took a picture of her holding the pylons of the viaduct. “This is quite impressive. Do train actually run on it?” Rowan nodded “The regular Scotrail trains from Glasgow to Mallaig come through here but from Fort William there is also the Jacobite steam train, which by the way was used in Harry Potter 2, and it’s a very fancy train that runs twice a day.” “That must be one heck of a gorgeous train ride.” “It is, I have done it a few times, the regular train, I mean. Probably one of the most stunning we have in Scotland.” He started walking back and took her hand again. “Lys is saying that she is so jealous right now and told me that I am lucky girls because my fiancé is not a Gryffindor.” “Come on Buzzard, I have a few tacky things to buy.” She pulled him toward the visitor centre. Slowly they got back to the car and Rowan drove the small distance back to the visitor centre. He parked there and Aelin went inside the shop and bought stuff for her and Lysandra and got back to him who was waiting for her outside. Together they walked to the monument standing in front of Loch Shiel and sat down at the table at the viewpoint “Remember the scene in the third Harry Potter movie when Harry flies on the big flying creature whose name I can’t remember?” Aelin nodded. “This is the loch in the scene.” He looked at her puzzled expression “I only know because I have a book in the shop about movie locations in Scotland and in the summer is quite popular with tourists and once I had a look through it out of curiosity.” “I need to read it next time I am in.” He sat down beside her and pulled her close “How are you feeling? Are you tired?” “Are you joking? This is amazing. I will sleep tonight. I have a feeling I will be out as soon as I hit the bed but for now I am fine. Really, Ro.” He grabbed his backpack and opened it “Are you hungry?” She nodded and Rowan offered her another sandwich and Aelin munched away while taking in the incredible view in front of her. “Did Elide tell you where they are getting married?” Aelin nodded “The cloisters at Glasgow University. I have no idea what it is, but I assume you know. But Elide told me that she loves that place so much and felt like it was a cool place where to get married. They don’t have a large numbers of people so we will fit.” Rowan had a large smile “It was and still is one of my favourite places around the University and once we are there you will know why. I will take you there tomorrow. Our accommodation is very close by to the university so got very lucky.” “She said that they are having the reception inside the centre hall at Kelvingrove art gallery.” Rowan laughed “they have amazing taste. That’s all I am saying right now.” “I googled some pictures and they are amazing sites.” Then she looked up to him “are you looking forward being back in Glasgow?” Rowan nodded “I love the islands but I have some great memories of the city.” Eventually Rowan stood “Let’s go. We still have a very long drive. I want to show you Glen Coe before we continue our drive south.” They got back in the car and on the road “sleep a bit, “said Rowan caressing her head “it will take us about an hour to reach Glen Coe.” Aelin blew him a kiss and did as was told and woke up only when Rowan nudged her awake. She opened her eyes and gasped at the beautiful view in front of her. “We are driving through Glen Coe.” “I am speechless.” “It’s quite incredible, I agree.” A few minutes later Rowan stopped the car and he got out and motioned for Aelin to follow him. They both sat on the hood of the car and he put an arm around her shoulder, “see this three ridges in front of us?” Aelin nodded. “They are called the three sisters of Glen Coe.” “That’s a cute name.” “Did they film anything in GlenCoe? It seems like such an mazing film locations,” she asked curious. “Tons of stuff, actually. Some more of the Harry Potter movies, some bits of Braveheart, one of the James Bond movies, Skyfall I think, and another one I remember is Monthy Python and the Holy Grail.” “I really need to read your book.” They sat in silence for a moment, then Rowan pushed her to go back into the car “Come on. We’ll have a last stop in Balloch and then from there we will do the last leg to Glasgow.” They got back in the car and Aelin was asleep again within minutes and he let her sleep. From time to time he brushed his hand on her bump but the twins seemed asleep as well. She woke up again much later “where are we?” She asked with a sleepy voice. “Near Tarbert, we are on Loch Lomond.” Aelin smiled “there is a song.” And she started fiddling with his mp3 player to find the song. A couple of minutes later she found it and pressed play and Rowan smiled fondly. He had created a monster in terms of music. Aelin started singing and he laughed. “You’ll take the high road, and I’ll take the low road and I’ll be in Scotland afore ye. Where me and my true love will never meet again on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.” “You know this is a sad song, right?” “I know I read the meaning behind it but it’s so good. I love it so much.” Once in Balloch, Rowan took Aelin for a walk into Balloch castle country park but when he noticed her trailing behind slowly he called it a day and decided they were going back to the car and drive the last leg to Glasgow. She was getting tired and he felt as if he had pushed her enough although he was alway careful and walked always short distances. Aelin slept until Rowan woke her up announcing they were arrived at the hotel. “We are in Glasgow?” He kissed her “yes, we made it.” She gave him a big smile and slowly got out of the car, grabbed her backpack and followed him. Rowan unloaded the bags and they got inside the hotel and at the receptions. She let Rowan check them in. She was feeling tired and only wanted to take a shower and collapse in bed. Once in their bedroom Aelin sat on the bed and then lay down heavily under Rowan’s worried stare “are you sure you are okay?” “Yeah, a shower and a nap and I will be okay.” Rowan had a look in the bathroom “even better, you can take a relaxing bath and if you behave I might join you. I am pretty wiped as well.” At that statement Aelin stood and went to open the taps in the bathtub “no take backs.” Fifteen minutes later they were both in the tub, Rowan behind her and he was washing her hair and then her back “That’s not fair, I can only wash your legs.” Then she leaned back against him and he purred. “Will you manage to go out for dinner or shall we order in?” Aelin shook her head “I want to go out. Do we have to go very far?” “No, it’s a twenty minutes walk. Or we can walk five minutes and take the underground for one stop. There is a lovely area for food in Hillhead, the uni area. There is a wonderful Vietnamese restaurant that I adore and I haven’t been there in a lifetime. Or we can try something else. Whichever takes your fancy.” “Vietnamese sounds perfection. But can we do the half walk half underground option?” “I would drive but parking is a nightmare in that area.” She took his hands and placed them on her bump “half and half is perfect.” Rowan kissed her neck caressed her bump when he felt a kick. “I think we are getting close to the stage when they will be able to hear sounds. Their ears should be formed by now and they will hear muffled sounds from outside.” “I need to go back reading to them.” He asked tugging her even closer. “I’d love that. But only stories with badass females.” “Of course and I’ll make sure I will read them about their namesakes.” “Morrigan is going to hate us for her name as soon as she discovers where it comes from.” Rowan kissed her head “We can change it.” But Aelin shook her head in dissent “I adore it.” They cuddled in the bathtub a bit longer but when the water started to cool down Rowan ordered them to get out. Aelin, in her bathrobe collapsed in bed. It was still far too early to go out for dinner so they were going to chill out in bed. Rowan had driven all day and she was positive he was exhausted as well. He joined her in bed and snuggled against her “What are you doing?” Aelin took her phone “what’s the name of the restaurant?” “Hanoi bike shop.” “That’s a very random name.” Rowan chuckled “look at some photos and you will see why.” Aelin did that “oh wow. The place looks amazing. There are actually pieces of bikes hanging… and look at the lanterns.” “And their food is delicious.” “Let me see the menu.” She was too busy browsing her phone to notice that Rowan had fallen asleep in her arms. She set an alarm for half past six and cuddled against him and placed one of his hands on the bump, then kissed his head and slept a while as well.

She woke again five minutes before the alarm was meant to go off. Rowan was still fast asleep and she felt horrible at the idea of waking him up but her stomach was grumbling and she was getting hungry. She kissed him gently and brushed a hand through his hair and slowly he woke. “Hi you.” “Hey,” his voice still gruff “did I fall asleep?” “Like a baby” she kissed him “I didn’t want to wake you but I am starving.” Rowan laughed and rolled on his back. A second later he was off the bed and went to the suitcase to grab some clothes “Come on, let’s get you fed, then we can come back and relax.” Ten minutes later they were both ready and outside. Aelin had a look and in the distance she noticed a park. Rowan had told her they were near his uni. They walked for a bit along Sauchienall st. until in the distance she noticed some amazing buildings and pulled him to walk faster. Rowan stopped her and went back into guide mode. He went behind her and took her arm and pointed “that, is Glasgow university. And this amazing red building in front of us is Kelvingrove museum. Glasgow uni is the second oldest uni in Scotland dating to 1451 and the fourth oldest in the UK.” “I am jealous. I went to a modern uni. Yours looks amazing.” “We’ll have a proper look tomorrow, same for the museum.” They reached the underground and while they were waiting Rowan explained that it was a circular line and they only had the inner and outer circle. And that the only mistake you could make was to take the wrong one and having to go all the way around before reaching your destination. The whole concept puzzled her, behind used to the London tube and all. Once out of the subway the restaurant was at a minute walk and Aelin loved the place already. The restaurant was busy but they did manage to get a seat. Aelin would have killed if they told her that there was no space. She was now dead set on that restaurant and did not want to go somewhere else. She had already studied the menu in full. An hour later Aelin relaxed back satisfied. The meal had been wonderful and after her dessert she finally felt full “I think we can walk back to the hotel, I ate too much and I need to walk it off.” Rowan laughed “are you sure?” It took them forty minutes to walk back to the hotel. Aelin had decided to be brave and walk and she soon realised it had been a very bad idea. Rowan had tried to convince her to at least take the subway again but she had been stubborn. Rowan knew she was struggling but had given up when he suggested a taxi and he got a deadly glare from her. They were finally in front of the hotel and Rowan relaxed a bit. “Don’t.” She snapped. “What?” “You have a ‘I told you so face’ I know, I was stubborn and now I am paying for it. Now stop gloating.” He gave her his hand “Come on, Fireheart, I am curious to see which funny pj you have with you tonight.” Aelin took his hand and followed him to the lift. Once in the room, Aelin threw herself on the bed but Rowan grabbed her hands “get changed first.” Then he let her go and grabbed her suitcase and placed it on the bed “come on, jammies on and then bed.” “Can we cuddle? Perhaps with a back massage.” “That can be arranged, but I need you in your jammies to do that.” Aelin dragged herself up and grabbed her night clothes from her bag and got changed and Rowan did the same and both get ready for bed. Rowan was the first one under the blankets and once she joined him he pulled her to him, her belly facing him. His hands went to her back and started rubbing the sore spots. Aelin melted in his arms. “Thank you for today,” she mumbled against his chest, snuggling against him a bit more. She felt a kiss on her head and then laughed when he felt a kick “I think our girls had a great time as well.” “They did, but now they are exhausted like mum.” Rowan pulled her down to an horizontal position “Turn around,” he said to her when he noticed she was not on her left side. “But I want to face you.” “You know the left side is the recommended position. Turn around.” He helped her and once she was settled he climbed over and lay down in front of her “Sorted.” “You are such a mama hen.” She joked, running her hand through his hair. “Your hair getting longer.” “I was thinking about letting it grow. What do you think?” Aelin kissed him “very naughty thoughts right now.” Rowan laughed “I used to have them to my shoulder when I was t uni. Not practical for swimming but I loved it.” “I can braid it.” She smiled “Please let it grow back.” He leaned forward and gave her a kiss back “As you wish, my Queen.” Then he took her hand and placed it on his heart “Now sleep, please.” He told her gently, closing her eyes with her fingers. Then his arm reached out over her and pulled her as close as possible. “Goodnight,” he whispered to his favourite women.

Tag: @rowaelinismyotp

[alexsfictionaddiction]

The Best of YA Horror

I’ve always found YA horror to be made up of quite a small pool of books. As is natural when dealing with teen characters, so much of YA deals with romance and self-discovery and these things don’t often have a place in horror. I’ve read YA books that have been marketed as horror but they’ve substituted a lot of the actual scary stuff for typical YA tropes and themes. It means that genuinely dark, terrifying YA horror is rare but I believe the following books to be some of the best that I know of. Hope you enjoy them! -Love, Alex x

1. Shutter by Courtney Alameda.

Micheline is one of the last remaining Van Helsings and she has the ability to see the auras of the undead through her specially modified camera. She has been training her whole life to exorcise monsters but when a hunt goes wrong, she and her friends are infected with a horrific, deadly curse, known as a soulchain. This unique horror genuinely chilled me and the suspense was second to no other YA book I’ve read. Pick it up for a pitch-black ghostly ride.

2. Wranglestone by Darren Charlton.

Living in a small community haunted by the Dead, Peter is banished to the outskirts where he starts spending more time with Cooper, the rancher he has always admired. Yes, this has a wonderful gay romance but the cold, ominous air is inescapable in this fast-paced, zombie-infested tale.

3. The Merciless by Danielle Vega.

Riley, Grace and Alexis are the most popular girls in school but Sofia is regretting joining their gang. They believe that Brooklyn Stevens is possessed and take it upon themselves to perform the exorcism but the girls’ idea of this is actually more like brutal, bloody torture. I don’t remember the last time a horror book stayed with me like this one has over the years since I read it. I know that it has several sequels but the horrors of the first book have always prevented me from returning. It is truly horrific.

4. Here There Are Monsters by Amelinda Bérubé.

Skye has always been her little sister Deirdre’s saviour and she’s tired of it. When they move to a small, remote town, Deirdre becomes obsessed with the surrounding woods and begins making strange sculptures. Then she disappears and Skye is visited by a monster, claiming that she’s the only one who can bring her sister back. The atmosphere and threat in this book is incredibly well-written and is completely devoid of light. A truly haunting, ice-cold read.

5. My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix.

Abby and Gretchen are life-long best friends but when they start high school, Gretchen starts behaving strangely. The bizarre events that follow lead Abby to believe that Gretchen is possessed and she’ll do whatever she can to save her. Dotted with 80s pop culture references, this is a dark, emotionally-charged story that champions female friendship, while being full of high tension.

6. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

Mary has spent her life inside the walled community of the Sisterhood with the knowledge that The Unconsecrated lurk beyond the fence and that they’ll never give up. But slowly, her world and everything that she has always believed to be true starts to crumble. It’s incredibly slow burning, which isn’t ideal if you love fast-paced plots, but it is the perfect mirror for the descent into madness that unveils amidst this high-stakes zombie novel.

7. The Sacrifice Box by Martin Stewart.

When five friends discover a strange box in the woods, they each place something important to them in it forever and vow to never return to it alone. Years later, terrible things are happening and they realise that one of them has clearly broken the pact and angered an ancient curse. I’ve never read another YA book that has such strong Stephen King vibes. It has that same, overwhelming suspense and fantastic character dynamics that make it compulsively readable.

8. Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell.

When Sophie and her cousins spend the summer at the family home that used to be Dunvegan School for Girls, they discover a room full of vintage dolls and a girl who definitely shouldn’t be there. This book is nothing but terrible, brooding darkness -toxic character dynamics, a razor-sharp twist at the end and a highly disturbing plot.

9. Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics.

When pregnant teen Amanda’s highly religious family move to a prairie house, she is hoping for a new start, away from her guilt and shame. On arrival, the family discover their new cabin covered in blood and as time passes, Amanda learns that there is something very wrong. She begins to question whether the evil is really in the community or within herself. Exploring trauma, mental illness and unspeakable horror, this is a quick read that will leave you thoroughly disturbed.

10. House of Furies by Madeleine Roux.

On escaping the terrors of school, Louisa is happy to start working as a maid at Coldthistle House, a guesthouse with very dark goings-on hidden between its walls. When Louisa takes a liking to one the new guests, she decides that they must both escape. Interspersed with eerie black and white pictures, it has a wonderful Gothic atmosphere that leaks through the pages and a real sense of threat, making it a great pageturner. A fantastic, genuinely scary YA horror novel.

[spine-buster]

Alone, Together | Never Be Alone: Epilogue 1 | Morgan Rielly

June 2022

“Tia Bee, youw haiw so soft,” two-and-a-half year old Jace Tavares grabbed a chunk of Bee’s hair as she balanced him on her hip.  His toothy grin was wide, his big brown eyes smiling as he let go on the chunk but began running his fingers through her hair instead.  “So soft.”

“Thank you, Jace,” Bee giggled.  Jace touched her hair whenever Bee picked him up.  From beside her, Aryne laughed, her pregnant belly, swollen with her and John’s second child, popping through her blazer.  “Do you want a cookie from the nice man?”

“Yes pwease!”

“What kind?”

“Chocowate chip!”

“Heeeeyyyyy, that’s my favourite cookie!” Angie protested playfully as the barista behind the counter grabbed a chocolate chip cookie with the tongs he was holding.  “Can I take a biiiig bite out of your cookie?”

“Noooo!” Jace giggled.  “You buy own cookie!”

The girls laughed as Aryne paid for everybody’s coffees and snacks, pushing her stroller to the counter where they chatted and awaited their drinks.  Jace was already munching on his cookie in Bee’s arms, Aryne sipping on her green tea while Bee and Angie awaited their iced coffees.  Jace eventually wiggled in Bee’s arms and asked to be put back in his stroller, and she happily obliged, strapping him in.

As the ladies made their way back to Aryne’s Range Rover in the underground parking of Yorkdale, loading all their bags into the trunk, Angie slipped into the backseat with Jace while Bee took the passenger’s seat.  “I should actually go to my parents’ house – it’s not that far and I’m due for a visit” Angie commented, snaking the seatbelt across her body.  The car light flashed on the ring on her left hand – the ring that Mason gave her one year ago as they exchanged vows on a beach in Cuba in front of close friends and family.  It was the only destination wedding Bee had been to, but it was definitely the best.  Angie looked beautiful, Mason looked handsome, and she spent a week on a beach with them, the Favaros, and Morgan.  She couldn’t have asked for anything better.

“It’s closer – I’m sure Aryne won’t mind,” Bee said as Aryne slipped into the front seat.

“Where to?  Your Uber driver needs to know,” Aryne smiled at Angie through the rear-view mirror.  

“To Bathurst and Sheppard please, where Clarette Favaro is probably already knee deep in dirt planting vegetables.”

Aryne backed out of her spot, driving through the underground parking to get to the exit.  Once they emerged into the sunlight, Angie’s phone rang from the backseat.  “Hello?...Morgan?” Angie asked, her brows furrowing.  Bee whipped her head around at the mention of his name.  “Morgan, is everything okay?...Well, we were just in underground par – yeah of course she’s with me….Uh huh…Okay…Yeah.  Yeah, we can bring her no problem…Is it urgent?  Okay…text me the address…”

“What’s wrong?” Bee mouthed to Angie, but she didn’t answer.  Angie kept nodding her head.  “Yeah.  Yeah okay.  We’ll bring her as soon as possible.  We’ll be there soon.  We’ll speed.”

It was Bee’s turn to furrow her brows as Angie hung up the phone.  “What’s going on?”

“That was Morgan.  He just needs to see you right now,” Angie said.  “We’ll bring you to him.”

“Where is he?”

“He texted me the address,” she said, leaning forward.  She showed her phone screen to Aryne, away from Bee’s eye.  “Do you know where this is?  Can you go here?”

Aryne took a quick glance at the screen.  “Absolutely.  I know exactly where that is.  I’ll get us there in no time.”

***

Bee was nervous the entire time that Aryne drove them to wherever Morgan was.  Bee didn’t even pay attention to her surroundings and where they were going – she was too busy furiously texting Morgan on her phone – no response from him, naturally – and asking Angie a bunch of questions.  What did he sound like?  Was everything alright?  Did he sound hurt?  Was he crying?  Was he angry?  Did he seem pissed off?  Had something happened with the Leafs and they were the last to know about it?

When Aryne finally arrived at the destination, driving up to the curb and parking, Bee practically tuck-and-rolled out of the car.  “Morgan!” she called out, running up to him as he was waiting for her on the front porch of a house.  “What’s wrong?  Is everything okay?” she asked hurriedly.

“Damn, Aryne got you here quick,” he commented, a smirk on his face.  “Tell her she’s gotta slow down.  Precious cargo and all that.”

The fact that he was so blasé confused her.  Angie’s tone seemed a little bit frantic, and although she answered all of Bee’s questions to the best of her abilities, her answers didn’t really, well…answer anything.   Bee was determined to get to the bottom of it.  “Are you hurt?” she asked.

“No, no,” he shook his head.  “I just gotta show you something.”

With the realization that he wasn’t hurt or seemingly in danger, she was able to calm down.   She finally noticed his clothes – a plain old t-shirt, old jeans, and runners.  Behind him, a doorway surrounded by white trimming and red brick.  Finally, she really took in that they were standing on the porch of a house.  “Where…whose house is this?”

“Come in.  Come inside,” he said, ignoring her question, his smirk still adorning his face.  “Here,” he handed her a hard hat.  He had another in his hand, presumably for him, that she hadn’t noticed until now.  “You’re gonna need this.”

“A hardhat?  Why?”

“You’ll see.”

Bee looked back to see Aryne’s Range Rover already gone.  Instead, she was greeted with the streetscape – beautiful, old, lush trees; large, stately Tudor and Edwardian style manor homes, kept in pristine condition from when they were first built, and perfectly manicured lawns.  Quiet, quiet streets.  

“Welcome to 220 Dunvegan Road,” Morgan announced, stretching out his arms to present the house before putting on his hard hat and opening the door.  

Bee stepped foot inside the house behind Morgan, looking around at what greeted her – pretty much nothing.  When she finally closed the front door behind her, she noticed a majority of the house was stripped down to the studs.  There were still some beams here and there, and the stained-glass windows were still perfectly intact.  “Where…where even are we?” she asked, still confused, trying to take everything in.  

“I just said.  220 Dunvegan Road,” he repeated.  “This house is on one of Forest Hill’s most coveted streets.  It has over 5000 square feet of living space.”

“You sound like a real estate agent,” she commented.  

“Maybe I am,” he winked as he grabbed her hand.  “Come with me.  Let me show you.”

Morgan took her upstairs first, up the grand staircase that dominated the foyer – and the upstairs was ripped to the studs even more than the downstairs.  There were barely any walls – or wood for walls – anymore.  “So this is where the bedrooms would go…obviously,” he said as he led her through the ‘rooms’.  “The master would be towards the back, overlooking the backyard…where those windows are there,” he pointed.  “You’d have enough space to have a massive bedroom, but then a spa-like master ensuite with a shower and a tub over here,” he began framing with his hands, “and even a huge walk in closet right over here,” he switched sides and began framing with his hands again.  “His and hers, or together – doesn’t matter.  Both are possible because there’s so much space.”

“Okay…” Bee said, trying to picture everything he was saying.

“Then, of course, the other bedrooms.  Three, at least.  Each of them would have their own ensuite bathrooms too…one here,” he pointed, bringing her along down the hallway with him, “another here,” he moved further down the hallway, and around the bend, “and then the last one here,” he moved on once more until he was finished.  “And then, actually – geeze, I almost forgot – right over here could be a second floor laundry room.  Or else it could go on the main floor, basement – wherever – but second floor laundry is so convenient, because nobody would have to haul baskets up and down stairs.”

He was right.  Lugging baskets of towels or clothes upstairs could take a lot out of a person.  A second-floor laundry room would be very convenient.  Bee nodded her head slightly, again trying to picture everything he was saying – how the layout would be in the house.  “The bedrooms would be huge,” she commented softly.

“They would be.  Cozy, but big.  They’ve all still got big windows but there’d be enough space,” he said, grabbing her hand again.  “What do you think?”

“It’s a bit…it’s a bit hard to visualize for me, but I can see it,” she admitted, looking around once more to where he had pointed out bedrooms and bathrooms and laundry rooms.  “Everything would be so…I don’t know the right real estate term.  Graciously proportioned?” she giggled slightly.

“Something like that,” he smiled, leading her down the hall.  “Come on, let’s go downstairs.”

As they made their way back down the grand staircase, Morgan walked in front of Bee and held her hand to make sure she didn’t fall or lose her balance.  She jumped down the last step playfully, causing her hardhat to cover her eyes.  Morgan shook his head at her as he readjusted it so she could see again.  “You’re gonna need your eyes for this Bumblebee.”

“Will I?”

“Come on, this side first,” he grabbed her hand again and led her back to the front of the house.  “This is like…the living room, dining room combination,” Morgan began explaining again.  “The idea is that it’s open in case you need to extend the dining section, but still sort of sectioned off that the rooms are separate,” he walked into the room, again holding out his arms to show the vastness of empty space.  “Look at these stained-glass windows – it’d be dumb to take them out.  And look,” he turned around, tapping the old mantle, “the original, wood-burning fireplace from when this place was originally built in the 1920s.”

“The 1920s?  My God,” Bee mumbled, unable to keep the smile off her face.  “I’ve always loved the wood-burning fireplace Rocco and Clarette have.”

“I know,” Morgan smirked, “that’s why it’s good that this place has two.  One here, and one in the family room.”

The smile couldn’t leave Bee’s face.  With every passing second, she found it easier to visualize what the rooms would look like once walls and detailing were up, and what it could be furnished with.  “That mantle could be custom-built,” she commented.  “With like…what do they call them?  Built ins?”

“Mhm.  Built-ins,” he smirked, nodding his head.  “Come with me,” he grabbed onto her hand again as they exited the room back into the foyer.  “So over there – big big entrance closet, and then over here, right beside it, is French doors leading to the library,” he walked through the open archway into the room.

“A library?” Bee questioned.  “You mean this was a house with a library?”

“It could be a library,” he clarified, turning around.  “Giant window looking out into the street over there, and on this wall, and this wall, and this wall,” he pointed to the remaining three walls, “floor to ceiling bookcases.  They can be oak, white – whatever colour.  A big desk right here, in the centre, or looking over the window…”

Bee began to visualize once again.  She nodded her head.  “All that natural light coming in would be beautiful.  It would be a good reading space, I think.”

“Wouldn’t it?  And then here,” he stepped outside, having her follow him, “the main floor powder room, or laundry room, or power-laundry combination – whatever…but finally, finally…”

He grabbed her hand one last time and led her to the back of the house.  The original walls had already been torn out – she figured as much – and what was left was a giant, open space.  Giant.  She was pretty sure this section of the house alone was bigger than their apartment.  “This is the kitchen – family room combination.  Family room here – another wood burning fireplace.  There can be built-in bookshelves surrounding it.  Big TV up top.  Surround sound, naturally,” he winked, “with French doors out onto the deck over there,” he began walked backwards to the other section of the massive room.  “And then…last but not least…the kitchen,” he motioned.  “Everyday informal eating area here,” he motioned his hands around where they were standing, “and then here, a massive island – massive – and bar seating.  Quartz counters.  Six burner stove, fridge – the works.  A chef’s kitchen, completely.  Big window above the sink to look out onto the backyard.  Hardwood floors.  Undermount sink.  The works.”

Bee could picture everything.  The white cabinets.  The backsplash.  The quartz counters.  The stainless steel appliances.  Everything.  She could picture everything.

“But there could be changes, Bumblebee.  If you wanted more windows, we could put more windows in the bedrooms.  Bigger ones.  Or if you wanted one of those accordion doors in the kitchen leading out to the deck, that can happen.  That can be put in,” Morgan said.

Bee noticed his word choice and furrowed her brows.  It was going to be a beautiful house one day, surely, but…“Why do you say ‘if you wanted’?” she asked.  “What do I have to do with any of this?”

Morgan paused.  He knew she was overwhelmed but he was a bit shocked she didn’t get it by now.  He couldn’t help but chuckle slightly.  “This is our house, Briony,” he said.  

The words were like a foreign language to her.  She had to digest each word individually before she could move forward.  “Th…This…this is our house?”

Morgan nodded his head.  “This is our house.  This is where we’re going to build our house.  This is where…this is where you’re going to get your dream kitchen, right here.  Right where we’re standing,” he said.  “This is where you’re going to get your library for all your books.  This is…this is where we’re going to live, Bumblebee.”

As she listened to Morgan’s words, Bee’s chest began to heave slightly.  This was going to be their house.  Their home.  This is where they would live together.  Cook together.  Sleep together.  Read together.  Entertain together.  Hang pictures on the walls together.  Bring in firewood from the garage together.  Stub their toe on the couch together.

Raise a family together.

“I don’t…h…when…” Bee was speechless.  

“I bought it…God, your graduation day,�� Morgan revealed, knowing the question she was desperate to formulate.  “Your graduation day when you made me bring your Chanel purse.  I emptied out the stuff in it so you’d have room and I saw the feature sheet for this place and well…I went to visit it a few weeks later because I couldn’t get it out of my head.  And I fell in love with it.  I don’t know why you got that feature sheet – why you had it in your bag or whatever – but the second I stepped foot I the door I knew this was our house,” he told her.  “I bought it right then and there.  I knew there were so many things left for you to do in your life and your career so I rented it out for a bit, just sort of kept it, but now…now that I’ve signed a contract to stay, Bumblebee, and now that we know for sure, I just…this is our house.  This is our home, Briony.”

Bee was stiff.  Suddenly, she could see the fire and hear the crackle of the wood burning as she was draped in blankets during a cozy night in.  She could hear the water running and the oven alarm going off as she baked in the kitchen.  She could see herself furiously typing away in the office surrounded by her books.  She could hear the pitter-patter of little feet upstairs on the hardwood floor.  Tears began falling down her cheeks as she saw her future laid out for her in the studs of the house.  She was overwhelmed with feelings trying to take everything in.  “This…this is going to be our home?”

“Bumblebee?” Morgan asked from behind her.

She didn’t even realize she had turned around to have her back to him.  When she spun around at the sound of his voice, she saw him down on one knee.  Her breath hitched in her throat.  “Morgan…”

“Bumblebee, you know how much I love you,” he began, holding the small box in his hand.  “You’ve made me a better person and I can’t picture myself spending the rest of my life with anybody else.  You’ve been with me through thick and thin.  I’ve loved you for the past four years.  I’ll love you forever.  Briony McTavish, will you marry me?”

Bee was nodding her head before he even opened the ring box.  It was the easiest decision she’d ever made in her life, but she somehow couldn’t find the words as the tears streamed down her face.   Morgan smiled at her reaction.  “Is that a yes?” he teased.

“The biggest yes I’ve ever given anything.”

When he finally opened the box, Bee audibly gasped at the sparkle and size of the ring presented to her.  At first, she didn’t extend her hand so he could put it on.  “Morgan…it’s…it’s beautiful.”

“Can I put it on you?”

Bee finally extended a shaky hand for him to slip the ring onto her finger.  It was massive radiant cut set in a hidden halo with a thin, intricate infinity band.  The entire thing was set in platinum and sparkled like nothing she had ever seen before.  Morgan stood up before pushing it on gently.  When he was done, Bee grabbed his face and brought it down to kiss him passionately.  He couldn’t help but chuckle.  “Don’t you want to take a look at it?”

“I wanna kiss you first,” she kissed him again.  “I wanna…you could have gotten me a ring pop and I would have said yes.”  When she finally did stop kissing him, she looked down to the sparkler on her hand.  “Oh my Lanta, Morgan,” she whispered, holding it up to get an even better look at it.  

“Did I do good?”

Bee gave him a look.  “You did great, baby.”

___________________________________________________________

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