Highlander's Caress: Medieval Romance (The Fae Book 2) (8 page)

She stepped closer to the roaring fire and embraced the warmth as it radiated over her. Miriam had left her hair lying loose and long and it blew about her face as the front door opened and the stamping of booted feet resounded toward her.

Two towering warriors shook water from their hooded cloaks, the black folds over their heads hiding their identities from one and all, although there was something about the way the tallest of the two warriors stood that made a shiver chase down her spine. She ducked behind the closest screen and crouched.

“We need to remain on guard while we’re here.” The tall warrior slid his gaze about the room, his beady black eyes unmistakable. ’Twas Gavin.

She shuffled a little farther back out of sight.

“If Duncan MacKenzie or any of his warriors arrive, we leave, immediately. I cannae see him giving up his chase, no’ after we set fire to Inverarish.”

“Aye, Captain. I’ll keep a watch out.” Hood still pulled low, Gavin’s man walked toward the screened table in the darkened corner not far from the front door.

“Gavin, is that ye?” A barmaid flounced toward Gavin, set a tray of tankards down on the corner table and with her lush breasts nearly spilling free from her green kirtle’s low neckline, her hips swinging wide, she brushed her chest against Gavin’s chest.

“Effie, my sweet. Just the lass I was after.” Gavin shoved the wench into the darkened niche under the stairwell.

Giggling, Effie hooked a finger in his belt. “’Tis been far too long since your last visit.”

“Aye, and I’ve a great desire to spend some time with you this night.” He grabbed her breasts and squeezed them. “You’ve a ripe handful here that needs plucking.”

“Ye know the way to my chamber.”

“Aye, I do.” With a leer, he scooped the lass up, tossed her over his shoulder then clomped down the gloomy corridor, one hand sliding under the lass’s skirts. He pinched her bottom and Effie giggled anew.

Drat it. She needed to catch Gavin alone if she wished to compel him, that’s if her voice remained strong enough to do so. She’d successfully compelled Duncan this morning, so hopefully she’d have no issue with raising a hypnotic tone with Gavin.

The wench’s chamber door banged shut and she heaved to her feet, brushed her skirts and snuck down the passageway in their wake.

Outside the lass’s door, she gripped the knob as thumping sounded within. More giggles and a man’s deep growl echoed toward her.

“Ella, wait.” Ethan stepped out of the shadows behind her, his wet hair plastered to his head and his blue gaze alert. Water dripped from his shirtsleeves and glistened on top of the bits of steel studded within his brown leather vest.

“Ethan, where did you come from?” Gasping, she bounded into his arms and hot tears surged forth. Clinging to him, she whispered raggedly, “I’ve been searching for you for nigh on a sennight, almost caught up with you on Raasay.”

“I knew you’d find me sooner or later. I’ve been having a difficult time keeping Gavin from causing complete mayhem. Has your chest illness cleared and your voice returned? You’re still whispering.” He hugged her just as tightly in return.

“I’m on the mend. My voice is still gaining in strength, but this morn, for the first time since I fell ill, I successfully compelled a man and I intend to do so again now, with Gavin, or at least as soon as he tires of the wench.

“I tried to halt Gavin at Inverarish. He certainly would have set fire to far more homes if I had no’ been there, although he does no’ listen to me, no’ one word. I cannae turn him from his current path.” He drew her deeper into the shadows of the nook he’d been hiding within, one she’d missed in her hurry to get to Gavin. With a watchful eye, he kept both her and the passageway within his sight. “We need to get Gavin back to Dunscaith and ensure his chief is made aware of all he’s done.”

“I agree, and I’ll aid you however I can.”

“Did you sail here alone? I saw our skiff out on the beach and knew to look for you.”

“I’m alone, and how did you get past me? I didnae see you come in through the front door.”

“I snuck in that way.” He gestured farther down the passageway to a side door leading outside, one barely visible in the gloomy dark. “I’m aware Duncan MacKenzie hunts Gavin. He’s been sailing hard on our heels since I infiltrated Gavin’s band of men.”

“On Raasay, I accepted aid from Duncan, sailed with him last eve until I left him behind this morn. He’s most certainly after Gavin, is determined to halt him and make him pay for his strikes against him. I fear with his life as well.”

“Why would you accept aid from Duncan?” Her brother frowned and she wasn’t surprised.

“I have feelings for him, like that which arise between soul bound mates.”

“What?” Shock washed across Ethan’s face then the emotion suddenly cleared. “Wait. In truth that actually makes sense. You two had quite the conversation at William’s inn and after you told me all about it, I did wonder if mayhap something more lay between the two of you.”

“You truly wondered that? You should have said something.”

“I could hardly get a word in edgewise. You wouldnae stop rattling on about him the entire journey home. You also seemed fixated on him in the days that followed afore you took ill. You even mumbled his name during your sleep.” He crooked a brow. “You awoke me doing so.”

“I had no idea.”

“If you two are in fact soul bound, then that must mean he holds fae blood.”

“Aye, although he denies it.”

“I’m sure you can ferret out the truth.”

“Try and stop me.” She would never give up the desire to learn the complete truth. “I’ve been waiting three years for him, and now I’ve finally found him, I dinnae intend on letting him go, or allow him to let me go. Only he needs to learn first just how very deep the bond can run, that no one, no’ even a man in denial can truly release the one who holds the other half of his soul. Hopefully he’ll come to that realization sooner rather than later.”

A crash sounded then the wench’s door rattled. Someone thumped heavily against it, again and again. Heavy grunts echoed and with each one, the door shook harder.

“At every inn or village we sail to, Gavin takes one lass after another.” Ethan blew out a long breath. “I swear these isles will be riddled with his red-headed ilk afore too long.”

A squeal and a lusty groan. The rattling ceased.

“It appears they’re done.” She squeezed his arm. “We need a solid plan.”

“As soon as Gavin comes out, you compel him. We need to get him to Dunscaith Castle where his uncle can deal with him. His attacks against Duncan and the innocent under his command need to halt, although you cannae travel with us back to the MacDonald’s stronghold. If you do, it’ll raise suspicion amongst his men. Gavin’s made his intentions clear. He wishes to leave here once the storm breaks and sail directly to Duncan’s land and cause even more mayhem than he currently has. Which means if there’s a change in plans, he and his men will presume you had something to do with it.”

“Agreed. I can compel him now, then follow at an unnoticeable distance and meet you at Dunscaith.” Ethan’s plan ran right in line with her own thoughts.

“I give you my word I’ll get him there.”

“I know you shall.”

The door swung open and Gavin emerged and closed the door behind himself. He righted the ties of his brown breeches and shoved the tails of his black tunic in, swung his cloak over his shoulders and tugged the hood back into place.

She stepped out from within the nook, cleared her throat and hoped like hell she could bring her compelling voice forth. “Gavin MacDonald, here me well. You’ll leave this inn this night and seek shelter elsewhere from the storm and once all has cleared, you’ll continue on to Dunscaith Castle. There you shall account to your chief for your devious actions, both against Duncan MacKenzie and the innocent villagers on Raasay. I will be there to ensure you do. The Chief of MacDonald shall learn of all your misdeeds and no more shall you strike out against the innocent.” Her voice cracked on the last word, but his eyes still glazed over. “Am I understood?”

“Aye, seek shelter elsewhere until the storm clears, then continue on to Dunscaith. Account for my actions.”

“That likely willnae be enough,” she whispered to Ethan, “but ’twill have to do for now.”

“You can compel him further once we reach Dunscaith.” Ethan kissed the top of her head. “We’ll halt his devious actions as best as we can.”

“Be careful.”

“You too.” He gripped Gavin’s shoulder and strode with him down the passageway.

The front door banged shut after them and she hurried to the side door Ethan had pointed out earlier and slipped outside. Thunder rumbled and more rain lashed down.

Quickly, before she got too wet, she snuck around to the front and ducked under the protection of the eaves. At the curve of the beach, Ethan, Gavin and his men heaved their vessel into the water, rowed out of the bay then raised their sail. She waited until their boat disappeared into the dark then released a long sigh.

Ethan once again sailed away from her, but ’twas more than necessary this time. He’d been her shadow since her childhood, her closest confidant through the years following Papa’s death, and now a man fully grown and prepared to do all he could to prevent blood from being shed. Such pride filled her, would fill Mama as well if she were here. Papa too would have been so proud to see his son becoming the warrior he’d always hoped he would be.

The wind whistled through, swept her skirts against her legs, the storm wild and only about to grow wilder. Lightning sizzled across the skies and something white flashed near the stables.

“You shouldnae be outside in this weather.” A soft voice wisped all about her then the flash of white materialized. Cherub appeared out of the misty dark and took her full form, her white fur hooded cloak flapping back from her shoulders over top of her vivid red gown, her blond hair whipping about.

“Cherub, what are you doing here?” All in her fae village knew her people’s guardian. Cherub was an immortal time-walker and the faerie king’s daughter, had lived over a thousand years and during that time had aided so many of her fae-blooded kind who walked this Earth, although she was only seen from time to time, and usually always with her mate, Kirk. This night though, Kirk remained nowhere in sight.

“I’m here to ensure you and Duncan are reunited.” Her sparkly skin caught the lantern light and reflected it back with such stunning brilliance.

“He’s in denial of our bond.”

“Then work your wonders on him and ensure he listens to you well. ’Tis time for me to whip up an even fiercer storm that will bring him here and keep him here. Kirk is missing out on all of this fun.”

“Where is he?”

“My mate is visiting his brothers at Stirling Castle, although I’ll return to him the moment I’m done here and let him know all that’s happened.” Grinning, Cherub lifted her hands to the air and with a twirl, the wind roared louder and the storm churned into a raging mess. She motioned toward the hefty swell of the sea where a galley’s large square sail came into view with one very familiar man standing at the stern.

Duncan’s dark war coat studded with steel whipped about his legs and grim anger slashed his face. “He comes.” She clutched her chest. “He really comes.”

“Aye, your chosen one does and I’ll ensure he cannae leave until I deem the time is right. Remember, I’m always here should you have need of me. Simply call out and I’ll answer your summons.” Cherub blew her a kiss then shimmered away, disappearing just as quickly as she’d come.

“Thank you, Cherub.”

Aye, their fae princess always stood so firm beside her people, and now ’twas time for her chosen one to stand firm beside her side. She would do as Cherub had said and challenge her chosen one as never before.

* * * *

Through the cloying dark, the storm worsened and the rain pummeled into Duncan. Finding Ella this night was imperative, and he damn well hoped she no longer sailed these seas but had sought protection from the elements.

Ahead, a secluded bay beckoned with a quaint wattle and daub inn sitting a hundred feet inland, one surrounded by towering pine and elm trees. He’d search this inn for her then continue on should he have no luck. “Lower the sail, and all to oars,” he commanded his men.

As they glided into shore, he bounded over the bow, hit the knee-deep waters and surged through the waves. He jogged up the broken-shell pathway toward the front door then slowed at the sight of an ethereal vision appearing out of the dark before him. With her brown hair swaying to her waist and her beautiful eyes fixed on him, Ella stood in a stunning blue gown and he could barely breathe at the renewed sight of her. He’d finally found her. “Are you truly here or just a figment of my imagination?”

“I’m truly here.” The velvet of her gown hugged her sensual curves, from the upper swells of her breasts to her cinched waist and flowing hips.

“I’ve been searching for you all day.” Palms planted on the wall either side of her head, he caged her in.

“And now you’ve found me. It also appears you’ve arrived just in time to join me for the evening meal.” An impish grin lifted her lips. “Unless of course you’re chasing another lass, other than me.”