Daileas and Hamish reacted with astonishment, while Fenella didn’t look terribly surprised. She’d noticed that the lass could make the ground more fertile in her garden just by placing a hand to it, and she seemed to sense things that others didn’t, from a strangers’ approach to the changing of the weather. He swore them to secrecy; he trusted the men who followed him, but power was power, and knowledge of her ability would make her even more vulnerable.
Later, he tried not to stare at Avery during dinner, tried to appear aloof, all the while his cock stirred at her very presence.
It took all of his power not to race to his chamber to wait for her after dinner. Instead, he enjoyed a post-meal ale with Hamish, Daileas, and Alpin, until Daileas gently told him they’d discussed all they could, and he should get some rest.
“Aye,” Bhaltair said, hoping his expression was neutral as he got to his feet. “I should be well rested for my meeting with Seamus on the morrow.”
“Aye,” returned Daileas, looking at him with a knowing grin. “I’m certain that ye will.”
He practically raced to his chamber, his heart leaping to his throat at the sight of Avery waiting for him on his bed. She wasn’t naked but wore her underdress, looking like a golden goddess in the flickering firelight of the chamber. Desire made his mouth water as he prowled toward her like a wolf approaching prey.
“I told ye no clothes.”
“I was afraid the chambermaid would come in.”
“I told ye,” he repeated, giving her a wolfish grin. “No clothes.”
She gasped as he reached for her ankle, yanking her to the edge of the bed.
“Undress,” he huskily commanded.
Avery’s eyes filled with desire of her own, and she pulled her gown up over her head and tossed it aside, exposing her beautiful body to his hungry eyes. They’d only recently made love, yet it seemed as if an eternity had passed since he’d had the chance to worship her with his eyes.
“And now you,” his witch said, propping herself up on her elbows and arching a brow. “Undress.”
He grinned and obliged, enjoying the way Avery’s gaze raked over every inch of him, lingering on his straining cock.
He leaned over her and kissed her, thoroughly tasting her, before peppering kisses down her body. He spread her thighs, giving her another wicked grin before leaning in to feast upon her center.
“Bhaltair,” she gasped. His name on her lips was the most beautiful sound in the world to him. He relished in the taste of her, continuing to feast until she quaked, moaning and gasping his name.
As she lay breathless and winded, he lifted himself back up, looking down at her.
“Look at me,” he commanded, and her dazed blue eyes snapped to his.
She gasped as he sank himself inside her, arching her body as he began to thrust. He wrapped her golden strands around his fist as he gazed down at her with possessive hunger.
“Mine,” he whispered into her ear. “Ye’re mine, sweet Avery.”
“And you’re mine,” she returned, locking her legs around him, meeting his every thrust.
With a satisfied growl, he buried his face into the side of her neck, pounding into her body until a mutual climax seized them both.
But his desire demanded more, more, and he took her again, lifting her so she straddled him, sinking her down onto his rigid cock. She let out a whimper as she rode him, his eyes locking onto the beautiful sight of her astride him as yet another orgasm claimed them both.
After they came down from the soaring high of their lovemaking, he held her close, listening to her breathing as she drifted off to sleep.
He stayed awake long after she’d fallen asleep, holding her tight, as if she’d slip away through the maelstrom of time from which she’d come, wondering with a painful ache how he was going to ever let her go.
* * *
Avery and Bhaltair made their way out to the forest clearing the next day at midmorning, hand in hand. She would use Transport and Cloaking spells to get him into Seamus’ manor, where he would try to convince his former loyal noble that what Odhran had told him were all lies.
He feared that his plan wouldn’t work, that Seamus wouldn’t believe him, and he’d end up back in the dungeons, unable to protect his niece and Avery. After the night he’d spent with Avery, his protectiveness toward the witch had grown more fierce.
But he had no choice in the matter. He needed more men, and that started with earning back the loyalty of his own men, men Odhran had stolen from him.
Avery reached for his hand, seeming to sense his anxiety. She gave him a reassuring smile.
“Are you ready?”
He looked down at her, as bonnie as ever in a gown of deep blue that made her eyes even more so, and a rush of gratitude coursed through him. He’d been reluctant for her to come with him, fearing for her safety, but he had to admit to himself that he was glad she was with him. Her mere presence soothed him. He’d fallen asleep last night to the steady rise and fall of her breathing, the steady thumping of her heartbeat. It was something he could get used to.
He forced the thoughts aside, swallowing hard. Focus on convincing Seamus, on yer duty.
“Aye,” he said.
Avery tightened her grip on his hand, murmuring the words of a spell in a tongue that sounded vaguely familiar yet he didn’t recognize. He admired how powerful his Avery looked as she uttered the words, how her entire body seemed to vibrate with power.
He felt a tug of wind on his body, as if some force was sucking him into the heart of a windstorm, and their surroundings dissolved into blackness around them.
When the world came up around them again, they stood on the edge of the grounds of a familiar-looking manor—Seamus’ manor. Bhaltair took in his surroundings before looking down at her with awe. Would he ever get used to the power of the stiuireadh?
“Ye did it,” he murmured. “This is Seamus’ home.”
Avery arched a playful brow.
“You still doubt me?”
“Never,” he said fiercely, unable to stop himself from reaching out to touch the side of her face. Her eyes locked with his, and he leaned down to give her a brief—but branding—kiss, before releasing her. Avery flushed, looking surprised by the kiss, and expelled a small breath.
“It’s best not to distract me while I’m trying to use my magic,” she said. But the smile she gave him was a teasing one.
He wanted to tell her she was always a distraction but forced his attention back to the manor. As much as he wanted to keep flirting with his bonnie witch, he had an important duty to carry out.
Avery turned to face the manor and murmured the words of another spell.
“That was the Cloaking spell,” she said, turning to him. “Let’s go.”
Bhaltair hesitated. He certainly didn’t feel cloaked, but he trusted Avery with his life, so he moved forward, making his way toward the manor.
There were servants milling about the grounds, but no one so much as glanced their way, confirming that Avery’s spell had indeed worked.
They followed a servant inside the manor, and Avery trailed Bhaltair as he made his way up the stairs. He’d visited Seamus’ manor many times and was familiar with his schedule. He usually returned to his manor after his morning meeting at the castle, and if Odhran kept his old schedule, which he suspected the traitor did, Seamus should be in his study.
Avery hung back as he entered the open door of Seamus’ study. To his relief, Seamus stood there alone, his back to them as he gazed out the window.
Bhaltair looked at Avery and gave her a nod. She moved to the door and shut it, murmuring the words of another spell.
Seamus whirled at the sound of the door closing and froze at the sight of them. His eyes went wide with astonishment and disbelief before his hand flew to the sword at his side.
Bhaltair held his hands up in a gesture of appeasement.
“I’m nae here tae harm ye. I just want tae talk,” Bhaltair said.
<
br /> “How—how did ye get intae—” Seamus began, before his eyes shifted to Avery and narrowed. “The lass is a stiuireadh.”
“Aye,” he said. “She’s working with me. She’s helping me protect my niece from Cormag, Odhran, and the evil witch he’s working with.”
At the mention of Cadha, Seamus’ hand again flew to his sword.
“Ye mean the niece ye kidnapped, ye—"
“Donnae be a fool, Seamus,” Bhaltair snapped. “Why would I kidnap my own niece? Murder my own brother? Ye ken deep in yer heart that Odhran lies.”
“Ye wanted power for yerself,” Seamus spat, though he looked less certain now.
“Since when?” Bhaltair returned. “Ye ken I’ve always kept tae myself. I was even handing the lairdship over tae Odhran after I was certain the threat tae my niece was dealt with. ’Tis Odhran who’s sick for power, nae me.”
Bhaltair took another step forward, and Seamus stiffened, but Bhaltair held up his hands and knelt before him, withdrawing his sword.
“I swear on the founder of our clan, on my late brother and father’s honor, on my verrae life, that I am true tae Clan MacAidh, tae my niece. I only want tae keep her safe, tae protect our clan from the treachery of Odhran and Clan Roideach.”
Seamus’ eyes were wide with astonishment. After a long stretch of silence, he closed his eyes, his shoulders sinking.
“My laird,” he whispered. “I didnae want tae believe what Odhran said, but he threatened us all, and I was afeared. I donnae care for my own life, but he threatened my wife and infant son.”
Anger seared Bhaltair’s chest. His bastard of a cousin seemed to have no problem with harming women and children. It was difficult to accept just how wrong he’d been about Odhran.
Bhaltair stood and gripped Seamus’ shoulders.
“Ye can apologize by helping me get my castle back, removing that snake from power, and defeating Clan Roideach.”
Chapter 21
Bhaltair and Avery arrived back in the forest clearing at midday.
Bhaltair and Seamus had strategized how to bring more of his men back over to his side; they’d only left once Seamus had agreed to discreetly approach a dozen other nobles on Bhaltair’s behalf. Avery could tell that Seamus was relieved to have his former laird back. Before they’d left, he’d clamped him on the shoulder and said, “I’m glad tae serve ye once more, my laird.”
“I knew you could do it,” Avery said now, beaming up at him. “You’re a natural-born leader, Bhaltair.”
“I couldnae have even approached him if it werenae for ye,” he returned, giving her a look of gratitude. “Will ye forgive me for being stubborn and nae wanting ye tae come?”
“I suppose I can,” she said, stepping forward and winding her arms around his neck. “You’ll just have to make it up to me later.”
His eyes danced at her words, and he leaned down to place a brief kiss on her lips, a kiss that made her heart perform a catapult in her chest.
“I think I can do that,” he murmured.
Avery grinned. It was so easy to be with him this way, to flirt with him, as if they were truly a couple who’d been together for years with more years ahead of them to enjoy. An ache spiraled through her, and she realized just how much she wanted the feeling to last.
Despite Bhaltair’s confession of caring for her, he’d not asked her to stay—he’d even tried to send her away. Her joy dissipated at this, her smile fading from her lips as they headed out of the clearing and back toward Alpin’s manor.
Cadha flew out the door while they were still walking toward the manor, rushing to them, and wrapping her arms around them both.
“I kent ye were coming before I saw ye—I think it was my magic. Come, Avery, I want tae show ye what I’ve been practicing!”
Avery laughed, grinning at Bhaltair as Cadha dragged her away from the manor and back to the forest.
Once they were tucked away in a clearing, she watched as Cadha demonstrated an Incendiary spell, setting a blade of grass aflame that Avery quickly put out.
“See? I’ve been practicing this one the most,” Cadha said, flush with pride. “I’ve also been reading Lioslaith’s grimoire.”
Cadha’s enthusiasm was contagious, and it reminded Avery of how she’d felt as a child learning what she could do for the first time.
“You’re doing great,” Avery said, returning her smile. “But try not to push yourself too hard, too fast. Your magic will come; it’s a part of who you are.”
“What about time-travel magic?” Cadha pressed.
Avery had discussed time travel and the magic involved with Cadha during their training. Cadha had been awestruck, especially when she learned that Avery’s strange way of speech was due not to her coming from some distant land but a different time.
Avery had only given her generalities around time travel, wishing that Lioslaith would make an appearance and explain it to her—the mystical witch would likely do a better job of explaining such a complex topic to Cadha, a topic even Avery herself didn’t fully understand. She would have to make certain that Bhaltair found a stiuireadh well-versed in time-travel magic to train Cadha.
The very mention of time travel had been like presenting Cadha with a Pandora’s box; she’d continually asked about it.
Cadha’s curiosity didn’t surprise her. She’d grown up knowing about time travel, yet the very notion still filled her with awe.
“Time-travel magic is complex and not to be taken lightly,” Avery said. “It took me many years before my parents allowed me and my sister to use it. There are many rules—for one thing, there are some events in time that must happen and can’t be changed.”
As soon as she spoke the words, she realized exactly why Cadha kept asking about time-travel magic.
Cadha wanted to go back in time to prevent her parents’ deaths.
“How do you ken what time will and willnae allow?” Cadha asked, confirming her suspicion, her eyes filled with desperation.
“There are witches called fiosaiche. They are Seers who can detect such things,” Avery said hesitantly.
Cadha nodded, looking deep in thought. Avery sighed, reaching out to take her hands.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she murmured. “You want to stop your parents’ deaths. I’d want to do the same thing. But you need to know—wanting to change things in the past, manipulating time for your own needs—it’s where magic can go dark. It’s often how stiuireadh become aingidh, like the witch who’s after you.”
Avery’s words didn’t have their intended affect. Instead, Cadha’s face grew mutinous.
“What’s the use of having magic—the ability tae travel through time—if I cannae get my parents back?” Cadha demanded.
“It doesn’t work that way, sweetheart. The stiuireadh serve magic and time, not the other way around.”
Cadha stumbled back, tears filling her eyes.
“Cadha—" Avery began, reaching out to embrace her.
But Cadha had already turned on her heel, scrambling away from her.
* * *
“She’s a wee lass and still grieving,” Bhaltair said. “’Tis natural that she wants her parents back.”
It was later that evening, after a tense dinner during which Cadha hadn’t looked at her and sullenly left the room when she’d tried to approach her. Bhaltair had cornered her to ask what had happened between them.
“I don’t want to leave here with her hating me.”
“She doesnae hate ye. She’ll miss ye. We—we both will miss ye,” he said, something unreadable flaring in his eyes as he reached out to stroke the side of her face.
Ask me to stay, she thought, meeting his gaze. Tell me you love me.
He did neither. His hand dropped from her face, and he stepped back.
“Let’s go wish her a good night.”
Avery nodded, swallowing back her disappointment. As Bhaltair took her hand, and they made their way to Cadha’s guest chamber, she again imagined
how her life would be in this time. Spending her days and nights with Bhaltair, helping raise Cadha.
She shook her head as if to will the tempting thoughts away. Now that Bhaltair was officially taking on leadership of the clan, he’d need to marry someone suitable. Gawen married your sister, a nagging voice whispered. But that was different—Gawen loved her sister. She’d known it the instant she’d met him, had felt that intense connection between Lila and Gawen. Avery loved Bhaltair, more and more each day, and while she knew he cared about her, he’d never expressed deeper feelings for her, never asked her to consider staying.
Avery tore herself from the painful thoughts as they reached Cadha’s guest room. Cadha scowled at the sight of Avery, and Bhaltair narrowed his eyes.
“Now, lass,” he scolded. “I ken ye’re going tae miss Avery. Ye need tae apologize.”
“Bhaltair, that’s not necessary,” Avery said, not wanting Cadha to hate her even more.
“My niece needs tae learn respect,” Bhaltair said firmly. “Cadha, Avery is here tae help ye at great risk tae herself because she cares about ye. She doesnae make the rules about magic. Ye’re nae tae take yer grievances out on her.”
Cadha’s expression remained mutinous for a long moment before her face crumbled.
On instinct Avery went to her side, and Cadha wrapped her arms around her, beginning to weep. Bhaltair looked startled—then guilty—and approached them, but Avery waved him away. She could tell that Cadha needed to weep out her frustration and grief.
“I just want tae do something with my magic,” Cadha said, sniffling. “I want my parents back. I’m tired of being weak, helpless.”
“I know you want your parents back. You’ll always want them back. You’re still just coming into your power,” Avery said. “You have to understand that being a witch doesn’t get rid of the emotions you’re going to feel as you live your life—pain, grief, anger. It’s part of being alive. The witches who go dark are the ones who try to get rid of this pain. You will always grieve for your parents, but you can’t let it rule you. Let your power lead you toward the light. Live your life in the light.”
Bhaltair's Pledge: Highlander Fate, Lairds of the Isles Book Two Page 12
