“And five as well in my memory.” Madison thought about that. “Perhaps a means to remind us that we influenced five at the beginning?”
“Something the brotherhood likely already figured out if they’re accessing the Scottish Stonehenges via the stones we influenced,” Ethyn pointed out, mulling it over. “But also likely the verra reason we and our Brouns have the power to close the Stonehenges off to them.”
“Precisely.” Grant contemplated Cray and Madison. “One has to wonder, though. If four stones are now in Scotland, where is the fifth located?”
“Mayhap in New Hampshire?” Marek theorized before he presented another idea. He reminded them about a stone that had already proven helpful on their quest to keep King David safe. “Or mayhap ‘tis the Stone of Destiny?”
“The Stone of Destiny,” Adlin and Grant murmured at the same time before Adlin continued. “Though ‘tis always a possibility, the stone we’re looking for is far more likely to be in New Hampshire, I would think. Not to say we shouldnae keep the Stone of Destiny in mind because God knows anything is possible.”
“Aye,” Grant agreed. “Though I have been to the Salem Stonehenge and never sensed anything, I will go back and look around with fresh eyes.” He nodded. “It certainly makes sense there might be one there considering the MacLomain-Broun connection across time.”
“Aye,” Adlin agreed, eyeing Madison and Cray. “Meanwhile, ‘twill be interesting to see what part your dragons played in this.”
“No doubt,” Madison said softly. “Specifically, how me sacrificing myself helped the brotherhood.”
“Aye, there is that,” Adlin concurred, looking at them curiously. “But more so, I think, how you two influenced your individual stone for future MacLomains.”
Now that, at least in part, Cray had an answer for.
Chapter Twenty-One
“OUR CHILDREN,” SHE whispered, determined not to tear up again. In her defense, though, it wasn’t easy to remember having kids only to realize they were long gone, never to be seen again. “The Stonehenge was where we first met as young dragons, so we brought them there often to play while we reminisced.”
Grant and Adlin had blown away a few minutes before leaving the four of them to figure things out on their own.
“I still cannae believe you had so many.” Marek looked between them, his compassion for their loss obvious. “That cannae be easy to remember.”
“Nay.” Cray squeezed her hand, remarkably affectionate, touching her here and there often as they all talked. Sometimes he rubbed her back absently, other times her thigh or arm, but always he kept her against his side. Almost as if he were afraid she would run off and sacrifice herself again if he didn't.
“But ‘tis not all bad,” Cray murmured, fondness in his voice as he explored the memories that brushed their minds. Memories that seemed to go hand and hand with the flickering light that had occasionally shone in her ring’s gem since they’d made love. A light that unquestionably matched his eye color.
“Like Madison and I had been when we were young,” Cray went on, “our offspring were adventuresome wee dragons.”
“Some more than others.” She met his small smile, remembering the shy, timid one that stayed by their side most of the time. He never played hide-and-go-seek with his siblings but stuck close to his parents. “We called him Ceann Aireach, or Cautious One.”
“But more often than not, just Ceann,” Cray murmured, squeezing her hand again when he felt her angst. They had loved their offspring equally, but Ceann had held a special place in their hearts, often cuddled between them when they slept.
“Not just you, but your wee bairns influenced the stones to be sure,” Marek said softly, backing up what Cray had revealed in answer to Adlin. “You didnae just lend your more than evident virility to future MacLomains, Brother, but your love for children. And they, without doubt, contributed to the adventuresome spirits we with MacLomain blood all have.”
“I like that,” she said softly, smiling before thoughts of said virility swamped her thoughts. Almost as if her inner dragon preferred to focus its energy on sex rather than the children it had lost. Without question, a self-defense mechanism. One that made her skin flush and her heart pound as she imagined with vivid clarity the things Cray had yet to do with her.
“There will be more time for talk on the morn,” Cray announced abruptly, no doubt seeing the same images as he pulled her up. He arched a brow at Ethyn. “Will I run into a problem with your wolf again, Cousin? Because I know she’s out there watching us.”
As Cray had surmised, Ethyn was here because he had followed Phelan.
“Not if you care for Madison as she should be cared for,” Ethyn warned. While she sensed his disappointment that she had undoubtedly chosen Cray, he wasn’t as broken up as he could have been. “She deserves only the best.”
“I couldnae agree more.” Cray grabbed some meat, skins, and their satchels, then they were on their way to another small cave around the bend.
He lit a fire with the flick of his wrist and urged her to eat, lest Phelan sneak up and steal their food. The way he eyed her told her she should heed his advice because neither of them would be aware of much once he had his way with her. Add the incoming storm plus Phelan’s stealth and forget it. Their dinner would be gone.
Though not hungry, she did as asked, her heart racing in anticipation the whole time. They chatted about less heavy things as they ate, which was good because she could barely concentrate. Not when he looked at her like he’d much rather be enjoying another sort of meal entirely.
She knew she should be more concerned, even overwhelmed with everything they’d learned tonight, but she was taking it in stride. No doubt, thanks to her dragon and the Claddagh ring.
Yet she did want to clarify one thing, considering how rambunctious their inner beasts were.
“You should know I’m on birth control.” She shook her head and drank some whisky, washing down her meat before starting on the last of it. “So you don’t have to worry about, well, things you might not be ready for.”
“And you should know birth control does nothing for you when you lay with a male dragon,” he said bluntly. The fire and lust in his eyes only grew stronger. As though her words turned him on somehow. But then this was Cray. She imagined just about anything would get him going. “Especially if you are in heat.”
She nearly choked on her last swallow but managed it down.
“Did you say heat?” She shook her head, trying to wrap her mind around not simply ovulating. “And what’s this about male dragons?”
“Male dragons can control whether or not they impregnate humans or female dragons.” His steady gaze was downright predatory now as he watched her. Flat out primal. As though he were already stalking her, set to claim her by impregnating her. It was both daunting and sinfully thrilling. “When you are in heat, I cannae control a thing. Your dragon takes my seed and does what it will with it.”
“Takes your seed?” she mouthed. When fire flared beneath her skin and roared through her body, she knew her dragon liked that idea. “And how am I supposed to know when I’m in heat?” She shook her head. “I don’t even know when I’m ovulating.”
Nor had she ever particularly cared, considering she never slept with anyone. But she was responsible, so took birth control, just in case. Yet now, it didn’t matter? He could get her pregnant at will?
“How do you do that anyway?” She really should have said ‘a dragon’ rather than ‘you’ implying him getting her pregnant, but it was too late now. “I mean, obviously, there are times of the month when human women just aren’t fertile.”
Why was she having this conversation? Because it was interesting, she acknowledged. As was the look in his eyes when talking about it. It was clear he wanted children. Moreover, that he wanted them with her. Sooner rather than later. Which was the opposite of what he’d wanted when their minds first connected.
He had wanted none with anyon
e ever again.
It was far too risky. The pain of potential loss too unbearable.
Yet the way he looked at her as he closed the distance and pulled her to her feet told her he’d had a huge change of heart. What about her, though? Was she ready for such a monumental commitment? Had Maeve been? A question that unfortunately just rolled out of her mouth. She didn’t mean to be so blunt or intrusive, but at the same time, she needed to understand what had happened.
“So you and Maeve decided you wanted children even though she was still seeing Aidan?” She frowned. “That doesn’t sound right.”
“Nay.” Where she thought he might scowl or grow upset with her, he was perfectly honest and not put off in the least. “’Twas bad enough that I lay with her knowing she was still with Aidan. I would never have asked her such a thing, nor would she have agreed to it until she ended things with my cousin.” He sighed. “I dinnae know why she got pregnant. I can only assume it happened because of the spell. Because she had been influenced by Fae magic, and it affected dragon magic somehow, leaving her womb more vulnerable.”
She searched his eyes and heard his thoughts.
He was being completely transparent.
“Aye.” He reeled her close and grasped her chin gently but firmly keeping her eyes with his. “I can only ever be honest with you now, Madison. You ken that, aye?”
“I do,” she whispered, understanding what he meant. Not only were their dragons connecting but their human halves.
“So you see, you didnae need to ask me where I stood,” he went on, unclipping her hair. “Or what I wanted.”
“No,” she managed, trying to focus under the heavy weight of lust in his gaze. Under the images he pushed into her mind, preparing her for what was to come. “You want me.”
“And?” he prompted when she didn’t tell him everything he wanted to hear.
“Me and me alone.”
At least for now, she thought.
Though he didn’t confirm if that was the right thing to say, she knew he was far closer to feeling that way. Far closer to doing what he swore he never would again. How could he not be considering the history they shared? She just needed to prove to him he could trust her not to shun him or do something foolhardy that would separate them once again.
“And what else?” he said, slowly digging his hand into her hair. The lust in his eyes only grew as he dared her to tell him what he wanted. What he craved.
Rain started falling, and thunder cracked overhead.
“You want me on my knees,” she said hoarsely, following his scandalous thoughts with anticipation, no longer put off by them but addicted to them. Desperate to experience all the creative things he wanted to do to her. “Then you want me to take you in my mouth.”
She had never gone down on a guy, but lucky for her, he seemed more than willing to teach her. Show her. And she had always been a fast learner. So when he steered her down, she sank to her knees on warm, soft grass that had no place in a cave. Though he had yet to free his obvious erection, he angled her face up then ordered her to open her mouth and lick her lips.
Obeying without question, she did as asked, thrilled by the look in his eyes as he watched her from beneath half-mast lids. Her heart slammed in anticipation. The ache that had already begun between her thighs blossomed into a throbbing need that was almost too much to bear. He kept her like that for several moments, simply watching her hungrily before he growled, “We have plenty of time for this.”
Rather than free himself quite yet, he lowered to his knees as well. He brushed his lips across hers once, twice, teasing her before he pulled off his tunic. “Turn around and get on all fours.”
The impatient yet stern way he said it almost made her come undone right then and there. Her dragon clearly thrived beneath his dominance as she obeyed then waited. When all grew quiet, she went to look back, but he gripped her hips, stopping her in her tracks.
“I didnae give you permission to look back.” He shoved up her skirts and nudged her thighs apart before all went quiet again. He was enjoying the sight of her exposed, vulnerable flesh. So said his heavy breathing and the slam of his heart. “Lower yourself onto your elbows.”
Though she should be mortified by how prone she was making herself to him, she was anything but. Instead, her flesh pulsed in anticipation as she did as asked and waited. Her arousal only grew at his growl of approval. He massaged her backside, clearly enjoying the show.
“Dinnae move, lass,” he warned. “Ye ken?”
“I do,” she managed, trying her best to remain still when she wanted to push back and feel his length against her. Feel it sliding into her. But yet again, he led her in one direction only to go in another. Something she found out when his arousal didn’t touch her but another part of his body.
She jolted at the feel of his mouth between her legs but stilled when he squeezed her thigh in warning. Obeying his command was a true test of self-control when he began manipulating her flesh with his tongue and fingers.
She groaned, trying desperately to stay put, but it was nearly impossible as he did things to her that had her purring. She swore she literally purred too as he licked and suckled and used his fingers in all sorts of creative ways.
“Dinnae move,” he growled into her mind. “And dinnae release.”
Don’t release? Was he out of his mind?
“I can’t...” she gasped, not sure her telepathic words were going through. “You can’t expect...”
“But I do,” he replied sharply, all the while driving her closer to the edge. “’Twill be better for ye if ye wait for my command. If ye dinnae give in.”
How, though, she wondered, even as she found herself not tumbling over the edge but shockingly enough, able to wait. She listened with near-excruciating anticipation for his go-ahead. Waited as he caged her with his silence, longing for the words that would set her free. It was such sweet agony being held back like this. Perched on the edge of ecstasy, waiting to burst over into bliss.
Only for him to go perfectly still and say nothing.
Was this part of his game? Part of the teasing?
“Dinnae say a word, lass.” He yanked her skirts back down. “Trouble is afoot.”
Say what? Right now? With the damnable ache between her legs unassuaged?
He pulled her to her feet, pressed a dagger into her hand, gestured that she stay back, and headed for the cave entrance with his Viking sword drawn. She peered through the sheet of rain at the cave’s entrance, but despite her now excellent vision, she couldn’t make anything out. She could, however, see something else.
Something that blew her mind and put her dragon on high-alert.
Cray stood within the ghostly image of what she knew was his own inner dragon. Though it initially peered outside like Cray himself, it slowly turned its head and stared directly at her, its gaze pained. In response, her dragon eyes flared, and she whimpered, understanding that look. What he was trying to tell her.
Things had not gone how she thought in their last life.
Instead, they had gone terribly wrong, and she was to blame.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“SHOW YERSELF,” HE growled, sensing the enemy drawing closer. He had reached out telepathically to Marek and Ethyn but got no response. “Dinnae skulk about in the dark.”
In truth, he should be able to see what was coming, but his dragon felt distracted. More focused on Madison if he wasn’t mistaken. Which didn’t surprise him. She had tasted delicious. Better than perfect. And such an obedient little dragon. He should be hearing her cries of pleasure right now. At last, sinking his swollen cock into her eager sheath.
But no. Instead, he was dealing with a cowardly nemesis.
“Show yerself,” he warned again, unwilling to head outside and leave Madison alone. Fortunately, the matter was taken out of his hands. A grunt resounded before a man fell into the cave, face down, passed out cold. Seconds later, Marek entered as well.
His bro
ther put a finger to his lips and shook his head, pointing back outside.
He realized Marek chose not to speak telepathically because the man at their feet wore brown monk robes. The brotherhood was attacking them in their actual form rather than possessing another. Which could very well mean their magic was stronger. Under that assumption, it was best to assume them capable of anything, including the ability to catch telepathic conversations.
He glanced back to find Madison staying put. Rather than fearful, her eyes seemed haunted and sad. Though concerned, he became distracted by someone approaching not stealthily but racing toward them. A blur through the driving rain.
“I have this, Brother,” he said softly.
Blade at the ready, he waited until the perfect moment, then swung the Viking sword at the figure when they reached the entrance. Shockingly, it wasn’t the enemy's blade that crashed into his, but another's.
The last person he expected drove him back into the cave.
“Bloody hell, Cousin,” he exclaimed, stunned to realize Ethyn battled him.
Even worse, he was possessed.
“Stand down,” he roared, trying to get through to him.
As they fought, Marek circled them, trying to figure out how to disarm Ethyn without anyone getting hurt. Something he might have accomplished had his cousin’s bloody wolf not joined the fight.
Hackles raised, Phelan flew in from outside and bared her teeth at Marek, not letting him any closer to Ethyn. His brother growled right back, his dragon eyes flaring. Meanwhile, Cray ducked beneath his cousin’s blade, then spun and tried to knock the sword from Ethyn’s hand to no avail.
“Call off Phelan,” he warned, trying to snap his cousin out of it the only way he could think of. “Call off your wolf, or we will kill her.” He clashed blades with Ethyn once, twice then a third time before he leapt back and tried again. “Do ye hear me, Cousin! Phelan willnae survive us!”
“Nay, she willnae,” Marek agreed. Testing their cousin, he swung his sword at Phelan only for Ethyn to spin away from Cray and meet his brother’s blade before it met its mark.
A Scot's Resolve (The MacLomain Series: End of an Era, #3) Page 15
