Highland Fires

by Donna Grant

  “Well…they say they didn’t teach us everything, but they did bring the dragons.”

  He shook his head in disbelief. “I will admit that it was long ago, but I would have thought that part wouldn’t have been forgotten. Nay, dragons at one time were on just about every realm. They are more ancient than our race or the Draconia. The dragons on this realm and the Fae realm were very similar, and when the time came for the Fae to leave, the dragons left with us and intermingled with the Fae dragons.”

  “And the Draconians?”

  “During the great battle, both sides used dragons, and just like with our people, both sides suffered heavily with the death of the dragons. As far as I know, the Draconia took their dragons with them, the ones alive…and dead.”

  “Would a Draconia have dared to return to this realm?”

  Ahryn asked the question Lugus hadn’t been able to. “Anything is possible, but I would doubt a Draconia would enter this realm without Theron knowing about it.”

  “What do they look like?”

  His gaze went to her face even though he couldn’t make out her features in the dark. There was something in her tone, and it was more than curiosity. “Not much different than you or I.”

  “Could you spot one in a crowd?”

  “I doubt it. It is no secret they can blend in with humans.”

  He heard her sigh. “So, I could very well have walked by him at Marcus’ castle and not known it.”

  “We don’t even know for sure if a Draconian is here, and we won’t know that until you return to your realm. Until then, we can only speculate.”

  She leaned up and moved closer to him. “But it makes sense, Lugus. No one should have known I was a Fae. No one.”

  “Unless another Fae betrayed you.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them. “It’s my turn to apologize,” he said.

  She held up a hand. “Nay. You only spoke the truth.”

  “So it is a possibility?”

  Ahryn got to her feet and dusted off her gown. She wished now she hadn’t brought up the subject.

  “Ahryn?”

  “Aye,” she replied softly. “It’s a possibility.”

  She felt more than saw Lugus rise. The clouds completely concealed all light, leaving her with nothing but a silhouette to see.

  “Tell me,” he said as he moved past her and began to walk.

  Ahryn was more than happy to be moving again. This way she wouldn’t have to worry about Lugus trying to read her expression. Not to mention, she wouldn’t have to see his when she finished her telling.

  “Remember when I said my father tried to make me marry?”

  Lugus grunted ahead of her.

  “The man my father chose was a very high ranking member of the powerful royalty guard.”

  “Aimery?” Lugus asked.

  Ahryn chuckled. “Nay, not Aimery. He is too involved commanding the entire Fae army to think about a wife or family.”

  “I take it this man wasn’t happy about being rejected?”

  Ahryn still recalled his rage and harsh words. “Nay, he wasn’t happy. In fact, he was part of the reason that I ventured here.”

  “He wouldn’t leave you alone?”

  She shook her head as she tried to keep up with Lugus’ long strides. “My parents assumed I would change my mind toward him if he continued to try and win my suite.”

  “Didn’t you tell them how you felt?” Lugus asked.

  “More than once.”

  “Would this suitor of yours resort to something like this to get revenge?”

  Ahryn opened her mouth to answer him when Lugus suddenly swung around and yanked her behind a tree. He pressed her against the tree and put a hand over her mouth. She heard a stick break beneath someone’s foot. Her gaze jerked to Lugus’, and she wished she could see into his eyes.

  He lowered his head until his mouth was near her ear and whispered, “No sound.”

  She couldn’t have spoken had she wanted to. Every fiber of her being was on fire from his touch. It was the second time that day he had been pressed against her, and her body had responded instantly both times.

  His breath rushed between his lips, grazing her skin as he shielded her body with his. His large hands held her arms still, as if she might run when what she really wanted to do was sink her fingers in his long locks. She closed her eyes and forgot about the threat that had made Lugus press her against the tree and instead let her body feel since her eyes couldn’t see him.

  She lifted her hands and placed them on his waist. He inhaled sharply which brought a smile to her face and a thread of hope to her heart. She had thought him immune to her, but maybe he wasn’t as immune as he claimed to be.

  The urge to feel more of him was nearly too much to bear. Ahryn didn’t understand the sudden and intense feelings rushing through her body, but she did know she had never felt this for anyone before Lugus.

  She turned her head toward his face and found his mouth mere breaths from hers. Her lips parted on their own accord and she waited, breathless, for his lips to meet hers. The moon broke through the clouds, and Ahryn was able to see Lugus’ face. His eyes were troubled as they stared down at her, as if he was unsure if he wanted her.

  Just as quick as the moon shed her light, she took it away.

  And then Lugus took a step away from her. “Whatever it was is gone,” he said softly.

  Ahryn couldn’t have agreed more. She took a deep breath and tried to swallow. She could still feel the heat of him, smell the delicious scent of him, but most of all, her body still yearned for his touch.

  “Stay close,” Lugus said as he turned and walked away.

  Close was exactly what she wanted. The question was, would he allow her to get close?

  Chapter Six

  When Lugus knew Ahryn couldn’t move another step, he stopped. The small clearing was perfect. It afforded them a nice view of the shore while keeping them hidden from anyone tromping through the forest.

  He bit back a grin when he saw Ahryn literally crumple to the ground. They had forgotten the blankets in their rush to leave the castle, and there hadn’t been time to grab other luxuries, but still Lugus felt as though he should have provided that for her. Regardless of whether he was immortal or not, in his heart he would always be Fae, and Fae men looked after their women.

  Though he knew by watching Ahryn this day that she could take care of herself. She hadn’t complained once, not even when she was nearly asleep on her feet. He sighed and moved closer to her. Like it or not, he would have to stay close. Despite it being summer, the winds off the sea had a way of turning things chilly, and without protection it would lead to a miserable night.

  Lugus looked at the small bag of food that would last one more meal. They would need their strength for tomorrow, and if they were lucky they would find someone to trade with for food. He reached for the bag, then looked at Ahryn. She was already asleep, and he was loath to wake her.

  He decided against it and closed the bag. He was too exhausted to eat himself, so he leaned against a tree and dozed, careful not to fall completely asleep and allow someone to come up on them. With one last glance at Ahryn, Lugus closed his eyes.

  He wasn’t sure what woke him, but when he glanced over at Ahryn, it was to find her shivering and curled into a ball. Realizing it hadn’t been that long since she had swam in the frigid waters of the sea, he hastily crawled over to her and molded his body to hers. Though the Fae didn’t normally get sick, it had happened before while they were on Earth.

  The warmth of their bodies soon pulled Lugus to sleep. He fought it as long as he could, but the allure was too strong.

  ~ ~ ~

  Ahryn stretched and drew in the warmth that surrounded her. She had dreamed that she was freezing to death, then all of a sudden, the sun burst through the clouds and heat suffused her.

  She tried to roll to her side, and that’s when she felt it.

  A body.

  A very
male body.

  Lugus.

  She knew without looking it was him. She would have liked to think he slept beside her because he was attracted to her, but the truth was, she knew he had come to her because she had been cold. That was just the type of man he was.

  Just as she was about to sit up, his hand moved to her hips. She stilled and stared at the canopy of trees above her. Her heart began beating loudly in her chest as his hand moved to her stomach to stop just shy of touching her breast.

  A deep throb of longing jolted through her as Ahryn silently begged Lugus to move his hand higher, to take the pleasure she would gladly give him.

  Ahryn didn’t understand the sudden and intense yearning she had for Lugus, but she knew it wasn’t simply Fate that put her in his path. It was more like destiny. But just what did the future hold for them? She highly doubted they would be together. Lugus was only doing this because Marcus had dared to come onto Lugus’ isle for her.

  In spite of the fact they were running for their lives and she desperately wanted to return to her realm, Ahryn liked being with Lugus. In many ways, a part of her didn’t want their time to end.

  She turned her head to find his eyes open and staring at her. Her breath lodged in her throat as he slowly pulled her towards him. She waited for him to stop or tell her he was protecting her from something, but all that disappeared when his lips met hers.

  Ahryn forgot everything but the exotic taste of Lugus and the pleasure that spiraled through her as his hands ran over her body. She didn’t protest when he rolled onto his back and brought her to lie on top of him.

  The feel of his rock hard body pressed against hers yet again made liquid heat pool between her legs. While his hands discovered her body, she plunged hers in his thick, golden locks. His tongue explored her mouth and sent shivers of desire through her already heated body.

  She was appalled at the urgency in which her body wanted him, but her mind had stopped working the instant his lips had met hers. The only thought in her mind was making sure he didn’t stop kissing her.

  When he rolled over and pinned her to the ground, Ahryn sighed, loving the weight of him atop her. His lips traveled from her mouth to her jaw, ear and down her neck, leaving a trail of tingling flesh in his wake.

  “Moira,” he whispered.

  Ahryn jerked, unable to believe he had spoken another woman’s name. And suddenly, Lugus raised his head and looked at her. After he blinked several times, he moved off her to sit at her feet.

  “That wasn’t just a dream, was it?” he asked softly.

  Ahryn swallowed, hurt and confused. She wanted to ask him who this Moira was as her body still cried out for release. Instead of begging him to finish, she simply shook her head.

  He climbed to his feet and ran a hand down his face. “I’m sorry,” he said and turned his back. “I’ve been alone for a long time.” “Don’t,” she said as she smoothed down her gown and came to her feet. “There is no need for explanations.”

  Especially when it’s a lie to cover up the fact you were dreaming of another woman.

  Ahryn couldn’t believe she was so angry. She had no ties to Lugus, and certainly didn’t know him well enough to question him about anything.

  No words were spoken as Ahryn ran her fingers through her hair and plaited it. She watched and waited for Lugus to tell her he was ready to begin the day. He set out at a brisk pace that Ahryn was hard pressed to match, yet she didn’t mind him staying ahead of her while she sorted through all that had happened that morning and her body’s response.

  It wasn’t until they were once again following the shore that he slowed his pace and waited for her to catch up to him.

  “Did I…say anything?” he asked, glancing from the ground to her face.

  Now would be the perfect time to see if he would talk of the past, but Ahryn wasn’t in the mood. She couldn’t shake the hurt off, nor could she stop the longing of her body to feel Lugus’.

  She shook her head and continued on.

  “I must have done something,” he persisted. “You look…hurt,” he said softly.

  She threw him what she hoped he saw as a sincere smile and said, “I’m just tired.”

  Lugus didn’t believe her for a moment. The dream this morning had been so real, and when he had opened his eyes to find himself on top of Ahryn he had been mortified that he had taken advantage of her that way.

  At least he hadn’t kissed her. But he could have sworn he had said Moira’s name. Had he and Ahryn lied? Had something more transpired this morning than he remembered? He had hurt Ahryn, of that he was positive, and to ask her if they had kissed or more would only make things worse for both of them.

  Lugus had to admit he missed her bright eyes and easy smile. He even missed her not so secretive way of trying to discover things from his past.

  “Tell me what happened?” she asked unexpectedly.

  He didn’t need to ask about what. She was referring to his status of mortality. “It’s a long story.”

  “It’s a long walk,” she retorted, not put off by his answer.

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “I do or I wouldn’t have asked.”

  Lugus sighed. “You think you do, but once you find out the truth, you’ll understand why I’ve tried so hard to keep it from you.”

  “It couldn’t be that dreadful,” she said sarcastically.

  “What do you think a Fae must do to not only be cast from the Fae realm but have his immortality stripped from him?” Lugus didn’t bother telling her he had given his life essence, his immortality, to Moira to save her from death.

  She shrugged but never slowed. “Does it matter? Obviously it was something really horrible, but I don’t even have rumors to ask you about. There was nothing spoken of other than to say you were no longer in the realm.”

  “And that should speak volumes to you,” he said, not hiding the growing irritation from his voice. “I’m not going to tell you, so just leave it.”

  The once companionable silence had flown away as quickly as a spooked bird, leaving nothing but tension behind. Lugus wished now he had stayed by the tree instead of warming Ahryn up because of where it had gotten him.

  When he handed her the last bit of food, she eagerly took it though she didn’t spare him a glance. Whereas at one time he had been sure she had wanted him, he wasn’t so positive now. The feeling of disappointment that thought brought disturbed him greatly. He didn’t want her, so why should it matter that she wasn’t interested in him? Lugus hadn’t been this confused around a woman since he had been a lad.

  Around midday, just when he thought they wouldn’t find a place to trade for food, they came upon a cottage with smoke pouring from the chimney.

  “Where are you going?” Ahryn asked.

  “We’re out of food. I’m getting us more.”

  It didn’t take long to trade with the widow for a small bag of stale bread and moldy cheese for one of his daggers. He used another dagger to scrape off the mold before he sliced Ahryn a piece of cheese and handed it to her as they resumed walking.

  “By my calculations, we should reach the Isle of Skye later today or tomorrow,” he said.

  She swallowed her food before asking, “You’ve been there before?”

  “Once,” he admitted. “Though never on the isle itself. It’s large and easily seen from the coast.”

  “How do you know the gateway is there?”

  “I recall that isle. It stuck with me.”

  She raised her brows. “And if the gateway isn’t there?”

  “I suppose we’ll have to keep looking.”

  ~ ~ ~

  “Are you sure?” Marcus asked.

  The growl was low and deep. “How many times must you ask me that? I know where she is headed.”

  Marcus stared at his companion, the one being that had helped him capture a Fae. And with his marriage to Ahryn, he would come into a wealth of power that no one in Scotland would dare to defy.
>
  Hair as black as pitch fell half way down his companion’s back, held away from his face by a clasp of pure gold that had the shape of a dragon on it. Marcus stared into his unholy copper eyes and tried to hide his fear.

  “Ahryn has convinced Lugus to help her only because you insisted on storming his isle. Had you listened to me and left him alone, Ahryn could very well be sitting beside you even now.”

  Marcus looked away from the accusing copper gaze. “Mayhap. However, you know to what lengths I went to obtain Ahryn. I couldn’t sit idly by and wait for her to return to me.”

  A low chuckle reached Marcus as his companion folded his arms across his chest and regarded him. “Ever the insecure lord. Admit that you didn’t take Lugus as a threat because he is the only one that can lead her to a gateway safely. It is the very reason I warned you to stay away from him.”

  Marcus waved away his words. “We will reach her in time.”

  “You better pray to your god that we do or else the entire Fae army will descend upon you.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Ahryn didn’t think her body could get more exhausted than it was, yet somehow she had managed it. The lack of natural magic on Earth drained Fae easily, and, when exerted as she had been, it went even faster. She briefly closed her eyes and tried to gather some calm around her.

  She had thought that her hurt would have melted away by now, yet here it was late afternoon and she couldn’t shake it. Very few words had been spoken since they had left the widow’s cottage. Lugus seemed lost in his own world, and she had no desire to intrude again.

  His harsh tone when she had asked about his past told her just how fresh his wounds were. She tried to imagine the worst thing he could have done, which was try and destroy the Fae realm. Yet, it still didn’t stop her from trusting him. In the little time she had been with him, she had seen the real man.