Highland Fires

by Donna Grant

  The pace he set was quick and grueling, but not so fast that she had to run to keep up with him. As they walked, she ran the words he had spoken in the cabin over and over in her head. She was thankful he hadn’t made her promise to leave him if he fell because she wouldn’t have been able to give it.

  Nothing, not even her own death, would make her leave him to die, not after all he had done for her. Nay, she would not leave him.

  She stumbled over something in her path, and just when she was about to fall flat on her face, Lugus caught her. He pulled her up and pushed the hair from her face that had escaped her braid.

  “Are you all right?”

  She nodded. “I just didn’t see whatever it was I tripped over.”

  “’Tis one of the hazards of traveling by night, especially in a place neither of us have been.”

  “I’ll be more careful,” she assured him.

  When he didn’t move, she turned him around and gave him a little push. He began walking again, but the pace wasn’t quite as fast as before.

  She fingered her slave bracelet and wondered if the markings on it were Draconian. As far as she knew, the Draconian language wasn’t taught to the Fae. If anyone would know what the markings were, her grandfather would be the man to ask.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Where are they?” Marcus demanded.

  Not even when the unusual copper eyes narrowed on him did Marcus flinch. He knew if he showed the Draconian any fear, it would be the end of him.

  “They are on the Isle of Skye.”

  Marcus adjusted his tunic as he sat before the fire. They had ridden long and hard to try and reach Ahryn before the ship came ashore, but they hadn’t succeeded.

  In truth, Marcus had begun to wonder if something, or someone, was preventing him from reaching Ahryn in time to stop her. Even with the bracelet on, she would still be able to cross over.

  He motioned the guards out of his tent so he could speak privately to the Draconian. Marcus gazed at the man before him. He had seen the way women looked at the Draconian, and he supposed the unusual eyes, hair as black as obsidian and the power he radiated would pull women to him.

  “Tell me, Tane, is there anyone using magic to prevent me from reaching Ahryn?”

  Tane smiled, but it didn’t reach his copper eyes. “I sense no one using magic that would prevent you.”

  “Really?” Marcus said as he rose and paced the tent. “Then why is it that we didn’t reach Ahryn this night?”

  Tane shrugged nonchalantly. “Things happen, Marcus.”

  “Make sure they don’t happen tomorrow,” he warned.

  Tane rose slowly as his distaste of Marcus nearly overwhelmed him. He exited the tent before he choked the life out of Marcus. He detested the man so fiercely that he couldn’t believe his people had fought the Fae over this cursed realm.

  He walked into the grove of trees and leaned against one. He missed Draconia, his people and the dragons. But soon, his mission would be finished and he could return to his realm. Then, and only then, could he face what awaited him. Until that time he would have to suffer the humans.

  Tane turned and laid on his pallet as he looked through the limbs to the sky above. Only one moon shown in the sky compared to the three Draconia had.

  He sighed and settled down to rest. They were sure to catch up with Ahryn and Lugus on the morrow. So far Ahryn and Lugus had been incredibly fortunate, but that luck was about to end.

  ~ ~ ~

  Lugus knew Marcus was on the isle. He also knew the Draconian was with him. What he didn’t know was where, exactly, Marcus and the Draconian were.

  He looked over his shoulder to find Ahryn desperately trying to keep up. He had pushed her hard as soon as they had landed, so he decided now would be a good time to rest. When he spotted a small grove of trees, he ventured toward them and handed Ahryn the water skin when she caught up.

  “Thank you,” she said as she lifted the bag and drank deeply.

  Lugus found his gaze drawn to her slender neck as she tilted her head back to drink. He had kissed her flesh and knew how soft and warm she was. He swallowed and made himself look away before he did something unwise like pull her to him and kiss her until both of them were senseless of anything around them.

  He didn’t know what was wrong with him. Just the slightest of touches and he was aching for her so badly he nearly shook with it. He gripped the pommel of his sword as he looked off into the distance and prayed for the strong will and patience that had always served him in the past.

  “Have we come far?” Ahryn asked as she came to stand beside him.

  Lugus refused to look at her. He knew just how appealing she was in the moonlight with tendrils of her hair framing her face. His control hung by the thinnest of threads and the slightest wind could snap it in half.

  “Aye,” he managed past the tightness in his throat. It was as if his body was somehow connected to Ahryn’s and her every movement.

  He needed some distance between them. He set out again, not looking back to see if she followed. It was only a moment later he heard her soft footfalls as she quickly followed.

  “What I wouldn’t do for a horse,” Ahryn said.

  Lugus knew the odds of them happening upon horses were remote and was just about to tell her so when he heard a soft nicker. He stopped in his tracks and slowly looked to his left where he spotted a horse atop a small hill.

  Ahryn inhaled sharply. “Do you think we could borrow him? We would reach the gateway so much quicker.”

  For several heartbeats Lugus debated on continuing on foot, but he knew he was being foolish. His goal was to get Ahryn to the gateway and doing that as quickly as possibly was of the utmost importance, not his sudden need to bed her.

  “Lugus?” she called softly.

  He sighed and turned to her. “Stay here while I catch him.”

  The joyous smile that lit her face made his breath catch. He jumped the small fence and found a length of rope on the ground. He grabbed it and slowly made his way to the horse. About halfway to him, Lugus stopped and went down on his haunches as though he searched for something on the ground.

  Knowing how curious horses were, it didn’t take long for him to hear the soft tread of the horse as it drew near. Lugus watched the animal out of the corner of his eye as he reached into a bag he had taken from the ship and pulled out an apple.

  At the first bite, the horse trotted closer to him. If Lugus had wanted, he could reach out and touch the animal, but he needed the horse’s trust, so he waited. After a few more bites, he slowly lifted the apple toward the horse. Just as he suspected, the horse extended his neck and sniffed the apple.

  With the slightest of movements, Lugus pulled the apple closer to him so that if the horse wanted it, he needed to take a step toward him. Lugus smiled as the horse not only took the needed step, but also took another.

  Lugus gave the horse the apple and rose to his feet as he ran his hands over the horse, appreciating the horse’s nice lines. He was dark, black by the looks of it, but it was hard for Lugus to see in the moonlight, with four white stockings.

  By the time the horse had eaten the apple he was no longer afraid of Lugus.

  “We need your help,” Lugus said to the horse. “I don’t like taking you from your home, but I need to get Ahryn safely to the gateway. I will return you.”

  Lugus reached up and secured the length of rope to mimic reins, then grabbed hold of the horse’s black mane before he leapt upon his back. He waited to see if the horse would protest his weight, but when the horse swung his big head around to look at him, Lugus chuckled and patted his neck.

  “Let’s see what you can do.”

  He trotted the horse around the pasture before he faced them toward the fence and Ahryn. Lugus whistled to the horse and brought him into a gallop before they jumped the fence.

  The exhilaration from the quick ride helped Lugus push his desire for Ahryn to the side. Until she stood before him waiting to be li
fted onto the big animal.

  “He’s a beauty,” she said as she ran her hand over the horse’s dark flank.

  “That he is,” Lugus said and held out his hand. She grabbed hold, and he easily lifted her behind him. “Hold on tight. I have no bridle or reins.”

  As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them, especially when her body molded to his back. He squeezed his eyes closed when he felt her breasts on his back and her arms wrapped around his waist. His rod swelled with desire, and it was all he could do not to pull her around in front of him and feast on her breasts.

  Give me strength, he bade whatever god was listening as he nudged the horse into a canter.

  The horse was eager for exercise just as they were eager to cover ground quickly. It wasn’t long before Lugus felt Ahryn’s arms loosen around him as she drifted off to sleep. To help hold her against him, he put his hand over her arms. Even that simple contact made him ache to feel more of her.

  He prayed they reached the gateway soon before he gave in to temptation and tasted the heady nectar of Ahryn. Again.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Lugus had managed to keep a tight, if not unsteady, hold on his desire. That is, until Ahryn began to slide off the horse. Lugus quickly brought the horse to a halt and easily pulled Ahryn around until he held her across his lap with her head against his chest.

  He knew the road ahead of them was going to be treacherous, even with the horse, so he let her sleep while she could. There would be times they would have to forfeit sleep in order to reach the gateway.

  Though he had gotten the directions from the woman in the inn, Lugus wished he had visited Skye before. Not knowing the location well enough, he had no idea how long it would take them to reach the gateway. And, of course, the Captain had refused to tell him after Lugus had taken the sword.

  There had been no way he was leaving the ship without his sword. It was one of his few possessions that meant something to him. Not to mention a man without a weapon was as sure as dead, and with his current mission, he couldn’t take that chance, at least not until Ahryn was safely in the Fae realm.

  Ahryn sighed and snuggled against his chest, her hand lying limply against his abdomen. It didn’t matter how much he told himself not to look, his eyes drifted down to see her sleeping contentedly against him. As a Fae, she was stunning, but asleep, she looked innocent and fragile, and Lugus had the overwhelming desire to protect her.

  “The only thing you need to protect her from is yourself,” he mumbled into the night air.

  A steady breeze off the sea dimmed the sounds of the nights, sounds Lugus desperately needed to be aware of. Because the wind played havoc with him, he had to continually look around him, allowing his senses to guide him.

  He determined it to be a couple of hours before dawn when he stopped the horse beneath a small grove of trees. Large boulders stood between the trees and the sea, which would keep them hidden from passers by on the road as well as the constant breeze.

  Lugus gently picked Ahryn up in his arms and swung a leg over the horse’s black head. As carefully as he could, he slid to the ground. He smiled to himself when Ahryn didn’t stir.

  He laid her down and quickly brushed and tied the black before he too succumbed to sleep.

  ~ ~ ~

  Ahryn didn’t know what had awoken her. She kept still as she cracked open her eyes to see Lugus asleep near her. Sunlight gently filtered through the dense foliage from the trees overhead as she turned onto her back and stretched.

  She rose to her feet and walked to the horse Lugus had tied off to one of the trees.

  “Hi, there,” she whispered as she held out her hand.

  The horse lifted his soft muzzle and gently blew on her hand before he rubbed his great head against her. She laughed and ran her hand from his head down his neck to his smooth back. He was beautiful, and she was thankful Lugus had been able to catch him.

  “Even without Fae magic he is impressive, isn’t he?”

  Ahryn jerked and whirled around to find a man leaning against one of the trees. But he wasn’t just any man. She knew by his copper eyes he was a Draconian.

  “What do you want?”

  He shrugged. “I want you to answer my question.”

  For the life of her, Ahryn couldn’t remember what his question was. “What question?”

  “That he is impressive even without his Fae magic.”

  Ahryn glanced at Lugus still sleeping soundly, too soundly. “Aye, he is.”

  “Don’t worry about him,” the Draconian said as he pushed off the tree and took a step toward her. “He won’t wake up until I wish it.”

  Dread seeped into Ahryn’s bones. With the bracelet still attached and her magic near nonexistent, and Lugus now a mortal, neither of them had magic to combat the Draconian.

  But she refused to cower. After all Lugus had done for her, she would not allow any harm to come to him. “So you found me. I will go quietly with you if you leave Lugus alive and unharmed.”

  The Draconian chuckled and crossed his arms over his great chest as he stared at her, his black cloak hiding much of him. His long black hair hung past the middle of his stomach and glowed nearly blue in the sunlight. “You think you can bargain with me, Ahryn?”

  She had never felt so alone or frightened in her life. “I do,” she lied. “Since you know my name, why not give me yours?”

  He bowed his head slightly, and in his deep timber said, “I am Tane.”

  “Tane, I beg you, leave Lugus unharmed and alive.”

  He took a deep breath. “What makes you think I’ve come for you?”

  Ahryn didn’t believe her ears. “You haven’t come for me?”

  Tane shook his head.

  “Then wh....” She stopped as realization dawned on her. She glanced at Lugus then turned back to Tane. “Why?”

  “Why?” he repeated, his black brows raised. “He is the rightful heir to the Fae kingdom. He was unjustly imprisoned, and only by his strength of will did he survive and manage to exit a realm no one has been able to leave before. And you ask why?”

  She tried to swallow but found her mouth dry. “What do you want with him? He is a good man.”

  “We know. A wrong needs to be righted, Ahryn. Lugus needs to return to your realm.”

  “He cannot. He’s been banished.”

  Tane closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them again, his gaze was harsh, demanding. “You must get him into the Fae realm. At any cost.”

  Ahryn looked away from Tane’s penetrating copper gaze. “I’ve already discussed his return with him. He won’t go. Nothing will make him pass through the gateway.”

  “He will go through it.”

  It was Tane’s tone, so certain and powerful, that made Ahryn turn to him. “He could be killed.”

  “Theron may be many things, but he would not kill his own brother.”

  “How do you know so much about Theron and Lugus?” she asked.

  His eyes moved away from her. “That doesn’t matter.”

  She sensed that he knew much more than he was willing to share, but she also knew he wouldn’t give her any more information. “What if I cannot get him to come with me through the gateway?”

  “I will get him through the gate,” Tane said.

  Ahryn wanted Lugus in her realm so Theron could see how wonderful Lugus was, but she couldn’t help but doubt Tane. He was a Draconian.

  “You doubt I’m sincere,” he said.

  It wasn’t a question, but a fact, and Ahryn nodded. “Draconian’s and Fae do not mix.”

  “And why is that? Haven’t you ever wondered?”

  She had, but she wasn’t about to admit that to Tane. “You are working with Marcus. For all I know you gave him the bracelet to trap me,” she said and held up her right hand.

  Tane walked to her and stared at the bracelet. “Marcus told me he had it, but I never saw it until now.” He moved his gaze to her face. “You cannot remove it.” />
  “Nay.”

  “I can.”

  Her breath left her body in a whoosh. “Then do it,” she said

  “Only if you make sure Lugus is with you at the gateway.”

  “Once I pass through the gate, the bracelet will no longer work.”

  “Who told you that?”

  Ahryn could feel sands of Fate shifting beneath her feet. “I just assumed....”

  “You assumed wrong,” Tane said and moved to stand near Lugus. “Until that bracelet is removed, you will not have your magic.”

  “Surely someone on my realm will be able to remove it.”

  He shrugged. “Possibly. If they can decipher the marks.”

  Ahryn glanced down at the bracelet and the marks she and Lugus had looked over. “You know what they mean?”

  “I do, and I will remove the bracelet as soon as Lugus is again on the Realm of the Fae.”

  Ahryn inhaled deeply and realized she didn’t have much of a choice. “All right. Just answer me one question.”

  “If I can,” he said softly.

  “Do you intend to hurt or kill Lugus in any way?”

  One side of his mouth lifted in a smile. “If I wanted to kill him, I would have done it while you slept. Nor will he be harmed or killed once he returns to your realm.”

  “How can you promise that?”

  “I can,” he said as he turned and walked away.

  Ahryn blinked, and he was gone. No sooner had Tane vanished than Lugus began to stir. She watched as he slowly rose up on one elbow and rubbed his head with his other hand.

  “Did you sleep well?” she asked.

  He grunted as he sat up. “I don’t think I’ve ever slept so hard before.”

  Ahryn turned to the sea. “Did we travel far last night?”

  “We did,” he answered as he came to stand beside her. “I’ll go look for some food and water.”