Highland Fires

by Donna Grant

  She felt wicked, but she didn’t care. When she was with Lugus she felt free despite having the slave bracelet on. Recalling the bracelet made her think of the Fae realm and how she would have to make sure Lugus went through the gate with her.

  It would be easier to convince him if she knew more of his past, so she decided to see if he would impart some of his past.

  “When did you get banished?”

  If he was surprised at her question he didn’t show it. “Five years ago,” he answered simply.

  Ahryn took his easy answer to mean that he was willing to talk about the events that led to his banishment. “How did it come about?”

  For a moment she didn’t think he would answer, then he said, “Someone was dying because of something I had done. To try and make amends I gave up my life force.”

  “To try and save the person?” She had never known anyone to do something so heroic.

  He nodded but looked straight ahead. “Rufina held my life force. In doing so, I gave up my immortality to save the dying person, but Rufina didn’t allow me to die.”

  The way he spoke, the hurt and anger showing through in his voice, Ahryn knew then Moira had had something to do with it. “Who was it you tried to save? Was it Moira?”

  He gave a curt nod.

  Ahryn could have cheerfully kicked herself for bringing up Moira’s name and now her memory. She found herself curious about the woman that held Lugus’ heart in her hands.

  “What does she look like?” she asked and looked down at him as he walked beside her.

  He shrugged. “She has blue eyes. No wait. Her eyes are green, and she has blonde hair.”

  Ahryn watched as Lugus withdrew from her. It was obvious he was delving into his memories of Moira, memories that she could never compete with.

  Lugus couldn’t believe he had said Moira had blue eyes. Every night for five years he had dreamed of Moira’s Druid green eyes, but even now he couldn’t recall the exact shade. It was then he realized he hadn’t dreamt of Moira in several nights and had gone just as many days without thinking of her.

  It was such a new and different feeling that he didn’t know whether to rejoice or mourn Moira’s absence from his life. Part of him wasn’t ready to let go, but the other part was eager to explore the unwanted attraction he had for Ahryn.

  He sighed and wished he could go back through time and do things differently. If he were still a Fae and heir to the throne, he could have courted a bride properly and already had sons and daughters filling the palace with laughter. He could see himself with a beautiful bride by his side, someone like Ahryn.

  The thought brought him up short.

  Though he was attracted to Ahryn, he refused to allow himself to become attached in anyway. He wanted her to forget him when she returned home, but the passion they shared last night would make that difficult. He cursed himself inwardly for being so weak that he couldn’t control his own desires for a few days until Ahryn had passed through the gateway.

  His father had been right all those years ago. He wasn’t fit to be king.

  ~ ~ ~

  Rufina watched her husband pace before the thrones as he rubbed his hands together joyfully.

  “We must have a grand celebration,” he said.

  Rufina shook her head. “I would ask that you hold off on such plans until the babe is born.”

  Theron stopped pacing and walked the steps to her throne. “There is always cause for celebration. We will have a ball like no other.”

  She laughed knowing she would be unable to dissuade him from his course. “And just when is this celebration?”

  “Tomorrow,” he replied gleefully. “The invitations went out this morning.”

  “Yet I just told you last night of the news.”

  “I informed the staff first thing this morning. They immediately set everything in motion.”

  His smile was so bright that she didn’t have the heart to tell him she was unnerved to have visitors in the palace. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what she feared, but she had the unnerving feeling that something terrible might happen.

  “I ask but one favor,” she said.

  “Anything.”

  “Keep Aimery and the guards close.”

  The smile disappeared from Theron’ face. “Do you sense something?”

  “Maybe. I don’t know.” And in truth, she didn’t. It was more like a nagging doubt than an unwavering assurance that something would indeed happen.

  “It’s probably just the babe affecting your powers. That does happen.”

  Rufina laughed as relief swept through her. “I had forgotten that.”

  “Everything will be fine, my love. You’ll see,” Theron promised.

  Rufina watched him hurry from the throne room before she too rose and went to make a list of everything she would need for the nursery.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ahryn didn’t try to draw Lugus out of himself the rest of the night. He was so deep in his memories that it was as if he didn’t see the ground before him. So when he suddenly stopped and whispered her name, it surprised her.

  “Ahryn,” he said more forcefully as he glanced at her over his shoulder. “Look.”

  She followed his finger and found the moon shining its light upon two great standing stones.

  “The gateway,” she whispered and barely felt Lugus’ hands as he pulled her off the black.

  “It’s almost dawn. We should get you through the gateway now before Marcus and his army appears. Not to mention the Draconian that is aiding Marcus.”

  Ahryn stared at the stones, unable to believe that she had finally reached them. And it was all because of Lugus. Without him she would still be at Marcus’ castle being readied for a marriage she didn’t want.

  “We must hurry,” Lugus said.

  The urgency in his voice got her moving. She lifted her skirts and came to stand beside him on the hill overlooking the gateway.

  “Is that a cottage?” she asked.

  Lugus followed her gaze and cursed. “It is. The less people that see what is about to take place the better.”

  He grabbed her hand and was about to start down the hill when she stopped him.

  “Wait,” she said and looked into the blue eyes. “Let us watch the sunrise together. One last time.”

  His face softened, and he gave her a slight nod. She turned to face the glowing red ball that slowly broke the horizon. Great beams of light pushed away the last remaining remnants of night. She had known how much he loved to watch the sun rise, and though she didn’t know the reason, she wanted to share another one with him. Something that was theirs.

  “Are you ready to return home?” he asked.

  She nodded, and they started down the hill when the ground began to rumble. Ahryn glanced at Lugus to see his gaze focused somewhere in the distance.

  “What is it?”

  “Run,” he said and withdrew his sword.

  She glanced at the gateway then back at him. “Lugus?”

  “Bloody run, Ahryn,” he shouted. “Marcus has arrived. Get to the gateway now.”

  Fear snaked through her to settle in the pit of her stomach. “You cannot fight them alone.”

  He took her by the arm and turned her to him. “Ahryn, we talked about this. You must get to the gateway. Run as fast as you can and never look back.”

  “Nay,” she said and pulled his head down to kiss him.

  Lugus allowed himself to get lost in the kiss for a heartbeat before he pulled back. He saw the fear in her mystical blue eyes and wished he could erase it, but he couldn’t. All he could do was sacrifice himself to make sure she made it into the Fae realm.

  The odd thing was that all these years he wished for death when now he wished for life. He ran his finger down her soft cheek. “Run.”

  “I cannot leave you.”

  “If I mean anything to you at all, you will give me your vow that you will run to the gateway and never look back.”

 
; She hesitated, and he worried that she might try and dissuade him, but she finally gave him a little nod and turned to the gateway.

  “I will hold them off as long as I can. Don’t tarry,” he warned as he tightened his grip on the pommel of his sword and spotted Marcus and his army riding hard and fast.

  Lugus gave her a little push down the hill. She lifted her skirts in her hands to allow her legs to lengthen as he made sure to keep even with her. When they reached the bottom Lugus moved in front of her and guided her toward the stones.

  They reached the stones the same time Marcus’ army came within range to fire their arrows. Lugus used his sword to knock away the arrows aimed at him as he waited to hear the sound of the gateway opening and Ahryn stepping through.

  But there was nothing.

  “Lugus,” she cried.

  There was a hysterical note in her voice that alerted him something was terribly wrong. He turned to find her standing between the stones, yet nothing had happened. The gateway wouldn’t open for her.

  He stood incredulous as his eyes locked with hers. He couldn’t understand why the gateway hadn’t opened for her. Then he saw her bracelet.

  Her gaze followed his, and she closed her eyes and sank to the ground. Lugus hurried to her to shield her body as more arrows littered the ground around them. If she couldn’t get through the gateway then he had to get her to safety before one of the arrows found her as its mark.

  “Ahryn,” he called as he rushed to her.

  Just as soon as he stepped between the stones, lightening flashed around him and the bright light of the gateway opening blinded him.

  If Lugus had been confused before, it was nothing to what he felt now. He was no longer Fae, yet he had managed to open the gateway. There wasn’t time to linger on the hows, not when Ahryn was in danger.

  “Step through,” he urged her as he pulled her to her feet.

  “Thank you.”

  He wiped away a tear and pushed her through the gateway. He caught just a glimpse of his home realm before he turned back to Marcus and his army that now surrounded them.

  Lugus lifted his sword and met a charging soldier. Using his dagger, Lugus cut the soldier’s thigh as he raced by on his mount. The soldier reined his horse around and charged again, and this time Lugus managed to drag him off his horse.

  He had seen and committed enough killings to last five Fae lifetimes, so it was not his intention to kill Marcus’ soldier. But then the man jumped to his feet and aimed a dagger at Lugus’ heart, it was by instinct alone that Lugus lifted his sword and killed the soldier before his dagger found its way to Lugus’ heart.

  Lugus pushed the soldier off his sword and raised his gaze to Marcus.

  “I won’t allow you to live,” Marcus shouted.

  “Doesn’t matter now that Ahryn is safe in the Fae realm.”

  Next to Marcus was the man Lugus had seen before. Long blue black hair and copper eyes. A Draconian. Lugus would have to kill him. Somehow he had managed to keep himself hidden from the Fae, which allowed him to walk on Earth undetected.

  “You have no idea what you’ve done.” Marcus lifted his hand and arrows began to fly around Lugus.

  Movement on the hill above him caught Lugus’ eye, and he spotted a man and woman staring down at them. It must have been the long blonde hair blowing in the breeze that made Lugus realize that it was Moira and Dartayous watching them. A very pregnant Moira.

  It was like a boulder had been shoved into his gut. An arrow buzzed by his head leaving a gash on his neck, but he ignored the pain. He ducked past another arrow and began to walk toward the Draconian when suddenly the Draconian looked over Lugus’ shoulder and his face went pale.

  Lugus turned to see Ahryn crumpled on the ground with an arrow in her shoulder. The gateway began to close, and he knew he couldn’t leave her to die. He would have to take his chances with Theron.

  He sheathed his sword and jumped through the gateway and knelt beside Ahryn. Just as the gateway closed he saw the Draconian again, this time with a smile on his face.

  Lugus no longer cared about the Draconian. All that mattered was Ahryn and getting her safely to someone that could remove the arrow so she could heal herself.

  ~ ~ ~

  Rufina’s nervousness didn’t disappear as one day turned into the next. The magnificent ball Theron had ordered would take place that night, but all she wanted to do was stay in her chamber.

  “You look stunning, my love,” Theron said as he walked up behind her and leaned down to kiss her neck.

  She gazed at her husband in the mirror and smiled. She had never seen him so excited since he learned of the news of their babe. He was going to make an excellent father to their children.

  “They are waiting,” he said and took her hand.

  Rufina took one last look at herself in the mirror. An elegant gown of silver graced her body and her hair had been left down to flow freely about her except for a small section that was held back away from her face by her crown.

  She allowed Theron to lead her out of their chamber and down the hall to the throne room where they would receive gifts from emissaries from other realms. It was the first time in nearly a millennia that Theron had opened the Fae realm to allow the emissaries entry.

  The throne room was crushed with people as she and Theron made their way to their thrones. She glanced at her husband and found his face beaming with pride. He gave her hand a squeeze as he led her to her throne. It wasn’t until she had taken her seat that he sat.

  Rufina looked to her right and found Aimery, the Fae commander and trusted friend, standing near Theron. She gave Aimery a little nod for she had told him of her fears, fears that could very well be attributed to her pregnancy, but she wanted to be sure just in case.

  Each emissary was introduced as they made their way to the steps before Rufina and Theron, and after an elaborate bow they would present their gifts.

  With each introduction, Rufina found herself relaxing and enjoying the wonderful and elaborate gifts brought from other realms. Hours had passed and she was beginning to tire but since only a few emissaries remained she didn’t want to miss anything.

  It wasn’t until the Draconian was announced that she felt a ripple of fear move through her. She glanced at her husband, but he smiled at the emissary and waved him forward.

  “It was a pleasure to receive your invitation, King Theron,” the Draconian emissary said. “It is with sincere congratulations that I bring a present from my king, Constantine. I hope you and your family enjoy it.”

  Theron smiled. “It has been too long since a Draconian walked in our realm. We welcome you and hope you will stay with us a few days before returning to your realm.”

  The Draconian smiled, and Rufina calmed as his smile seemed genuine and there was no evil in his copper gaze.

  The emissary lifted a small golden chest and waited for Aimery to present it to Theron. Theron took the chest and looked at Rufina.

  She smiled as he opened the chest. They both gazed inside to find a round sphere that glowed milky white. Suddenly it flashed brightly and Rufina quickly covered her eyes. She laughed and lowered her arm knowing how Theron loved tricks of that sort.

  Only she didn’t find her husband, but an empty throne and the emissary gone.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lugus knew with Ahryn back in the Realm of the Fae her magic could again be used. He didn’t know if she had enough power to get them both to her home now that she was injured, but he had to try.

  “Ahryn,” he called softly as he moved her hair from her face. “Ahryn, you’re hurt and I need to get you to safety.”

  But no matter what he said or how many times he called, she never woke. Her wound bled badly, and he grew nervous. He didn’t want to try and take the arrow out of her shoulder himself for fear he would hurt her more than aid her, but he didn’t have a choice.

  He swiped at the blood running down his neck from his own wound and reached to tear a piece
of her skirt off, then tied it around his neck to help stop the bleeding.

  “Don’t wake up,” he murmured and took hold of the arrow protruding from her left shoulder.

  He braced his other hand on her shoulder to keep her still, and after a deep breath, yanked the arrow out. Blood gushed as the wound opened, and Lugus quickly ripped part of her skirts to use to help staunch the flow of blood. He had never seen so much blood in his life and began to worry that he wasn’t aiding her.

  How much time it took for the blood to stop flowing he had no idea, and it was only then that he ripped more material from her skirts to wrap a bandage about her and lifted her in his arms.

  He turned his back to the gateway and for the first time in five years beheld his beloved realm. Yet he didn’t see it. All he looked for was somewhere he could take Ahryn to get help.

  It didn’t take him long to remember where he was and as he left the protection of the trees he spotted the magnificent waterfall and bridge that led to Dun Glamyr, a small village. He began to walk toward the village praying with each step that Ahryn would be all right.

  As he crossed the long stone bridge over the river to the village he spotted a Fae watching him. “Help me,” he called out.

  The man hurried to Lugus and took one look at Ahryn in his arms and said, “Follow me.”

  Lugus fell into step behind the man and entered the man’s lodging. He waited, unsure of what to do.

  “In here,” the man called, and Lugus quickly followed him into a back room where he placed Ahryn on the bed.

  “What happened?” the man asked as he unwrapped the bandage to look at the wound.

  Lugus didn’t want to relate the entire story, so just said, “She was hit with an arrow while crossing through the gateway.”

  The Fae nodded and didn’t look up again as he cleaned the wound. Lugus sank into a chair by the bed and kept his gaze on Ahryn, his worry growing with each beat of his heart. It was the first time in five years that he wished he had his powers.