The Princess and the Laird

by C. A. Szarek

  “Some time ago, actually, a long time ago, hundreds a’ years, a Fae Princess married tha Laird MacLeod. There are some MacLeods tha’ believe…we are…part Fae.”

  His da believed the clan legend with all his heart. Something Alex and his siblings had always scoffed at. Could it actually be true?

  How could the Fae be real? They had no evidence.

  There was one item his father claimed to be proof. A tattered scrap of formerly-fine material Iain kept under lock and key. It was called the Faery Flag, and came with a story about the Fae and wishes made upon it to save his clan. Legend had it, two wishes had been made and one remained, and that a Fae Princess would save them all.

  Alex had believed that one even less than the Fae blood that supposedly ran through his veins.

  ‘Tis all nonsense. Right?

  Alana gasped and blinked. “That might explain what happens when we touch.” She reached for his hand and he jumped. “Alex…are you afraid of me now?” She entwined their fingers as he shook his head.

  “Nay, lass. I could ne’er be afraid of ye.” He drew their joined hands to her chin and tilted it up. “I’ve no idea why, but I feel as if I’ve known ye for years. I’m drawn ta ye, Alana.”

  Her lovely face streaked the most adorable shade of pink.

  He pressed his lips to each cheek, savoring the heat of her skin and craving more.

  “I feel the same way.” This was another whisper, but her expression said she wanted to say more. However, she did not.

  Her discomfort washed over him; he wanted to make her feel better. “Where’s yer guard?”

  Alana averted her eyes, telling him he’d missed the mark. “I...left him. I didn’t exactly have permission to leave my rooms.”

  “Ye snuck away?”

  “Aye.”

  His belly quivered when her enchanting orbs found his again.

  “I just had to see you again,” she whispered.

  Alex cupped her cheeks. “I’m glad. I had ta see ye again, as well.” He needed to taste her again, more than he needed his next breath.

  He dipped down and took her mouth, but she was right there, kissing him with the same fervency as the first time, slipping her arms around his neck and squeezing him almost too tight.

  She climbed onto his lap and they trembled against each other as he deepened the kiss, and settled his hands at her hips. Their tongues danced and dueled as they swapped control back and forth.

  His cock was so hard, there was no doubt she could feel it.

  Alana shifted against him, the soft pressure of her bottom only a tease of friction that wasn’t nearly enough.

  He broke the seal of their mouths on a groan. “Alana, we need ta stop, before I canna. I’ve ne’er wanted a lass tha way I wan’ ye.”

  She panted against his chest, her perfect breasts rising and following in a rhythm he couldn’t tear his eyes from. “I feel the same way. Never before have I wanted someone like I need you.”

  Alex growled, he couldn’t help it. “Ye’ve had lovers?” Chiding himself didn’t stop the rage and jealousy swirling in his gut. Neither did the reminders that he didn’t know this lass, this supposed Fae Princess. His need for her was swift, demanding, and shocking in its concentration. He wanted her in his bed in the laird’s rooms, and he’d never let her leave.

  The thought should’ve alarmed him, but it only burned yearning low in his gut.

  “Yay…and nay.”

  He’d expected her gaze to waver, but she met his eyes dead on.

  “Meanin’?”

  Alana slid her hand through his short hair, and then rested her palm against his cheek. “I’ve…” She cleared her throat and took a breath. Licked her kiss-swollen lips. “I’ve touched and kissed a man. I’ve been touched and kissed. I’ve never…had a man inside me.”

  His heart tripped and his mouth went dry. “Yer innocent?”

  The smile that lit her face made his gut quiver. “My maidenhead is intact, but I’m not naïve.” She laughed. “I’ve not been called innocent for many years.”

  “Years? Yer barely grown.” Alex’s cock pulsed a disagreement. This was no child in his arms. She kissed with experience enough to tie him in knots and send him to oblivion.

  He sucked back a growl, trying not to imagine her small hands on another man—especially an intimate touch she wasn’t afraid to make.

  It bothered him much more than it should.

  He shouldn’t care if she’d given herself to a dozen men, but even if it was just one, he more than merely cared.

  It was wrong, if it wasn’t him.

  Alex wanted to mark her; claim her.

  Alana’s smile dimmed. “How old are you, Alex?”

  “Two and twenty summers.”

  She swallowed, and a shadow danced over her features. “Fae live much longer than humans. I…I was five and fifty on my last nameday.”

  Air rushed from his lungs. “Ye dinna look more than eight and ten.”

  Her laughter surrounded them, tickling like the wind. “I wouldn’t go that far. I’d like to think I look no older than you, though. I’m not a child, nor an old woman.”

  God’s blood she wasn’t a child. And of course she wasn’t old. Age could explain her experience with men, as much as he didn’t like it. “Five and fifty?” Older than his father by a few years. He wouldn’t point it out, in case she’d take offense.

  She nodded and cupped his cheeks. “I’m considered young by Fae standards. A ‘lass’, as you say. My father is over one hundred years old.”

  He gulped. “One hundred?”

  “Aye, and he has many more years left.”

  Alex’s head spun with the unbelievable information. There was nothing but truth in her pretty eyes, even if logic told him she couldn’t be correct. “Then…”

  “I will live much longer than you.” Alana looked so sad he tugged her back to him and kissed her forehead.

  “‘Tis nothin’ tha’ matters.”

  “It does matter. I—”

  “What, lass?” he prompted when she trailed off.

  She trembled in his arms again, then shook her head. “You’re right. It doesn’t matter. Shouldn’t matter because I shouldn’t be here.” She gently broke the circle of his embrace and climbed to her feet. Alana faced the sea without another word and silence descended.

  His heart ached.

  What could have her so sad?

  He wanted to yank her to him and run back to Dunvegan with her in his arms.

  Keep her forever.

  Alex made it to his feet and brushed off the back of his plaid, but studied her beautiful profile. Her mantle rustled in the wind, and the waves crashed into the beach, but nothing took his focus off her.

  She was dressed in purple from head to foot, although several different shades. Even her boots were a dark shade of the color.

  “Why do ye keep sayin’ that, Alana?” he whispered. He liked the way her name rolled off his tongue.

  She whirled on him, and jumped, as if he’d startled her, like she’d forgotten he was there. “I have to go.”

  “Nay. Why?”

  “I have to, Alex. Now.” Her words shook and her expression was grief-stricken.

  His stomach dipped to his toes. “When will I see ye again?”

  Her eyes went misty, making their hue shine like amethyst, and he wanted to snatch her back into his arms and force that sorrow away. “I…I don’t know. I’m not sure you will.” A tear rolled down her creamy cheek.

  Alex couldn’t help himself, he darted forward and cupped her face, thumbing it away. “Dinna cry, lass.”

  “I…Alex…I…” Alana gripped his wrists and squeezed. “This trip…it was supposed to be goodbye. I didn’t even know if I’d see you, but I convinced myself I would.”

  “And ye did.”

  She nodded in his grip, and he wiped new tears away. “But… I cannot come back. I just…can’t. This has to be goodbye.”

  His gut—or maybe
it was his heart—rejected her words.

  He didn’t shout, ‘nay!’ again, as he’d wanted. Alex dipped down and claimed her mouth like she’d claimed him.

  Alana had branded him from their first kiss, or maybe it was their first touch, days ago.

  She kissed him until he was hard and aching all over again, and she held his waist tightly, as if her grip could erase her words. Her tears mingled with the movement of their lips, and he could taste the salt, but it was sweet somehow, just like his princess.

  “Then dinna go,” he breathed against her lips.

  She whimpered and looked down. “I cannot stay. Goddess, I want to, but I cannot.”

  His heart slid to his toes and his chest constricted like he’d run the length of the beach. Alex hurt all over his body. “I canna let ye go.” His voice was a croak.

  “We don’t even know each other,” she whispered.

  Somehow, even though it was the truth, it didn’t relieve the pressure in his lungs. “I know it.” He inhaled, trying to force air down. “But it dinna feel as if tha’ were so.”

  Alana covered her mouth with her hand and nodded.

  Each tear destroyed him a bit more than the one before.

  “Goodbye, Alex,” she sobbed.

  He didn’t get a chance to respond.

  Alex blinked and she was gone.

  Chapter Six

  How could she tell him who she was?

  What she was?

  She’d broken every rule she’d ever been taught. Fae and humans were enemies, dating back from their first encounter a millennia ago.

  Of course, there’d always been rebels like her, or the humans of Scotland would’ve never have known of the Faery Folk—as Alex had attested.

  Alana shook her head and her vision blurred, making the crystals in the cave of the Faery Stones waver until they were just a bright blob in her line of sight. Her teeth chattered and she sucked in one breath, then another as the shudder passed over her whole body.

  She needed to open the Stones and go home, but she couldn’t make her feet move. Stood like a statue—except that she was shaking all over, so maybe she was a crumbling statue.

  Her mantle swooshed as the fabric shifted against itself.

  Alana needed to gather her wits, too. She was lucky to have gotten out of her rooms undetected—she’d used the secret passage way behind her hearth to get down to the numerous escape tunnels that spilled out into the forest.

  She hadn’t wanted to risk blinking inside the palace, so she’d waited until she was well away from it before going to the Field of Light.

  From there, she’d used an invisibility spell and had caused a small explosion in the woods at the edge of the Field. The whole wing of Fae Warriors—all six of them—had left the Stones unguarded to investigate.

  Uncle Daegus would not be pleased with their carelessness, but it’d been to her advantage, and she’d made it to the Human Realm without incident.

  Her plan had been to seek Alex out, but she hadn’t been confident she’d find him. She’d sat on the ridge, enjoying a genuine breeze and the scent of the waters, instead of Fae magic-induced always pleasant weather.

  That he’d happened upon her had been an accident.

  Or is it really fate?

  What she was feeling made no sense. She didn’t know Alex MacLeod. Well, know was a relative term, was it not?

  Alana knew his mouth.

  His taste.

  She knew his body—at least on the outside of his clothing. He was adept at kissing, and had aroused her without touching her intimately when no other had been able to do so. He’d run her desire so high her blood had boiled. She’d throbbed between her legs, and would’ve let him strip her trews down and take her innocence had he not stopped.

  Although she mourned his choice, it confirmed he was a good man. Magic and Alex’s words alike solidified that the draw she felt was mutual.

  He was even part Fae—if the Clan MacLeod legend was true.

  So why are you leaving?

  She crushed her eyes on the answer she didn’t want to even think, let alone say out loud.

  I could get him killed.

  Would get him killed if anyone discovered she’d seen him, let alone told him she was Fae. Or that she was the princess.

  His ‘crime’ would only be considered greater if anyone discovered they’d been intimate, no matter it hadn’t gone beyond kissing.

  Goddess, she could hear her father dooming Alex in her mind. His deep voice would be harsh, his violet eyes sharp slits. His broad shoulders held tight, and a glare on his handsome bearded face. Hard.

  Just like this morning.

  Her father had finally called her from her rooms three full days after being imprisoned, and his hours’ long lecture had involved threats—and promises—that should have her shaking in her boots for reasons other than a human laird’s kisses and caresses.

  Alana had made a practice of sneaking away from the palace and disobeying the king. This time, she’d left the protection of the Fae Realm, ‘carelessly’, her father had ranted. He’d commanded she mind him this time, or he’d seal her in the tower.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t believe her father’s vow; she just wasn’t afraid.

  The only thing that had impacted her was when the king had reminded her she was no longer a child—funny, considering how he treated her—and that her mother would be so disappointed. She feared her father was right.

  King Fillan had imparted that he would be respected. Obeyed.

  What had she done instead?

  She’d snuck back to the Human Realm the very morning of her admonition, partly because he’d not answered her demand of how long he planned to keep her locked up, and partly because she had been driven to see her human laird.

  I’m sorry, Mother.

  Even then, she didn’t regret her second trip to where she’d been forbidden. Hopefully, her mother could’ve understood—she and the laird really were fated.

  Alex…he’d begged her to stay.

  Her head spun and her chest ached. “Breathe, just breathe.” The whisper bounced around the low ceiling of the humid cave.

  The space wasn’t large, and opposite of the Fae Faery Stones on the dais in the Field of Light, the ones on this side looked as if they belonged here. Like their twin set, the Stones were made up of five clustered natural formations, rising from the cavern’s floor, perfectly spaced from each other, in a loose semi-circle.

  The shape they sat in was perfect, as if it’d been placed there, not grown. That was probably the case, but likely they’d been created in a cave in her realm.

  The main Stone called to her, brightening and humming, as if in welcome. Alana wanted to reject the call; stay in the Human Realm with Alex, but she couldn’t.

  She sighed as she approached. Her fingers hesitated before first touch of the largest crystal, and the start of the pattern.

  Typical to her behavior—as Xander would tout—she hadn’t contemplated how she’d get home. The wing of guards would still be in the Field of Light, and would no doubt be ready to defend the Stones and the realm from the moment the portal opened.

  What would she do?

  “What can I do?”

  Light glinted off the largest crystal, as if it was trying to answer.

  Alana could knock them out with magic, but there was no way she wouldn’t end up with more consequences for this jaunt to see Alex.

  She groaned. Magic was on her side, but nothing her powers were capable of couldn’t be sensed or discovered by her father’s mages. And as her cousin had mentioned—they were a vindictive lot. Always eager to inflict pain at the king’s will.

  Apprehension skidded down her spine when she made her fingers move over the Stones. Her magic wasn’t in tempo with their internal chords, so she had to breathe deeply and try again.

  They hummed as if admonishing her, but soon Alana played the pattern out and the small cavern filled with artificial gales, rustling h
er hair and clothing.

  All the history scrolls said the Human Realm had no magic and Fae powers were diminished here, but this was the first time she’d felt the like.

  She stepped back when the portal opened, and her tears were already falling again. No matter how many times she swiped at her face, her eyes went blurry over and over.

  I’m leaving. For good.

  “I’ll never see him again.”

  Alana sucked back a large sob and focused on the orange grass visible beneath the dais through the shimmering bubble. She chided herself to calm and stepped through to her realm.

  She met the shocked dark gaze of an ebony-haired Fae Warrior standing next to the raised platform. She didn’t know his name.

  “Princess?” He flexed his wings and the grip on his sword at the same time. His posture screamed hesitation, but her empathic powers told him he was determined, too.

  Determined to what? Should I run?

  She had no answer for him, and turned away. The dais only had three stairs…

  A sound, like the breath rushing from someone’s lungs hit her ears, then a thud, and Alana gasped. She whirled and her eyes collided with her cousin’s.

  The thick black plait of the Fae Warrior was the only movement as he now lay in the orange grass.

  Lying in heaps around the dais on the ground—also unconscious—were two more soldiers. That meant three were missing, but where they were wasn’t obvious.

  Xander sheathed his large weapon and stalked over to her. He grabbed her arm, and practically dragged her away from the Faery Stones.

  “D-d-d-id you kill them?”

  “Nay,” he growled. “But you are going to get me killed. What in Five Hells do you think you’re doing?”

  Heat swirled at the back of her neck and scorched her cheeks. He wouldn’t like the answer, so Alana didn’t want to tell him. “Will they remember what happened?” she asked instead.

  “I hit Braelyn with the hilt of my sword, from behind, so no. I knocked Garreth and Meninx out with magic. I also said a thought-scatter spell.”

  “Xander—”

  “Not a word.” This was a hard command he shouldn’t dare give her.

  Before Alana could take the fortifying breath she very much needed, her cousin swung her up into his arms and pinned her to his chest. His green armor bit into her shoulder, despite its curvature. That was partially due to the breastplate and partially due to Xander’s muscled body.