“Keep your teeth to yourself, and my usual tone isnae aggravating.”
“It surely is.” He nipped her ear again.
“Would you stop that.” She would have slapped him again only she needed to hold tight to her horse. Racing along the darkened trail through the ever-thickening forest with the most frustrating man she’d ever met at her back, she galloped as fast as the night and the thinning trail would allow. “You are one very annoying man.”
“And you’re one very incessantly annoying woman. I noticed you’re also wearing lad’s clothing again. Do you ever wear a gown as a woman does?”
“You said I suited lad’s clothing when we met at William’s tavern.”
“I lied. I prefer my women clothed as women.”
“And exactly how many women do you have?”
“I’ve lost count.” A snort in her ear, his breath as hot as the heated wall of his body.
“So I take it you no longer wish to meet me on the first of each month?”
“Did we make such an arrangement?” His grip around her waist tightened.
“I didnae compel you to forget that, or the entire conversation we had. All I asked was that you considered me an annoyance and one you never wished to lay eyes upon again.”
“You compelled me to think what I currently think about you?”
“Of course.” She shot him a big smile. “Why do you think you hate me so much?”
“Your voice gains in strength. It isnae quite as raspy.”
“My voice always rises when anger takes me.” Such a shame it still hadn’t risen enough to compel him yet. She thundered on down the trail, pine trees thick either side and the damp scent of the earth heavy in the air. “My compelling tone will return afore too long and when it does, I intend to compel you to forget me entirely. That would be most helpful.”
“Please do so. Naught would I appreciate more.”
“Good. Then ’twill be done.”
“Good. I look forward to it.” He nipped her ear again. “You might be feisty, but you’re also tasty. Ella?” He said her name in a questioning whisper as he smoothed his hands over her hips and along her upper thighs. He splayed his fingers wide and rested his palms there. “I apologize. I’ve spoken to you most rudely.”
“Pardon?”
“I apologize, for demanding you return to the village, for falling from my horse and for worrying you. Yelling at you too. And telling you I look forward to you compelling me to forget you. I also like you clothed just the way you are.”
“That is a lot of apologizing.”
“Do you forgive me?” He nuzzled her neck and this time nipped the sensitive skin where her shoulder and neck met.
“Nay.”
“I dinnae know why I’m touching you like this, or why the urge to keep doing so remains so strong, but you smell so sweet.” He breathed deep, his nose tickling her skin. “Like vanilla and fresh air.”
“I always add vanilla to my bathwater.” Heat flushed her cheeks. Ugh, why had she told him that? “Ignore my babbling.”
“Look.” He pointed ahead. “The trail comes to an end.”
“I see it.” The pine trees butted right up to the edge of the cliffs overlooking the sea. The Isle of Raasay was only a few miles wide, and one of the many hundreds of isles along Scotland’s western coastline. She pulled her horse to a halt at the cliff’s edge and it stamped the dusty ground. Out at sea, moonlight rippled over the white-capped waves and tinged them a golden hue, while farther along the cliffs, a steep trail led down to a narrow beach far below. Horses whinnied, although they remained alone in the dark with no riders in sight.
“You see that?” Duncan motioned toward the scoured lines marking the sand below.
“Gavin must have brought his vessel in here and snuck through the forest before lighting the fires. He’s a sneaky one. Ethan’s managed to infiltrate his band and attempts to halt his devious attacks, although he’s clearly been unable to do so without me and my compelling voice.”
“James told me you both do all that you can to honor your father’s memory. Peace is what you desire, no’ war.” He cocked a brow, the wind whipping his black hair into a wind-tossed mess.
“’Tis true, very true.” She steered her horse down the tricky cliff side trail, stones scattering over the verge and rapping down the sheer side before plunking into the sand. Duncan tightened his grip on her from behind, his chest flattened to her back and his hips moving in motion with hers as she negotiated the steep downward trail. Such a caressing touch, his entire body rubbing and stimulating hers. Oh my, she could barely breath with how closely aligned their bodies were, and never had another man ever stirred such an emotion to rise within her before.
Disbelief rocked through her, those emotions ones that should only ever arise should she be with her chosen one. This man couldn’t be him. He was a MacKenzie and didn’t hold fae blood. She shook her head. Well, as far as she knew he didn’t hold fae blood.
“Take care with that last step.” His hands came smoothly around hers on the reins. He tugged and her horse bounded with ease over the craggy edge of the last step and onto the small curve of the beach. With one leg swinging free, he dismounted and landed with a soft clomp on the sand.
She too dismounted and knelt beside him where he crouched to inspect the marks made in the white grains. This thin strip of the beach would likely be covered once the tide rose, the marks completely lost. She touched his arm. “What are your thoughts?”
“These marks arenae as heavy as that of a galley, but no’ as light as that of a skiff either. How many men does Gavin have with him?”
“Seven altogether, including himself and Ethan.”
“Aye, that number seems about right. ’Tis the number of men I’ve been chasing.”
“You need to cease chasing Gavin. I’ll find him and deal with him.” She rose and nabbed the dangling reins of the closest horse, led the animal to the trail and clapped a hand on its flank. The mare trotted up the trail and she guided the other horses across and sent each one on up as well. “Gavin is reckless and foolhardy, should never have swiped these horses from the stables, nor set the village alight. He has no thought for others.”
“He’s far more than foolhardy. He strikes out against the innocent, will learn a lesson to never do so again, the moment I can get my hands on him.”
“You need to allow me to impart that lesson.” With Duncan’s and her horse’s reins in hand, she held out his leads to him. “At least I found your horse. Once I catch up to Gavin, ’twould be best if Ethan and I took him straight back to Dunscaith. We’ll ensure the Chief of MacDonald learns all about Gavin’s misdeeds. Setting Inverarish alight and bringing harm down upon the heads of innocent villagers is unacceptable. The MacDonald cannae argue that fact.”
“The MacDonald cares little about facts, has likely instructed his nephew to wreak the havoc he has upon my land and against those under my care, or have you forgotten I was the one who sailed right into Dunscaith and in doing so caused the war between our clans to escalate?”
“I believe Gavin acts alone, without his chief’s knowledge. Please, you need to allow Ethan and I to deal with this. I can speak to Gavin and the MacDonald, ensure all is made right. Surely what is of most importance here is preventing any further blood from being shed, and that I can surely do once my voice has fully returned and I can compel Gavin as needed.”
“Can you compel a man to suppress his true nature?”
“Nay, but I can still work some wonders. I’ll ensure his chief is made aware of his actions and halts them.”
“This war is a deadly one. It takes lives, Ella.” He caught her shoulders. “Your voice is naught but a whisper right now and Gavin is a devious man. He’ll take full advantage of that, and let’s no’ forget that this is my battle and no’ yours.”
“I wasnae asking for your permission to remain on the hunt for Gavin.” She mounted her steed and nudged it up the trail in the wake of the
other horses.
“I have forty men at my disposal and I can scour the land and seas with far more ability than you can.” He bounded onto his saddle and directed his horse up the trail after her. “Gavin will pay for his destruction, something which only I can truly ensure.”
“Oh, I’m sure that would be your preference, but it isnae mine.” At the top of the cliff, she halted and waited as he joined her. She searched his gaze, the absolute determination flickering across his immoveable. Clearly she’d need to work her fae ability on him a little more, and she could only do that once her compelling tone had returned. For now, it might be best if she kept him close until that moment arrived. Her voice gained a little more in strength with each day that passed, which meant she shouldn’t have to remain with him for too long. Aye, that’s what she’d do. She also wished to delve deeper into these strange feelings he’d brought forth within her. “I have a request.”
“And that is?”
“What if we join together in our hunt for Gavin?”
“You wish to sail with me?”
“I do, provided you can accept a compeller on board your vessel.”
“If I agree to your request, then I expect your full obedience to my orders.”
“Aye, aye, Captain.” Unable to help herself, she saluted him. “Let it also be known though that I expect you to obey my orders as well.”
“I follow no lass’s orders, and ’tis no wonder I find you so annoying, whether you’ve compelled that of me or no’.” He nudged his horse and moved ahead along the trail.
“’Tis good to see we’ve finally reached an agreement that suits us both.” She cleared her raspy throat and set out after him. The moment she got the full use of her compelling tone back, she’d make him pay for each and every insolent remark he’d just made. The man certainly needed to be brought down a peg or two, and lucky for him, she was completely up for the task.
Up ahead, the horses all trotted in single file and she followed through the forest. When they finally emerged on the hilly rise surrounding the village, she stopped, sat higher in her saddle and surveyed the longhouses lying nestled below within the bay’s basin. Some of the villagers still carried the odd pail toward the few tendrils of remaining smoke curling into the air from the burnt homes, although thankfully there appeared to be only severe damage to two of them.
“The fires have been contained.” Duncan halted atop his mount beside her.
“I pray no lives were lost.”
“As do I.” He reached across the small gap between them, caught her hand and squeezed it. “I need to leave this night. Any further delay will only allow Gavin to sail that much farther from my reach. Can you be ready to leave upon our return?”
“Aye, and he sails farther from my reach too.”
“How ill have you been?” He lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed the tips before frowning and dropping her hand. “My apologies. I dinnae know what just came over me.”
“Think naught of it.” Aye, there was more brewing between them than she’d first realized. Knees to her horse’s flanks, she guided her mount down the pathway lined with thick grass toward the stables. Ahead, the stable lad swung the gate wide and steered the horses they’d returned with back into the corral. She halted near the high-beamed posts as Duncan trotted in beside her.
“Wait there.” He dismounted, gently slapped his horse on the rump and the animal trotted into the corral with the others. He strode around to her, gripped her waist and swung her down beside him. With a nudge, he sent her palfrey along into the corral too. “You didnae answer my question. How ill have you been?”
“I’ve had a pesky chest illness is all.”
“Did you sail your skiff to Raasay?”
“Aye, ’tis beached along the shore no’ far from your galley.” She pointed to the far rocky end of the shoreline where she’d pulled her boat up onto the sand and secured it to one of the dozen boulders mounded close together.
“I’ll have it roped to my galley.”
“Thank you.” Finding her brother was imperative, and now it appeared she’d be doing so with Duncan leading the venture, or at least until she could compel him as needed then be on her way. Hopefully that would give her enough time to delve deeper into whatever it was that had bloomed between them.
“Ella.” He clenched his hands at his sides then growled under his breath and snagged her hand again.
“Is something wrong?”
“An unusual feeling assails me.”
“As in…” She touched one finger to his pursed lips squeezed so tightly together.
“You make me feel out of sorts.”
“In what way?” He made her feel exactly the same. Allowing herself a certain freedom, she gently traced along his lips, softly back and forth and a hungry growl rumbled from deep within his chest, one which caused a strange heat to gather in her own core and surge through her, a heat that also made her heart beat faster and her soul lift higher. She stroked down over the cleft in his chin then dipped to the V of his white tunic. His black leather jerkin lay fastened loosely overtop of his shirt, the tails flapping free underneath. More emotions arose within her. Surprise and shock coursed strongly, but so too did desire. She touched him so freely, and he’d touched her so freely as well. Such shouldn’t feel so right unless she stood with her chosen one. More and more, the signs pointed to a mated bond having formed between them, only how?
Driven to test these new emotions further, she reached up on the tips of her toes and pushed her hands through the silky softness of his black hair. Touching him made her belly flutter, this moment one she didn’t wish to have ever end.
“What are you doing?” He snagged her wayward hands, pressed them to his cheeks and rubbed his skin against her palms. “Hell, and what am I doing? You’re naught more than an annoyance to me.”
“Aye, I am, as you are for me.”
* * * *
Perhaps he’d taken a far harder knock to the head when he’d fallen than he’d realized. Never had another woman ever brought such fierce and hungry emotions to blazing life within him. Only why Ella Matheson? She was a compeller with the ability to command his very thoughts, of which she’d already done a number of times. He stepped back from her, gave her a firm nod. “We should leave. Do you have all you need?”
“I left my bag at the inn when I first arrived, afore the fires were lit. I’ll go and collect it.” She stepped away, a soft smile lighting her eyes before she turned and disappeared inside the stone inn next to the stables.
Candlelight glowed from the inn’s windows and a puff of smoke swirled from the chimney and floated away on the nighttime breeze. From the first day he’d seen her atop Dunscaith’s battlements she’d intrigued him and now, even more so. This woman held strong fae blood, just as he did through his mother’s line, not that he could ever allow her to learn of that secret. So few knew the truth and that’s the way it needed to remain.
Aye, eight years of age he’d been when he and his twin brother had first learnt the truth about their heritage. Their father’s second-in-command had rapped on the door and awoken him and Coll in the middle of the night, told them a woman of fae blood awaited them downstairs and that their father had called for them to attend him immediately. They’d pulled on breeches under their bed-shirts, tugged socks on and trekked downstairs to their father’s solar on the lower floor of the keep.
Father had pushed an ink bottle and quill to the center of his desk, perched on the front edge and eyed him and Coll as he’d gestured to the woman with a wee lass hiding within her skirts. “Coll, Duncan, this is Mistress Grace from the fae village. She brings you a message you must heed.”
“More than a message.” With a tender smile, the woman with a gentle voice had lowered to her knees before them. “’Tis so good to see you both. You must be Coll?” She’d grasped Coll’s hands and smiled wider at him. “Your brown eyes are flecked with gold, just as they were at your birth.”
“G
race.” Father had thumped one fisted hand on his desk and rattled the dagger resting near the edge. “Tell them what you’ve seen and no more.”
“They must learn the full truth in order to heed my word, unless you wish for the death of your sons.” None had ever defied Father before, but Mistress Grace appeared ready to do so. Intrigued, he’d listened well.
“You intend to speak more in-depth about Beth?” Father had asked her.
“I must in this case.”
“Damn it.” Father had fisted his hands then muttered, “Fine. Say what you will. None within this solar will utter a word after you’ve left. My sons shall do as I command them.”
“Thank you.” Mistress Grace glanced between him and his brother. “I hold the fae skill of death-warning and can receive visions. Of those who live but are soon to die, I can warn them aforehand and ensure they are given the chance to live. Earlier this eve, I had a vision of both of you.”
“I remember you,” Coll had piped up. “You cared for us when we were little.”
An image of this woman flickered through Duncan’s mind, one of her tending to their scraped knees as wee lads and reciting bedtime stories before tucking them into their beds and slipping outside their door to her own chamber next to theirs.
“I remember you too.” Memories from his earlier years continued to surge forth. Mistress Grace had been so loving and kind, a nurse with a tender hand, a most worthy guardian as well. “I’m Duncan. What have you seen, Mistress Grace?”
“More than I wish, I’m afraid.” She cleared her throat. “In order to ensure your survival you must both listen to me well. From this day forth, neither of you must ever raise a hand in battle against a Matheson, not because you willnae be strong warriors, but because in harming a Matheson you will also be harming yourselves. Soon, you will both understand what I speak of, for there will be things you’ll be able to do that no other MacKenzie warrior can. The fae battle skill will come upon you and when it does your strength will be immense.”
“We’re MacKenzies, no’ Mathesons. How can we hold a fae skill?” Coll had glanced at Father, and so had Duncan. “Mother was a MacLennan and no’ of fae blood.”
Highlander's Caress: Medieval Romance (The Fae Book 2) Page 4
