Fated Mates

by ML Guida

  Fated Mates

  ML Guida

  Buffalo Mountain Press

  Copyright © 2019 by ML Guida

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Madness Unleashed

  About the Author

  Also by ML Guida

  Chapter 1

  Fergus ran his shaking hand through his hair and wiped the sweat off his brow on his sleeve. He leaned against the oak door, gasping for breath. The air seemed thinner, and he put his hand over his rapid beating heart. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he was getting worse.

  Candles flickered in the Sleeping Chamber that was located in the highest turret of Stormholme Castle. The moon played hide and seek behind the dark clouds outside a nearby window. He hadn’t been able to sleep thinking of this very moment. Everyone else was asleep at Stormholme Castle, including the lovely lass: Elspeth MacFarlane.

  She floated in the air with her sword lying between her breasts. Her red hair floated around her head like a flaming crown. He was tempted to kiss her rosy lips, but he didn’t think that would wake her. His mother Mirren said each one of them would wake their mate differently. His brother Rory kissed his. Lauchlan had clasped his mate’s cheeks and his tears had splashed on her face, waking her. Now, it was his turn.

  “You can do this. You can do this. You can do this,” he murmured for the ninety-ninth time. He just wished he believed it.

  He ran his fingers down her stiff arm, but not even an eyelash fluttered. What was he thinking? Did he really think it would be that easy to wake his mate?

  He rubbed his chin. Think. Think. Think.

  He was the healer of his people. It had to be something special.

  Her hands rested on the handle of her sword and the moonlight shined on her blue and red tartan. She was from a different time––a time of the Jacobites, of knights, and kings. Fairytales flashed in his mind and the chivalry between knights and ladies.

  That gave him an idea.

  The midnight sky was clear and quiet. If Elspeth woke, he feared Ian would sense it. So far, the villain seemed to have sixth sense when both Arya and Faye had been waken. However, both of his brothers had been strong and had the ability to fight him.

  He was a different case. He hung his head. His choices were nil.

  “Elspeth, you’re my only hope.”

  He put his hand over hers. His eyes widened. He thought he felt a flicker of warmth.

  “Here goes nothing.” He knelt on one knee and gently pulled on her hand.

  His mouth dropped open when her arm lifted up. He maneuvered it over to him and then kissed her wrist. Something tingled on his lips and went down his throat like a smooth, glass of wine. His gut bubbled as if it were on fire. Strength pumped through him that he hadn’t felt for a long, long time.

  “Release my hand at once,” a sharp, female voice said.

  He raised his gaze to look into a pair of hard, emerald eyes and immediately released her hand. He wanted to blurt out that she was his mate, but by her sisters’ reactions, it wasn’t the smartest move.

  “Elspeth, you’re a wake.” He couldn’t hide the excitement in his voice.

  A green aura glimmered around her, moving her from a horizontal position to a vertical one. She stumbled and he clasped her wrist again to keep her from falling. Both of her sisters had powers when they had waken from their slumber. Elspeth had to possess a special power. He could hardly wait to see what it was.

  “Where am I?”

  Thunder grumbled outside and his gut tightened. There wasn’t a single cloud outside.

  He slowly rose to a standing position, still holding onto her delicate wrist. “You’re at Stormholme Castle.”

  “Stormholme Castle? I’ve never hear of such a place.” She frowned. “Am I in England? Are ye a Sassenach?”

  “No, I’m not. And we’re not in England. We’re in Scotland.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Where in Scotland?”

  “We’re close to Culloden.”

  Her eyes grew huge. “Culloden?”

  She must have known about the Jacobites plan to fight the British. “I hate to tell you this, but the Battle of Culloden has already been fought.”

  “I donna know what ye mean.” Her slow voice was so soft he had to strain to hear it.

  “It’s not a secret, Elspeth.” He took a deep breath, hating what he had to say next. “The battle was fought over two hundred years ago, and the Jacobites lost.”

  “I donna believe ye. Ye must have the touch of the shine. I donna trust a Sassenach.”

  “I’m not a Sassenach. I’m Scottish. Same as you.” He left out where he really was, especially since he’d never been to the planet Zalara.

  “Ye are na the same as me. Ye talk strange.” She lifted her sword and pointed the tip at her heart. “Speak and tell the truth.”

  “I’m telling the truth. My name is Fergus.”

  “Fergus who?”

  His shoulders slummed. He wished he could be normal. “I don’t have a last name.”

  “I have never heard of such a thing. What country do ye come from?”

  He sighed. This wasn’t going anywhere. “Both of your sisters are here.”

  She glanced at the door. “Arya and Faye are here? Are they in the dungeon?”

  He shook his head. “No, I suspect they’re in bed with their mates.”

  She pressed the sword into his chest. “Mates? What are mates?”

  “Boyfriend? Betrothed?”

  She lifted her chin high as if daring him to challenge her. “I donna believe ye.”

  Despite the sword nearly pricking him, he kept his arms pressed to his side. “Fine. Do you want to see them?”

  “Aye, I would.”

  He put his hands in the air. “Follow me. I’ll take you to them.”

  “If this is a trick of some kind…”

  “No trick.” He crossed his heart. “I promise.” He motioned with his arm. “If you’ll follow me, my lady, I’ll take you to your sisters.”

  She gestured with her sword. “Led the way. And if yer lying to me…”

  “I know. I know. You’ll cut out my lying tongue.”

  She curved her mouth up into a sarcastic smile. “Something like that.”

  Fergus opened the oak door. Tortures flickered on either side of the door and cast shadows down the spiral stairwell. Elspeth followed him with the tip of the sword pressed against his back. He held his shaking arms up. Kissing her hand had given him a bit of more strength, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

  Their footsteps echoed off the stone stairs. They slowly descended down the turret stairwell. Only their shadows flickered off the wall. His arms were weary but he kept them up high as to not force Elspeth to do something stupid.

  “Are ye a coward?”

  He lifted an eyebrow and looked over his shoulder. “I maybe many things, but I’ve never been called a coward.”

  She cast a curious gaze over him. “Then why are ye trembling?”

  “It’s not from fear if that’s what you’re wondering.”

  “Then why?”

  “I’m ill.
”

  She stopped. “Are ye contiguous?”

  He shook his head. “No. My family doesn’t know about my sickness. I ask that you don’t tell them.”

  “Why?” She drew out the word.

  He turned around. “I’m the healer of my people. Without me, they can’t hope to defeat our enemy.”

  “Healer?”

  He nodded and held up his hands. “I can touch a wounded person and heal them with my hands.”

  Disgust flashed in her eyes. “Are ye a witch or in league with the devil?”

  “No, I’m not. I’m a dragon.”

  Her brows knotted and her face paled.

  “Yes, you’ve met a dragon before in another time, in another place.”

  She put her palm on the wall. “I remember a woman…” Her voice trailed off.

  “A black dragon saved you from the gallows. Do you remember that?”

  She lifted her chin, then put the sword underneath Fergus’s. He met her hostile gaze.

  Distrust flashed in her eyes. “How do ye know this?”

  “Because I know both the woman and the dragon.”

  “Tell me their names.” Her demanding voice hinted at the warrior buried beneath her beauty.

  “The woman’s name is Sunshine and the dragon is Rhain. They both reside in the castle. Rhain is my dragon trainer, but he’s more of a father to me than a trainer.”

  “Strange. Ye donna have parents?”

  “It’s complicated. My adoptive mother is Mirren Adair, and she’s the only mother I’ve ever known. Like I said earlier, Rhain is my father.”

  “I’m sorry.” The edginess in her voice softened.

  He motioned with hand. “Don’t be. I love both Mirren and Rhain dearly.”

  “Like I do my sisters. You said they were here.”

  “So they are. Follow me. I’ll take you to see Arya first.”

  She cocked her slender eyebrow.

  He shook his head and prodded down the steps, not looking behind him. Her slender shadow was proof she trailed him softly. Neither of them spoke as they walked down the stairwell. Tingles went up his fingers, turning them numb. He frowned. The weariness was back.

  He opened the door to the corridor and gestured with his arm. “This way, my lady.”

  She nudged her sword. “Ye first.”

  “Not a trusting one, are you?”

  The peak of dawn crept over the horizon. Soft rays lit up the hardwood floor and warmed his cheeks, but warmed his heart was Elspeth. A soft yellow glow surrounded her as if she were an angel. He pushed back the urge to kiss her.

  “No, I’m na. Take me to see my sister.”

  He grinned. “Pushy too.”

  She stiffened. “Shall we go?”

  He smiled at her eagerness. To see her sisters? If he was in her shoes, he’d be just as eager to see his brothers.

  He led her down the corridor to the great hall where the smell of frying bacon made his stomach growl. The fireplace had been lit and he knew his mother was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

  “Do ye have servants?”

  He laughed. “No. My mom likes to get up and cook for everyone. We all help take care of the castle.”

  “Ye do?”

  “Yes. Even your sisters help out. We’re a family here.”

  “How many people live here?”

  “Rhain and Summer. Summer is Rhain’s mate, but right now, they’re visiting Summer’s parents in New Mexico. Her mother broke her leg and needs help, even if she doesn’t want it.”

  “And so it’s just my sisters and their so called mates?”

  “And Jon and Hunter. They’re from the planet Zalara, and they’re brothers, captured by the Kamtrinians and tortured. Ian controlled them, but now they’re on our side.”

  “And where are they?”

  “Out on a reconnaissance mission. Trying to find out what Ian’s up to.”

  “Ye spin strange tails. I donna believe ye. I’ll have to speak with my sisters to see if ye speak the truth.”

  He sighed. Convincing her wouldn’t be easy, but if he didn’t, she’d could easily fall prey to Ian. Ian would prey on fears then enslave her.

  The door to the kitchen opened.

  “Elspeth? Is that ye?”

  Both Fergus and Elspeth turned around. Arya stood in the doorway with a huge smile on her face and a twinkle in her blue eyes.

  Arya stretched out her arms. “It’s good to see you sister.”

  Elspeth sheathed her sword. “Arya.” She ran toward her sister, and suddenly, she disappeared.

  Fergus’s heart stopped. He scanned the Great Wall, looking for a hint of Ian or one of his minions and unsheathed his own sword.

  Arya looked around. “Elspeth! Where are ye?” Her eyes widened.

  “What are ye talking about?” Elspeth’s voice drew Fergus’s attention to Arya.

  Arya’s arms hung at her sides. “Someone’s hugging me.” Her voice shook and her face paled.

  “Of course, someone’s hugging ye. It’s me. What’s wrong?”

  “Elspeth look at yer hands.”

  “My hands, my body…I’ve disappeared. What’s happening?” Elspeth’s voice reached a feverish pitch.

  Fergus sheathed his sword. “We now know Elspeth’s power.”

  Arya squinted her eyes as if she were trying to see her sister. “Donna panic, Elspeth.”

  “How can ye say that? I am…I’m invisible. Why is this happening?”

  Arya put her palms up. “Calm down.”

  “I canna calm down.”

  Fergus’s mother Mirren came out behind Arya. Her blue eyes sparkled and she pushed a stray brown hair behind her ear. She wiped her palms on her apron. “How extraordinary! She can turn invisible. I’m Mirren Adair. Fergus’s mother.”

  Elspeth flickered and then reappeared. She looked at her hands. “I’m back. I’m back. I’m back.”

  “How did ye do that?” Arya asked. “One minute ye stood next to Fergus and the next ye disappeared.”

  Elspeth shook her head. “I donna know. I canna believe this happened.”

  “Ah, but it is my dear. Each time one of my sons wakens his mate, they develop special magical powers.”

  “I donna understand.”

  “It’s true, Elspeth,” Arya said. “Both myself and Faye possess magical powers. I can make people’s dreams or nightmares come alive and Faye can make people tell the truth.”

  Elspeth rubbed her forehead. “This is too strange.”

  Fergus clamped his jaw tight. She didn’t know the half of his secret.

  “Your mate is indeed powerful, Fergus.”

  Fergus winced.

  Elspeth shimmered and slowly reappeared. “Mate? What do you mean by mate?”

  Arya clasped Elspeth’s arm. “You, me, and Faye all have designated mates. We’re chosen to be with a dragon.”

  Elspeth frowned. “I donna get a choice in this manner?”

  Arya motioned with her hand toward Fergus. “Fergus is a good man.”

  Elspeth lifted her chin and gave him a look that would have cooled the morning sun. “I am no man’s mate, especially na a dragon’s.”

  Fergus sank into a dining room chair and rested his head in his hands. His hope died. Without Elspeth, he didn’t have much time left. How could his family expect to destroy Ian and his followers if he were dead?

  Chapter 2

  Elspeth forced her legs wide apart to keep from falling down. Her sister’s Arya’s disappointment scowl and the other woman clicking her tongue made her want to scream. She’d just woken from a deep sleep to discover she was in a strange place, could turn invisible, and was betrothed to a man––no a man who could shift into a dragon.

  Maybe she was still dreaming.

  “I know this is coming out to you fast, my dear,” the dark haired woman said. “Please sit. Would ye like some tea or coffee?”

  “Tea or coffee? I think I need something stronger than that.”


  “How about an Irish coffee,” the woman said. “It’s has a jigger of Irish whiskey.”

  “It’s very good,” Arya said. She held up two fingers. “Make that two.”

  Elspeth allowed Arya to led her to the table where Fergus slumped in his chair. His long dark fell across his broad shoulders. He was definitely a handsome man with his intense in golden eyes that reminded her of a pot of gold.

  Concern filled Arya’s eyes. “Fergus, are ye ill?”

  “No. Just disappointed.” Fergus lifted his head. He had a dark stubble beard that made him look even more handsome and his hands and fingers were calloused. This wasn’t a delicate man, but something in his eyes had a hint of wariness.

  Mirren came through the doors carrying two piping hot mugs. “Here my dears.” She sat one of the mugs in front of Elspeth and the other one in front of Arya.

  Elspeth smelled the woody scent of whiskey mixed with coffee. A dollop of thick whip cream made her mouth water.

  “Fergus, would you like an Irish coffee?”

  Fergus rubbed the bridge of his nose. “No, Mom. I’m fine.”

  “You don’t look fine.” She patted his back. “I’ll bring you a nice hot cup of tea.”

  “Sure, that would be fine,” he mumbled. He dropped his hand and crossed his arms.

  Despite what Arya said or his mother’s determination, Fergus hadn’t demanded that she yield to him. Not like the soldiers or the hideous guards that had held her in captivity at Darnstell Citadel. She shivered and took a sip of the Irish whiskey. The hot liquid warmed her insides, but the fear still crept down the back of her neck. She could still feel the thick rope around her neck and the smell of her own dirtiness.

  Her sister reached out and clutched her hand. She squeezed it, giving her reassurance. Elspeth forced herself to smile at her sister.

  The kitchen door opened again and Mirren came out bringing two steaming cups. She sat one down in front of Fergus.