by Tamara Gill
She shifted closer to Duncan, as the redheaded man made no secret of appraising her body, his eyes trailing her frame.
Claire regretted the leather trews—as Duncan had called the pants she wore. At least in a skirt the bastard couldn’t have looked at her legs. Of course, pants were more her style—even if they were far from her favorite jeans.
She shivered.
His gaze burned, but not in a good way. More like she was a meal to be devoured.
Duncan growled, but he shot his hand out for a shake. “Riley O’Malley.”
Riley’s smirk deepened. He didn’t accept her husband’s shake, but bowed at the waist.
Claire frowned. The jerk was mocking her man.
“My laird. Milady.”
Duncan was stiff as he looked down at the pirate. Not like he was demeaning the man or anything, though he should be. Her husband just towered over the pirate.
“This is my wife. Ye shall refer to her as Lady MacLeod and nothing less. Direct the men to keep their eyes in their heads and hands to themselves—or I’ll deal with them with my sword. Yer included in that.” His voice was harder than she’d ever heard it, and Claire quivered at his side.
“My men are yers to direct, Captain.” Riley winked at her even though he addressed Duncan.
Claire wanted to hide behind Duncan. This pirate dude seriously gave her the heebie jeebies.
She looked around the cave. It was a wonder the ship fit inside, even with all the rocky width, but she understood the need to hide the vessel after seeing it.
Duncan’s father slowly rowed away in the birlinn they’d arrived in. It was a speck compared to the Fancy Seer, but it was a boat Duncan was comfortable in.
Seeing him on the sea was an eye-opener. He seemed to sense the water as he navigated through it.
Her husband was a natural born sailor.
Before they’d departed, he’d stood at the end of the birlinn—what Claire would’ve called a skiff—the wind in his hair, head tilted back, eyes closed.
Sexy as hell.
Her body had heated just watching him in his element. And that was even before she’d seen the play of his muscles when he’d helped his father row.
Iain MacLeod was the only one who knew of their destination. The rest of the MacLeods assumed he was off on Clan business.
All they knew of Alex was that he was away as well—no one except for Janet and Iain knew he was in the hands of the Fae, life endangered.
“Welcome aboard, Lady MacLeod. I’m first mate to your man.” Riley O’Malley flashed a smile that made her gut churn.
This jerk was a control freak, letting Duncan be captain only because there was something in it for him. She wanted to kick him in the balls.
Why did her husband feel it was necessary to employ pirates? Couldn’t he find the Stones without them, but with her help?
Was this Bridei-seer just that good?
No way, or it wouldn’t have already been six months.
Claire forced a polite nod and slipped her arm in Duncan’s.
Her husband pulled her into his side and patted her knuckles.
As soon as they’d boarded the Fancy Seer, a dark beauty slid forward. She was clad in long black skirts, with a bright red sash around her waist.
Her midnight corset was so tight Claire was afraid if the woman bent over her knockers would fall out. No tunic beneath her bodice. So the display of her body was on purpose.
She offered a coy smile for Duncan and openly flirted with him, as if Claire didn’t stand next to him, her arm tucked into his elbow.
Claire narrowed her eyes and held her tongue because her husband didn’t respond.
He batted the woman’s hand away when she attempted to drag her fingers down the front of his shirt.
Somehow, Claire didn’t think it was for her benefit. Duncan was just as disgusted by the woman and her attempted ministrations as she was, if his tight jaw was any indication.
“This is Bridei, she’s the seer,” Duncan said. “When we get close, she says she can sense the Faery Stones and open the doorway into the Fae Realm.”
The woman’s dark eyes finally settled on Claire. One dark eyebrow shot up and she put her hand to her bosom like she was surprised. Like she hadn’t noticed Claire before.
Who the hell does this bitch think she is?
Claire swallowed a scowl.
She was so irritated and didn’t even focus on Duncan’s words. Otherwise she might’ve been fascinated with a real seer.
“Good day, milady.” The woman offered a bow like the pirate captain had, but then she did a double-take on Claire, her eyes raking her frame.
The seer swayed on her feet, her olive complexion paling, her mouth half-agape.
Riley grabbed her arm to keep her on her feet, evidently. “Bridei?”
“Riley. Riley. The lass.”
“Me?” Claire asked.
The pirate and the seer ignored her.
Claire exchanged a glance with her husband.
Duncan returned his stare to Riley and Bridei, his mouth a hard line.
“Excuse us, my laird. I must speak with Riley in private.” Bridei grabbed the pirate captain’s arm, and they practically ran around the corner to get away from her and Duncan.
Duncan watched them go, but Claire tugged on his forearm. He’d dropped her hand and had his arms crossed over his broad chest.
“Was she talking about me? Am I the lass? What the heck happened?”
His blue gaze settled on her. “I don’ know, mò gradh. But I intend to find out.” Duncan caressed her cheek, then strode after Riley and his seer.
Claire looked around the wide deck.
Men bustled around, yelling to each other as they readied the ship for departure.
A real freakin’ pirate ship.
Everything looked tattered.
What if they sank?
Claire shook her head. It was dim in the cave, but light came in from the wide mouth, as well as from somewhere above them. Obviously there was a hole in the “roof.”
An old guy flashed a toothless grin, and she shivered.
She looked in the direction her husband had gone and rubbed her arm. He was out of sight now, and Claire’s heart skipped a beat. “Hey, wait for me!”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The low whisper caught his attention when he heard his wife’s name.
Bridei had her head bent low with her lover, the mixture of red and black hair obscuring their faces.
They’d beat him to the captain’s cabin, standing not far from the bed Duncan was supposed to share with Claire.
He’d never witnessed the seer react like she had when she’d seen his wife.
Why so secretive with the pirate captain now?
Bridei had been shaking from head to foot.
Her dark eyes went wide when she saw him striding toward them. Her olive skin—denoting her gypsy heritage—had gone even paler than when they’d been on deck. “My...my...laird.”
“Captain.” Duncan locked his jaw.
“Aye, sorry my—Captain.”
“What’s wrong?”
Riley straightened, glaring right back. “Watch yer tone with my woman.” But he, too, was pale.
Ice raced down Duncan’s spine. “Tell me what’s going on. Right now.”
“Yer woman. We know her,” Bridei confessed.
Protective instincts flared and Duncan bit down until pain shot into his gums. “Know her?”
“I...think...I brought her here.”
Brought her here?
She doesn’t know Claire’s from the future...does she?
How?
Unless her words were true...
Duncan growled, making his fist tighter with each word that fell from the seer’s lips. His da hadn’t raised him to strike a lass, but he was tempted. “My lass—”
“Is not from our time.” Bridei’s voice dropped.
Duncan fought a tremor.
Do not s
how a reaction.
He couldn’t appear weak in front of the pirate captain. Or put his wife’s life in danger.
What would they want from her if he confirmed what they seemed to know?
“The Faery Stones,” the seer breathed.
He glared. “Where are they?”
She paled even further and backed into the wall of the cabin.
The pirate and his lover exchanged a look and said nothing.
Duncan stalked forward. His hand itched to draw his sword. He sucked in a breath and towered over Riley and Bridei. “Where are the Faery Stones?”
“Not far.” The seer’s voice quaked.
“What do ye mean, not far?” Duncan bit out.
“They’re here. On Skye.” Her voice was small and she cowered, but he tore his eyes away from her.
“Ye lied to me. Found the Stones in secret. Ye had no intention of telling me their location.” Duncan grabbed Riley by the collar of his tunic with both fists. “Ye greedy, bastard.”
“We didn’t lie!” Bridei tugged on his forearm, but he shoved her away, lifting the slimy pirate and shoving him into the wall of the captain’s cabin.
Breath whispered out of Riley’s mouth, and his cheeks became as red as his hair with every ounce of pressure Duncan applied.
He gurgled and struggled, but the smaller man didn’t have a chance against Duncan’s strength.
Riley’s filthy blunt nails bit into his hands as the pirate fought him, but Duncan didn’t loosen his grip.
The pirate captain’s feet dangled off the planked floor, and he tried to wiggle his shoulders to no avail.
“Duncan, stop. You’re going to kill him.”
His wife’s voice from the doorway gave him pause, but he didn’t let Riley O’Malley go. “’Twas the idea,” he grunted.
“Let him down so he can explain.” Only her soft hand on his arm made his hand let go. “How do they think they know me?”
Claire heard all that?
She must’ve been standing there a while.
Duncan took a step back and Riley O’Malley slid to the wood floor coughing. He made it to his feet, but doubled over to catch his breath.
The seer remained frozen and staring at Claire, a few feet from them. “Ye...ye are alive.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” His wife’s fair brow was furrowed, and she reached for Duncan. Claire entwined their fingers and he let her, hauling her closer to him.
No matter what was about to happen, Duncan would protect Claire.
“We left ye...”
“Left her where?” Duncan growled.
“Bridei, not another word.” Riley regained his composure, but his face was still red. He slipped in front of his woman and glared.
“She’ll tell all, or I’ll hie ye to the wall again, but this time I’ll kill ye.”
Riley squared his shoulders, but he couldn’t hide his blanch. “We’ll tell ye nothin’ without more gold.”
Duncan took a step forward and snarled. “I will kill ye.”
“Duncan.” Claire’s voice was calm.
It startled him, but both Riley and Bridei looked at his wife.
“I remember.”
***
“Remember what, mò gradh?” His voice was gentle as Duncan turned to her. Much different than it had been moments before when he’d threatened the pirate.
When Bridei had said something about leaving her, tremors racked Claire’s frame until her teeth rattled.
“I was running on the beach.”
Bridei whimpered, but Claire’s husband put a large palm up.
She looked at the redheaded pirate and then the seer. Claire sucked in a breath as everything came back. Rushing into her head too fast. Like a movie on fast forward, she could see the picture in her head but didn’t understand everything.
Dizzy.
Must have swayed, because Duncan grabbed her arm, pulling her closer.
“Aye, mò gradh. Ye were running by the water before I found ye.”
Claire shook her head. “That’s not what I mean. I was staying at a hostel on Skye. In my time. I woke at six and decided to run on the beach before meeting my tour group for breakfast. It was the day after the caretaker of Dunvegan took me on a tour. I had my headphones in, listening to music.”
The pirate and his girlfriend looked confused, heads cocked to one side, furrowed brows as they listened, but Duncan understood her words. She’d explained to him about her MP3 player.
Three sets of eyes stared as Claire tried to make sense of the memories. “I heard...this popping sound. Over and over, getting louder and louder. I thought something was wrong with my MP3 player, but the beach got windy. I looked around, but there was no change in the water. I’d thought it was really weird—sudden—but I grabbed my MP3 player from where it was clipped on my waistband. Right when I stared at the screen, there was this loud tear, like the sound of ripping paper. The wind threw me forward. My head spun. I think I passed out.”
“Ye came back in time.” Duncan caressed her cheek, then glared at Riley and Bridei.
The seer stood behind the protection of her boyfriend, peeking over his shoulder like a little kid.
“That’s all I remember. I need her,” Claire pointed, “to fill in the blanks. What’d you mean, you left me?”
“Ye came through the Faery Stones when I was trying to open the doorway to the Fae Realm.” Bridei slid in front of her man. Her thick Irish brogue belied her dark looks. She appeared more Hispanic or Italian than Irish.
“We thought ye dead,” Riley said.
“So ye left her, naked in the cold instead of getting help. Cowards,” Duncan spat.
“It’s okay, Duncan. I’m glad. You found me.”
God only knew what the pirates would’ve done to Claire if they’d taken her back to the Fancy Seer with them.
She shuddered and moved closer to her husband.
Duncan wrapped his arm around her shoulders, but his expression hardened as his eyes rested on the seer. “Take me to the Faery Stones. Now.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Claire stayed close to Duncan as their party scoured the beach. All the rocks looked the same to her, but her husband seemed to know where he was going.
She couldn’t even spot the ridge where Duncan, his father and Angus had first found her.
Bridei led their party, which included about three dozen of Riley’s men. The seer’s man walked close to her.
At every pause in their journey—and there were a frickin’ lot—their heads bent together. Their low voices failed to carry words, and that was super irritating.
Maybe Bridei really couldn’t remember the location and was leading them on a wild goose-chase.
Duncan would grunt and stare with his hand on the hilt of his sword until they moved on.
He’d told Claire they were probably planning to storm the Fae palace in search of riches, and he’d said he didn’t give a damn if they did. Or got themselves killed in the process.
When they’d been on the ship, Claire should’ve been petrified, seeing the man she loved holding someone up against the wall by his neck—choking him, no less—but she hadn’t been. Still wasn’t afraid of him.
Duncan was a mix of fierce warrior and gentle husband. He’d never hurt or kill unless it was necessary. She understood that, even though it made her feel the difference in their times.
However, Riley O’Malley deserved everything he got.
Bridei had admitted when she’d opened the portal and accidently brought Claire back in time, she’d never actually been able to gain entrance to the Fae Realm as intended.
She didn’t know if she could do it now, either.
The seer had explained they’d been blasted with some kind of magic. Bridei and Riley had woken on the beach, without knowing how much time had passed. Seen Claire naked, lying with them. They’d searched for the Stones, but couldn’t find them again. They couldn’t remember where they were.
Duncan sus
pected it was some kind of Fae protection magic.
But why can’t I remember lying on the beach?
Claire only remembered running.
Thinking she was dreaming, realizing she was naked, then hearing Duncan call out. Seeing the three males up on the ridge.
She trembled.
What if Bridei couldn’t get the Fae Realm open?
What if she can’t find the portal to my time so I can go home?
It was an accident.
Duncan had promised to talk to Alana about opening a gate to the future, but if the seer didn’t know how she’d done it, would the princess be able to help?
Her heart started playing twenty questions, too—as if Claire needed a devil’s advocate in her own head.
She ignored her internal war regarding whether or not opening the Stones to her modern time mattered.
Didn’t she want to stay here...with Duncan?
Just when Claire had slipped from falling to in love with Duncan MacLeod was a mystery.
Maybe she’d loved him from the start.
Her heart skipped, then went into overdrive.
She loved this man, this giant warrior from the past—more than anything.
And you’re going to walk away?
“Claire-lass, all right?” His deep voice jolted her, and she tripped over a rock.
Duncan’s thick arm shot around her waist. He held her up then pulled her to his side. “Sorry I startled ye.”
She smiled up at him and chided herself to calm down. The pressure on her middle wasn’t helping the urge to throw up. “No problem. Thanks for keeping me from falling.”
“Always, mò gradh. Always.”
But he didn’t keep me from falling for him.
Claire swallowed against the sudden lump in her throat.
His eyes were so warm, his expression tender. He was her Duncan at that moment, not the hard warrior she’d seen dealing with pirates all day.
What does he feel for me?
She wanted to stand tiptoe and kiss him. Wrap her arms around his neck. Be up against his muscled chest, have him hold her. Rub her back in the long soothing circles like he did every night.
God, she was going to miss that when she went home to Texas.
Claire was going to miss him.
Emotion crept up and threatened to envelope her. Her chest ached. Every breath was a stabbing dagger.
