Highlander's Sword: Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance (Clan Matheson Book 3)

by Joanne Wadsworth

  A creak sounded from behind and the armory door slammed shut. She whipped around, clutched a hand to her chest.

  “I’ve been waiting for you to arrive, lass.” Duncan scraped the bolt across and biceps bulging, he heaved a wooden crate in front of the door and blocked the gap underneath the doorway. A very strategic move, one to keep her contained, although ’twas truly impossible to keep a spirit-walker captured for long, a fact he’d soon learn.

  “I was hoping to have come and gone with my brother afore you returned from your holding farther along the loch.” She planted her hands on her hips. “How did you know where to find me?” To Alec, she whispered in his mind, “Duncan’s definitely here.”

  “In the armory?”

  “Aye, and he’s bolted and blocked the door, the gap underneath it as well. I cannae stream out.”

  “I’m coming.”

  “Muirin’s brother holds the sight and during our ride from Ardan House, he caught an intriguing image of you, right here in this very outbuilding.” With one hand extended, he muttered, “Hand my blade across, if you will.”

  “Puh-lease.” She scoffed and tossed it behind the benchtop. It clattered onto the floor where it would remain completely out of his reach, then she became naught more than a wisp of white, swept around him and reemerged. “Your weapon is useless against me in my spiritual form, and from what I’ve learnt of late, you’ve aligned yourself with the fae. Raising arms against me would go against your promise to my father.”

  “Aye, I have no intention of ever harming you, or one of the fae.” He stepped closer and slowly lifted a hand and she held perfectly still as he gently touched his palm to her cheek.

  “You had me bound and gagged in a tree. I call that harming.” She remained on edge, prepared for his attack in case it came. If he truly had no intention of harming one of her kind, she’d soon see it.

  “All for a good cause I can assure you, and even though I instructed my guards to keep Ronan contained within Coll’s dungeons, I did so because Muirin needed time with Niall first, and your brother does hold the battle skill, could so easily have left if I allowed him his freedom to roam this keep.” His gaze traveled down her body, over her loose-sleeved red tunic and sword fastened at her side. “On the night of your capture, you impressed me greatly with your feisty nature, although you left far too soon.”

  “I recall your words well. You wished for a wife.”

  “I’ve never raised a hand against a lass in my life, never intend to either.”

  “You stole my loved ones from me. That is raising a hand against me in the worst possible way.” She dissolved her form, swept in behind him, reemerged and tripped over a sack of grain. It spilled over and grain scattered, pinged and echoed underneath her, as if the pellets had slid through a crack in the ground and toppled down something hard. Heartbeat racing, she hauled the sack out of the way. A trap door. She grabbed the iron handle protruding from the ground and heaved the lid up.

  Metal clanged and candlelight flickered over the thick stone steps leading downward into the darkened depths of an underground tunnel. “Alec, I’ve found the entrance to the dungeons.”

  “We’re almost there. No one keeps my mate from me, particularly a MacKenzie. Step back from the door.” An animalist roar rumbled from outside. Something hit the door and it shuddered and rattled on its hinges.

  “Hold up!” Duncan rushed toward the door and she grabbed a shovel propped against the wall, swung and hit him hard on the head. His eyes rolled, the whites showing as he toppled and crashed to the floor.

  With two fingers pressed to his neck, she checked his pulse, found it steady. “Alec, please, no more noise. You’ll alert the guards and then we’ll have a hundred men to fight. Duncan is down. I knocked him out, although he did naught to harm me. Give me a second to move the crate.”

  “It’s too late.”

  “It’s never too late.” She hauled weapon after weapon from the crate to lighten the load, steel crashing and clanging on the floor.

  “The guards have already been alerted. Stand clear.” Another thunderous roar reverberated.

  Oh hell. She moved out of the way, fast.

  Chapter 13

  In the gloomy dark of the inner courtyard, shouts boomed as warriors swarmed down the side stairs from the battlements and tore from the gatehouse toward Alec. He reared back and with Kirk beside him, they heaved forward together and rammed their shoulders into the armory door. Wood creaked and the door split down the center.

  “I’ll ensure these warriors dinnae reach us,” Cherub yelled as she raised her hands to the skies. With one flick of her fingers, clouds brewed into a swirling mass overhead and the wind rose and whipped all about.

  “Let’s get this door down now,” Alec bellowed to Kirk.

  “I’m right beside you.” Kirk gritted his teeth and dipped one shoulder.

  “Now.” Alec hurtled forward and they plowed into the door together. Wood splintered and the door broke apart. He bounded inside over the scattered debris, his sword raised.

  “I said Duncan’s down.” Annella jumped over the spill of weapons and bounded into his arms.

  “I heard you. Where is he?” He crushed her against him, his heartbeat a raging mess.

  “In the corner, and he’s not getting up anytime soon. Muirin’s brother has the sight and warned Duncan I’d be here. He’s well and truly out of it. He also never tried to harm me.”

  “He’s lucky. Let me make certain he’s down.” He picked up a shovel, tossed it aside then crouched next to Duncan where he lay slumped on the floor. He lifted the man’s eyelids and nodded. All was as Annella had said. Sword sheathed, he returned to his woman and cupping her bottom in his hands, shoved her against the wall and captured her mouth with his. He kissed her, his need wild and untamed and rising fiercely from deep within his soul. Even though in her spiritual form and unable to be harmed, he’d still been beside himself with fear. Through good times or bad, no matter what difficulties lay ahead of them, he’d always guard and protect her, never allow another to bring any harm down upon her head, either her true or ethereal forms. “Where’s the trapdoor?” he murmured against her lips as he pulled back an inch.

  “You sent the crate flying over it.” She dropped out of his arms and pushed the crate out of the way where it had wedged itself over the entrance leading downward.

  “You two go on ahead.” Kirk slapped him on the back. “I’ll remain outside guarding Cherub while she keeps the warriors at bay. Be careful down there.”

  “Will do.” Outside, Duncan’s warriors surged toward Cherub, their swords and battle axes raised and Cherub sent a wall of wind at them. Their enemy skidded backward, toppled head over heels across the stony yard and slammed into the curtain wall.

  Dazed, a few stumbled to their feet and Cherub sent another blast of wind their way then glanced over her shoulder at him and Annella. “Go, both of you,” she hollered. “And be quick. I can only keep these warriors at bay for so long.”

  “Thank you, and be careful.” He jumped through the trap door and bounded down the steep stairs winding downward into the darkened passageway below, Annella one step behind him with a candle in her hand. “Stay behind me at all times. Are we clear on that?”

  “There’s no time to delay.” She snuck past him and raced down into the chilly depths of the stony-walled tunnel.

  Damn it. She’d disobeyed a direct order, again. No more would she do so. He pounded after her, the air holding the cloying odor of dirt and grit, her candle’s flame casting its flickering glow partially down the length of the passageway ahead. Water dripped from overhead and splashed his booted feet, the mucky dirt underfoot squelching with each step he took.

  “There’s a divide in the tunnel up ahead.” Frosty air puffed from her mouth.

  “I see it.” He nabbed her hand, pulled her to a halt at the junction which divided into three separate passageways, breathed deep of the air in the first corridor, then the sec
ond and lastly the third.

  Annella waited, her blue eyes wide and the sparks of gold glittering bright at the edges. “What have you found?”

  “The first passageway is drier, with chunks of rock on the ground and within the walls. I’d say it veers away inland toward the hills. The second has fresher air and a hint of pine, possibly leads to the forest, and the third is musty and holds the reek of urine.”

  “Then it appears these tunnels dinnae just hold the dungeons, but escape passages for those who reside within the keep.”

  “Exactly, which means we need to be quick and ensure we don’t get trapped down here. Our enemy could come at us through any of the other underground entry points.”

  “We’ll hurry.” She dashed past him and down the third passageway.

  “You’re supposed to stay behind me,” he growled as he shot off, ducked around her then halted as up ahead, voices traveled to him. With one finger to his lips, he gave her the silent command to remain quiet.

  She blew out her candle, crouched and left it against the wall and stood.

  Around the bend, he crept, the light from another lantern flickering somewhere up ahead, and the iron-rich taste of blood in the air coating his tongue. Hell. The scent made his bear rise and there wasn’t a chance he could hold his beast back when blood had clearly been spilt. “I need to shift.”

  “Now?”

  “Aye, hold onto my belongings.” He shucked his clothes as quick as he could without making a noise and dumped them in her hands along with his weapons then dragged her against him and kissed her before he made the Change. In a blaze, his beast burst from him and on all fours, he pounded down the tunnel, claws slicing into the gritty floor.

  Two mail-clad warriors stood outside a cell lined with iron bars, both with whips in hand, the dozen barbed tails of leather from both dripping with blood. He pawed the ground and the warriors whipped around and heaved their claymores free.

  Teeth snapping, he growled. They’d harmed his mate’s brother. Unacceptable.

  “I’m here.” Annella hunkered down behind him, spread one hand over his rump, her fingers sinking into his pelt. “What’s the plan?”

  Thick brush clogged the end of the tunnel and booming shouts swept through the scrub.

  “We’re about to have company, and far more than I’d like. You remain here, and I’ll go and dispatch these MacKenzies. I have to take care not to kill any of them since your father has now aligned himself with this clan.”

  He rose up on his hind legs and roared. Forward, he charged, the two warriors both releasing a fierce battle cry. They slashed their swords as he sailed through the air and came down on top of them, blood spurting, his claws razor sharp and as precise and deadly as any blade could be. Bellowing, he sank his teeth into the wrist of one warrior and his weapon clattered to the ground, stamped on the other’s body and his bones snapped. He reared back, ready to hit them again but both lay motionless on the ground, their breath rasping out. They were injured, and neither would be getting up anytime soon. Perfect.

  Head down, he snorted as three more warriors surged forward through the slashed brush at the end of the tunnel, their weapons drawn, the scent of salt now stronger and the crashing of waves echoing toward him. This tunnel exited out high over the loch. He roared and tumbled all three men into each other with his fierce momentum. Blood ran, his beast raging at him as they all soared through the brush as one. Nothing but cool night air swished past him as he fell away over the side of a sheer rock wall and dropped down into the darkened depths of the ocean thirty feet below.

  * * * *

  Annella screamed as Alec’s bear barreled through the warriors who’d slashed through the brush, their weapons coming down on him as he sent them all flying over the edge and into the dark abyss of the night-shrouded sea far below. She jumped the first two warriors he’d downed then teetered at the edge of the tunnel. The wind rushed all around, the storm Cherub had set in motion thrashing all about.

  “Alec, where are you?” She searched the crashing swell.

  “I’m coming.” A grunt as he shifted in the water, lights flashing, then he was there against the wall, hauling himself up using whatever hand-and-foot holds he could within the craggy rock wall. Water sluiced down his body, running in a river of red. Cuts everywhere, his pain fierce and storming down their link and saturating her. He made the top and rolled onto the ledge on his back and stared up at her. “I’m fine.”

  “There’s so much blood. You arena fine.” She fell to her knees, heart heaving as she checked each and every wound and only when she was assured he hadn’t actually sustained any life-threatening injuries, did she burst into tears and thump him.

  “Hey.” He caught her fisted hands against his chest, his golden eyes shifter bright. “I’m truly fine.”

  “I’m not. Losing you would kill me.”

  “Shifters heal far faster than mere humans alone can, and I’ve always healed even swifter than any of my kin. A few changes back and forth and I’ll be back to my usual self.”

  “Annella!” Chains rattled from one of the cells.

  “Oh goodness. Ronan, I’m coming.” She fled down the passageway, skidded in beside the two downed warriors, swiped the keys still jangling from the belt of one while Alec checked on both fallen men and nodded at her.

  “We’re clear for now, but if either of these warriors move or the other three I took with me into the sea return, then I’ll tear their heads from their shoulders.” He snagged his clothing which she’d dropped in her mad dash, dressed and fastened his weapons. “Give me the keys.”

  Hands shaking, she passed them across and he jimmied the first key in the lock. It didn’t turn. He tried the second while she gripped the door’s bars, the metal cold against her palms.

  Ronan dangled from a chain strung over an iron hook hammered into the rocky ceiling above, his ravaged body swaying and turning, his black tunic hanging in shreds over his leather pants and his back bleeding from deep welts slashed into his skin. So much blood. It coursed down his legs and bare feet and splashed the ground.

  One click and the lock popped open. Alec shoved the door and iron grated over stone.

  She stumbled inside, snagged the wooden crate from the corner and hauled it across and set it firmly under Ronan’s dangling body. “Feet down.”

  “Got it.” Ronan found his footing, rolled his shoulders as he tried to ease the ache in his raised arms. Voice raspy and dry, he mumbled, “Is there another key to unlock this chain and cuffs?”

  “It’ll be one of these.” Alec jumped up onto the crate next to Ronan, slid another key that looked like the right fit into the cuffs and turned it. The clamps swung open and fell to the ground, the chain coiling down like a snake and clattering in beside them.

  Ronan swayed and Alec slid one shoulder under his arm to support him then helped him down. “Come here, little sister.”

  Still shaking, she grasped her brother around the waist and clung to him.

  Gently, Ronan stroked the back of her head. “Are you going to introduce me to your mate? You said he was from Kirk’s future bear shifter clan.”

  “Ronan, meet Alec, the man who holds the other half of my soul, the man I intend to wed.” She rubbed her cheek against Ronan’s chest, tears flowing down her cheeks. Goodness. He’d been strung up then so badly beaten, and for what reason?

  “’Tis good to meet you, Alec. I enjoyed seeing your bear storming through that passageway. Those warriors deserve their broken bones.” Ronan spoke over the top of her head, gave her hair a tug as he did.

  “I’m sorry we couldn’t get here sooner.” Alec slipped a finger under her chin, tipped her gaze toward his. “Do you want me to explain about what’s happened with your father?”

  “Nay, I shall.” She squeezed her eyes shut then opened them again and looked into Ronan’s eyes. “Father has found his mate, or I should say Muirin, the fae sorceress who has allied herself with Duncan, is his mate and he’s accep
ted their bond. Father and I spoke and he intends to fight alongside Duncan and his brother who’ve both apparently broken away from their father. Muirin said ’tis time for the fae to live.”

  “I see.” Yet clear confusion swirled in his gaze.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I’m still a little groggy, not quite of sound mind and body as I usually am.”

  Aye, he needed to be tended to then allowed to rest. Following that, she’d speak some more to him. “Father won’t allow any harm to come to our people. Why the beating?”

  “Apparently I infuriated my guards when I demanded to see Kyla more times than they appreciated.”

  “This is all such a mess.” She shook her head, worry consuming her.

  “Aye, but we’ll deal with it as we always do.” Ronan hugged her. “My mate is Duncan’s sister, and her soul cries out for mine, just as mine cries out for hers. Once I’ve healed, I’ll return to this place, just however I can manage it, although preferably without being seen.”

  “I’ll come with you when you do.”

  “We’ll see.” Ronan grimaced, arched his shoulders back then with a small smile, he popped a kiss on her forehead. “I love you. You have my immense thanks for the timely rescue.”

  “I love you too.” She smiled at Alec, the one man she could never live without. “Thank you for protecting me, for saving my brother and most of all, for being my chosen one.”

  “You’ve accepted my beast, even tamed him as I thought none other ever could. Without you by my side, I would never survive.”

  “I would never survive without you either.” He was her life, and always would be.

  A breeze rustled through the tunnel and swept all around then Cherub appeared out of thin air with Kirk and dashed into the cell, her golden hair a wind-tossed mess and her olive skirts flaring. She grasped Ronan’s hand. “Glad I am to see you’re alive.”