“But if you die, how will he find the treasure?”
Braemuir took a key on a long chain from under his shirt. It was a large, old, and very ornate key.
“This key unlocks a strong-box hidden in the Caisteal foundations. The secret of the location of the gold is in that box. If I die, he will take the key. Seonag knows where the box is, and she will have to show him. It’s her duty to Braemuir. Now you know all you need to know. Sleep now, mo run.”
Chapter Seven
He left her and descended the staircase. He had to be there to greet the new arrivals. Oidhche would be amongst them He wouldn’t be able to absent himself for two reasons. His absence would be noted, and so his identity would be revealed. Also, it was his last chance to seize control, and to do that, he had to kill Braemuir. In a fair fight, Braemuir didn’t fear him. What he did fear was an attack upon his mate or her parents. If Oidhche could get to them, he could exert pressure on her. He sent a thought to her, “Rest, mo run, you will need all your strength for tomorrow.” He received no reply, and was pleased that she was sleeping.
Downstairs, the sounds of arrivals filled the air. People were approaching the Caisteal. It was the custom that they could land at the bottom of the hill in dragon-form, but had to approach the Caisteal in man shape. Braemuir looked from one to the other and wondered, “Is it him?” whenever he looked at a man who was close to him by blood. The mind that created the black dragon was powerful, and so far had managed to shield itself, even from him. He hoped that, when he was face to face with the man, he would be able to recognise him. Then he moved forward to greet the guests.
Seonag and her helpers were directing people to rooms, offering refreshment, and finding space to accommodate those who came with more children than expected. Braemuir was pleased to see that there was no lack of babies and children of all ages. That was the sign of a healthy people. He glowed with pride as they all asked after his mate. He greeted them with cordiality but searching looks.
* * * *
Oidhche stood in the waiting line in the wine-dark shadows. He watched Braemuir, as he greeted his guests. He saw the searching looks and wondered if his own, carefully constructed shield would hold when it was his turn to step forward into the light, to greet Braemuir. He hadn’t permitted Ciarda to attend. She was a female and weak-minded. Braemuir would be able to extract all he needed from her, especially as she’d had a previous connection with Braemuir. He’d timed his arrival to coincide with that of one other who wasn’t expected. He would see if that served to conceal his purpose and the identity of the black one.
* * * *
Braemuir looked at the long line of people waiting to be greeted. The shadows in the main entrance hall meant he could only see the first few in the line. He heard the collective gasp of astonishment from those assembled there, as two large men stepped forward and into the light, streaming in from the high windows. They approached the front of the line. One was, tall black haired, with deep blue eyes. He was well-muscled and carried a broadsword. Evidently he was a warrior. It appeared he wasn’t known to many of those present, which was causing alarm. The other was Braemuir’s twin brother.
“Ceud mile failte! Brother, Cousin, welcome to the Gathering of the Clan.”
Braemuir turned to to his assembled people and held up his hand for silence.
“We are doubly honoured today. Not only has my twin brother, Riaghan, come back, but my cousin, from Loch Ness, whom I haven’t seen since I was a child, has joined us. Please make them welcome. The customs of our two Clans are different, but we are related by blood. My twin, Riaghan, was raised elsewhere, as is the custom in our Clan. I haven’t seen him since childhood either. Now I have taken a mate, he can return to his homeland. Ness is a water dragon. To what do we owe the honour of this visit, Ness?”
“I come seeking my mate. Our Clan is dwindling. We need fresh blood. I know my mate is to be found in your Clan. I’ve seen her, read her mind. She won’t admit it yet, but admit it she must, and soon.”
Braemuir heard him out in silence. It was no small thing to come to another Clan, and admit your own was weak and in need of fresh blood. If his cousin, Ness, said he had seen his mate, and had mind contact with her, then it was so. That couldn’t be faked or invented.
“We will discuss this further, in council,” he stated. “For now, come inside, all of you, and let’s celebrate today. A meal is awaiting all in the great hall of the Caisteal. Welcome.”
The smell of roasted meat and all the succulent accompanying dishes pervaded the air. Soon all were seated and served. Silence reigned as everyone ate. Braemuir could see the looks of puzzlement and speculation on most faces. He wondered if either of these men could be Oidhche.
* * * *
Oidhche was jubilant. He’d received Braemuir’s warmest welcome. He blessed his good luck that he didn’t have to greet Braemuir alone. He’d maintained his shield, but then the Braemuir didn’t probe too deeply. Maybe the fool didn’t suspect treachery from such a quarter. Sticking close to Ness would keep attention off him. Now Oidhche was inside the stronghold, and had to find a way to get to that woman. How the Braemuir had managed to save her at the last minute, Oidhche would never know. He had been so sure. Now, too, Ciarda was, at last, with child by him. If he could but get rid of the Braemuir he would have it all. He would have absolute power over the Clan, not that he cared for that. He would have the Medina Sidonia hoard and would live in luxury for the rest of his life. He’d no intention of squandering it on a parcel of peasants.
He looked at Braemuir’s mate. What a dab of a thing she was. He was going to enjoy getting rid of her. She’d outwitted him once, and no one was allowed to do that and survive. He used half of his mind to answer the questions put to him by those around him, in their vain attempts to find out more. He used the other half to think of ways of getting her in his power. This time she wouldn’t escape. He’d visited the Oriental country called Nippon on his travels. He had learned enough of their martial arts to overcome and bind a female before she could raise the alarm. He stayed close by Ness as those fools questioned him about his mate.
* * * *
“Well, Ness, tell us how you are going to find this mate of yours and persuade her to live with you?” a wizened old man asked.
“Just as you of the Braemuir Clan can recognise your mate, so can we of the Ness.”
“I’ve heard you have some very odd customs. Apart from living by that loch of yours,” the old man said.
“Yes, do tell us of the different customs,” one gushing female asked.
“There aren’t many diffferences, just the binding of the bride.”
“Oh, how delicious, she is helpless and at your mercy then?” the woman asked with a shiver of excitement.
“No woman who mates with Ness is so feeble. She consents to the binding, and the taking while bound.”
“Oh, my. How strange. That is an odd custom.”
“It is. Our Clan has always travelled far and wide. That one comes from a far-off country called Nippon. It’s been our custom for many ages.”
“Have you claimed your mate yet?” The persistent questions of the woman were attracting the attention of many of those present.
“No, but she’s here in this Gathering and, I think, hiding herself from me. She knows I’m here, and she knows she will eventually be mine. It’s just a matter of time and patience. The Ness doesn’t have to mate by summer solstice, so I can afford to wait.”
* * * *
The talk shifted to other topics, and Oidhche was able to return to his planning. He vaguely remembered the layout of the Caisteal, but he needed to refresh his memory. He could do that after the meal.
Chapter Eight
Eilidh was tired. She sat in her chair and watched the gathered company. It was later that evening, when all had eaten.They were gossiping in groups in the main hall, now heated by a blazing log fire. Ness, and the Braemuir’s brother, Riaghan, were the main topics of convers
ation. She could hear some of what the other women said.
“Who will be mated to these two handsome men?”
“Riaghan looks remarkably like the Braemuir.”
“Ness is so different, like no member of our Clan. Those strange customs he talked about make me shiver.”
“Do you suppose he lives underwater when he’s a dragon?”
“How will his mate cope if she is one of our Clan? We can’t live underwater.”
Eilidh watched the woman who said that shiver with excitement.
“I would love to be bound and helpless at his mercy.”
“He seems little inclined to approach any female. I wonder who is his mate?” Sighs could be heard as Ness and Riaghan moved amid the male guests, and such boring topics as crops and hunting were discussed. Eilidh wasn’t interested in who the mates might be. She was watching both men. She suspected that one of them could be Oidhche, and, whoever it was, was a threat to her baby, and her new mate. She wasn’t going to relax for a second. She would watch to see if she recognised either one. She tried to compare each man with what she remembered of the one who had questioned her. She couldn’t make up her mind.
“Isd, mo run! It’s not for you to be fighting battles. If you think you recognise the man who tried to drown you, let me know and I’ll deal with it. You aren’t to risk yourself. Next time he might succeed.”
“Hmph. I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”
“Yes, you can, that’s the best thing you can do. Soon it will be time for you to go to bed.”
Shortly afterwards, the women began to retire, leaving the men to stay and drink uisge beatha, as the whisky was called. Seonag came to take Eilidh upstairs. To Eilidh’s delight there was a hot bath, scented with mountain herbs, waiting for her.
“Well you did sound so wistful when you were getting washed, I thought you’d like a nice hot bath now. I can’t come up to you yet, but I’ll be with you as soon as I can,” Braemuir promised. Eilidh blushed at the lascivious thoughts he let her see. She was going to have a pleasurable night, but sleep was not on Braemuir’s agenda.
She also realised that, unless she took pains to shield her mind, he could read every thought. She would have to remember that.
* * * *
Oidhche prowled the castle, keeping to the shadows. He needed to know how he could get to her. He didn’t have much time, before he was missed in the male gathering downstairs. He did have a plan now. Eilidh wouldn’t come to him willingly, but if her parents were threatened, she would do as she was told. Tomorrow would see his plan put into action. He’d taken pains to be pleasant and friendly toward the couple. They were out of their depth amongst shape-shifting dragon kind. He’d sympathised and offered to show them the gardens on the following day. They, simpletons that they were, had agreed eagerly. The problem was how to get a message to Eilidh when he had her parents. He didn’t want her to be able to get to Braemuir to help. Braemuir would be in the council. They had urgent business to discuss. It would take the fools a long time to agree upon a mating outside the Clan. By the time Braemuir found his mate was missing, it would be too late. His fate would be sealed and I, with Ciarda as my mate, will be ruling the Clan. No more stupid meetings then. I shall decide, and they’ll all do as I say, or it will be the worse for them. Now how am I going to get that message delivered? Where would she be? He melted into the shadows outside Eilidh’s bedchamber, as the door to it opened, and Seonag came out.
“I will come for you at eleven, lady, and then we can inspect the stillroom. Good night and sleep well.” Seonag walked along the passage and went down the servants’ stairs. Oidhche was jubilant. He couldn’t believe his luck. He had the information he needed, and his plan would work this time. He hurried back downstairs, time enough to refine the details, when he was in his own room.
* * * *
Eilidh was wallowing in the luxury of hot, scented water. There was a fire in the bathing chamber, and by its honey-coloured glow she could see the drying cloths, set to warm and waiting for her. There was a fine-spun night-robe, and a shawl of woven wool. She’d never experienced such luxury, never dreamed that such luxury existed.
“That’s not all you’ll have, my little one.”
Once again his mind showed her all that he intended to do to her when he came to their bed.
“Time to get out of the water. Dry yourself and keep warm until I’m with you.”
She stepped carefully out of the bath and wrapped herself in the drying cloths. She was heated. Her nipples ached, and her cunt throbbed.
“That’s the way I like my mate to be.” He chuckled. Then, as her hand crept down her belly to her folds, “Don’t. I want you wet and willing. You won’t touch yourself unless I tell you to.”
Then she tried to shield her thoughts as her hand crept lower and between her pussy lips. If I can just get a measure of relief. The aching, throbbing flesh is wet and slick. It wouldn’t take many minutes. Her fingers rubbed and pressed on her litle nub. She arched her back, and her head thrashed from side to side. She was hot. She rubbed harder and faster. She moaned as she pleasured herself. She felt the tingles begin as she kept up the pressure. It felt so good. She needed the release. Her fingers circled her bud and pinched it. Then she rubbed hard, and she flew. Pleasure flooded her, and her hips bucked as she kept on rubbing. The spasms in her cunt flooded her with cream. It ran down her legs, unheeded, as she panted and writhed in pleasure. She curled into a ball on the rug in front of the fire and enjoyed the afterglow. She lay there for a while, spent and sated. Eventually, she got up and put on the night-robe and the shawl.
“That was very enjoyable, mo run.”
She jumped and squeaked. She’d shielded her thoughts. How had he known?
“I don’t intend to tell you that. I will always know if you pleasure yourself. I told you not to, and you disobeyed. You will be punished for that.”
“You can’t punish me. I’m with child.”
“Yes, I can. A sound spanking will not harm our son, but it will do you good.”
An hour later, she still sat by the fire, shifting every now and then in her chair as her arousal stoked the fires in her belly. He was making her wait. She was scared. I don’t want a spanking, do I? The moisture between her legs told a different tale. She squirmed. He would know all of this. Can I keep nothing from him?
“No, my little one, you can’t. I’m coming to bed now.”
A few minutes later, the door opened and he strode in. He was so tall and handsome, and now, flushed with desire for her. She stood up at once and looked down at the floor. He came over to her, gathered her in his arms, and tipped up her chin.
“Naughty little minx, did you enjoy pleasuring yourself? I wasn’t here to see it. Couldn’t you wait? If you enjoy doing that, you can do it for me. I’d love to watch you.”
She was flustered by his presence, his questions, and her own feelings, so she said nothing.
“Well, we shall see. First I have to warm your delicious, little arse.”
“No, you don’t have to, not if it’s too much trouble or you are too tired.”
He laughed aloud at that.
“Oh, but I do. It would never do to let you off. Next time who knows what you’d get up to. Over my knee now.”
“I’d really rather not.”
“But you will and now this minute.”
She draped herself over his knee, and he lifted her night-robe. He hummed as his large, warm hand caressed her bottom. He pinched the pale cheeks and she squirmed.
“Be still. Don’t move or try to get up. You disobeyed, and you must take the consequences. I can smell your arousal. You’re wet and swollen. That fragrance makes me wild.”
She couldn’t deny it. Ever since he’d promised a spanking, she’d been getting wetter. Her nipples were hard and achy. She longed for his fingers in her cunt. Crack! The first smack took her by surprise, and she squealed. He held her in place as she tried to get up, and then he peppered he
r plump cheeks with sharp slaps. At first the blows stung, but soon the delicious warmth spread from her bottom to her cunt. More moisture gathered and ran down her legs. He paused and thrust two fingers into her, grinding and scissoring as he pulled them out. She moaned and sighed.
“Yes, oh, yes, more, please more. I love your fingers inside me. You make me feel so good.”
He stood her up and carried her to the bed. Pulling down the sheets, he placed her carefully with her head on the pillows and sat beside her. Her legs fell open as he lifted her night-robe to her waist. He leaned down and began to fuck her with three fingers. She arched her back and pumped her hips as he twisted and curled his fingers inside her, thrumming over her G-spot. She thrashed her head from side to side as he drove her arousal higher. Then he withdrew his fingers.
“No, no, please. Don’t stop.”
His ardent mouth replaced the fingers. His tongue swirled around her little nub. He licked, sucked, and nibbled. She pressed her hips up, offering herself unreservedly. He took her clit in his teeth and gently bit down on it, and she shrieked as the mother and father of all orgasms lifted her up and hurled her over the edge, into pleasure that was almost painful in its intensity. Kneeling between her thighs, he gathered pillows and placed them under her hips. Then, with her cunt in the perfect position, he entered her with his thick cock as her pussy muscles spasmed. Her legs wrapped around him, holding him inside her where she needed to feel him. His hips pumped his erect cock deep inside her again and again. The tingles returned as he drove her to yet another climax, powerful in its intensity. This time, the clenching of her pussy dragged him with her, and his copious release flooded her. Moving the pillows from under her, he collapsed on top of her. He would have rolled to the side but she held him.
Dragon's Mate [Cairgorm Dragons 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 5
