by Patty Taylor
“We’ve got to get you into the water,” Beth pleaded. “You’ll be like your old self in no time.”
“Nay. I’m tired, lass, and ready to join my Maggie and Maureen. Be happy for me. I’ll be able to romp free through the green moors and babbling brooks once again with me family by my side.”
McGregor’s eyelids fluttered. Blood dribbled down the side of his mouth, and he gasped. His head fell against Quinn’s chest as he took his final breath.
Chapter 29
His blood, raging with mixed emotions of sorrow, relief, and surprise, was overwhelming. Quinn gazed intently at Beth kneeling in front of him, her face streaked with tears. The woman he loved was carrying his child. Their child.
He rose, supporting McGregor’s limp body next to his own and waited as Beth wrapped her hands around his arm. The hair on the back of his neck bristled. Quinn growled as he headed toward the pillar where the Dragon Fae was lashing out commands to the ranting heathens.
“I insist, the child belongs to me. It is within my right,” the Maras Queen spat, clenching her fists.
Darby gripped the side of Quinn’s plaid while Beth’s fingernails dug deep in his arm.
The Dragon Fae gazed in their direction and raised her clawed foot, motioning for them to halt.
“I forbid either of you to ever harm this child. Take your ogre and leave now, nymph, before I change my mind and banish you from these islands for eternity.”
The nymph glared at Beth before bowing her head to the dragon. A whirling mist enveloped her body. The troll’s bare feet dangled in the air, trailing behind the lavender haze.
The dragon returned her attention to the angry Maras Queen. “Too many innocent lives have already been lost in your malicious attempts to claim this witch. You are lucky I have not stricken your powers to curse other unwary victims. Now go, before I change my mind.”
The Maras Queen growled, bolting past all of them for the babbling stream.
Quinn stepped closer to the pillar. “I fear the hackit creatures will return for our child.”
Kalista glided alongside the Dragon Fae. “I can guarantee that neither one will be able to harm the child in the future. I have already made sure of that.”
“I don’t know how to thank you,” Beth spoke for the first time to the Dragon Fae.
“Go, child. Much still lies in store for you and your family. May your Goddess protect you.” She turned her attention to Quinn. “I am sorry for the loss of your friend. He is free and happy again. Now go and lay his body to rest.”
The Dragon Fae spread her wings, her claws gripping the tiny acorn vial. She flew above the falls over the stone dragon’s head and disappeared.
Quinn leaned over and kissed Beth’s forehead. “Come, love, ’tis time to go home.”
“But how do we get out of here now?” Beth frowned, glancing back the way they came in.
“Wait.” Darby grinned, holding his pudgy hands in front of himself and turning them over. Tiny gold sparkles fled from his fingers. “The Elders must be givin’ me a second chance. Hurry and grab hold of me jacket before they change their minds.”
Kalista flew to Darby’s shoulder. Quinn gripped McGregor’s body close to his chest while Beth grabbed Quinn’s arm and clutched Darby’s coat. Before Quinn could blink, they were standing on shore in front of his rowboat.
Beth woke the next morning with Quinn by her side, his arm draped over her shoulder. Her hand flying to her mouth, she pushed Quinn’s arm away and threw back the covers, making a bolt for the cabin door.
She raced up the creaking steps, her hands gripping the rail, and she leaned over and retched.
Quinn rubbed her back, his other hand on her shoulder. He shouted, “Jacob, please bring Beth some hot tea.”
Her knees shook while she groped for his arm. Quinn steadied her as she sat down on the steps.
“Here ye go, lass.” Jacob handed her a tin of steaming tea. “Glad to have ye back on board with us, miss.”
“Thank you, Jacob.” Beth managed a weak smile and took a few sips. The hot liquid eased down her throat. “It’s good to be back and headed home.”
Noticing Darby and Kalista were missing from the cabin this morning, she scanned the deck, looking for any signs they might be mingling with the rest of the skeleton crew.
“Your friend Darby came up on deck early this morning with Kalista. Before they left the ship, he asked me to relay a message to you.” Jacob’s cheeks reddened as he stared at Quinn. Quinn glanced out to sea. “He said he had important matters to tend to right after he finished meeting with the Elders. Darby said to tell ye, Captain, that ye’d understand.”
Quinn cleared his throat. “Thank ye, Jacob. Please make sure McGregor’s trunks are taken to his cabin. I’ll go through his things later.”
“Aye, Captain.” Jacob nodded to Beth before heading down below.
“That’s twice now he’s left without saying goodbye.” Beth lowered the tin to her lap, her fingers tracing the top of the lip. “I hope he’s not in any more trouble. Quinn, I’m afraid we might not ever see Darby again.”
“He’s fine, Beth. Besides, Kalista’s with him. She’ll bring him home when it’s time.” Quinn wrapped his arm around her.
“You said you were taking me home.” Beth turned her head away from his face and stared at the white caps in the ocean. “How many days before we reach the Isle of Skye?”
Quinn cupped her chin in his fingers and turned her head to face him. He arched his eyebrows, his chocolate-brown eyes clouded with a tint of amber. “I’m not sure what ye mean, love. I wasna expectin’ ye to want to go back and settle there, now that ye’re carryin’ our child.”
“You don’t have to worry.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t want our child growing up without knowing her father. I want you to promise me that you’ll come and see the baby as much as you can. When she gets older, I’m sure she’ll want to spend time with you, too.”
Quinn chuckled. “How do you know it’s a girl? Will ye be disappointed if it happens to be a lad?”
“I’ll be happy, no matter which we have. As long as the baby is healthy—that’s the main thing.” Beth grinned, patting her belly.
“I dinna understand why ye insist on goin’ back to the Isle of Skye.” He frowned, his face filled with concern. He felt her head. “Are ye sure ye’re feeling all right? ’Tis not at all what I was expectin’ to hear. I was hopin’ ye loved me as much as I love ye. I thought the bond we shared was strong and nothin’ could break it.”
“Quinn McCord. I would have thought by now you knew how much you meant to me. I’ve loved you from the first time I laid eyes on you in Keara’s portrait. I was thrilled my kid sister had finally met a man she fell in love with and was good to her. I was even jealous. All I had going for me was a Highlander character portrayed on a sketch and a cold parchment to cuddle next to at night.” She placed her finger over his lips, stopping his words. “Like a gallant knight, you came to my rescue. I found myself falling deeper in love with you as I discovered the caring, gentle man that was willing to risk his life for anyone in need. How do you expect me to feel when I just discovered you’ve been deceiving me from the very beginning, Quinn? I felt humiliated. You lied to me. Why didn’t you tell me about the sacred vow made with the Dragon Fae? You should have told me there was another woman you were promised to, before making love to me.”
Quinn leaned close to her face, pushing stray hairs from her cheeks. “I nev’r lied to ye, woman. I was afraid to tell ye about the dragon blood in me veins in case ye got yer hopes up and thought I could lead you to the sacred pools. Even Kalista was forbidden to go there. And as for me being promised to another woman, don’t ye understand yet? Ye are the one that I was destined to find and fall in love with. Why do ye think the Dragon Fae protected our unbo
rn child? By the Gods above, Woman, do ye not know by now how much I love ye? I’d give me life for you and the child before letting any harm come to either of you.”
Beth caressed the side of his cheek. “And Kalista was protecting Darby all along.”
“Darby and Kalista share their own connection. She would not abandon him, no more than she would either of us. I didna remember much about my father, other than my Mum telling me the truth about him right before she died. I was a young lad when they both died and my grandparents refused to talk about him. I think they were ashamed their wolf daughter strayed from the pack and married a dragon shapeshifter. My grandparents were verra proud of their wolf heritage and raised me as their own.”
“I’m sorry I doubted you, Quinn.” She sighed. “I was hurt. I felt you didn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth. I guess I was afraid there was still another woman waiting for you, who would try to come between us. ”
Quinn scooped her up in his arms. “There never has or ever will be another woman for me. I’d never hurt ye on purpose. I’d give me last breath for you, woman. I love ye, Beth, with all me heart. I fell in love with ye the first time I saw ye sittin’ in front of that stone fireplace. I admit, at first I thought ye was daft when ye just sat there all soakin’ wet and wouldna budge to get out of the rain.”
“I guess I did look weird sitting out in the open in the middle of a storm.” Beth smiled, entwining her fingers behind his neck. “I recognized your face and those chocolate-brown eyes at first glance.”
Quinn held her close and kissed her cheek. “As soon as I spotted yer lovely face and the shimmer from yer eyes as ye looked up at me, ye rekindled the fire in me soul I thought had died. I knew then I had finally met my match. Ye’re the woman destined to claim me soul. If anythin’ would have happened to ye, I would have traveled the seas with a broken heart for the rest of me days.”
Beth closed her eyes and snuggled her face in the crook of his neck.
“I have a feelin’ we willna be seein’ much of the ship’s deck for the rest of our voyage.” Quinn placed his hand on her belly and smiled. He covered her lips with his mouth. She savored his masculine musky scent that was filling her head. His tongue lingered and slid across her lips before he carried her down the steps and into his cabin, kicking the cabin door shut with the back of his foot.
“Where do we go from here?” Beth gazed into his eyes and ran her hands through the back of his thick locks of hair. “What about the Sea Wolf? I know how much this ship means to you.”
“Since ye remarked how much ye wished ye could spend more time at the Island of Yell, I thought we might make that our home for the next few years. What better place to raise our child so she can learn the gifts our world has to share with her? As for the Sea Wolf, she’s been home to me crew for a good many years now. We’ll have plenty of time to discuss some plans I have in mind for her later. For now, I’d rather concentrate on something more important. Like making love to my future bride.”
Quinn’s lips teasingly brushed against hers. She quivered at the softness of his kiss. His lips left hers and planted kisses down her neck. He nibbled at her earlobe. She drew his face to hers, pressed her mouth against his, and drank the sweetness of his kiss.
Quinn eased her to the mattress, pressing his fingers against the small of her back. A soft inviting moan escaped her lips. His hand slid across her belly. The boyish grin she fell in love with crossed his face before he lowered his head and covered her mouth with his, devouring her lips.
Her body arched and coaxed him on top of her. She curled into the curve of his powerful frame and dug her fingers in the taut muscles raised in his back. Quinn eased her from the bed and raised the chemise from her chest. His fingers circled her hardened nipples while she hurried to unfasten his kilt and let it drop to the floor.
His touch sent shivers of delight over her flesh, awakening her loin with desire. Wild passion inched through her veins, sending her she-wolf into a wild frenzy. Quinn’s chocolate pupils flashed golden amber. A low growl rumbled from deep in his chest. The hardness of his shaft pushing against her leg sent sparks surging through her limbs.
His hand crept up her thigh as she pushed closer to him and wrapped her legs around him. She squirmed beneath his muscular frame and wove her fingers through his thick wavy hair. Her body quivered, growing anxious from the hungry need of wanting to make love to her. She cried out his name as he lowered himself, his manhood filling her, joining as one. Entangled with heated passion, their perspiring bodies clung together. Her pleasure soaring higher to a heated level she never felt possible, waves of ecstasy throbbed through her loins.
His eager response matched hers. Their bodies moved in perfect sync with each other. Her breathing hastened from the fervor of his passion. Her entire body trembled, waiting for his release. With one final thrust, she gasped in sheer ecstasy.
United as one in their human form, the wolf blood running through their veins grew anxious for their turn. They would wait until they reached land and give their inner wolves their freedom to bond then. A wolf mated for life. Quinn was her life. For now and forever.
Chapter 30
The morning rays warmed her face. Beth laughed at the otters popping their heads over the sides of the tilting rowboat to greet them.
The sweet perfume of violets filled the air. Quinn steadied the boat and helped Beth stand on the stepping-stones carpeted with the lavish oyster plants in shades of violets, purples, and blues. He lifted her to the boulder across from the waterfall and leapt up beside her.
“I love this spot. It’s breathtaking.” Beth sighed, leaning back against his chest.
“Come on, woman, there’s a surprise waitin’ for ye.” Quinn smiled and scooped her in his arms, climbing the new set of wooden steps leading up the side of the hill. “Now dinna look until I tell ye to.”
Quinn set her down. “Ye can open yer eyes, love.”
Beth gasped.
The quaint cottage that she called home, nestled in the Isle of Skye, was standing directly in front of them. She covered her mouth with her hand.
“I can’t believe this. How did you manage . . . ?”
Darby opened the door with his pipe stuck in his hand. He grinned. “Come inside, lass. I think everything’s pretty much as ye left it.”
Beth strolled inside with Quinn right behind her. A trace of Darby’s tobacco lingered in the air. Her workbench was set not far from the window with her pestle and mortar sitting on top. She glanced over at the bookcase filled with her favorite books. Darby led the way through the pantry, lined with shelves filled with jars of herbs, candles, and her remedies. Loose bundles of hyssop, rosemary, and lavender tied with twine were hanging upside-down from the rafters to dry.
Something was different. She put her finger to her lips and spotted a new backdoor cut into the house.
“C’mon, lass. Kalista grows inpatient waiting for ye. She has a surprise.”
Kalista whimpered and glided on Quinn’s shoulder from the top of an arched loveseat covered in garland, made from oak and maple fall leaves. Vibrant yellow, rust, and white chrysanthemums filled the backyard.
Beth gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. She hugged Darby and laughed. A stuffed scarecrow made from straw and wearing a checkered red, white, and blue shirt sat in the middle of the loveseat surrounded by pumpkins.
“Ye have Quinn to thank. He wanted to surprise ye,” Darby whispered up at her and winked. “Quinn’s a fine man. Hold on to him, lass. Ye’re both lucky to have each other.”
“We both need to thank Darby and Kalista. They’re the ones that did all the work.” Quinn shook Darby’s hand.
“Quinn met me early on deck before I left and was tellin’ me his plans. I thought the old cottage would make a nice weddin’ present. He mentioned how much ye missed yer autumns
back home. I remembered the packet of pumpkin seeds ye had saved and tucked inside yer trunk. I figured ye wouldna mind if I coaxed their growth with a wee bit of magic.”
Beth didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I don’t know what to say except thank you. I’ll treasure this day for the rest of my life.”
Quinn came up from behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Welcome home, lass.”
Beth cleared the last dinner plate from the table and joined Quinn and her friends in the backyard.
“Kalista and I have a present for the baby.” He handed her a crystal snow globe, identical to the one Kalista carried around her neck. In front of the Mystical Fairy Tree stood a miniature figure of Darby holding Kalista. “’Tis just a wee keepsake to give to the wee lass, from her Uncle Darby and Aunt Kalista to remember us by. When she’s old enough, she’ll know what to do with it.”
Quinn chuckled. “I see ye both are determined we’re about to have a lass join the family. I take it the bow and arrows set I made for the baby will have to wait ’til we have a son.”
“Don’t be so sure. Especially if she takes after her Aunt Keara.” Beth sniffled and swallowed the lump in her throat. She knelt, facing her beloved friend. “Thank you, Darby. I promise, I’ll make sure she gets it. How long will you both be gone? You make it sound like you won’t be back.”
“The Elders have summoned me to stay at Halldora’s hidden haven until they find someone else capable of overseein’ the place. Och, dinna be sad, lass. Ye young lovers certainly dinna need us hangin’ around right now. We’ll always be with ye in here.” Darby blushed and placed his hand over her heart. “I’m happy for ye, lass. Wee Kalista and I will be busy makin’ plans for some new adventures of our own.”
