“Colin MacKenzie covets what he can’t have. Consider that as you search for your answer.”
“Aye, that he does.” She returned to her own genealogy and straightened the bottom crinkly edge. In slanted script two words bloomed. Eternal life. “Oh my, I’ve found the answer. The Chief of MacKenzie desires a time-walker in order to be as I am. He wishes for eternal life.”
A low growl rumbled from him. “He’s not going to get it.”
“Aye, ’tis impossible. Only you and those children born to us can hold eternal life.” She scrunched the parchment to her chest. “He chases a dream that can never be.”
The door swung open and Colin MacKenzie barreled in, his gaze narrowing on the floating parchment. He slammed the door, seized the tartan blanket tossed over one of the armchairs and bunched it under the doorway. Rising to his towering height, he muttered, “Well, well, well. Who do we have here?”
Heart thumping, she dropped the parchment and it toppled to his desk and rolled off the side. Damn it. She’d never been caught unawares like this before.
The MacKenzie heaved his heavy armoire in front of the door and fully blocked her exit out. “My spies have informed me that Amelia and her kin are under heavy guard at Matheson House, so that must mean the unseen visitor in my solar must be the faerie king’s daughter herself, the one they call Cherub, the one my men saw appear out of thin air as they fought the ‘power of three’ at the inn.”
She swished to the window, scrambled to find an opening but the decorative stained glass was firmly fixed in place. She spun about. There wasn’t even a fireplace that she could use to breeze up the flue. Never had she been trapped in such a way. Teeth gritted, she faced her adversary. “No one can capture or contain a time-walker, no’ even you.”
“Yet it appears as if you’re now contained.” Prowling the solar, he waved his hands through the air in search of her. “During the last Twelfth Night and Yule celebrations, I met a bard who had spent a great deal of time at the fae village. He recited an interesting tale of the time-walkers to me, then he aided me in compiling what he’d learnt from the villagers themselves.”
“Your records are inaccurate.”
“I dinnae believe so.” He rubbed his callused hands together. “Amelia is of an endless age and so too is her mate, a man who is naught but a fisherman, a man she fell in love with ten years ago then spelled to her.”
“Cherub?”
“I’m here, and I’m—”
MacKenzie lunged and she dissolved her cloaked form, swept up and floated along the low ceiling.
“—fine. Just peachy-fine, my bear. How’s your journey across the loch faring?”
“We’ve just hit the mist shrouding the MacKenzie’s lair.”
“You cannae escape me now, princess.” The chief shoved the tall polished chest in front of the decorative window and blocked the meager light filtering in from it. A shuffle and scrape sounded in the near dark then a candle flickered to life on the corner of his desk. He tucked his dirk and flint away then swept the candle around the solar as he scoured the room for her.
“Cherub, why can I sense fear ricocheting down our link from you?”
“’Tis good to know the mist remains thick. Dinnae let any of the guards see you scale the curtain wall. That is the only way in since this castle is built on a rock a hundred feet from the shore. There are most certainly men positioned on the battlements on the northern side. Please take care as you wander around and about.”
“You’re actually encouraging me to storm the castle?” His confusion swarmed through her then his worry roared to life. “What the hell is going on? Tell me you’re all right.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m in a spot of trouble.”
“I’m coming. Hold tight.”
* * * *
Cherub’s words reverberated through Kirk’s mind and made his heart lose one very necessary beat. Through the cloying mist, he eyed his brothers. “Cherub’s in trouble.”
“What’s happened?” Iain lowered the skiff’s limp sail, the steady wind that had brought them across the channel having died away as they’d neared the calmer waters surrounding the MacKenzie’s keep.
“MacKenzie is after eternal life, except Cherub can only bind her mate’s soul to hers and that of any children she conceives.” He nabbed the oars, sat on the center bench seat and rowed. Finlay grabbed a second set of oars and rowed from the seat behind him.
“Hell, he’s a nasty piece of work.” Iain spat the words out as he gripped the rudder and searched through the gray haze to keep them on course. The curtain wall appeared out of the soupy gloom, just twenty feet ahead.
“She said there are guards on the northern side.” Kirk stowed his oars and as the hull scraped the ground underneath the water, he bounded out onto the sliver of stony land encircling the keep. With his hands fisted on his hips, he took in the massive stone wall that rose into the fog high above.
Iain secured their skiff to a boulder and patted the wall. “It’s slick with moisture but there appear to be plenty of hand and foot holds. We’ll be able to scale this.”
“Who’s going first?” Finlay tucked his loose blue shirttail into his black pants, his ever-present sword at his side as he moved in next to them.
“Not Iain, not when he goes regimental in a kilt.” Kirk grasped the wall and swung up, his booted feet wedged in the footholds. Getting to Cherub as quickly as possible, drove him forward.
“Hey, Isla never complains about me going regimental.” Iain gripped the grooves and climbed up in his wake.
“Flipping, flapping kilt.” Finlay groaned and clambered up after them. “I should have moved faster. The mist is not thick enough to cover your unmentionables, Iain, which are just about right in my face.”
Iain chuckled. “You’re just jealous.”
“You wish,” Finlay shot back at him. “By chance did you tell Isla what you’re up to right now? Because I bet those unmentionables of yours won’t get some use for some time if you didn’t.”
“Ha. If I told her where I was or what I’m doing, she’d be out the door, on a skiff and over here in less than a second. There is no halting a compeller from joining a battle when it looms.” Iain grunted as he climbed. “What she doesn’t know, can’t hurt her. Or at least that’s what I’m hoping.”
“This is just like the old days.” Pride filled Kirk’s chest as his brothers followed right on his tail. They would never allow him to lose his woman, would always be right at his side no matter what battle he faced. “You’re both ready to catch me in case I fall, right?”
“If you fall, I’m letting you whizz right on by.” Iain swung up beside him. “You are the only one of us right now who can handle any drop. You should fall back below Finlay there and get ready to catch either of us if we fall.”
“Would you two quit yacking and get to climbing. Fierce warriors await us and I need to get myself pumped up for a fight.” Finlay swung wide and scrambled past Iain. “Last one to the top has to explain all this to the women once we return.”
They all picked up their pace, using whatever crack or ridge the wall offered.
Determined to get to his woman, Kirk reached the top first, hauled himself over the edge then leaned over the crenellation and gave Iain and Finlay a hand each and swung them in beside him. As three, they crouched on the rampart, the mist thick and steady around them with not even a tiny breeze to stir the air. “We’re here. Where are you, love? And be exact.”
“In the chief’s solar. Ground floor, first door on your left just off the great hall. There were three maids clearing the tables when I arrived, and one lad sweeping the area, but they were almost done.” A wealth of worry channeled through from her. “I’m in mist form and can remain this way for as long as it takes, but the MacKenzie’s with me and he’s barricaded the door and the window. There’s no way for me to escape until there’s a sliver or gap for me to breeze through. Did I mention I missed you? Because I really do.”
“I miss you too, and I’m coming to get you.” He crept toward the stairs leading downward and motioned his brothers to follow. “She’s in the chief’s solar with the chief, ground floor, first door on the left. The hall should be clear, for the most part.”
“Sheesh. The chief’s solar?” Iain blew out a long breath. “Your woman clearly likes excitement.”
“Aye, it seems my woman is no different to either yours or Finlay’s.” If Isla and Arabel were here right now, they’d for sure be right in the thick of things. Kirk halted at the base of the stairs. Across the yard, a good twenty warriors trained, their swords clanging loud with each hit. Great, that was about twenty more warriors than he wanted to see right now.
“We’re clearly going to need a plan if we wish to get inside without being seen.” Finlay gestured toward the pathway that led around the tower house toward the heavily paneled front doors with its thick iron scrollwork. “It’s a small walk, but an immensely viewable one all the same. There must be a window open somewhere we can slip inside instead of taking that route.”
“I don’t have time to find an open window. We’re walking right along that path, as if we’re meant to be here.” Kirk slapped Finlay on the back. “Try and cover Iain if you can. Regimental and wearing the Matheson plaid. He’s got ‘come-and-fight-me’ written all over him.”
Hand firm on the hilt of his belted sword, Kirk strode toward the front door.
“Thanks, little brother,” Iain muttered as he jogged in beside him. Finlay caught up and stepped in on Iain’s other side to cover him from sight.
“Any time.” Kirk walked through the front door. A maid with an armful of tankards bustled toward the kitchens at the far side of the great hall and disappeared.
Iain snagged a folded tartan from a pile of clean MacKenzie plaids on the table underneath their hefty clan shield and wrapped it around his waist. “Right, let’s get your woman and then get out of here.”
“That sounds like the perfect plan to me.” Kirk stepped up to the chief’s solar door. “Cherub, we’re here. Right outside the door. On the count of three, we’re coming in.”
“He’s armed, Kirk, with a claymore holstered across his back and an axe at his side. Wrist daggers too. The armoire looks heavy, and it’s right in front of the door. I’ll divert him as well as I can. Be careful.”
“I will. Steer clear of the door.” He eyed his brothers and repeated Cherub’s words. Through good times or bad, no matter what difficulties they faced, they always stood as one. “On the count of three, we bust this door down. Ready?”
“Aye, ‘the power of three’ aren’t complete until we have all our women with us.” Iain swung his sword free. “Three,” he bit out.
“Two,” Finlay muttered and heaved back one step.
“One.” Kirk nodded at his brothers, his blood roaring for revenge. No one would capture and contain his woman, not while he still had breath.
Chapter 10
Cherub rushed through the air toward the far side of the solar and shimmered into view. She held a piece of Kirk’s soul deep inside her and she would fight the enemy for her freedom, just as her mate intended to fight for hers.
Colin MacKenzie sneered and stormed toward her, victory sparking in his gaze. He snatched her arms and hauled her up against him. “I want eternal life, and you’re going to damn well give it to me, right n—”
A crash sounded. The door splintered and the armoire toppled over. Kirk and his brothers jumped the debris, their swords raised. MacKenzie dragged her in front of him and slid his blade hard up against her neck. “Dinnae come any closer,” he snarled at Kirk.
“Well, unless you wish to lose your head right now, you’ll release my mate.” Biceps bulging, his gaze fierce, Kirk stormed toward her.
“She has no’ taken a mate, and I intend to be the one that she does.” MacKenzie’s fetid breath washed over her face. “Speak the spell to bind us, princess.”
“I’m no’ your princess and I’ve already spoken the spell with the man who stands afore you. He is my chosen one, just as I am his.” She cocked a brow at Kirk. “I wish to leave. Are you ready to go?”
“I won’t be a moment. No one raises a blade to my woman without learning a very strong lesson, that it’ll never happen again.”
“Those there are fighting words,” the MacKenzie spat at him, his voice rumbling low and deadly. “But I hold her and you dinnae.”
Goodness. She needed to get out of the middle of this fight. As one with the air, she disappeared and swirled in behind Kirk before retaking her true and visible form. With one hand against his back, she breathed in a rush, “I’m right here.”
“Iain, watch Cherub for me.” Kirk let out a fierce battle cry, one that rang in her ears then echoed out into the hall.
MacKenzie came at Kirk, just as Kirk came at him.
Their two great blades clashed dead center and sparked, the brutal force of the strike sending Kirk lurching back a step under the jarring impact.
“There is naught I like more than an eager opponent.” MacKenzie slid his axe free, both his weapons in hand.
“I’m the most eager opponent you’ll ever meet. Let’s end this.” Kirk struck and MacKenzie lunged and met his attack.
“You’ll never halt me from getting what I want.” MacKenzie grinned as the clamor of booted feet traveled toward them.
“Damn, it looks like we’re about to have company.” Iain bounded over the splintered armoire and into the hall. Cherub rushed in behind him. A wall of oncoming warriors loomed, their weapons raised. “Finlay, Kirk,” Iain bellowed. “We need to leave, now!”
“Give me one more moment.” Kirk slammed his blade into MacKenzie’s, so hard the man tumbled to one knee. Finlay whacked MacKenzie’s axe from his hand and Kirk slid his sword tight against their enemy’s throat and pressed until blood oozed. “Never, ever, touch my woman again, or next time I will slice your head from your shoulders. Eternal life will never be yours, not so long as I live.”
MacKenzie opened his mouth to answer but Kirk smashed the hilt of his sword down on his head and he slumped onto the ground.
Kirk leapt out the door, Finlay right behind him and never had she been more proud of her mate. Or more worried.
“Hold onto me,” she yelled to Kirk and his brothers.
They all snatched ahold of her then she did as she was born to do, her duty, that of protecting and guarding her kin. With a flick of her fingers, she swirled the thick air in the hall into a twirling mass and sent it whirling into the oncoming warriors. They skidded backward and toppled over each other. They tumbled out the wide open double doors and across the stony yard.
Outside, the mist rose with the rush of wind that she continued to churn and swiftly, she followed her enemy, the ‘power of three’ connected to her and kept safe within the cocoon of stillness she maintained around the four of them. In the center of the courtyard, she shouted over the melee, “I am Cherub, and from this day forth, should you ever think to attack my kin again, I will bring the wrath of the skies down upon you until not one stone in this keep stands.”
“Well said.” Kirk tightened his hold around her waist from behind. “And remind me to never rile you up in the future.”
“Aye, I wouldnae recommend it.” She smiled at him, cloaked them all then swept them up into the sky and over the curtain wall before lowering them gently down onto the rocks next to their skiff. She patted her racing heartbeat. Never had she placed herself in such a dire position before.
Kirk scooped her up into his arms, crushed her against his chest in a fierce hold and kissed her. “You’re not to leave me again, and I want your word on that.”
“Aye, I can see the benefits to keeping you close.” She kissed him back, just as fiercely as he’d kissed her. She’d never leave on another mission of such importance without him at her side and she sent that promise winging down their link directly to him.
“Good. I’m glad we’re finally in agreem
ent.”
“Aye, in agreement, but I still intend to keep you on your toes. That too I give you my word on.”
“Somehow, I don’t doubt you will.” Breathing heavily, he stepped into the skiff, sat at the stern and with her cradled in his lap, eyed his brothers. “I’ll clearly need aid from you both over the coming years. Being mated to a time-walker will likely hold its thrills and spills.”
“Finlay and I will always be here for you.” Iain released the mooring rope. “It appears there’s no taming any of our women. We’re all in for a very exciting life.”
“A life I can’t wait to live.” Finlay raised the sail, a teasing grin on his face as he glanced at Cherub. “Dear sparkly sister, please rustle us up some wind. It’s time to go home.”
“Of course.” Grinning back at him, she flicked her fingers and sent a whoosh of wind slapping into the sail.
As they sped back across the loch, she snuggled deeper into Kirk’s embrace and nuzzled his neck. Aye, there was definitely no taming her, not when all she wished was to offer her people all her love and aid. Her mate now as well.
She smiled and kissed the man her soul rejoiced at being as one with. For him, her love and aid would always be endless, just as the streams of time she traveled were.
* * * *
Later that evening after transporting herself and Kirk to the future and to a place she held dear to her heart, Cherub sighed with heartfelt relief as she walked into her chamber on the uppermost floor of her home overlooking Angel Bay. ’Twould be just the two of them here in her keep high on the cliffs until they needed to return once again to the past and to his brothers.
She worked the back stays of her gown loose then wriggled the cream silk down past her hips and to the floor. She folded her gown on top of the elegant royal-blue padded wingback chair she’d purchased in the nineteen-hundreds. This modest castle was filled with treasures she’d collected over the centuries, a home she would now gladly share with her mate. Aye, never again would she be alone.
Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers Book 3) Page 12
