My Highlander

by Terry Spear

  “You dinna believe Cormac, do you?” Quinn pulled off his shirt and then took Avelina in his arms.

  “Nay, what do you take me for? Your brother took over when your da died. He had everything to gain. Do you believe he killed your da? And then planned to pin the murder on you?”

  “Or someone else told him I had done it. But I was nowhere near my da when it happened.”

  “That’s what Liam said. He is your witness. Like he said though, we need to find anyone who saw what really happened. But for now, I want you.”

  He kissed her mouth and then pulled away. “As long as—”

  “I believe in you.” She pressed her mouth against his. “Always.”

  He slid her hands over her chemise-covered breasts. “I love you.”

  “Oh, Quinn, I love you.” She ran her hands up his bare chest. “You’re so braw. And we’ll learn the truth. I’m so sorry.”

  Then she kissed him back, their tongues tangling, her fingers sweeping over his nipples. He pulled her chemise over her head and tossed it on top of the rest of their clothes. He lifted her, wrapping her legs around his hips, and carried her to bed.

  They needed to talk, but she needed this more right now. The connection between them, the love…she couldn’t believe how rotten his brother could be, and Quinn needed to know that she and the others in her clan believed in him.

  He laid her in the bed, then covered her with his body. “I worried that Liam was telling you and your da that I killed my da—”

  “None of us believed it, Liam either, because he is your witness. But he had to learn if you were alive first before he did anything.”

  Quinn frowned at her. “He canna do anything. If he speaks out against my brother, he’s as good as dead.”

  “I have an idea. What if when your brother’s ship returns, he stays with us? That way he can be safe and you can see him. He can go with you to back you against your brother. He can say he’s waiting for my da to take me to Cormac’s keep. We’ll have to get my da to agree, but I think it would work, dinna you?”

  “Aye. I’d much rather he stays here than get himself killed if he tried to defend me in front of the clan. He isna leaving any time soon, is he?”

  “Your brother wanted him to return with his bride as soon as they could set sail again.”

  “All right.”

  “Go, tell the guards.”

  He snorted. “I wouldna leave you for any other reason at a time like this”—he caressed her breast—“unless we were in the middle of a battle.” He moved off her and covered her with the blanket, kissed her smiling mouth, and then wrapped his plaid around himself before going to the door.

  When he opened it, Dar said, “Aye?”

  “Can you send word to ask Baudwin if he’ll allow Liam to stay here while the chief ‘makes preparations’ to escort his daughter to wed Cormac?”

  Dar glanced at Fagin. “You’ll be all right by yourself, protecting them?”

  “Aye.”

  “I’ll be right back then.” Dar hurried off.

  Quinn thanked him and then shut and bolted the door. He yanked off his plaid and pulled aside the blanket before climbing on top of Avelina again, warming her.

  And then there was no more time for anything but kissing and touching. He nuzzled her face with his. She swept her hands down his back, loving the silky feel of his skin, though she also felt old wounds in several places.

  He began kissing her mouth, his hand sweeping down between her legs. And then he began stroking her. She loved the way he made her feel hot and needy. She moved against him, wanting him to stroke her faster, harder, and he did, as if he knew from her body language just what she needed.

  He began kissing a breast, suckling, making her heart race. Then he inserted two fingers and pushed as deep as he could into her and the climax hit her hard. His mouth covered hers in the next instant, kissing her, tonguing her.

  “Aww,” she moaned against his mouth, feeling her world coming apart in his hands. He lowered his mouth to her breast and licked her nipple. “Aye, oh, aye.” She ran her fingers through his hair and arched against him. She felt like she was flying through the clouds and cried out his name.

  He centered on her and thrust home. Quinn loved Avelina, the way she wanted him, just as much as he wanted her. She was so receptive, so willing.

  He kissed her mouth, and she opened it to take him in. Their tongues caressed, and he tasted the honeyed mead she’d had with her meal. “Hmm,” she murmured against his mouth.

  “Aww, lassie.” Then he was thrusting harder, faster, deeper. She wrapped her legs around his and he dove even deeper. He couldn’t believe her hot moves that sent him right over the edge, luxuriating in the feel of her wrapped around his staff until he came. He finally pulled out and moved off her. “You are a wonder.” He pulled her into his arms and kept her against his chest, stroking her long hair.

  They heard Wolf chasing something in his dreams underneath their bed, and Quinn was glad the wolf hadn’t charged out to protect her this time when Quinn was making love to her.

  “I love you, my unbeatable warrior,” Avelina said.

  Before Quinn could respond, someone banged on the door and Avelina moved off him so he could see who it was. He left the bed and grabbed his plaid, then wrapped it around himself, and stalked to the door.

  “Aye?” she called out.

  No one answered.

  Avelina was out of the bed in a flash and grabbing her chemise. Quinn dressed, belted his sword, then helped her finish dressing.

  She whispered, “We’ll use the secret passageways. They run throughout the castle.”

  He grabbed a candle.

  Someone banged on the door again, but Avelina belted her own sword, and then led Quinn into the hidden passageway. They didn’t speak, and he was glad she knew where she was going as many twists and turns as she made.

  “We’re going to my da’s chamber,” she whispered. “He’ll have guards posted there too, even though your brother’s men will be quartered in the barracks in the outer bailey.”

  “Are you sure whoever was at the door wasna just your guardsman?” Quinn hadn’t called out to ask because it didn’t seem right that someone hadn’t identified themselves, and he hadn’t wanted to let on that he was there, if the wrong person was at the door.

  “They would have announced who they were. My maids do. The guards would. Anyone does who bangs on the door. But especially when we had guards posted to protect us.”

  They reached her da’s chamber after what seemed like a long time, and then she gently pushed open the secret door, but Quinn moved around her to protect her. The bed hangings had been pulled aside, but no one was in bed. A fire was crackling at the hearth, but the chamber was quiet otherwise.

  “He’s no’ here,” she whispered.

  Quinn moved around the chamber, checking it further, just to make sure her da wasn’t unconscious in the room, or someone wasn’t hiding in there, but it was clear. He shook his head.

  She started to walk toward the door, but he quickly bypassed her, then paused at the door and listened.

  He drew his sword, and he heard Avelina pull hers from its sheath. Then he slowly opened the door, and saw two of Baudwin’s men standing guard, both of whom turned, swords drawn.

  “Just us,” Avelina said. “Where is the chief?”

  “He went to see Liam,” Padruig said, furrowing his brow to see them in her da’s room. “What are you doing in there?”

  She frowned at Padruig. “Why didna you go with him?”

  “He ordered us to safeguard his chamber, and he took a half dozen other men with him. He was bringing Liam back to his solar to speak with him. I didna think you were in his chamber,” Padruig said.

  “Someone was pounding on my chamber door, but didna identify himself,” Avelina said. “Dar gave my da the message about Liam. Fagin was still guarding my door.”

  “We would check it out, but we canna leave your da’s cha
mber unguarded.”

  “No worries. As long as Da is safe, we’ll just wait for him in his chamber.”

  “Aye.”

  She shut the door and she sheathed her sword and took the candle. “Come on. I’ll see if I can learn who all is there.”

  “Nay. I dinna want you coming to harm.”

  “You will protect me. Your sword is bigger than mine. Both of them are.”

  He smiled at her. She never ceased to amaze him.

  He was glad she knew the way because, as much as he tried to remember the different paths she took, they were all…different. “You must have spent a lot of time playing in the secret passageways,” he whispered to her.

  “Aye. Da and my uncle encouraged it, though the two of them had to come searching for us a few times when we got hopelessly lost. We were brave. We didna ever cry, knowing we’d give away the secret of the hidden passageways. Hamish is the only other person who knew about them. We’ll be coming out in a chamber that is set aside for guests. Your men will all be in the barracks, including Liam. We’ll have to go up the stairs to reach my chamber.”

  “I’ll go first.” He opened the hidden passageway door and moved through the empty chamber. Then he listened at the door that opened to the hall.

  He heard a man say, “I willna ask you again to tell Avelina she needs to speak to her da.”

  “You canna force me to get her to open the door. Why do you think I’m here guarding her chamber?” Fagin asked.

  Quinn looked back to see Avelina shutting the door to the hidden passageway. “Trouble. One of my brother’s men is threatening Fagin to open the door.”

  “How many are there?” she whispered.

  “Just kill him and be done with it,” another man said.

  “Two.” At least. Quinn carefully opened the door, then rushed out of the chamber and up the stairs, hoping Avelina would stay in the guest chamber for her protection, but she was right behind him. If the men rushed down to meet him, they’d have the advantage because he wouldn’t be able to swing his sword at his opponent.

  “Can you use my sword?” Avelina whispered.

  He shook his head, not even wanting her to follow him up the stairs, but he would be above her, protecting her. He made the landing and saw Accalon, his sword at Fagin’s throat. In that instant, Fagin saw Quinn rushing to fight Accalon. Quinn’s brother’s man, Banquo, turned to see who was coming and gasped.

  “I told you he was here,” Accalon said, his voice angry, but worried at the same time. “I knew he hadna died, and that the woman hadna lied.”

  The man knew not to take Quinn on in a swordfight, but for this, Quinn needed his dagger. He threw it with deadly aim, and struck Accalon down, just as he had the mercenary earlier. Black-hearted Banquo was behind him. Before he could attack Fagin, the guard grabbed Accalon’s sword and slashed at Banquo. Fagin was so furious the men had gotten the best of him and threatened to kill him, he drove the man back. Banquo lost the battle with the enraged guard who struck him in the chest with a fatal blow.

  “Were there just the two of them?” Quinn asked.

  “Aye.” But Fagin was staring at the man Quinn had killed. “Just like the mon we found in the bog.”

  “Aye.”

  “You must teach me how to do that.”

  “I will. What in God’s wounds did they intend to do?” Quinn asked.

  “Take Avelina with them. When Baudwin said he would bring her, they knew Cormac would be angry with them for returning home without her. They wanted me to get her to open the door. But then they would have seen you.”

  “Which they did anyway. Thank you for protecting Avelina.”

  “Are more of them roaming about the castle? I thought they would have been moved to the barracks,” Avelina said.

  “They were supposed to have been, but that’s why your da had guards posted here, at your chambers, at his, and at your cousin’s. Just in case of trouble.”

  “Is Fenella all right? What if they’ve taken her?”

  “They were no’ supposed to take her, but—” Fagin said.

  Someone was coming up the stairs, and Quinn pulled Avelina behind him. The door to Avelina’s chamber was still barred from the inside. They couldn’t get in that way or he would have pushed her inside and had her bolt the door.

  The two men acted as a barrier, but it was just Dar. He looked down at the dead men, and then at Quinn and Fagin. “You were no’ supposed to kill anyone before I returned. Where did they come from?” As if he’d truly wanted them to wait for him to kill the men.

  “They must have slipped off from the rest of their group when the other men were escorted to the barracks,” Fagin said. “Do you know them? More mercenaries? None of your kin, I hope,” he said to Quinn.

  “Some of the men who pledged loyalty to my brother. None that are directly related to me or my brother. That will mean two less to have to deal with later. But someone will have to ensure that all the rest of his men are quartered in the barracks. These two were armed also. They were supposed to be disarmed, I thought,” Quinn said.

  “They had been. But these two somehow slipped by our men,” Fagin said.

  “I told Baudwin what you asked me to say. He said he’d speak with Liam. But this could change everything,” Dar said.

  “We’re going to Fenella’s chamber. I want to make sure she’s all right.” Avelina waited for the men to agree.

  “We’ll accompany you and inspect your chamber upon your return,” Dar said, then they headed for the stairs and down to Fenella’s chamber. “We’ll take care of the other men too.”

  They heard several people rushing around down below and a woman cried out.

  “Avelina, I want you to return to the guest chamber and bolt the door,” Quinn said.

  A lad rushed up the stairs, clutching a wooden sword in his hand, his face red with exertion.

  “They stabbed Gwyneth. Can Avelina save her?” the lad asked.

  “If there is fighting going on—” Quinn said, holding his wife back so she wouldn’t rush down the stairs to help the woman.

  “Nay, the guards are there. But the two men…” The lad eyed Avelina. “They were going to your chamber.”

  “They are dead,” Quinn said.

  Dar hurried down the stairs to check out the situation, two more guards running to meet up with them.

  “Tell us what you know,” Quinn said, heading down the stairs with the boy, his sword readied.

  Avelina followed them down the steps.

  They found a maid bleeding from a knife wound, clutching her stomach, groaning as she lay in the rushes on the stone floor.

  “Those two men from the ship, they were kissing her and…” The lad’s cheeks turned rosy. “I…I watched. But it was a good thing I did ‘cuz they gave her coin and then she fetched their swords. I was well-hidden from them, but I wanted to run and get the guards. I stayed put instead. I…” He glanced down at Gwyneth as Avelina tried to stem the bleeding with rags that another couple of women brought her. “The one drew back his sword, and I knew he was going to kill Gwyneth. I clasped my mouth before I let out a cry that would’ve alerted them that I saw everything. They even took the coin back from her.”

  “Then you went for the guards,” Quinn assumed.

  “Aye, but not until I had to deal with more of those men. They asked where I was going so late at night and in such a hurry.” The boy held up his wooden sword. “I told them I was a guard-in-training, and I was supposed to be at my post already, but my mother made me do chores. They just laughed.”

  “You did well,” Quinn said. “You will make a fine guard someday.” He turned to Avelina. “How is she?”

  Avelina shook her head. “She is alive, but barely. Still, we may save her yet.”

  Baudwin joined them. “And then she’ll be banished. We dinna allow traitors in our midst. What about the men who did this?”

  “Dead. What about Liam?” Quinn asked, sure that he had nothing to do with
the men coming for Avelina.

  “I spoke to him about staying with us until I was ready to escort my daughter to see Cormac. Liam would then come with us. I didna mention you were with us in the event he was leaving with Cormac’s men.”

  “What did he say to that?” Quinn asked.

  “He would give me his decision on the morrow. Considering all that has happened here tonight, they must return to their ship now. They can sail home at first tide. As far as Liam is concerned, he can remain in the barracks, unarmed and under guard, if he so chooses to stay with us. If he does, then you can let him know you are here.”

  “Aye.”

  The healer arrived and would take care of the woman the best she could.

  Avelina’s da issued orders, rallying several more guards to escort Cormac’s men back to their ship. “Take Gwyneth with you,” Baudwin said to some of his men.

  Several men were carrying the dead men down the stairs, and others were cleaning up the mess.

  Fagin explained to Baudwin, and the others who had gathered to help, just what had happened.

  “Take the men’s bodies to Cormac’s men. They can carry them to the ship. That will keep them from causing mischief.” Baudwin said to Quinn, “We have this well in hand. Take my daughter back to her chamber and protect her there. “ Baudwin hugged Avelina and kissed her forehead. Then he slapped Quinn on the back. “Get some sleep.”

  “Aye,” Quinn said.

  Dar escorted Avelina and Quinn to Fenella’s chamber and knocked.

  Fenella opened the door to him. Looking half asleep, she frowned at Quinn and Avelina. “What’s going on?”

  “We need to return to my chamber,” Avelina said, and they walked into her room. Quinn bolted her door for her.

  Fenella arched a brow.

  “We’ll explain later.”

  Fenella saw the blood on Avelina’s hands and her jaw dropped.

  “All right, we’ll explain now.” Avelina gave her a brief explanation of what had occurred, including why they needed to go through Fenella’s chamber to reach her own. She washed up in the basin, dried off, and then they hugged each other. “Stay safe.”