Tall, Dark, and Medieval

by Barbara Devlin

As if a bird high in the sky had swooped down and scooped her up, large silver talons gently wrapped around her body and drew her up into a scaled chest. “’Tis a fine day for flying, aye?” Conall jested as Effie sobbed and shook uncontrollably into his shiny silver-gray scales. Her arms clenched around his chest, holding on for dear life. She knew she was safe with Conall.

  ~~~~~

  With a few hefty pumps of his wings, Conall caught the wind and flew them back up to the battlements. He didn’t want to think about how he almost hadn’t made it to Effie on time. His life had stood still as he’d watched the love of his life falling from the tower and rapidly plunging to her death. Never in his life had he felt as helpless as he did standing there frozen, not able to move from the horrid scene. Thank the gods that be that his dragon instincts seized the moment, taking flight and aiming for Effie without hesitation.

  As soon as he took flight, Caden was right there with him. It seemed as though he owed this stranger for helping him defeat the odds, yet there were questions that needed answering, like how in the hell he ended up in the Maxwell dungeon, and why he had been keeping his dragon a secret. In due time he would find out his cellmate’s past. Right now he wanted to focus on the lass cuddled next to him.

  “Are ye alright?”

  Conall began to worry, Effie was quiet. Almost falling to one’s death would leave one in a wee bit of shock. Her cold frame pressed into his scales and confirmed his fear; she was going into shock.

  “Effie, love, stay with me and focus on me voice. Ye’re goin` to be ok; I’ve got ye. By the way, a grown woman should know better than to stand too close to the edge of the battlement walls,” he jested, trying to make her smile or at least swat at him so he would know she was alright. On the contrary his attempt was failing as she shuddered against his talons.

  Banking to the right, Conall flew in with a soft landing, careful not to jostle the fine piece of cargo he carried. He steadied Effie on her feet. Conall had to know what had happened and where Tavish had run off to. But his curiosity was appeased as he saw Tavish lying on the ground face up in a pool of blood with a dagger in his hands. The bastard had gotten what he deserved, yet he wished he was the one carrying the burden and not Effie.

  Transforming back into his naked human form, he wrapped Effie up in his arms and held her as Caden made his landing a few feet behind them, still in dragon form. “Lass, talk to me. I need to know ye fare well.”

  With her back facing her brother’s body, she asked, “Is... he...” Effie’s voice was a mere whisper and trailed off.

  “Dead?”

  “Aye.”

  She looked up at Conall and her forest-green eyes pinned his heart, causing it to shatter into pieces. “I killed me brother?”

  “Nay, ye defended yerself. Dinnae allow him to make ye feel guilty. He was going to kill ye. I saw him push ye off the edge of the battlements.”

  “And ye,” she took his face in her shaking hands, “ye saved me.” Tears streamed down her freckled cheeks. “Ye saved me.”

  “Och, lass, we still have a wedding to plan and I surely can no’ do that on me own.” He smiled down at her.

  For a brief moment she smiled, however it was replaced by despair. Stepping out from his embrace, she shook her head and said, “Conall, I’m already married to Sir Henry. I had to... Tavish--”

  “I do no’ blame ye, lass.” Conall’s jaw ticked and tightened as he thought about his Effie married to another man. “I do believe ye said aye to me first. And I do recall,” he leaned toward her until his lips brushed against her ear, “we sealed the deal, we made love.”

  As he straightened up, he forged ahead. “I would bet my dragon on it that Sir Henry will no longer show his face around here after seeing four massive dragons. He’s probably annulling the marriage as we speak as long ye didnae, ye know.” Conall couldn’t bring himself to say it, although she would have had no say so in the matter, it was not like she could have fought off a six-foot tall knight when he wanted to bed his wife on their wedding day.

  “Nay.”

  “Good thing, lass. Ye have nothing to worry about.”

  “No’ true, Conall, before I stabbed Tavish, he told me that he was me father’s bastart child and I was the rightful heir to take me father’s place as clan chief. That’s why he killed me father and planned to marry me off, send me far away from Scotland so I’d never find out.”

  “So he did all of this to secure his place as clan chief?”

  “Aye.”

  Conall pulled Effie back into his arms. “We have time, we’ll figure this oot together, understand?” He pulled her away to look deep into her eyes. “Together.”

  “Together.” She smiled.

  Bending his head down, he took her head in his hands, captured her lips and kissed her feverishly.

  The rain stopped as Conall’s soul settled and the wind died down to a breeze, yet the clouds remained gray. Long red hair whipped in the air, wrapping around him like soft silk, filling his senses with her sweet honey scent. The woman in his arms was his world and he would die defending her. He just wished he could have saved her sooner.

  Effie’s body went deadly limp in his arms and he heard a thump. He broke the kiss as she slipped deeper into his embrace. She looked at him confused, as her brows furrowed in pain. “Conall?”

  Slipping his hands around her limp body, holding her up, his hand grazed a hard object protruding from her back. Her dress was wet and when he pulled his hand away it was covered in blood. “Effie, nay!” Conall dropped to the ground with Effie in his arms. She had been stabbed.

  A snicker of pure evil brought his attention to Tavish as he laughed and coughed up blood. “X marks the whore. She deserves to die.” With one last breath and an undying will for revenge, Tavish had taken the dirk from his chest and flung it into her back.

  Gently Conall laid Effie down on her side and strode over to Tavish like an animal ready to go in for the fatal blow. Bending down he grabbed the bastard by his neck until he was hanging in the air. “I will take great pleasure in killing ye for everything ye put yer sister through. Forever may ye rot in Hell.” Conall squeezed until he heard vertebrae crack and pop, and saw the bastard’s eyes bulging from their sockets. When he felt Tavish’s body jerk for the last time, he released his grip allowing the bastard to crumple to the ground.

  Effie coughed, bringing Conall’s attention back to her. He ran to the wounded lass lying on the wet ground and scooped her up, cradling her in his arms. “Effie, stay with me.”

  At that moment James and Rory flew in, hitting the ground in their naked human form.

  “Conall, what happened and who’s this?” James asked and pointed to Caden.

  Caden growled at the rude tone in James’s voice.

  “I dinnae have time to answer. Effie is wounded and I’m losing her,” Conall said.

  James walked over and stood behind Conall, witnessing the severity of Effie’s condition. “The lass needs to see Abigale. And fast.”

  “Aye.”

  “And whatever ye do, do not remove that blade until me wife has seen her. If anyone can heal her, it’s Abigale.”

  Conall laid Effie back down. Time was of the essence, he had to shift and make it back to Black Stone in record time. As Conall shifted, the three Dragonkine warriors looked down upon Conall’s fallen mate and their hearts ached for their brother. Just as if it were a wounded Dragonkine, a wounded mate hurt them just as bad.

  Careful not to inflict more pain than she was already in, Conall lifted Effie up in his talons and drew her up into his chest. He hoped that she would make it through the flight home.

  “Conall.” She swallowed hard.

  “Dinnae talk, my sweet. I’m taking ye home to see Abigale,” Conall said through mind speak.

  “Maggie, I can no’ leave Maggie behind,” she replied without saying a word.

  “Caden, find Maggie and bring her to Black Stone,” Conall demanded.

  Caden stood th
ere not sure what to do. He didn’t belong at Black Stone and furthermore he didn’t need a lass in his arms.

  “Caden, Effie said she needs our help. Maggie is in Effie’s bedchamber above the gatehouse. Go. Now!”

  James crossed his arms across his chest. “We’ll wait here for ye. Oh and ye might want to cover yerself. No need in frightening the lass.”

  Rory smirked as he threw a pair of trews at Caden.

  “God speed, my friend,” James said as Conall left the battlements.

  Taking to the sky, Conall left his brethren and headed to Black Stone, pleading to the heavens above that they would make it in time. Losing Effie was not an option. “Stay with me, my love.”

  ~~~~~

  Hopping on one foot while he slipped on his trews, Caden blasted himself a thousand times a fool for agreeing to bring Maggie to Black Stone. Then again he didn’t quite remember agreeing to such a task. Nay, what he should have done was kept to the sky and flown his arse far away from here and the Dragonkine warriors. Yet his wings found themselves following Conall.

  He didn’t understand why he felt the pull to help his kind. Perhaps blood ran deep and overran logic, or mayhap it was honor that drove him to stay with his kind. Nay, he had lost his honor decades ago. Whatever it may be, he was already enroute to find the lass and there was no going back.

  Dodging and weaving through the crowds of people, Caden had no idea where to find the lass. If his instincts held true and his memory hadn’t failed him, she should be above the gatehouse in a chamber. That was where the lord and lady retired for the night along with their family.

  As he ran across the battlements he met a group of men who were either drunk or feeling a wee bit too brave. They advanced on Caden, snarling and seething with their swords jabbing at him, telling him that he should not pass. Caden took a step back. He rolled his eyes in irritation and pure disgust. Did these men really think they were going to kill him?

  Looking down from the battlements, he noticed that the lower balcony was less occupied. Caden took a few more steps back giving him more distance between himself and the fools in front of him. In a flash Caden hopped up on the battlement wall and jumped off, landing with a thud on the lower balcony. As the men peered down wondering where their enemy had gone, the blond warrior looked up and shot them a kind finger, expressing how much he had enjoyed their time together.

  With God speed, Caden took off down the long open corridor until he reached a window. Needing to get away from the chaos surrounding him, he thought it to be a good idea to hide. Quickly he slipped in through the window, barely fitting, and falling to the ground.

  Regaining his feet, he dusted his trews and finally was able to take a breath, when a water pitcher flew across the room and bashed him in the head.

  “What the hell!” Caden yelled and felt the urge to rip the fool’s head off for hitting him.

  “Get oot or I swear I’ll scream!” A soft voice trailed off.

  He turned and scowled at his assailant. The air seized in his lungs and he forgot about wanting to harm anyone. The lass lay in bed with a candlestick in her hands as if she was warning him not to take another step closer.

  “Ye be Maggie?”

  “Why do ye want to know?” God’s teeth, the softness of her voice washed over him like a cool morning breeze.

  “Effie sent me. I’m here to bring ye to Black Stone.” Somehow his feet were moving of their own even though he demanded them to stay grounded. He reached the lass’s bedside; all the while she captivated him, pulling him in as if she had bewitched him.

  “I will no’ go.” The lass crossed her arms over her chest and winced as if she was in pain.

  “I’m sorry but ye have no choice, nor do we have time to argue aboot it.”

  Caden was bending over to scoop Maggie up when a bony knee connected with his sacred parts.

  “Christ, woman!” Caden backed away. Bent over, he held his ballocks.

  “I warned ye to stay away.”

  Caden quickly did the one, two count and aye, everything was in place. For a moment he rested his hands on his knees until the throbbing ceased and the bile settled in his gut.

  Looking up at the lass, he smiled. Maggie was a fighter and feisty to boot. He liked that, but alas, this only made the task more difficult than it should be. Why had he got himself involved? He should have flown off as soon as the opportunity allowed. Too late now.

  Slowly with his hands up in retreat he began to approach the lass again. “I’m no’ here to hurt ye. I promise.”

  “How do I know I can trust ye? I dinnae even know ye,” Maggie said.

  “Here.” He extended his hand. “We’ll start over. Hi, my lady, me name is Caden.” Sincerely he stood, holding his hand out to Maggie.

  Hesitantly, she held her hand out. “Maggie.”

  Caden smiled and took her shaking hand in his. “I’m sorry to have to do this but ye leave me no choice.” Before Maggie could pull away, Caden unleashed his sleep magic and the lass went limp and fell back into the bed before she had a chance to protest.

  Holding her body close to his as he picked her up, Caden was in more trouble than he could have ever known. This raven-haired lass was exquisite.

  HIGHLAND STORM

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Conall busted through the door of Black Stone as if he was breaking into the enemy’s stronghold. Holding Effie in his arms, he called out for help. The flight had been short, yet every second felt like an eternity. Her breathing was shallow and heavy and the blood poured from her tiny frame, covering his hands, arms, and chest. There was so much blood.

  Alice stepped out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. To her surprise Conall was back home, yet things looked as if they had taken a wrong turn. She raced over to him to greet him, but halted as James, Rory, Caden and Maggie followed behind him.

  “Abigale!” James called out. “Where are ye, lass?”

  Rushing as fast as her feet could carry her, Abigale reached the top of the staircase. She had already seen the dragons fly in from the window of her bedchamber and was beyond happy to see her husband arrive safely home.

  She stopped short as horror consumed her when she saw Conall holding Effie’s bloodied body and another man holding a woman in his arms. Not to mention there were four naked Highlanders in her great hall.

  Conall raced to the end of the staircase before Abigale could make her way to him. “James, what happened?” she said. Her brows furrowed as she began to examine the dagger protruding from Effie’s back. “Oh dear merciful heavens!”

  Wrapping his plaid around his waist, James met Abigale at the stairs. “Love, I’ll explain everything as soon as I can, but right now Effie needs ye.”

  “Please, Abigale, ye must save her,” Conall pleaded and choked back the tears that began to form. He tamped down the gut-gnawing reality that he was too late to save his Effie. “Please.”

  “Of course, Conall. Ye know I’ll do everything in me power to save her.” Abigale placed her hand on Conall’s arm and squeezed, reassuring him.

  “Alice!” Abigale called out and before she could relay her command for hot water, cloths, and her herb satchel, Alice had bustled off to fetch the items.

  “Conall, take Effie to her bedchamber, I’ll be right behind ye.”

  Quickly Abigale moved out of the way, for Conall was going to knock down anything or anyone who got in his way. He held his world in his arms and he was going to make damn sure they would have eternity together, and no one, not even God was going to take that away from him. Not again.

  “And the woman?” Abigale pointed to the blond naked Highlander carrying a young lass in his arms.

  “I put her under sleep magic, but she seems to be in pain,” Caden said.

  “Rory, help find her a bedchamber and I will be there as soon as I can,” Abigale called over her shoulder as she climbed the stairs and made her way to Effie’s chamber. James followed close behind her, making sure that in he
r very pregnant state that she didn’t take a tumble down the stairs.

  “Aye,” Rory confirmed and led Caden down a long corridor past the kitchen.

  “Ye never cease to amaze me, my beautiful angel,” James called out to his wife.

  “What?”

  “How ye stay so calm and know exactly what to do.”

  She turned and faced her husband as she reached the top of the staircase. James was two steps behind her, leaving him at the exact same height as Abigale. “’Tis just like ye’re on the battlefield. Ye know exactly what plan of attack to make in order to secure victory.”

  James looked down at her swollen belly. “Yet, ye save lives while I take them away.”

  Abigale cupped his face and held his swirling amber eyes. “James Douglas, ye’re the most amazing man I’ve ever known and ye’ll make a fine da. I love ye.” She kissed his lips quickly. “Now, Effie needs me. I must hurry.” Abigale turned on her heels and quickened her step to Effie’s chamber.

  The door to the bedchamber was wide open and Conall had laid Effie on the bed on her stomach. Abigale approached Effie. She was unconscious and her breathing was shallow, and blood stained the back of her dress. “I need her dress off.”

  With one flick, Conall extended a talon and carefully sliced the fabric away. God’s wounds! He would have traded places with the lass if he could. The dagger was deep and close to her spine. Being a warrior on the battlefield, he’d seen wounds like this before more than a few times in his long existence and the outcome had always been grim.

  As Abigale took over, he watched the chamber spin slowly out of focus, words blended into whispered mutters, and sweat exuded from his pores. Conall raked a hand through his mess of brown hair, blinking his eyes, straining to focus. His dragon paced and howled inside him, mourning their mate.

  He swayed and lost his balance as his legs buckled. He was going down.

  “James!” Abigale called out as she saw Conall staggering. “Conall’s passing oot!”

  With urgency, James crossed the room and grabbed his friend from behind before he hit the ground. “Och, my friend, let’s wait outside. Effie’s in good hands. And we need to fetch ye some clothes.”