by Victoria Zak
“Hold yer tongue,” Rafe warned.
“I will not stand by and watch the Mad Dog return when she rips yer heart out.”
Rafe paused. He knew what troubled Teg. Hell, it haunted him as well.
The night Rafe had gone rogue and murdered the wolf hunters was still a fresh memory for Teg. His brother had witnessed it all, the bloodshed and his ultimate fall from grace. Aye, Teg had carried the burden of being the Mad Dog’s brother.
“Brother.” Rafe clasped the back of Teg’s neck. “I cannot begin to understand what ye’ve been through because of me. I am truly sorry, but I’m not the same wolf I once was. Trust in me. I will never do anything to harm ye or the pack. I love Adaira, and if the devil stood in my way, I’d battle him to the death if it meant keeping her safe.”
Teg straightened. “Is she worth losing yer life for?”
“Aye.”
It was apparent this wasn’t easy for Teg to accept. “Ye have my loyalty. I will not say a word.”
Rafe pulled Teg into a hug. “I’ve never doubted ye, Brother.”
“Aye.” Teg pulled out of his embrace. “What’s the plan?”
“We’re returning to Dornoch so Adaira can clear her sister’s name.”
“That’s madness,” Teg exclaimed. “Cormag will kill her before dawn.”
“Not if I can help it.”
“I don’t like the sound of this.”
“’Tis the only way Adaira can find out who murdered Beathen.”
“Do ye believe the girls are innocent?”
Rafe averted his gaze.
“Brother? What are ye not telling me?”
“Adaira was with me the night of the murders. She claims Masie saw Leana with Beathen and another lad. There were puncture wounds on their necks.”
“Shite.”
“Adaira believes Leana is innocent, but she has to prove it to Cormag.”
“Bringing Adaira back to Dornoch is too risky. Cormag is sick with
revenge. He’ll make her pay whether she’s guilty or not. Have ye another plan?”
“Nay. However, Doughall and Cormag were close. The laird cannot do anything rash since she’s a Keith. My plan is to get Adaira to the blacksmith shop quickly so she can search for clues, then take her far away from Dornoch.”
“What if ye’re caught?”
Rafe grinned. “Ye worry too much.”
“Ye don’t worry enough.”
Rafe rolled his eyes.
“What?” Teg asked.
“Where were ye?”
Teg shifted on his feet. “I picked up an unusual scent back at camp. I followed it to the glen. It was unlike anything I’ve smelled before. It was sweet, yet foul.”
Rafe’s heart skipped a beat. “Sweet and foul?”
“Aye”
“Where did the scent lead ye?”
Teg shoved his hands through his hair as he continued. “That’s just it, I don’t remember.”
“What do ye mean ye don’t remember?”
“One moment I was running through the woods, the next I woke up inside a cottage with bandaged ribs.” Teg pulled up his shirt. “I believe I was being chased, but cannot remember a thing except for that scent.”
“So, ye weren’t tracking Leana?”
“Nay. I thought it was her at first, but it wasn’t.”
If Rafe’s instincts were right, the smell Teg described sounded like fae.
“Teg, don’t hunt alone. There’s fae trickery here.”
“The fae?”
“Aye. They’re after Adaira.”
“Holy hell, Brother. What have ye brought upon us? First Cormag, now the fae.”
Rafe’s jaw tightened as he thought about the fae hurting his brother. “Just be on guard.”
“Aye.”
Rafe headed back into the cave with a heavy heart. The queen had found Adaira.
11
QUEEN GALANTHUS SAT on her throne made of twisted blackthorn branches.
Lost in deep thought, she stared into the flames burning inside a shallow iron bowl hanging from the ceiling. The Keith girls had deceived her and broken their blood oath with her when they left. However, since her blood now flowed in their veins, they couldn’t hide forever.
She’d been well-advised of the sisters’ whereabouts and called forth brutal winter storms in the hope of slowing their escape. But her efforts were for nothing. They were more resourceful than she’d given them credit for.
“They’ll be back.”
She stood and walked over to the window where a basket of snowdrop blossoms hung. She waved her hand over the bell-shaped flowers and they began to glow. Energy flowed from her fingertips to the petals and down their narrow leaves. She picked one.
The snowdrop was the only flower that grew in the winter. It was resilient yet delicate—pure like fallen snow, just like her Masie. She gripped the petals. “Masie, come home.” She clutched the snowdrop tighter, inflicting pain on Masie. Wherever she was, she’d feel pain beyond compare.
She opened her hand and watched the crumbled remnants of the flower float through the air. To her surprise, the blossom took its shape again before hitting the ground. Something was blocking her magic. She picked the flower up and examined it closely.
The doors to her chamber flew open and she turned to see one of her dark princes approaching her with haste. “My queen.”
His sudden interruption wasn’t welcomed. The queen glared at him. She
needn’t say a word; her servants were forbidden to enter unbidden. “Ye’ll address yer queen properly.” Galanthus deepened her stare. Unwillingly, the prince fell to his knees and bowed his head.
“Forgive me, yer majesty.”
“Ash.” She ran her fingers through his long, black hair. “My son, my orders were to bring Adaira to me. What happened?”
He stared at the ground. “She outran me.”
The queen laughed. “Ye dare lie to me, child?” She yanked his head back so she could look him in the eyes. “I see everything.”
“I was called back before I found her, my queen. I thought ye had sent for me.”
She released him. “I did no such thing.”
She returned to her throne and tapped her fingernails on the wood, deep in thought. First, someone was blocking her magic, and now, someone had summoned her prince home without her permission.
Startled from her thoughts, she stood and watched as her other two princes dragged a woman into her chambers. “My queen.” They bowed their heads.
Her blood boiled when she realized who her servants had captured.
“We found her in the glen.”
“Alder, Aspen.” She nodded in appreciation. “My sons, ye have brought me a treasure. Ash, ye may join yer brothers.”
The three princes stood shoulder-to-shoulder as the queen studied them.
They were beautiful creatures, the finest Unseelies she had ever seen. She loved them as her own children. The princes guarded her kingdom, and for that, they were considered trusted advisors.
She turned her attention to the woman. “All these years I thought ye were dead, Sister.”
“I’m no’ dead.”
“That’s obvious. What brings ye here? Have ye missed me?” The queen smirked.
“I’ve come to make sure ye will never harm my daughters again.”
“Dearest sister, ye were forever the dreamer.” She laughed. “And how will ye accomplish such a bold task?”
“Take me. I’ll do yer bidding. In return, ye’ll leave me daughters alone.”
The queen considered her sister’s offer. “A blood oath can never be broken. The deal was made. Doughall is dead. I just happened to gain three
lives for the price of one. Mayhap, ye should have been a better mother to them.”
“They were wee ones. Ye took advantage of their innocence,” Helen cried.
“They wanted to change their fates and I helped them like a good aunt would.”
“Galanth
us, how did ye become so cruel?”
The queen grabbed Helen’s chin. “When ye stole Doughall’s heart.”
“It was no’ me fault. He kidnapped me on me wedding day. I didnae love him. The only good thing that came out of our marriage were me daughters. I should have left Doughall long before me girls sought ye out.”
“Do ye expect me to show ye pity? Before Doughall set eyes on ye, he loved me. Ye ruined everything.” The queen studied her sister, remembering her own youth. “I was once like ye, Sister.” She ran her fingers through Helen’s hair, thinking how much Leana looked like her mother. “I was a kind, loving Seelie fae who was good at heart.”
“Galanthus, ye can still be. Redeem yerself. Release me daughters. I’m here to take their place. Please, we were close once. Remember, in the spring when we’d pick wildflowers for Mother?”
Aye, she had been happy once. Frolicking through the glen and dancing around the fairy mounds with her sister were happy memories she’d never let go. Their mother was a beautiful Seelie fae and their father had been an immortal, Pictish warrior, a god to his tribe. She smiled. “Blue flowers were mother’s favorite.”
“Aye. Dinnae ye want to feel the sun warm yer skin again? This dark, Unseelie world is no’ what ye want. Is it?”
The reflection of a happier time faded into blackness. “That was long ago.
Besides, ye don’t know me at all. Ye never really did. Why would I give up the kingdom I’ve built just so I can feel the sun again? I’m the queen and it’s good to be queen.”
“Dinnae let Doughall come between us. He should pay, no’ my daughters.”
“Oh, sweet sister, Doughall has paid dearly already. I am true to my word. As far as yer daughters are concerned, ye should have been honest with them. Keeping their true nature from them is inexcusable. Ye should thank me for unbinding them from yer spell.”
“They are no’ like ye. They are pure.”
“Were. They are forever bound to the dark Unseelies. There’s nothing I can do to change that. The girls will come home and ye’ll see for yerself how much they have changed. Now, what to do about ye.” The queen tapped her chin. “They say to keep yer enemies close. Ye’ll serve me at court until further notice.” The queen turned back to her throne. “Alder,” she called over her shoulder. “Show our guest to her room. She’s to stay there.”
“As ye wish.” Alder bowed.
“Sister, please.”
“Take her away,” the queen exclaimed as she took her seat. The queen’s servants dragged her sister out of the chamber. A smile crept over Galanthus’s lips as Helen begged for mercy. She now had the one thing that would bring the girls home, their mother. Soon, the whole family would be under her control.
12
THE HONOR GUARD reached the gatehouse of Dornoch before sunset. Two of Cormag’s guards met Rafe in the bailey as he dismounted.
“Good evening,” Rafe greeted them.
“The laird is waiting.” One of the officers pushed him toward the cage that held Adaira. Rafe resisted, shoving the bastard back. “Go on. Open it.”
“If ye’re in that much of a hurry, then open the damn cage yerself.” Rafe dangled the key in front of him. When the man refused the key, Rafe glared at him, stepping toe-to-toe with the guard “Are ye afraid?”
The guard looked away. “The laird doesn’t like to wait.”
“Coward.” Rafe spat as he walked toward the cage.
Adaira gave him an encouraging look as he unlocked the door. He wished he could change her mind, all of this was much too risky.
Adaira stepped down. Rafe grabbed her arm and whispered, “Be on yer best behavior, lass.”
She smiled.
Rafe shook his head. May the gods be with him today.
The officers escorted them inside the castle. Rafe’s heart thundered as they entered the great hall where Cormag and his wife were sitting. All his wolf instincts warned him not to do this. His wolf wanted to be released so he could protect his mate.
Adaira bumped him with her shoulder and he looked down at her.
“Dinnae worry yerself.”
Rafe nodded for her sake. However, he wouldn’t rest until they found the real murderer.
Rafe bowed to Cormag. When he realized Adaira was still standing, he tugged her arm and motioned for her to show respect. He glared at her when she refused to do as he wished.
Adaira’s brows creased with anger. “I will no’.”
“Do it,” he bit back.
She rolled her eyes and bowed.
Rafe peered up, making sure the laird hadn’t noticed their exchange. To his surprise, the laird’s attention was on his wife. He gave Adaira a sideways look. “Yer stubbornness is going to get ye killed.”
“Ye need to relax, wolf. I’ve battled far worse demons than this auld goat.”
The laird motioned for everyone to stand. “Commander Rafe,” his voice echoed through the great hall. “Come forward.”
The officers stepped aside as Rafe approached the laird.
“Ye have served me well.”
The laird stood and walked over to Adaira. He backhanded her, sending her to the floor. Rafe stifled a growl and fisted his hands, resisting the urge to rip the laird apart.
Adaira stood, pinning Cormag with a dark stare. Blood trailed down the corner of her mouth where’d she’d been struck.
“Ye and yer sisters have caused me great grief. Me son dinnae deserve to die.”
“Me laird, I’m deeply sorry for yer loss. Beathen was a good man.
However, ye are greatly mistaken. We dinnae kill him.”
“Dinnae dishonor me family with yer lies. I’m no fool. I know what ye are.”
“I would never believe ye a fool, me laird. All I ask is to be treated fairly.
Let me find the real murderer and bring him to justice.”
Cormag laughed. “Why should I trust ye?
“There was a time ye pledged yer loyalty to me father. Ye swore to protect his family—this clan. I am the eldest daughter of the late Laird Doughall Keith. The warrior who fought for our lands.”
“I dinnae need to be reminded. I fought alongside yer father. I paid for this life with sweat and blood on the battlefield.”
“I respect yer loyalty to me father and clan. ‘Tis why I never claimed me father’s seat when he died.”
“Everyone thought ye were dead.” Cormag blew out a frustrated breath.
Adaira stepped closer. “Me sisters and I would never do anything to shame our clan, let alone commit murder. Ye welcomed us back when we returned home.”
“A mistake I’ll never make again.”
“Please, I beg ye to believe me. Leana dinnae kill Beathen. The real killer is still out there.”
Rafe cleared his throat. “My laird, may I speak?”
“Aye.”
“I believe Adaira has a point. What would they have to gain by killing Beathen? Nothing. Someone could be out there trying to gain yer attention.
An enemy. We cannot ignore the possibility of a threat to our clan.”
“Or maybe I have the real killer standing in front of me.”
“Husband.” Laird Cormag’s wife stood. “Ye owe it to our son to find the person responsible for this heinous crime. Let Adaira prove her sister’s innocence, for the sake of our son’s memory.”
Cormag faced his wife.
“Doughall would have done the same for ye.” His wife joined him in front of Adaira. “Ye’re filled with vengeance and ‘tis interfering with yer good judgment. These girls are no’ our enemies.”
Cormag nodded, considering his wife’s words. “Nay, the curse stops now.
I will no longer stand by and watch the Keith sisters hurt our family.”
Cormag turned back to Adaira. “Ye can blame yer mother for that. She drove yer father to madness. Ye’ll burn for the death of me son, and I will no’ stop until every one of ye are dead.”
The air in Rafe’s lungs seized. This was
exactly what he was afraid of. He should have never brought Adaira back here—a mistake he had regretted the moment he agreed to it.
“Guards, lock her in the south tower,” Cormag ordered.
Adaira struggled to break away from the guards. “This is no’ justice, Cormag.”
“Be thankful I didnae send ye to the dungeons to rot.”
Rafe watched as Adaira was dragged from the hall. He wanted to protect the woman he loved. Every fiber of his being urged him to rip Cormag’s head from his body, but he couldn’t—it would endanger his pack and Adaira.
“Commander Rafe, any word on the other sister?”
“Leana?”
“Aye.”
“Nay, we haven’t been able to pick up a scent.”
“If ye value yer place here at Dornoch, ye’ll find the girl and bring her to me. Have yer men readied and dinnae come back until ye’ve found her.” The laird handed Rafe a small bag of coins. “As promised.” Rafe grabbed the bag but the laird held on to it. Cormag pulled Rafe toward him. “Me eyes are on ye, Mad Dog. Ye’d be wise no’ to disappoint me.” He shoved the coins into Rafe’s chest, then walked away.
With more force than he meant to unleash, Rafe came down with his sword, colliding with Tegwyn’s. All morning they’d been sparring. It had been two long days since he last saw Adaira and it was driving him mad. He’d searched for a way to see her, but the tower was heavily guarded.
Teg shoved Rafe back a few steps. “Brother,” he panted. “I’m not the enemy.”
Rafe impaled the ground with his sword. His jaw tightened as he thought about Adaira being locked away like a criminal. “Forgive me, Teg. My mind is elsewhere.”
His brother rested his hands on the hilt of his sword in front of him. “Ye haven’t been granted access to Adaira?”
Rafe shook his head. “Nay, she’s heavily guarded. The bastard laird thinks she has cursed the clan. Can ye believe the madness?”
“Shite, cursed?”
“Aye, she’s been falsely accused and can do nothing but allow Cormag to get away with it. I swear with the gods as my witness, I’ll find a way to free her. Then I’ll gut Cormag.”
