Awaken the Highland Warrior

by Anita Clenney

  His family seemed to think so, from the way Bree had seen them whispering over the pair of warriors. She had to face the truth. Her time with Faelan was over. It was probably best. She wasn’t ready for a relationship, much less an intense one, and there would be no other kind with him.

  She rounded the corner, stopping short. Faelan stood with his back to her, outside Sorcha’s room. Long, red-tipped fingernails moved up his arm as Sorcha drew him closer to her door. How could a woman kill demons and still look like she’d just gotten a manicure? The door opened, and Faelan put a hand on Sorcha’s back, ushering her inside.

  Bree’s heart felt like a wrung-out sponge. She had a sudden longing for home and Jared. Maybe he’d gotten back from his trip. She walked to the phone and punched in the number. “Is Jared there?” she asked, when a man’s shaky voice answered.

  “Who’s this?”

  “Bree Kirkland. Is this Jared’s uncle?”

  There was silence and then a whisper. “You shouldn’t…” A noise sounded in the background, and he spoke louder. “Here he is.”

  “Bree.” Jared’s voice slid over her like a warm hug. “Hey. How’s your trip?”

  “Great. But I miss home. How’s everything there?”

  “Fine,” he said. He didn’t sound fine. He sounded worried. “I met with my backers. They’re on hold for the moment.”

  “I’ll be home in a day or so.”

  “That soon? I wish you’d stay longer. At least until they catch the killer. Peter’s not eager for you to come back either. Besides, Scotland is nice this time of year.”

  “You’ve been here?”

  “Years ago. Seems like another lifetime. Are you making progress with the documents?”

  “Yes… they’re old family papers.” It wasn’t a complete lie. There was the map Faelan’s brothers made, but she hated not telling Jared the whole truth.

  “Sounds interesting. Wish I were there with you. Enjoy the job and the scenery. The house, and me, we’ll be here when you get back.”

  Thoughts of Sorcha and Faelan, destined mates, and Angus’s bloodied body made her want to bawl. “I miss you, Jared.”

  A noise sounded behind her, and she turned. Faelan stood there, his face tight. He’d changed to jeans. He must’ve given Sorcha a quickie. Bree turned her back to him. “I should go,” she told Jared. “You’re sure everything is okay?” There were so many things that could go wrong. Dead bodies, demons, and halflings.

  “It’s all good. I’ll take care of things here, and we’ll talk when you get back.”

  “Jared, be careful.” She hung up and turned to blast Faelan, but she was alone.

  Bree grabbed her coat and walked outside, following the stone path to the flower garden Coira had shown her earlier. She sat on the bench and tried to let the fragrant scents wash away images of Faelan naked in Sorcha’s bed. Footsteps shuffled behind her.

  “Couldn’t sleep?” Sean asked, dropping next to her on the bench.

  “I had a lot on my mind.”

  “I come here when I’m troubled. Helps me put things to right. Could be the scent of Coira’s roses or maybe the night air. Gets a mite chilly in these parts.”

  “That’s for sure.” Bree shivered and pulled her lightweight wool coat closer. “Don’t your legs get cold?” she asked, looking at his kilt.

  “A bit. I usually wear trousers. Most warriors wear jeans when they’re not here. The kilt draws too much attention. We have to protect the clan, protect what we do, and we don’t want to announce our presence to the demons. But as soon as the lads come back, they put on the kilt.”

  “I’m not complaining,” Bree said, smiling. She sobered. “How’s Angus?”

  Sean sighed. “Not good. Blessed idiot drove himself here.”

  “How did he get through the front gate?”

  “He didn’t. There’s a hidden entrance, a tunnel that leads to the secret passages. Angus left his car there and walked.”

  “Why didn’t he call someone?”

  “His cell phone’s missing.”

  “What do you think he meant about a traitor?”

  “I don’t know, but I fear there’s something bad brewing. Cody said he’d felt it too. Even before Angus called him.”

  “What do you know about Cody?” Bree asked. She still needed to talk to him.

  Sean watched her for a minute, and Bree knew he was judging what to tell her. “Fierce warrior. His brothers, too, from what I hear. They’re private. I’ve heard their secrets run deep. Cody finished his duty a few weeks ago. Besides Faelan, Cody’s the only warrior in recent times who’s been assigned one of the ancient demons.”

  Bree remembered the danger emanating from him. She guessed the demons were happy he was retired. “But he offered to help fight?”

  “Warriors can fight as long as they can hold a sword. They’re encouraged to marry and have families after their duty is over, but some choose to serve for life.”

  “Do the talismans still work, even if a warrior is retired?”

  “That they do. Why this interest in Cody?”

  “I had a premonition, a vision, something about him. There was a woman with him. I think she’s in trouble. I should warn him. Like I should’ve warned Angus.”

  “Angus?”

  “I’ve seen him before. In New York, at the bed and breakfast where Faelan and I stayed. I sensed danger surrounding him, but I brushed it off. I didn’t recognize him until Coira cleaned off the blood. I think he recognized me.”

  Sean grew quiet. “Have you had these feelings, these visions, before?”

  “Since I was little. Usually about family or friends.” When she was younger, after she’d learned about her sister, she’d believed it was her twin helping her from the other side.

  “Anyone else in your family have these abilities?”

  “I think my great-great-grandmother did. Are you thinking about Druan’s castle and how I could see it?”

  “It is peculiar.”

  “Maybe only warriors can’t see it. It was right there, plain as day.”

  “Perhaps. There are many things we don’t understand.”

  “That’s a problem for me. I have to know things.”

  Sean chuckled. “So Faelan says.”

  At least Faelan was saying something to someone. It sure wasn’t her. But her problems paled next to Angus’s fight for life. Bree sighed. “Will you let me know how Angus is doing? If I’d said something, warned him, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.”

  “Angus is hard-headed as a mule. Who’s to say he would’ve believed you, anyway? You were a stranger to him. He’s strong. Dr. Gillum is with him, and Coira. She’s a fine nurse.”

  “It must be tough on the women.”

  “That’s part of the reason warriors aren’t to marry until their duty is over. Not to mention they don’t need the distraction of a demon targeting a mate.”

  “What about the female warriors? Can they marry before their duty is up?”

  He shook his head. “Same rules apply. It’s frowned on, because of the danger involved, but there’s plenty of time for raising a family after a warrior is done. It’s not uncommon for a warrior to live well beyond a hundred years. We almost never get sick. Something in the genes. It’s getting past the battles that’s tricky.” Sean patted her hand. “This has been a whirlwind for you, finding Faelan, getting thrown into the middle of all this. Most women wouldn’t have taken it so well. You’re strong, Bree Kirkland. It was good that you found him.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe Sorcha should have…” Bree trailed off.

  “No, I think it was best this way. Destiny. That’s what it was, destiny,” he repeated, almost to himself.

  “Well, I thank you for your hospitality. I wish I had more time to see the sights, since this is my first trip to Scotland.”

  “Ah, there’ll be plenty of time for that later. You’re welcome back here anytime you want, lass. You see the size of this house. We’ve got ple
nty of bedrooms, and they’re always ready. Warriors come and go like it’s a train station. I hope we’ll be seeing more of you.” He studied her again, as if trying to decipher a code. “In fact, Coira will likely come fetch you if you stay away too long. She’s taken a liking to you, as we all have. Now I’d best check on Angus and get these old bones off to bed.”

  “Good night, Sean. Oh, can I ask you something?”

  “Aye, lass.”

  “You speak Gaelic?”

  “I do, though we don’t use the language much now.”

  “What does… let me see, I’m not sure I have this right. Tha thu as do chiall. What does it mean?”

  Sean smiled. “Why don’t you ask Faelan?”

  “He won’t tell me. He’s the one who said it.”

  “Then I can’t say as I blame him,” he said, chuckling, with a twinkle in his eyes, “but I think I’ll leave that telling to him.”

  Bree waited a minute before leaving the garden. The house was quiet. At the top of the steps, she turned the corner and saw Faelan enter her bedroom and close the door behind him. When she got over the shock, she began to seethe. Did he honestly think he could go from Sorcha’s bed to hers?

  Bree turned and headed back downstairs, wandering aimlessly for a while, trying to distance herself from anger and hurt. She ended up in the library, every bit as grand as Druan’s. She sat at a table, staring at the pile of books Sean had given her to study, but her mind was too troubled to concentrate. She sank into an overstuffed leather chair near the low-burning fire and settled in for the night.

  ***

  A noise pulled Bree from her restless dreams. She opened heavy lids and saw Ronan leaning against the door, arms crossed over his chest, watching her. Or was it Declan? He wore Levi’s and a black T-shirt. “Oh,” she said, sitting up from her awkward position. Had she snored or drooled in her sleep?

  “Ah, Sleeping Beauty awakes.”

  Ronan. There was that sexy lilt to his voice.

  “How long have you been standing there?”

  “Long enough to know you don’t snore.”

  Thank God for small favors. “I fell asleep.”

  “Must have been a good book.” He glanced from her bookless lap to the floor, but didn’t comment. “I’d wager you’re stiff as a board.”

  “More like a steel beam.” She liked Ronan. He was easy to talk to, if you didn’t get distracted by his body and face.

  “It’s not yet dawn. You could stretch out on a real bed.”

  Bree’s stomach rumbled softly.

  “Or we could raid the kitchen. I was headed there when I heard the moan.”

  “Moan?”

  “You must have been dreaming.” He gave her a grin that should’ve been outlawed.

  “Do all warriors have Superman hearing?”

  “Afraid so. The caped hero has nothing on us.”

  “He can fly.”

  “Well, there is that.”

  Bree rubbed her tummy. “I am hungry.”

  “Then let’s see what treats Coira’s hiding from me.”

  “She hides food from you?” Bree followed him out of the library.

  “From all of us. Warrioring works up a hearty appetite.”

  She knew a warrior with a hearty appetite, she thought sadly. “Then lead on, and I’ll blame it all on you.”

  He led her into the kitchen and flipped on a light. “I’d bet my dirk she’s got cookies hidden somewhere.” Looking around the big, cozy kitchen, he went straight to the refrigerator, where he reached up and grabbed a cookie jar hidden behind some boxes. It sounded like he groaned. “Shortbread. Coira makes the best.” He took one, bit it, and held the rest to Bree’s mouth. “Try it. Don’t worry. I don’t have cooties, and my hands are clean. I haven’t scratched my ass all day.”

  She smiled and took a nibble. “That is good.”

  He took another and handed her the jar. “Coira says it’s Faelan’s mother’s recipe.”

  Bree stopped chewing, but Faelan had already ruined her sleep; she wouldn’t let him ruin her appetite too.

  Ronan pointed to a cabinet. “Grab a couple of glasses, and I’ll get the milk.”

  “You must spend a lot of time here.”

  He patted his flat stomach. “Does it show?”

  Bree laughed. “I meant here at the house.”

  “This is a second home, like base camp, for all of us. Warriors from the clan travel all over the world, wherever we’re sent, but we’re always welcome here.”

  “I guess it’s all the traveling that makes the accents so hard to place. I can hear a hint of brogue, but no two are alike. Faelan sounds more like a Scot since he’s gotten here. He’d started to sound modern.”

  “We pick up languages and dialects fast. It’s part of our disguise, but the tongue knows when it’s home.” Ronan poured two glasses of milk and took a long drink of his.

  “I suppose not having a definite accent makes it harder for a demon to find out where you live.”

  “Aye. We’ve gone to great lengths to protect our clan’s location. It wouldn’t be good if we were found out.”

  “Druan’s castle is a duplicate of this one. Someone must know.”

  “Let’s hope whoever it is, is dead.”

  They chewed for a few moments in silence. Bree reached for another cookie. “Ronan and Declan sound like Irish names, not Scottish.”

  “Celtic,” Ronan said, wiping his mouth. “Mostly used in Ireland. My mother was Irish, like Faelan’s. Many Scottish warriors find their mates in Ireland. My father named the first son…” His eyes shadowed. “My mother got to name the second. She didn’t know she’d get two.”

  “You have an older brother? Is he a warrior?”

  Ronan stared into his glass. “He died.”

  “I’m sorry.” Bree dropped the subject, since he seemed uncomfortable discussing it. “Cody said he’s from the Connor clan, but he lives in America.”

  “His family’s been there a long time. Some secret mission. There are other warriors in America besides the Connor clan, but they all originated from Scotland. Warriors were sent to guard the new country. I’ve lived there the last few years myself, when I’m not hunting.”

  “In America?”

  “Montana. I was in Alaska for a while. We had a warrior who went rogue. I needed some time to clear my head, so I volunteered. I chased him to Montana. Liked it there, so I stayed, as much as any warrior stays put. Last month I was given a demon in Ireland, so here I am.”

  “A warrior went rogue? They can do that?”

  “Just like angels can fall. It’s a choice.”

  “Like being a traitor?” she asked, and they both grew silent. Was he thinking of Angus’s pronouncement?

  “Like being a traitor,” Ronan agreed.

  “So what did you do with this rogue warrior?”

  He studied a cookie then met Bree’s gaze. “That’s nothing for a bonny lass to worry about.”

  Bree traced the circle on her glass. “Then tell me something else. What’s with Sorcha and Duncan?”

  “Don’t tell me you can feel the tension.” He rested his elbows on the counter. A look of pain crossed his face. Did he have a thing for Sorcha too? “Duncan’s always been protective of her, but protecting Sorcha’s like protecting a porcupine. She makes it hard for him. Hmmm, I think that was a pun.”

  Bree’s face warmed. “Are they together?” she asked. “I mean this whole mate thing?”

  “Duncan’s never said anything, but for his sake, I hope not. I’d shoot myself first.” Ronan handed Bree another cookie.

  “Do you think Faelan and Sorcha could be…” Bree’s voice hitched.

  “Mates?” Ronan finished, watching her closely. “Does it matter?”

  “I don’t know. She seems attracted to him.”

  “Sorcha acts like that with all men. She does it to piss Duncan off.”

  “Why?”

  “Who knows why Sorcha does anything. I don�
��t know how he puts up with her. I’d throw her in Loch Ness and be done with her. As for Sorcha and Faelan being mates, there’s been some speculation since she was to come and wake him, but that’s about it. Speculation.” He popped another cookie. “So life threw you for a loop, waking a warrior from another century. Not just any warrior, but the Mighty Faelan.”

  “It’s been interesting.”

  “You two get along? I mean, he’s living in your house, sleeping there…” His tone was deceptively casual. She suspected everything about Ronan was deceptively casual.

  “I guess so. He didn’t have much choice but stay, waking after a century with only the clothes on his back. Well, that and his dagger and talisman.”

  “That’ll change soon enough. His money’s been invested all this time.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “That’s what Sean said. A century and a half. Not bad, huh?”

  “Does Faelan know?”

  “Don’t know if Sean or Duncan mentioned it yet, with all the excitement.”

  “He’ll be relieved. He hates depending on someone else. After this is over, he was going to get a job working with horses.”

  “He could buy a hundred horse farms. Half the stock here came from Nandor’s line. Do you ride?”

  “Me, on a horse? I have balance issues.” Bree smiled. “The cutest little boy offered to teach me to ride earlier. I’ve never seen so many happy kids.”

  “We breed like rabbits. When a warrior finds his mate, he can’t think of anything else.” Ronan grinned. “Keeps the clan supplied with plenty of warriors.”

  They munched in silence as Bree puzzled over Ronan’s words. Was that what Faelan’s appetite was about? Not a side effect from the time vault, but he’d met his mate? He was almost finished with his duty. Had he left behind a mate? He seemed guarded when she asked him about it earlier.

  “Faelan speaks highly of you.”

  “He does?”

  “That surprises you?”