Box Set - Knights of Passion (7 Novels)

by Catherine Kean, Anna Markland, Elizabeth Rose, Laurel ODonnell, Barbara Devlin, SueEllen Welfonder, Amy Jarecki

  “Stop it, ye fool, I’m here te help ye.”

  Aidan was leery of the man, but had no choice right now but to trust him. He stopped moving, and Tasgall reached forward with the dagger again.

  “If ye try te stab me with it, I swear I’ll kill ye,” Aidan warned the man.

  “Blethers! I’m only goin’ te cut the ropes,” he said, doing just what he said.

  “Why?” asked Aidan, rubbing his wrists, once the ropes were off. Tasgall then went about removing the ones at his feet.

  “Becooz I made a mistake, and I’m tired o’ bein’ a coward.”

  “Ye helped Effie escape, didna ye?” Aidan stuck the ropes into his belt, knowing he would need them later. If he managed to get the stone, he’d use the ropes to pull it with the horse like last time.

  “Aye,” he said with a nod of his head. “And hopefully I can help ye do the same. Now come on, get up and lean on me shoulder. I’ve got a couple o’ horses saddled and waitin’ in the thicket.”

  Aidan got up and leaned on Tasgall, but when they mounted their horses, he started in the opposite direction, toward the water.

  “What are ye doin’?” whispered Tasgall, moving his horse toward Aidan.

  “I canna jest leave and let them get the stone,” he said. “I’m goin’ te get it and move it afore they find it.”

  “Ye’re mad,” said Tasgall, stopping his horse.

  Aidan turned his horse back toward him. “I could use yer help.”

  “This is nothin’ but a deith wish,” the man said, shaking his head.

  “Well, then we’ll both die fer a guid cause, willna we?”

  “I’m no’ goin’ te help. I’m gettin’ out o’ here alive while I still can.”

  “Go on then,” Aidan said, disgusted, and headed toward the water. Then he turned his head and talked to the man over his shoulder. “And ye said ye were tired o’ bein’ a coward.”

  Aidan headed away, feeling like hell. His body was shivering from the fever and his wound was bleeding again. Dizziness overtook him, and knew he hadn’t the strength to pull the rock out of the water by himself, but he would at least die trying.

  He made it to the Rowan and slid off the horse, tying the reins to the tree. He then slipped into the stream, feeling the cold water biting at his open wound. He hunkered down and felt around for the stone, then his hand brushed across it, and he found it right where he’d left it. He used the embedded handles in the stone and tried with all his might to pull the rock from the water.

  “Arrrrgh,” he let out a muffled cry as he felt the fires of hell biting at his shoulder. He tried once again, but the rock was stuck in the muck at the bottom of the river and it weighed too much for him to move it himself, especially since he was injured.

  “Could ye use another hand?”

  He looked up to see Tasgall standing in the moonlight. This was just what he needed, as he’d almost given up hope.

  “So ye decided te help me after all?”

  “I canna be a coward me whole life.”

  “And what if we die tryin’ te do this?”

  “Then I’ll die alongside one o’ the bravest men Scotland has e’er seen.”

  * * *

  Effie nervously shifted on the horse in front of Madoc as they rode into the English camp. He held his arm around her, and a dagger against her to make it look as if he were bringing her back as a prisoner.

  Ian and Onyx followed on horses behind them, wrapped in the cloaks of the English guards. She just hoped they didn’t have to talk, or the English would know at once their little ploy.

  “Someone approaches,” she heard as they rode up, and immediately, two guards jumped up and pulled their swords from their scabbards.

  “I found this girl on the road when I was passing through,” said Madoc. “Your guards told me you’ve been looking for her.” He nodded toward Ian and Onyx behind him. They nodded back, and Ian almost lost the helm, as it was too small and just sitting atop his head.

  “Lord Ralston!” called the guard, and the man appeared from inside a tent. He took one look at Effie and smiled.

  “Well, look who’s back. Where did you find her?”

  “I found her . . . ” Madoc was cut short by Lord Ralston’s words.

  “Who are you?”

  “I’m just a traveler passing through on my way back to England.”

  “By yourself, and on Scottish soil? And at night?”

  “Aye.”

  Effie felt Madoc’s arm stiffen around her, and she knew he was readying himself for a fight.

  “Guards, is this true?”

  Onyx and Ian just looked at each other, but didn’t answer, and this obviously made the man suspicious.

  “Guards, I asked you a question.”

  “Aye,” they both answered together.

  “Guards, bring her to me.”

  Ian stepped forward and helped Effie off the horse, but when he reached up to get her, his cloak opened, and when he tried to close it, his helm fell from his head to the ground.

  “Something’s not right.” Lord Ralston looked through the darkness, and Ian tried to keep his back towards the man. “Where’s the Highlander?” He unsheathed his sword when he realized Aidan wasn’t there. Effie wondered where he’d gone as well. Then she realized Tasgall was nowhere to be found either. There was only one place they’d be, and that was at the river, getting the stone.

  Before she knew what was happening, Lord Ralston reached forward and pulled her to him.

  “Men, we have intruders,” he shouted.

  Ian and Onyx threw off their disguises, and in one motion raised their swords, meeting with those of the English. Madoc fought from the top of his horse as a battle broke out between them.

  “You won’t get away with this, bitch,” said Lord Ralston, dragging Effie to a horse and mounting, pulling her up with him.

  “Help,” she cried out, struggling to get out of his hold, but Ian, Madoc and Onyx were busy fighting off several men each and couldn’t come to her aid.

  “Get the cart and head to the river,” he shouted to several of his men, and they took off through the night, leaving the rest behind. Effie had a feeling that things were only going to get worse from here, because she knew that at the river was exactly where they’d find Aidan.

  AIDAN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  With Tasgall’s help, Aidan managed to get the stone on shore and also tied with ropes, trailing from the back of a horse. They were just going to ride away when out of the darkness and like a bat out of hell, came three riders. As they got closer, he saw that it was Lord Ralston and two of his guards, and to his horror they had Effie with them. One of the soldiers was driving the wagon.

  “Och, nay,” he ground out.

  Tasgall looked up as well, as the English came over the grass right toward them. “Should we make a break for it?” he asked Aidan.

  “We canna outrun them draggin’ along the stone,” said Aidan. “And neither will I leave Effie in their bluidy hands. If ye want to make a run fer it, go. I willna think any less o’ ye, as ye’ve already risked yer life te help me.”

  The man seemed to consider it for a second, then just shook his head.

  “Nay. I am tired o’ runnin’ and I will stand me ground.”

  “Spoken like a true Scot,” said Aidan, slapping him on the back.

  “Aidan!” cried Effie as they stopped their horses in front of them and the two guards jumped off and came up to them with swords drawn. “I’m so sorry,” she cried.

  “Effie, I told ye te get the hell outta here. What happened?” he asked.

  “I came back fer ye, Aidan. Te save ye.”

  “Why would ye think ye could do thet?”

  “Because I have Onyx, Ian, and Madoc with me. They’re back at camp fighting.”

  “They are?” Suddenly, Aidan saw a light at the end of the tunnel. If his friends were here, then he knew he might have a chance after all.

  “T
asgall, you bloody bastard, you deceived me,” snarled Lord Ralston.

  “And I’m proud o’ it,” said the Scotsman, raising his chin in the air.

  “Put the stone in the back of the cart,” Lord Ralston instructed.

  His guards moved toward it, but he stopped them.

  “Not you two, you fools,” he said. “The Scots will do it.”

  “And if we dinna do it?” asked Aidan.

  “You know what will happen.”

  “No’ this again,” he mumbled to himself as he saw Lord Ralston raise his blade to Effie once again. “I’m getting’ tired o’ this,” he said, taking hold of the stone, and with Tasgall, they struggled, but got it atop the back of the cart.

  “Hurry,” Lord Ralston instructed. Then when they were finished, he looked at his guards. “Kill the Scots and let’s get the stone to safety.”

  One reached out for Aidan, but even with his wound and with no weapons, he fought like a madman. And when the second came to help his friend, Tasgall jumped in front of the man’s sword, just as he was about to stab Aidan.

  Aidan looked up to see the Scot lying there with the sword in his back, having blocked the killing blow. Aidan threw the first guard off of him and pulled the sword out of Tasgall and turned around and stabbed the second guard.

  Then he spun around and killed the other one as well. When he looked up, Lord Ralston was getting into the wagon with his sword pointed at Effie. She was looking back with terror in her eyes.

  Aidan looked down to the dead Englishmen, and then over to Tasgall. He bent down to see that the Scot was near dead.

  “I’m sorry I didna help ye save the stone,” said Tasgall with his dying breath.

  “Dinna worry, I will get it,” Aidan said laying his hand on the man’s shoulder.

  “I am sorry aboot all the wrong I’ve done. And now I will die without makin’ guid after all.”

  “Nay,” said Aidan. “Ye will die with honor, me friend. And dinna worry, as I will tell e’eryone ye were no’ a coward in the end.”

  Tasgall smiled. “Thank ye,” he said, then closed his eyes forever.

  Aidan looked up to see Lord Ralston speeding away in the wagon with the stone and Effie in tow. He didn’t think twice. He hoisted himself atop one of the guard’s horses, and sped after them. When he got close, he jumped from the horse into the wagon, and holding on to the sides, he made his way to the front where he leaped at Lord Ralston, with sword drawn. The man turned and blocked him, punching Aidan in his wounded shoulder. Aidan cried out in pain, and lost his grip on the sword. They both fell out of the wagon and to the ground.

  “Ye bastard, I have had enough o’ ye,” Aidan cried out, just before wrestling the sword away from Lord Ralston, and burying it into the man’s chest. When he was sure the man was dead, he stood. Effie had stopped the wagon and came to his side. That’s when he heard the MacKeefe war cry of Buaidh no Bas, Victory or Death, from the camp, and recognized the voice of Ian.

  “Aidan, are ye all right?” asked Effie, rushing to him. He held out his arms and gathered her up, and then the pain from his wounds and the loss of blood was too much for him. He sank to the ground with Effie in his arms, and buried his face in her hair. His body, burning up with fever shook uncontrollably now, and he whispered to her. “I have ye now, me dream angel. Ye are safe with me, and I willna e’er let ye go.”

  That’s the last thing he remembered before the pain from his wound and the fever overtook him.

  AIDAN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Effie pressed a cool, wet cloth to Aidan’s head as she had for nearly a sennight, watching over him in his cottage back in the MacKeefe camp in the Highlands. She was so glad that Lord Ralston and his men were all dead, and that the whole ordeal was over and her sister as well as the Stone of Destiny were safe again.

  The MacKeefe clan had gotten the message from the homing pigeon that Madoc had sent and they’d come to find them. However, Ian, Onyx, and Madoc, had already killed the rest of Lord Ralston’s soldiers and were headed back with Aidan and the Stone of Destiny in the cart at the time. Aidan was close to death, and slipped in and out of consciousness and Effie wasn’t sure if he’d ever recover.

  With the help of the entire clan, the stone was well protected as they brought it back to the Highlands. At Effie’s request, they’d placed it under Aidan’s head as he slept. She hoped he’d have some sort of a dream that would wake him and bring him back to her already.

  Aidan’s pet squirrel nudged him with its nose, it’s furry little red head moving back and forth obviously wondering why Aidan wasn’t petting him. Then it carefully crawled atop Aidan’s chest and curled up into a ball, making small noises.

  “I ken ye’re worried, Reid.” Effie ran a hand over its fur. “So am I.”

  The door to the cottage opened, and Effie turned around to see Aidan’s sister, Kyla standing there.

  “How is me brathair?” the girl asked.

  “No better.” Effie turned back around, trying to keep from crying. “He may die becooz o’ me, Kyla.”

  “Nay, thet’s no’ true.” Kyla rushed in and fell to her knees next to Effie. “Me brathair is strong and has been in many worse situations. He’ll pull through, Effie, jest give him some time.”

  Effie reached out and ran her fingers lightly across the stitches in Aidan’s shoulder. “Ye are so strong, Kyla, and I admire ye fer it. And I only hope ye’re right aboot yer brathair. Ye ken Madoc was kind enough to sew up his wound afore he left, but he needed te go as his wife is havin’ a bairn.”

  “I ken,” said Kyla.

  “I woulda liked te have had bairns with Aidan some day. I wish thet things woulda worked out differently.”

  “Ye ne’er ken what might happen,” said Kyla, putting her arm around Effie’s shoulder.

  “Mayhap ye and Ian will have the chance someday,” Effie said with a slight smile. “Where is he, anyway? I havena seen him nor Onyx in days.”

  “They came te get me,” came a voice from the doorway, and she turned around to see her sister, Coira standing there.

  “Coira,” shouted Effie, running to her sister and burying her in a hug. “Ye are all right, thank the heavens.”

  “I am,” she said. “And though the chieftain and his wife, Clarista, were goin’ te bring me back from Hermitage Castle, Ian and Onyx insisted on doin’ it instead. They said they wanted te protect me personally as a favor te ye and Aidan.”

  “The chieftain? I thought that was Storm,” said Effie.

  “They’re both chieftains o’ the clan, as auld Ian MacKeefe is Storm’s father,” said Ian, now standing in the doorway.

  Effie noticed the way Kyla’s eyes lit up when she saw him. Then, Effie gasped as the wolfhound sauntered up behind him.

  “Ian, watch out, thet wolfhound is back!” Effie warned him.

  Ian just laughed and reached down and ran a hand over the hound’s head. “I ken thet. The thing willna leave me alone e’er since I fed it, so I decided jest te keep it as a pet.” Then the hound jumped up and put its paws on Ian’s shoulders. Being such a large animal, the hound was as tall as Ian when it was standing on its back legs. A long tongue shot out and the animal started licking Ian’s face.

  “A pet? Nay, ye are jestin’,” said Effie.

  “Nay, he’s not,” said Onyx, walking up and joining Ian with his wildcat in his arms. “And believe it or no’, Tawpie disna mind the wolfhound anymore.” Onyx held up the wildcat and the wolfhound lowered itself from Ian, and touched noses with it. Then the hound lay down at Ian’s feet. Aidan’s squirrel was alarmed by all this, and stood up on Aidan’s chest, chattering loudly.

  The hound jumped up, and Ian gave it a command. “Kyle dinna e’en think aboot it,” he said.

  “Kyle?” asked Effie.

  “Aye,” said Kyla from next to her. She rolled her eyes as she spoke. “He named the thing after me becooz he said it was jest as pesky, followin’ him around all the time. I’m no’ sure
if I should be honored or disgusted.”

  Effie laughed at this, and when she did, the squirrel jumped off of Aidan and scurried up the leg of the table. Onyx’s wildcat leaped out of his arms and darted into the room chasing it, and Ian’s wolfhound followed.

  “Tawpie, nay,” said Onyx rushing into the room after the cat. It had jumped up on the table and was about to grab the squirrel when Onyx dove to get it, slamming down on the table so hard that it broke and came crashing down to the ground with him on it. The wolfhound jumped atop him.

  “Kyle, get back here, boy,” Ian said, rushing into the room and diving atop the pile of them on the floor.

  Aidan was in the middle of a dream. Effie was walking toward him again, only this time she was wearing a beautiful long gown over a long white billowed-sleeved leine. And over it, not only the bodice but the entire kirtle all the way to the ground was made from the green and purple plaid of the MacKeefe clan. It was pulled together tightly with leathers laces. Her breasts were trussed up in the bodice and spilling over, and Aidan wanted nothing more than to bury his head in her cleavage. She carried a bouquet of heather and foxglove, and wore a crown of tiny purple saxifrage on her head. She was smiling and walking toward him, and when he reached out for her, she moved aside and that’s when he saw Reid, Tawpie, and that damn wolfhound running toward him and jumping right at him.

  “Nay!” he shouted, sitting up quickly, his breathing labored, his eyes searching the area around him. There was loud commotion going on, and when he looked over to the other side of the room, he just blinked, not believing what he was seeing. Onyx was on the floor with the remains of a broken table beneath him, holding on to the back legs of Tawpie as she reached out, pawing the air. Reid was chattering incessantly, climbing the walls then dropping to the ground and jumping from trunk to trunk around the room. And Effie, her sister Coira, and Kyla were rushing around trying to grab it.

  And the most ridiculous thing he saw was Ian on the floor with a wolfhound under his arm in a headlock.

  “What’s a man got te do te get some peace and quiet around here?” he shouted.