by Sky Winters
She moved to the table where she had set out all her ingredients and examined everything. “I should be able to make a batch of the remedy in a few days.”
“You’re a Godsend,” he said with a smile. “And I wish I could stay –
“You’re not staying?” Kareena asked in surprise.
His smile grew sad. “The sun will set soon Kareena,” he reminded her.
The reality of his situation settled over Kareena. “I’m going to save you,” she said suddenly, filled with renewed determination.
Lysander came closer. “You don’t understand lass… you already have.”
Then he leaned down and kissed her.
Chapter Eight
Being with Lysander was the single most intoxicating thing that Kareena had ever experienced. It was a frustrating contrast of thrilling passion and choking disappointment. When he touched her, she felt waves of pleasure scale up her body, but it did not last long, for dusk settled over them soon enough and he was forced to leave her side.
The remedy took Kareena longer than a few days. She stayed in the apothecary, mostly hidden from the eyes of the castle, struggling to find the perfect balance between the book’s instructions and her own experience and instinct. Lysander spent as much time with her as possible and though she loved his company, he tended to distract her from her task.
It amazed Kareena how familiar being with Lysander was to her. From the way he liked to play with her hair while she worked or the way he kissed the nape of her neck in the mornings when he first saw her, everything was new but there was a familiarity there born of a relationship far older than theirs. Kareena was not sure if that was because of their shared dreams or their shared isolation, but the intimacy she experienced with Lysander made her believe in both fate and magic.
The euphoria she felt when Lysander was around, dissipated immediately after he left her side. It was only then that Kareena could think rationally and it was in those moments when she realized that while Lysander’s situation may change, hers never would. If she was successful, Lysander would be the next clan chief but she would always be a Lord’s bastard and that was no fit match for Lysander Maclver of Clan Maclver. Kareena kept her thoughts to herself. She said nothing to Lysander, resigning herself to the inevitable doom of their relationship. She kept her word and continued to attempt to find a cure, but as the days flew by her heart grew heavier.
Chapter Nine
“What?” Lysander asked again.
“It’s done,” Kareena replied. “I think I’ve got the right combinations at last.”
“Kareena…”
“Don’t thank me yet,” she replied gruffly. “First we must see if it works.”
They walked outside into the fading light of the sun. Open meadow and lush green fields surrounded Elsick castle. Lysander and Kareena entered the thick range of trees where they knew they would not be spotted. Slowly Lysander turned to face her and Kareena handed him the vial she had filled earlier that day with the thick grey potion that had taken her almost three weeks to construct.
He took the potion but his eyes were fixed on Kareena.
“Drink it Lysander,” Kareena said softly, hating herself for wishing that it would not work.
He looked like he was about to say something, but then he pulled out the stopper and drank the contents of the vial in one large gulp. Kareena held her breath struggling with competing emotions as the last rays of sunlight disappeared from the Highlands.
Lysander’s eyes lost focus for a moment as he swayed on the spot. Kareena took a step forward but he held up a hand to stop her. “Wait,” he said, his voice sounded different.
Kareena froze in place wondering if she had made everything worse. “Are you alright?” she asked breathlessly.
He leaned forward as though he were in pain. After a short while that seemed like an eternity to Kareena, Lysander straightened and his face smoothed out.
“Lysander?” Kareena said tentatively.
He looked up at her and smiled. “I think it worked lass.”
Both of them looked up at the sky above them. An army of clouds shielded the moon, but a wealth of stars winked at them from their midnight blue canvas. Kareena turned to Lysander with a gasp that was also a laugh. “It worked.”
“Aye,” he said softly. “You did it.”
“It’s will only work this one night Lysander,” Kareena reminded him. “You will need to take the potion for as long as you live.”
He nodded as he came forward. “Tis only a small thing.”
“Lysander –
She was silenced by Lysander’s lips and after a moment she had forgotten what she intended to say. She felt the need to pull away but his arms held her against him in a grip that she could not fight against. Once she was out of breath, his lips moved down to her jaw and then her neck.
“Lysander –
“Hush my lass,” he said softly. “Let us enjoy this night.”
“Yes,” Kareena thought to herself. “Let me have this one night.” She gave herself over to him as they sank onto the musky earth floor entwined in each other’s arms. Lysander pulled off her dress and her breasts became exposed to the midnight air. Her nipples hardened as Lysander descended upon them with kisses. Soon his hands had found their way up her thighs, and she moaned as they entered into her dripping folds.
Kareena had never experienced such ecstasy before and found herself carving him, all of him. She opened her legs and pulled him into her. He unleashed his drawstring and his long shaft emerged from his trousers. Kareena’s eyes widened in amazement, every inch of his body was perfect.
He looked at her with such an intensity she grew dizzy, until finally he penetrated his shaft into her. Tenderly at first, and then quickening with wild abandon. Until finally their muscles release in a unifying orgasm, and Lysander let his seed drip deep inside of her.
Chapter Ten
Kareena was in the apothecary mixing a new batch of the remedy when Lysander walked through the door, his face ablaze.
“What’s wrong?” Kareena asked.
“We have just received word from Kinross Territory,” he replied immediately.
Kareena put aside the motor she was holding and turned to him. “What news?”
“Your father is looking for you,” he said. “They’ve been searching for weeks, now they are asking clan Maclver for help.”
“Why does he even care?” Kareena demanded. “He has his real children.”
“I can’t tell you his reasons lass,” Lysander replied. “I can only tell you what I’ve heard.”
“I do not intend to go back to Kinross,” Kareena said firmly.
Lysander smiled. “I do not intend that you go back either.”
Kareena looked at him carefully. “What is your intention for me?”
Lysander looked around. “This is where you were meant to be Kareena.”
Kareena looked around the apothecary, unable to deny how comfortable she felt there. “Aye,” she nodded. “I would love to stay here and be healer to Clan Maclver.”
Lysander laughed. “That you can be if you choose lass,” he said amused. “But I am not asking you to be my healer.”
“Then what are you asking?”
Lysander reached out and grazed his fingers across her cheek. “I am asking you to be my wife.”
Kareena looked at him in complete shock and she said the first thing that popped into her head. “I am a bastard.”
His eyes flashed. “Aye, and I can transform into an animal at night. These are things we cannot change. My father will leave this world soon and when he does it will be up to me to lead. I can do it alone, but I would rather do it with you by my side. As my wife you will be under my protection.”
“Your father will have no claim on you. Others have determined our circumstances, but this… this is something we can decide for ourselves. This is your choice and mine. And I have chosen you.”
Kareena looked up at his soft brown
eyes. He was a handsome man, but what made him truly beautiful was the kindness that fell over his rugged features.
Kareena pushed her past from her mind. She would not allow her birth to dictate how she felt about herself. If Lysander could see past it, then she certainly could.
Kareena took Lysander’s hand in her own. “Then I choose you,” she said with conviction.
Epilogue
The party was small. There were only eight riders in total with her father leading the group. Kareena noticed her stepmother immediately. She sat atop her horse, just behind her husband. She was dressed in her finest silks and Kareena suppressed a smile as to her reason.
“Good day my lord,” Lysander spoke first, pulling his horse to a stop.
Lord McNeil nodded his head in response but there was no smile and no inkling of friendship in his stance. “Whom am I speaking to?” he asked gruffly.
“I am Lysander Maclver, Lord of Clan Maclver,” Lysander replied.
“Lord?” Kareena noticed that her father looked both disgruntled and affronted. “Your father is not yet dead.”
“Aye,” Lysander agreed. “But he has passed the mantle to me. He wants to spend the rest of his days in peace without the burden of leadership weighing on him.”
“So you are the new clan chief?” Lord McNeil clarified.
“Aye my lord, I am,” Lysander replied.
“Reports say that you have my daughter.”
Lysander smiled. “I do not have your daughter my lord,” he said respectfully. “She chose me.”
“What does that mean?” Lady McNeil asked loudly as she rode up on her horse.
Kareena spurred her own horse forward so that she could answer her Lady McNeil’s question herself. The riders parted ways so that she could pass. The moment Lady McNeil’s eyes landed on her they went wide with surprise. Even Kareena had to admit that she looked different, dressed in blue silks and silver furs with her red hair flying loose around her shoulders.
“It means I chose my own path my lady,” Kareena said coming forward. “One where I don’t have to feel ashamed of myself.”
“Kareena,” her father’s voice was booming and filled with shock. “You are not of clan Maclver. You are a McNeil.”
“Actually my lord,” Kareena said formally. “My name is Kareena Saoirse Maclver of clan Maclver.”
She had the satisfaction of seeing both her father and her stepmother share dumbfounded expressions of disbelief.
“It’s true,” Lysander said as he gave Kareena a secret smile that was just for her. “May I introduce my wife – Lady Kareena Maclver.”
The End
Bear Heart
“Why are you crying?” the little boy asked, looking down at the small girl sitting on a rock by the river.
“I fell. My knee is bleeding,” Aileen said, brushing away the tears from her bright blue eyes as she squinted up at him, her vision impaired by the bright sunlight beaming down from behind him. She could see his shock of red hair falling all around his freckled face and wondered where he had come from. He had not been in the village before.
“Let me see,” he told her, getting down on the ground in front of her. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at her knee as she sniffed, trying to not cry again, even though it hurt.
“There. It stopped bleeding now. You’ll be okay. Come with me down to the river and we will finish washing it off,” he told her.
“But I don’t know you,” she said. You are a stranger in the village.
“I’m Thomas!” he said with a huge toothy grin. My family brought me here to stay with my uncle because they are sick and cannot take care of me. I am sad, but I guess it is just the way life is. Anyway, now, you know me.”
“I’m Aileen,” she told him.
“Well, Aileen, now we are friends,” he told her, helping her to her feet and smiling broadly at her.
The two children walked down to the river, where Thomas carefully washed off her scraped knee. Aileen watched as his messy red hair blew all over his head. His large green eyes twinkled as he smiled at her happily. It was the first time Aileen McCarthy and Thomas Mulgrady ever met and the last time they would ever be apart, or so they would come to believe.
“Why are you crying?” Thomas asked.
“I’m just so happy,” Aileen said as he pulled out a handkerchief from his trouser pocket and dabbed at her eyes. Thirteen years had passed and still, Thomas was tending to Aileen’s tears as he had that first day when they were five years old. They had both grown into young adults and with that transition into adulthood, their love had continued to grow just as much. Anyone in the village could tell you that they had become inseparable and that they would one day marry.
“Your eyes are so blue when you cry,” he told her, admiring her beautiful face and brushing away a few strands of her flaxen hair. His hand paused for a moment on her cheek, caressing it softly.
“You want to make me cry so that you can see them this blue all the time, then?” she asked playfully.
“No. They are blue enough already. I never want to make you cry,” he told her, pulling her to him and kissing her there in the meadow. It was the same kiss he had been giving her for years now, but it always felt new. Each time he kissed her, it felt like butterflies escaping into every fiber of her being. There was a longing for Thomas that she couldn’t deny, though they had agreed to wait until they were married before having sex because that is what was proper.
Thomas was no longer the skinny little boy he had once been. He was tall and broad shouldered, his wild red hair tied into a thick braid and the beginnings of a beard beginning to tickle her face. He was beautiful to her and she loved him now as much as the first day she had met him. She had no doubt that she would love him forever.
“Let’s get you home before your father has my hide for keeping you out too long,” he told her. “I don’t even want to be on the receiving end of a tanning that man will give me if he thinks I am anything less than proper with you.”
“I wish we never had to go home. I want to just stay here together forever,” she said.
“We will, very soon, my darling Aileen. You and I will spend all of eternity together,” he told her, looking at her lovingly.
“I can’t wait!” Aileen told him, raising up on her tip toes to kiss him on the cheek. He was a good six inches taller than her, towering over her as they lingered there in the meadow.
“You are going to have to, but just for a little longer until I can gain your father’s blessing,” he said.
“Let’s just run away, Thomas! We don’t have to worry with my father’s blessing. We can start our own life elsewhere,” she said.
“No. I won’t take you from your family. We will do this the right way. Your father just doesn’t like my family’s history. The rumors of their ways bother him, but I will show him that he can trust me and then he will give me your hand,” he said.
“Okay, Thomas. I love you and trust you. We will wait until you tell me the time is right,” she told him reluctantly.
“I love you, too,” he replied, kissing her again before they began making their way out of the meadow and back to the village. She felt his kiss all the way down into her toes as she leaned into him, holding on to him as if her life depended on it. Finally, he pulled away and smiled at her, taking her hand and leading her back toward their village. Aileen was so thankful for the day that Thomas had come into her life and even more thankful that they had remained together for so long after.
They spent the evening cuddling by the fire, listening to one of the chieftains tell them the latest news of the battle from which he had recently returned. Their village was full of warriors, though some of the best had disappeared over the years without explanation. It was assumed by many that they had met their fates elsewhere, but eventually, many of them would return with stories of their travels. Tonight was filled with one such warrior, the father of Thomas’s cousin, Caleb. He went on for quite a w
hile, a riveted gathering around him as he expounded on his adventures.
Eventually, it began to get late and the fire died down, signaling that it was time to get some rest. Aileen always hated the end of the day when she had to part from Thomas. She had even tried to sneak into the hut he had taken for himself in the night and give herself to him, but he had refused to let her do so, telling her that only when they were married would he allow her to give herself to him. Aileen had felt both hurt by his rejection and overjoyed that he cared so much for her reputation. As everyone parted for bedtime, Thomas gave Aileen a light kiss on the cheek before sending her off to her parent’s hut and returning to his own.
In the wee hours of the morning, Aileen woke up with a start. Something was wrong. She could feel it. Jumping up and dressing quickly, she slipped quietly out and made her way across the village to where Thomas lived. He was gone. She told herself that he had just gone out on an early hunt, but there were no signs that he had taken anything to do so. Her heart thudded heavily against her breast as she lay across his bed and waited. She could smell him on the covers there as she lay wide awake until the dawn, waiting.
When Thomas didn’t return, she went from hut to hut in the village asking for anyone that might know where he had gone, but no one would say they knew. Perhaps they didn’t, but Aileen had a feeling some of them did know. For days, she was inconsolable. Not even her parents could comfort her.
“Aileen, honey, you have to snap out of this,” her mother told her after weeks had passed and Thomas had not returned.
“He will come back for me,” Aileen told her.
“He’s gone, Aileen. He ran off and left you behind,” her mother told her.
“No, he didn’t. He wouldn’t. Something happened,” Aileen told her.
“You are a fool, daughter. You need to stop pining for this boy and find another,” her mother said.
“That will never happen. I love Thomas . . . now, forever, always,” Aileen yelled at her, storming out. She returned to Thomas’s empty hut where she already had spent countless hours just lying in his bed, crying. His scent was fading from the covers, but he was not fading from her heart.
