Love Beyond Belief (Book 7 of Morna’s Legacy Series)

by Bethany Claire

  He unzipped me slowly. Once the zipper reached its end, he moved his hands to my shoulders as he pushed the sleeves away, causing the dress to slip to the floor. I stepped out of it, brushing it to the side as I faced him.

  Callum wore his kilt, his bare chest on glorious display. The only other time I’d seen him in such clothing was the night of the party.

  “You usually wear a shirt with that, right?”

  He grinned and nodded. “Aye.”

  “So, did you dress like that just because you know how sexy it is?”

  He laughed. The tone of it was deep and eager. “It worked then, aye?”

  “Very much so.” I placed a palm against his chest and moved my other hand up to his shoulder where part of his kilt hung. I was able to remove it from his shoulder, but when I went about trying to pull it off his waist, it turned into a bit of a comedy show. I tugged and pulled and even walked around behind him to see if I could figure out the trick. When I could find nothing, I moved to stand in front of him once again and crossed my arms in frustration.

  “What’s the matter with it? Do you have it glued on?

  “No, lass, but if it was so easily removed, I would be revealing meself all the time. No more talking. We did enough of that earlier, doona ye think? If I doona get inside ye soon, I fear I shall die from wanting ye.”

  I watched with anticipation as he removed his kilt with ease. He didn’t drop it carelessly like I did my dress. Instead, he gathered it up in front of him, folded it neatly and set it to the side. It was only then that I saw him.

  He was beautiful—every lengthy, intimidating bit of him.

  I began to chew on my lower lip nervously as Callum walked toward me. He reached around me, unhooking my bra and removing it with as much care as he had his kilt. When it was gone, he grasped both of my breasts with his hands, thumbing my nipples into hard peaks.

  I groaned and gasped as he dropped to his knees, trailing warm kisses over each breast then down my stomach. He stopped at the edge of my panties, pulling them down so slowly that the torturous anticipation caused me to writhe where I stood.

  I struggled to form sentences as he moved to press his lips against the center between my thighs.

  “Callum, I can’t...I can’t stand up any longer. Move me to the bed.”

  He groaned and stood, lifting me with him as he grabbed onto my bottom. I swung my legs around him as he backed us onto the bed.

  His mouth found mine instantly, and his kiss was so deep that I could scarcely breathe beneath him. He moved slowly on top of me. I couldn’t bear his pace another moment.

  “Please, Callum. Don’t go slowly.”

  He laughed against my mouth, rising just enough so he could grab on to both of my wrists with one of his hands. Slowly, he raised them above my head, effectively pinning them there as he spoke.

  “I’ll not rush this, Sydney. I’ve waited too long.”

  His touch was tender but his kiss urgent, and soon I lost myself in the sensation. By the time we collapsed in each other’s arms, so exhausted that we had no choice but to let sleep finally take us, I knew that I would never spend a night with any other.

  And that was just as I wished it.

  CHAPTER 30

  Callum hoped Sydney would sleep until midday. He knew she must be tired enough to do so. The simple fact that she’d not risen before the sun to go running was a sure sign of her exhaustion. He was tired as well, but with everyone still away enjoying a few days of rest, there was much that he needed to take care of on his own.

  He slipped out of the bed carefully, making sure that his movements didn’t wake her. When he stood, he could see Sydney’s toes sticking out of the bottom of the blankets. He moved around to the end of the bed to cover them before dressing and making his way outside.

  His skin was still warm to the touch from holding Sydney as they slept in each other’s arms. He expected the cool, outside breeze to soothe him. Instead, it seemed to hum with approaching danger.

  The moment he cleared the castle’s main doorway, he ran toward the narrow pathway, watching for the rider he somehow sensed was coming.

  It took only a moment for the rider to crest the small hill. He immediately recognized the tartan as that of the Conalls.

  Callum continued to run toward the rider, and the man didn’t slow the pace of his horse until they met in the middle.

  “What news have ye?”

  The man didn’t wait to dismount to speak.

  “The Conalls, sir. They were attacked on their way home as they neared the territory line. Yer uncle, Donal MacChristy, he…”

  The man trailed off, and Callum’s stomach turned over with dread.

  “What? He what, lad?”

  “He is dead. The man tried to wound Blaire, and he jumped in to save his daughter. They ran him straight through.”

  A sudden wave of loss crashed down on him. No one was more alive than Donal, especially with his excitement over his coming grandchild evident in his every jolly word. The loss was a great one. His father, his brothers, Blaire, all of the Conalls would long be in grief before solace found them.

  “Who? Who attacked them? Who would have reason to? Macaslan is dead.”

  “We doona know. There were five of them that attacked, and they all got away. ’Twas too sudden an attack for even great warriors such as Eoin and Arran to stop them. All we have of the men is this.”

  The rider dismounted and handed him a torn piece of tartan. He didn’t recognize it, not enough to declare his knowledge to the rider, but a flicker of suspicion sparked within him, and every bone in his body grew cold.

  “They kept some for themselves to help in the search, but they asked that I bring ye this in case ye might know it. Donal’s burial is set for this morn. ’Tis all the news I have for ye. I must go back so I am there when the family is ready to continue their search for the attackers.”

  “Aye, o’course ye must. Tell Eoin that I will be in touch shortly. My men and I will aide in all efforts.”

  Callum waited only a moment before turning away from the rider. He ran as quickly as his still-tight leg would allow. He called for Sydney as loudly as he could, hoping with every step she would hear and meet him so he wouldn’t have to spend time retrieving her from his room.

  He knew the moment he saw her running down the staircase that she must have awakened shortly after he did. Thankfully, she was already dressed.

  “What’s wrong? I could see the rider from the window.”

  “I doona have time to explain it to ye. There is something I must attend to this moment, and I canna leave ye here while I do it. I fear we are not safe after all.”

  She didn’t question him further. Together they ran the short distance to the stairwell. When they made it through the other side, he ordered her to go ahead of him.

  “Go on, lass. I’ll find ye as soon as I can and explain everything to ye. Right now, I must speak with Jane.”

  She kissed him, a brief touch of her lips that did much to calm his rattled nerves, then walked out of the stairwell away from him. He followed her into the castle, hoping with every step that Jane would still have what he sought.

  He waited until Sydney turned down into the kitchen, and then he hurried upstairs toward his brother and sister-in-law’s bedchamber. The light was still off inside. He hoped his entry wouldn’t disturb Nora if she still slept.

  Callum knocked once and pushed the door openly as calmly as he could manage, calling out to make his presence known.

  “Jane, are ye in here? I doona wish to wake the babe.”

  “Come in.” Jane ushered him in with a whisper. As he stepped inside, he could see that all wasn’t truly dark inside the room. Jane sat near the window, a small lamp lighting the seat where she held the bottle-suckling Nora in her arms.

  “Jane, I’m sorry to disturb ye, but I must ask something of ye straight away. The blanket that was wrapped around Nora the day of the fire…did ye keep it? Tell me ye did.”


  Callum watched as concern spread across Jane’s face. She stood, still cradling the child.

  “I did. It’s in the keepsake box I started for her. If you’ll take her, I’ll grab it. What is going on?”

  “I just received word that the Conalls were attacked as they neared home. Donal was killed, and no one recognizes the tartan on those that attacked them.”

  Jane’s eyes widened in recognition. “No…you don’t think? Surely not.”

  Callum moved to balance Nora in one arm so that he could retrieve the torn cloth from the edge of his kilt with his free hand.

  “I doona know, Jane. ’Tis why I need ye to retrieve the blanket for me. Does it match this?”

  Jane said nothing until she stood up from the small chest on the opposite side of the room. When she faced him, her face was red with rage.

  The blanket and piece of kilt were a perfect match.

  “That bastard. I’d like to send Laird Allen straight to hell myself.”

  Callum took the blanket from Jane’s trembling hand, his mind reeling from the betrayal.

  “Oh to hell he will go, lass, but will be my hands that send him there.”

  CHAPTER 31

  My heart ached for everyone who knew Donal MacChristy, but none more so than Blaire. All I could think of was the last kitchen conversation I had with her. She told me all about her years-long struggle to get pregnant and how Donal was counting the days until he could hold his grandson—Donal was certain she carried a boy—in his arms.

  Perfect in his timing, he’d appeared in the kitchen doorway, and the first thing he did was spin her chair around so that he could bend and speak to the child.

  “’Tis me again, laddie, yer Grandpapa. I canna wait to count all of yer fingers and toes.” He’d stood and addressed me as if feeling the need to explain. “I mean to make certain the child knows my voice the moment he arrives in this world. Ach, how my wife would have loved a grandchild.”

  I choked up thinking back on the moment with the two of them, and tears fell freely as I hurried to turn away from Callum. He was in the midst of his own grief and sorrow over Donal’s death. I didn’t want him worrying over my own truth. My heart didn’t hurt for any feeling of self-loss, I hurt for Blaire and how devastating the loss would be to her, and I hurt for Donal and the dream he lost that day by protecting the unborn baby he already loved so much.

  “Ye needn’t hide yer tears from me, lass. Many will be shed in these halls over the next days.”

  “My heart is broken for her. For her to have wished and prayed and hoped for a baby for so long—the baby’s birth should only be filled with joy for her. Now, sorrow will be just as present on that day.”

  I turned toward him, moving to wrap myself up in his open arms. He was shaken from the day’s events, but he remained strong for everyone. I got the impression it was his normal way of handling things.

  “Aye it will, and there was no reason that it should be such. No matter how many times I turn it all over in my mind, I canna make sense of it. What reason would Laird Allen have?”

  I couldn’t begin to imagine. Only the day before, everyone in the castle had been singing the man’s praises. None of it fit together well in my mind. Like Callum, I couldn’t arrange all of the separate pieces into any semblance of reason. It worried me. For him to have his men conduct such an outright attack surely meant he was only getting started.

  “I don’t know, Callum. What will you do?”

  When he spoke, his voice was weary. I wished there was more I could do to help him.

  “’Tis no longer my decision alone on how we progress. More information is needed before any of us decides how to move forward. I could almost understand if his ill will was toward me, for no matter the truth of it, I feel responsible for the death of his brother. It wouldna be surprising for him to blame me for that, but for him to attack the Conalls only muddles everything.”

  “Who will decide what to do then? How will you gather more information?”

  He released me and moved to sit by the fire.

  “With the Conalls already home, we canna verra well consult with them at this time. But there are still plenty of us here to represent our allied clans. Everyone here knew Donal. This day will be for grieving his loss. Tomorrow morning all of us will meet and make plans.”

  I could see by the way he sat in his chair—with his back hunched so that he could rest his chin on one clenched fist—that while he would wait for everyone’s advisement and agreement, he’d already made plans of his own.

  “What will you suggest come morning?”

  “In truth, I doona know. Wisdom seems to have left me this eve. I am simply hoping that one among us will find the words that I have not. I only know what I’m about to tell ye. I hope ye will understand. Laird Allen’s actions make it clear to me that Cagair Castle is no more safe now than it was before the fire. I’ll not leave my home unattended again. I’ll not risk the same thing happening twice. While I’ve instructed all workers to stay away, I’ll be sleeping in me home this night.”

  It was the last thing I wanted him to do. While part of me wanted to beg him to stay here, in this time where he was surely safe, it would go against everything I made clear to him from the very first. We were each to have our own lives. I couldn’t tell him what to do if I expected him to give me the same courtesy.

  “Just tell me you’re not staying all alone.”

  “Orick will join me since he’s yet to have any children. Tom has insisted that he stay as well. I’ve no reason to believe anything will happen, but if it should, I’ll not be away this time.”

  “I understand.” And I did, no matter how much it pained me. “Callum, can I ask you something?”

  He looked up and gave me a gentle smile as he spoke. “O’course ye can. Never hesitate to ask me anything.”

  “I know that for so long you didn’t want me going back with you—not until Macaslan was dead. And I know you told me last night that part of your hesitation was born from your fear that anything too quick would scare me away, but I think there was more to it than that. I think that you hesitated because you were worried that you wouldn’t be able to protect me. Like you said just a minute ago, you feel responsible for the fire. I think you knew that if something ever happened to me, you would blame yourself. Am I right?”

  I could tell from the knowing glint in his eyes that I was.

  “Aye, lass. I couldna bear it. The guilt and sorrow would eat me alive.”

  I nodded and moved out of my seat to crouch down beside him. I reached for both of his hands as I spoke.

  “I know, but it wouldn’t be your fault. I want you to know that. Even though you love me, you are not responsible for me. So please, Callum, don’t use your fear over everything that happened to push me away. Tell me you won’t.”

  He lowered his head to kiss me, and the need in his kiss was one of comfort rather than lust.

  “Lass, might we make each other a promise, ye and I? I willna distance myself from ye, though for now, I’ll not be around ye as much as I’d like. I promise ye that when all of this is over, I’ll want ye as much as I do now. Now, will ye make me a promise as well?”

  “What is it?”

  “I know ye told me that ye doona want me telling ye what to do, but in this instance please doona take offense to it. ’Twill ease much of my suffering if ye agree to it. I beg of ye, Sydney, swear to me that ye will not enter my time again until we know the truth of what is happening with Laird Allen, and he has been brought to justice.”

  All he wanted was for me to be safe, but even in times of peace, safety was never a guarantee—that was just the way with life.

  “Callum, what if that takes years?”

  “It willna take years, lass. I fully intend for all of this to be over within a fortnight. Just promise me, for now, that ye will stay safely here so I can see to the safety of others without worrying about ye as well.”

  There would be much to
attend to here. Regardless of the plans that were made in the morning, I knew that lots of little ones would remain here to ensure their safety. My hands, and the hands of anyone else around, would be full. If it truly was just for now, it seemed a simple enough promise to keep.

  “Okay. I promise. I will stay right here until you tell me it is safe to go back with you once more.”

  CHAPTER 32

  “I sent a group of men out this morning to search for answers. I expect the Conalls are already doing the same, and we will hear something from them soon.”

  I sat at the back of the sitting room with Cooper on one side of me and Jerry on the other. Everyone seemed to be in various stages of worry and grief. The atmosphere in the room hung heavy over all of us as Callum led the discussion.

  Callum spoke for a long while, letting everyone know all that he did about the current situation. The room remained quiet while he spoke. Only when he finished did Laird McMillan—Baodan—rise to address Callum.

  “I think it best that me, my brother, and Jeffrey leave for home to make certain no similar attacks are attempted in our own territory, though I doona think it wise for us to do so on horseback.”

  Baodan turned and directed his gaze toward Morna.

  “Can we still travel back at the McMillan Castle of this time? If so, would ye be willing to take us there and see us through today?”

  Morna nodded. I could see from her unsurprised expression that perhaps the thought had already occurred to her.

  “Aye. I’ll leave with ye lads today. Why doona yer wives and children come to stay with me and Jerry for a time? ’Twill be easier for ye to send word to me when things are safe if I am home—I’ve more powers at my disposal there. When I know that ’tis safe for them, and ye’ve let me know ye are ready for them to return, I can send them back. Jerry can go with the others tomorrow so they have time to prepare.”

  Baodan glanced first at Mitsy then over at Eoghanan and Grace, followed by Jeffrey and Kathleen. When they all gave their agreement, Baodan turned back toward Callum.