King of the Isles

by Debbie Mazzuca

  “I’m confused. Start from the beginning. When did this happen?” Fallyn asked, leading her to the white marble bench against the back wall.

  Evangeline sat beside Fallyn and told her everything that had happened. Her voice dropped to a strained whisper when she repeated what Lachlan had said to her.

  “No wonder he was furious with you. Surely we could have spared the men to search for Iain?”

  Evangeline jerked her hand from Fallyn’s, then leapt to her feet. At the very least she would have expected Fallyn, a warrior sworn to protect the Fae, to understand the necessity of what she’d done.

  Fallyn slowly came to her feet, intently studying Evangeline. “You truly believe you had no choice but to do what you did, don’t you?”

  “If I thought otherwise, do you not believe I would have helped Iain? I would’ve done everything in my power to go to his aid. He’s Syrena’s family. I consider him my family ...” She averted her gaze from Fallyn’s. Evangeline had spoken the words without thought, hadn’t recognized the truth until she’d said them aloud. The MacLeods had always gone out of their way to make her welcome, to include her in their family’s celebrations. They probably had no idea how important they were to her. Syrena would, though. And surely if anyone would understand why she’d had no choice but to sacrifice Iain, it would be her best friend. The band lashed across her chest eased somewhat at the knowledge. She turned on her heel.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To Dunvegan.”

  “Are you certain that’s wise, Evangeline? From the sounds of it, Lachlan doesn’t want you anywhere near his family.”

  “I don’t care what he wants.” Her stomach clutched at the lie. She wished she spoke the truth. “I am no longer his wife, nor am I his subject. I can do as I please. He has no say in the matter.”

  “You may be powerful, but you are not invincible. Although Lachlan has no magick, he does carry the Sword of Nuada. One nick from his blade and you’d be dead. Believe me, Evangeline, the man does not need magick the way he wields his sword.” Fallyn held her gaze then sighed. “You appear determined, so all I can do is wish you luck. Perhaps you’re right and an apology will go a ways in gaining their forgiveness.”

  Evangeline frowned. “I’m sorry Iain suffered as a result of the decision I was forced to make, but I go to seek their understanding, not their forgiveness. I have nothing to apologize for. And once I make them see I—”

  “Oh, Evangeline, honestly, you are ...” Fallyn’s gaze focused on a point beyond Evangeline, and her lip curled. “I thought you would be gone by now.”

  “Not without bidding you farewell, my darling.”

  Evangeline turned at the sound of Broderick’s voice only to meet the condemnation in his dark gaze head-on.

  He scowled at her but directed his remark to Fallyn. “You should be careful in the choice of company you keep. You have no—”

  “Mind your tongue, Broderick. Evangeline is my friend.”

  “Like I was about to say, you have no idea what she’s done.”

  “Yes I do, and while I might not condone her actions, she believes she had no other choice.”

  “Since neither of you appears to require my presence, I shall be off.” The certainty Syrena would understand, and the comfort of her magick, helped Evangeline to feel more like herself. She would make everything right. Eyeing Fallyn and Broderick, a slow smile curved her lips. Indeed, that would be most helpful, she thought. Being queen of the Enchanted Isles was the best opportunity she had to protect the Fae. With Syrena’s help, she was certain she could convince Lachlan she had taken the only course of action available to her. By bringing Fallyn and Broderick together as she’d promised him, she’d prove her worth.

  The couple—caught up in their heated exchange—were oblivious to Evangeline. Tiptoeing toward the stable’s entry, she drew on more of her magick. “Better, much better,” she murmured as the warm white light further filled the hollow emptiness left by her confrontation with Lachlan.

  Backing out the stable doors, she flicked her fingers and, out of the couple’s line of sight—not that they would have noticed, engrossed as they were in each other—she conjured a table. After adding a white linen cloth and some wine, she hesitated. As food was not important to her, she was not entirely certain what Fallyn and Broderick would like to eat. She thought of Lachlan, lying amongst the satin pillows being fed sweets by the empty-headed beauties who doted on him.

  She tried to ignore the disturbing thought that at that very moment he could be appeasing his anger at her with those very same women. Relieved when she remembered his intention to head straight to Dunvegan—which was exactly where she needed to be. After loading the table with fruit and sweets, she shifted her gaze to the hard bench along the far wall.

  Not at all conducive to the couple’s comfort. She gave one flick of her finger and an oversized settee appeared; two flicks ... pillows, and on the third, blankets. She smiled at the romantic atmosphere she’d created while drawing deeper on her magick to ward the interior. Confident they wouldn’t be going anywhere until she decided to let them out, Evangeline was about to close the stable doors when Fallyn’s gaze jerked to her.

  “Evangeline, what are you—” Her eyes widened as she took in Evangeline’s handiwork. “No ... no,” she cried, running toward the stable doors. Evangeline had them locked and warded before Fallyn hurled herself against them. At least that’s what Evangeline assumed the loud thunk implied.

  “You let me out of here right now, Evangeline! Evangeline!”

  Evangeline gave herself a mental pat on the back, inordinately pleased with her solution. With no way to escape each other’s company, Broderick and Fallyn would have no choice but to work out their differences, then Lachlan would realize just how useful having Evangeline as his wife could be. She rolled her eyes at the threats Fallyn yelled from within the stable, certain her friend would come to realize Evangeline had been right to take matters into her own hands and would soon be thanking her.

  When she came through the standing stones on the Isle of Lewis in the Mortal realm, some of her confidence faded. Her heart beat a little too fast, her palms were a tad damp. She drew on more of her magick to ease the discomfort. “Better, much better,” she murmured, then transported to Dunvegan.

  Jamie and Alex sat on the steps outside the castle doors, elbows on their knees, chins resting on their hands. At their forlorn expressions, she stood frozen to the cobblestones. “Jamie ... Alex, what ... what’s wrong?”

  They glanced up at her and she steeled herself for their answer. “We lost our dog. And if Mrs. Mac finds him, she’ll give him to Cook.”

  She exhaled a grateful breath. “Oh, that’s good to hear.” Meeting their horrified expressions, she quickly amended, “No ... no, that’s not what I meant. What I meant is that’s good because it’s something I can help you with.”

  They bounded to her side, expectant faces looking up at her.

  “Did you try calling him?”

  Jamie rolled his eyes. “Of course we did, Evie.”

  The smile his comment drew from her faded when she recalled the only other person who called her Evie. And how when Lachlan said it, it felt like an endearment.

  “And you’ve looked in all his favorite hiding places?”

  With a shake of his head, Jamie looked at his brother. “She’s no’ goin’ to help us, Alex.”

  “Of course I am. You just have to trust me. I know what I’m doing. Now, what does he like best to eat?”

  “Little cakes. The kind Auntie Syrena likes,” Alex offered.

  She smiled. Her friend would live on sweets alone if she had her druthers.

  Jamie scoffed. “Nay, he likes meat on a big bone.”

  “We’ll try both and place them near his hiding spots.”

  “’Tis a good plan, but Cook willna give us any food.”

  “We don’t need Cook, Jamie,” Evangeline said, conjuring up a plate of cakes and then ano
ther plate with a chunk of meat still attached to the bone. “All right, now—”

  “What the hell do ye think ye’re doin’ here?” Lachlan stormed from the castle, his face twisted in rage.

  Evangeline opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. “Doona answer, just leave!”

  “Nay, Uncle Lachlan, she’s helpin’ us find our dog.”

  His attention was so intent on her, she didn’t think he heard Jamie. Lachlan drew his sword from its sheath.

  She stepped back. Drawing the boys with her, she pushed the plates of food on them. “Go ... go and set them out for your dog.” She kept her tone even despite the frantic pounding of her heart.

  Alex, looking wide-eyed at his uncle’s furious face, tugged on his brother’s arm. “We’d best go, Jamie.”

  Eyes blazing, Lachlan’s long, menacing strides ate up the ground between them. He pointed the tip of his glowing blade at her chest.

  “Nay!” Jamie threw himself in front of Evangeline at the same time Lachlan lifted his sword. She jerked back then ducked. Grabbing Jamie around the waist, she flung herself to the ground, rolling away with the little boy cradled protectively in her arms.

  Lachlan’s jaw dropped. He looked from the blade to Evangeline. Uncertain if his momentary madness had passed and needing to protect the children, she raised her hand, shooting a charged bolt at his chest. The current lifted him in the air. He landed in a heap at the opposite side of the courtyard.

  She followed a horrified gasp to the castle doors. The MacLeod family stood there, staring at her as if she was evil incarnate.

  Breaking free from her hold, Jamie’s giggle rippled through their condemning silence. “Did ye see that, Alex? Uncle Lachlan can fly!”

  Chapter 16

  Pointing to the tawny long-haired dog that sniffed Lachlan’s prone body through the smoke spiraling from his chest, Alex squealed, “Look, Jamie, she did it!”

  Aileanna hurried to Lachlan’s side, shooing off the boys and their pet while Syrena rushed to Evangeline’s defense, standing protectively in front of her. “Stop it, both of you. Help Aileanna with Lachlan,” she ordered the two men who towered threateningly above her, matching muscles jumping in their steely jaws. Evangeline felt certain that if not for Lachlan’s pained moan, the men would have set Syrena aside and happily torn Evangeline limb from limb.

  Aidan glared at her then, turning on his heel, tromped to his brother’s side.

  “Lachlan’s fine. Now do as Syrena asked and help him to his feet,” Aileanna said, positioning herself in front of her husband. “When you have composed yourselves, we will discuss this matter in my solar,” she said, nudging Evangeline toward the castle.

  “Fer Chrissakes, Aileanna, ye’re no’ bringin’ her into my home.”

  With a stubborn jut of her chin, Aileanna tapped her finger on her husband’s broad chest. “Oh, it’s your home, is it, now? Well, excuse me if I thought it was mine, too.”

  “You’re twistin’ my words. You ken exactly what I mean, and I expect you to obey me in this.”

  “Obey ... obey, why—”

  Rory rested his hands on his wife’s shoulders. “Mo chridhe, doona get fashed. ’Tis no’ good fer you or the bairn.”

  Taking advantage of the couple’s discord, Syrena hustled Evangeline into the keep. “What, by all that is Fae, were you thinking?” she asked as she dragged Evangeline across the entryway.

  “I was thinking he was going to kill me and the children.”

  “Evangeline, he would never ...” As the men’s voices filtered through the open door, Syrena pushed her up the stairs. Breathless by the time they reached the upper level, Syrena pointed in the direction of Aileanna’s solar.

  “You will take some time to calm yourselves before joining us,” Aileanna ordered the men from the bottom of the stairs.

  At the disappointed look on Syrena’s face as she closed the solar’s door, Evangeline protested, “You didn’t see him, he had his sword pointed at my chest. What was I—” She stopped as the door opened, relieved when only Aileanna walked in. She needed to get her friends on her side before dealing with the MacLeod men.

  Closing the door behind her, Aileanna leaned heavily against it. A loud knocking came from the other side and she huffed an exasperated breath, opening it a crack. Jamie and Alex pushed their way inside, brandishing wooden swords.

  “Boys, what do you think you’re doing?”

  “We’ve come to protect Evie,” they told their mother, then crossed to where Evangeline hovered by the stone fireplace.

  Before Aileanna could protest, Rory, Aidan, and a pale and disheveled Lachlan stormed into the room.

  “I told you not to come up here until you’d—”

  “Ferget it,” Lachlan growled.

  “You may be a king in the Fae realm, Lachlan MacLeod, but you’re not one here. Now sit down before you fall down,” Aileanna ordered. “All of you.”

  Lachlan shoved a hand through his tousled hair and shot an indignant look at his cousin.

  Rory shrugged. “Might as well do as she says. The bairn makes her cranky.”

  Jamie and Alex raised their swords when Lachlan pinned Evangeline with a vengeful glare and took a threatening step toward her.

  “Lachlan, sit down before the demons take ye out at the knees.”

  Grunting, he did as his brother asked. The three men’s hulking frames sat smushed together on the settee.

  “Evangeline, I want you to tell your side of the story. And you three,” Syrena swept her finger over the glowering MacLeods, “will not say a word until she’s finished.”

  Focusing her attention on the two women, Evangeline started her tale at the very beginning—from when she’d first given her blood to Lachlan to save his life. Her voice dropped as she relayed what the state of her magick had been at the time. And she made sure they understood how very real the danger to the Enchanted Isles was if Magnus got hold of Uscias’s secret. Several times she had to raise her voice to be heard over Lachlan’s derisive mutterings. But in the end, she was certain at least Syrena and Aileanna understood why she’d had no choice but to sacrifice Iain.

  “As for using my magick against Lachlan in the courtyard, you know as well as I do, Syrena, if I’d wanted to kill him instead of simply stopping him from harming the children or myself, I could have ... easily. Just like that,” she said, snapping her fingers in Lachlan’s direction. She grew tired of defending herself and listening to him malign her character.

  Jamie exchanged a glance with Alex, then nodded. Lowering their swords, they walked to the door.

  Lachlan snorted. “Ye see, even the bairns will no’ stand in yer defense after hearin’ what ye did.”

  Evangeline’s heart pinched. Although it wasn’t as if the boys could protect her, their support had been comforting.

  Jamie looked at his uncle, furrowing his brow. “Nay, we’re hungry is all. We fergot Evie doesna need us to look after her. She can just go like this,” he flicked his finger at Lachlan, “and turn ye into a bug,” he giggled, “or make ye fly. Ye should have seen yerself, Uncle Lachlan.”

  Alex laughed appreciatively at his brother’s impersonation of Lachlan flying through the air. Evangeline dropped her gaze to the wood floor and bit the inside of her lip.

  “ ’Tis no’ somethin’ to tease yer uncle aboot. Be off with ye now,” Aidan ordered.

  The boys glowered at Aidan, beating a hasty retreat when he made to rise from the settee. Before he closed the door behind him, Jamie said, “Evie, if Uncle Aidan yells at ye again, turn him into a toad.”

  “Out!” Aidan bellowed.

  The door cracked open an inch. “But if ye do, doona ferget to come and get us. We can use him for bait when we go fishin’.”

  Aidan jumped to his feet and Jamie squealed, slamming the door. “’Tis no’ funny, Syrena,” he muttered.

  “No, of course it’s not,” Syrena said, dabbing at her eyes. Her expression grew serious when she looked at Evangeli
ne. Blowing out a frustrated breath as she tried to lever herself off the settee, she thanked Aileanna for her helpful push.

  “Evangeline,” Syrena said as she came to stand before her, “no one could ask for a better friend than you. You have always been there for me. You’ve protected me without any regard to your own safety. I know you better than anyone in this room.” She directed a quelling look at Lachlan, then took Evangeline’s hand in hers. “And that’s why I know in your heart you truly believe you did the right thing. But even you must admit you went too far this time.”

  “What are you saying, Syrena? I—” A hurtful ache built in Evangeline’s chest. The one person she thought would support her now appeared to condemn her.

  “No, let me finish. It’s important for you to see that in your need to prove your father and everyone else wrong, you’ve overreacted. You see danger where none exists, and put others at risk.”

  Evangeline swallowed past the lump in her throat. The room blurred in a misty haze and she blinked her eyes. “I’m not evil, Syrena. I truly believe ... believed I had no other choice.”

  “No ... no, Evangeline, we do not think you’re evil,” Syrena said emphatically, squeezing her hand

  “Lachlan does.” Her throat ached, but she pushed the words out, sweeping her gaze over his family. “I’m sorry for the pain I caused Iain. I would like to tell him so if you’ll let me.”

  At a nod from Rory, Syrena said, “Yes, of course.”

  “Thank you.” Evangeline walked toward the door, tugging absently on her magick, but even the warm glow no longer comforted her.

  Lachlan flinched as Syrena stalked toward him. She drilled her sharp-tipped finger into his chest. “You told her she was evil?”

  “Nay.” He pushed deeper into the couch. “Fer Chrissakes, Syrena, she left Iain to die.” His heated defense of his actions no longer felt justified. Not after listening to Evangeline tell her side of the tale. She truly believed she had no other choice. Despite his anger at what she’d done, he shouldn’t have let his fear for his cousin cloud his judgment. And never should he have lashed out at her the way he had.