Edane
Immortal Highlander, Clan Mag Raith Book 3
Hazel Hunter
Contents
HH ONLINE
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Sneak Peek
Glossary
Pronunciation Guide
Copyright
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Chapter One
A FINE MIST of rain greeted Edane mag Raith as he led his restless chestnut gelding out of the stable. He flipped his tartan over the quiver and bow at his shoulder to keep both dry. The storm rushed over Dun Chaill in a vast river of gray cloud, parting now and then to allow brief flashes of daylight. They came from the sun, now as a golden bauble surfacing and submerging in the roiling tempest.
Aye. He felt the storm reaching inside him, stirring the change that came only with the wind and rain. Take me with you.
Domnall mag Raith came to join him, and surveyed the skies with his shrewd verdant eyes. Tall, broad and heavily muscled, the chieftain dwarfed all but one of his clan.
“I’d ride with you,” Domnall said, “but I vowed to Jenna I’d finish the bath chamber today.”
“’Tis a patrol of the boundary. Likely the Gods shall but give me and the nag a good wash.” Edane swung up onto the gelding, and scanned the storm once more before regarding the chieftain. “Yet if they drop a naked lass in my lap, I’ll be longer away.”
Domnall grinned and stepped back. “Then I bid you fair hunting, Brother.”
The gelding went still as Edane let the storm transform him. Each time he had made the change he imagined he’d feel accustomed to it, but the electric thrill of becoming lighter than air still sizzled through his veins. Brilliant light engulfed him as he touched his heels to the horse’s sides, and his mount surged forward. A moment later the gelding’s hooves left the ground as they soared up into the clouds.
Edane and the other Mag Raith had quickly learned that their ability to fly came only with a storm. During their first ascent, while battling the Sluath, they had been astounded to discover they could fight their enemy in the air. The winged underworld demons that had long ago enslaved the five hunters had apparently given them the ability, along with other bewildering alterations. The Mag Raith no longer aged or grew sick, and even the gravest wounds they sustained healed rapidly. Each hunter also had a particular power beyond that of an ordinary mortal. How and why the demons had bestowed such gifts remained a mystery, for the Sluath had also stripped the hunters of their memories.
Edane still resented many things the Sluath had done to him and his brothers, but not this. Flying through the lashing rain and howling wind made him feel as he did with a bow in his hands: strong and sure.
Now looking down on the sprawling walls and towers of Dun Chaill, a sense of accomplishment added to Edane’s elation. Left to rot for centuries, the castle had been in ruins when the Mag Raith had arrived to claim it. After the many months he and his clan had spent rebuilding and restoring the keepe, it was beginning to look more like a proper stronghold.
The feel of nearby magic sparkled against his flesh and drew Edane’s attention back to the air before him, where he could see the shimmer of the looming spell boundary. He didn’t know who had placed the protective enchantment around Dun Chaill and the surrounding forests, but the ancient spell caster had been very powerful. The ward had protected the ruins so closely that not even the smallest insects could cross the spell barrier.
But the Sluath may.
He remembered the lone scout that had attacked the stronghold during another storm. Domnall had slain the demon before it could summon the rest of its infernal horde, but the suddenness of the attack had prompted the chieftain to begin storm patrols.
The mist below Edane parted, and he frowned as he spotted a pale figure running through the tall grasses of the glen. The only mortals near Dun Chaill had burned and abandoned their village in the spring after what Domnall surmised was an outbreak of plague. This one appeared to be a lad, perhaps left behind to die but now recovered.
His gaze shifted to the flashing light in the clouds behind the boy, from which a Sluath demon descended. Since the demons preyed on mortals left alone and vulnerable, his pursuit could mean only one fate for the lad.
Edane urged his mount to descend. He reached back to fling aside his tartan as he drew an iron-tipped arrow from his quiver, letting the bow slide down into his fist.
“You’ll no’ steal this one, you fack.”
* * *
If the gorgeous goon with the wings grabbed her, Nellie Quinn knew she’d be cut down like cheap hooch. She’d figured that out the minute she’d eyeballed him swooping in from the clouds, all icy claws and teeth.
“Rebel slut,” the goon had hissed. “You’ll make a fine prize for our prince.”
Whatever big cheese he worked for, Nellie knew he was some kind of button man, so she ran. Now a Robin Hood riding the sky on a horse was coming at her from the other direction, a bow in his hand.
“Oh, swell.”
She swerved away, ducking as she did. She heard a whistle and glanced back to see Robin clip the goon with three arrows, one after another, so fast she only saw them hit.
The goon screeched and nearly fell to the ground. Black stuff splashed from his wings as he flapped and lunged back up to disappear into the clouds. Nellie promptly tripped and fell, pain streaking up from her ankle as she flopped into a puddle.
I’m done running.
She rolled over and let the rain wash the mud from her face. The rest of her got a good, cool dousing, too, which was when she realized she was in the altogether. She pushed herself up on her elbows to be sure, and saw Robin Hood running toward her.
Nellie should have tried to crawl off, but she was too busy enjoying the show. Golly, but he was handsome. Wet scarlet hair poured around a Valentino face. He had eyes so blue they should have been July sky. All that long, keen body made her hands itch to pet him. The only thing she didn’t like were the weird black tattoos on his right arm. Something about them made her want to spit.
He can cover them up, Nellie thought, enchanted.
“Lad, arenae you–”
As he got close, he stopped and stared at her bare peaches and kitty.
&
nbsp; Not that she had much fruit or fur to show, she thought, and then chuckled with relief. She had what she had, and the goon didn’t have her, and that was jake, all because of Robin.
“Not a fella,” she said. To show she still had some manners, she held out her hand. “Nellie Quinn. Thanks for drilling that goon. Thought for a minute there I was headed for the big sleep.”
“My name’s Edane mag Raith.”
Rather than shake, he tugged the wet green and black blanket from his shoulders and knelt down to cover her with it.
Delighted to have him so close, Nellie curled a hand around his neck, and tugged him forward to give him a quick kiss. He tasted like rain and man, and he smelled even better, so she went back for another, longer try. Oh, what she’d give for a room and a bed and all the time in the world with Edane. He kept his eyes open like hers, but after a bit she realized he wasn’t kissing her back.
No point getting stuck on a fella who didn’t want her. With a sigh she broke it off.
“Why did you that?” he asked, his breath caressing her lips.
“You saved me.” She traced a finger across his pretty mouth. He sure did talk funny, but he was just too sheik for her not to crush on. “So, you got a squeeze back at your joint, or can a girl hope?”
He blinked. “The demon didnae chase you from Wachvale.”
“Don’t know. I came to, saw the flash and claws, and heard him say something about a prize and a prince. I skedaddled.” Strange things flashed through her mind as she wrapped his drippy plaid around her and sat up. “Feeling a bit out on the roof here, Danny. Give me a hand up?”
“No’ Danny,” he said. “Edane.”
“Right.” Boy, was he a stickler. As soon as Edane took hold of her, the images faded. Instead Nellie felt something like a hot kiss on the back of her neck, and swiped at it. “Hey, that smarts.” She traced the heated marks with her fingertips. “Like something burned me.”
Edane stepped behind her, removed her hand, and then made a funny sound. A moment later he came around again, and looked at his arm before he met her gaze.
“You’re marked by the Sluath.”
“Yeah, sure.” She smiled. “What’s a Sluath?”
“More than I’ve time to tell you.” He nodded toward the big copper-colored horse. “We must now go, my lady.”
“Before that goon buzzes back, right?” Relieved to know he wouldn’t ditch her there, Nellie tucked her arm through his. “Let’s breeze.”
Walking up to the flying horse should have given Nellie the jitters, but the minute she got close she saw the big beast didn’t come with wings. The animal also seemed oddly familiar to her, as if she’d been around plenty of bangtails before this one.
“Heya, Houdini.” She offered a hand, which the horse sniffed and nuzzled, instantly charming her. “Aren’t you the sweetest?”
“Forgive me my haste, my lady,” Edane said, hoisting her onto the strange saddle as if she were made of feathers. He mounted behind her and tucked a strong arm around her waist, sending a wave of heat through her middle. “We must fly.”
A cloud of light swamped Nellie, making her tingle all over, and then the horse galloped up into the air. Her wet hair whipped around her cheeks as she looked down at the ground dwindling beneath them. She hadn’t imagined any of it. The guy had a flying horse.
She definitely wasn’t ossified. This was really happening to her.
“’Twillnae take long to reach the stronghold,” he called to her through the wind rushing around them. “Dinnae fear.”
“You slay me,” she yelled back, leaning against his hard chest with a shivery shimmy. It felt so good to be pressed up against him as they soared through the sky she laughed like a kid. “I’m sitting so pretty that I’m never climbing down.”
His hand spread over her side, his fingers not too tight now. Next, he’d start roaming them around and having fun with her, Nellie thought, sure she wouldn’t mind that. A little petting might just do the trick to clear out the cobwebs. Only he didn’t. Nellie covered his hand with hers to give him a nudge in the right direction, and he curled his fingers through hers. The affectionate move made a funny pang bounce around in her chest.
He could have pawed me all he wanted back in the grass. Instead he’s getting me safe. He’s just like…
Nellie yelped as a shiv of pain rammed through her head. At the same time the cloud dropped a burst of heavy rain over them, soaking her all over again.
Edane leaned closer to say, “Nearly home, my lady.”
“Swell.”
She let her pounding head fall back against his shoulder and closed her wet eyes. Even as cold and drenched as she was, being in his arms felt better than trying to think. She didn’t know anything more than this, and that felt good. For a little while she could just pretend she was his girl, and let the bucketing torrents wash her clean.
Too bad the storm couldn’t do that to all the dark blankness on the inside of her head. She must have really done it up last night to have such a hangover.
The horse whinnied just before it landed, and rain tears streaked down Nellie’s face as she rubbed her eyes. When she could see again, she stared at the tumbled-down stones and decaying towers in front of them and blinked a few times.
Nope, it wasn’t getting better.
“Jeepers, Danny,” she said as he dismounted. “Your joint’s a dump.” She caught how he was looking at her and recalled how huffy he’d gotten about using his proper name. “Edane, sorry.”
“’Tis called Dun Chaill, no’ a joint.” He sounded perplexed rather than annoyed. “I live here with my brothers, the Mag Raith, and their mates.” Taking hold of her waist, he swung her down off the saddle. “You’ll be safe here, my lady.”
Okay, so his place wasn’t the duck’s quack. Nellie was more interested in how her new fella intended to keep her safe. He liked her, judging by the way he held her against him just a little too long before setting her on her feet. Every bit of him was hard and tough, and made her want to ditch the plaid and feel him against all of her naked skin, right here.
“The rain doesnae stop.” He stared at her mouth as if he’d never seen one, and his hands tightened a little on her waist. “We should go in.”
“Or we could just go.” She tugged at one of the worn hide strips lacing the top of his shabby shirt together. A guy this sheik should be dressed in the best, not in duds a hobo would burn.
“Go where?” Edane murmured.
“Maybe back to my place.” Thing was, Nellie couldn’t remember her place, or where it was, exactly. Trying to think about it just made her head hurt again. “Where have I got to, anyway? Jersey?”
His fascination with her kisser ended right there.
“You’ve come to Scotland, my lady,” Edane said, folding his long fingers over hers. “Come inside now. My clan shall welcome you.”
Nellie wasn’t sure about the clan, or being on the wrong side of the ocean, but she was becoming hooked on the hand-holding. The guy made her feel so good she didn’t have to be bad just to get by. She also didn’t want to think about whatever trouble she’d left behind, so she went with him into the dive.
Looking at the mossy stonework made her shiver with cold, as if there were a blizzard outside instead of rain. “You like living in this pile of rocks?”
“’Tis my home.” He glanced down at her, and his pretty eyes darkened a little. “You’ve cheeks like new-bloomed roses.”
Pleased by his poetic flattery, she bumped her shoulder against his. “You put them there, pal.”
They emerged from a passage into a big room built of stone, with a tree growing up right in the middle to disappear into a ceiling of woven weeds and branches. What little furniture there was looked rough and crude, little more than logs and planks. Her skin started to crawl, and she skidded to a stop, jerking her fingers from his so hard the back of her hand hit the wall.
A huge horrible thing covered in muck limped out of the shining, me
lting stone and trudged toward her, flashing big teeth as it let out a howl of rage.
“They shall suffer,” the monster shouted.
Nellie screamed as it stretched out its arms. She ducked and ran past it…straight into the wall, which hadn’t melted after all. She sapped herself and tottered back, her vision wavering. Through the pain she heard Edane call her name, but nothing was keeping her from dancing into blessed, empty darkness.
Chapter Two
NELLIE’S SHRIEK OF terror dumbfounded Edane, but her charge at the wall made him panic and lunge for her. Too late to stop her from colliding with the stone, he caught her as she fell back. Her eyes rolled up and she went limp in his arms.
“My lady?” He lifted her against his chest, and felt his gut clench as the scrape on her brow began to swell and bleed. Against his skin he felt the marks on her nape grow hot, and the muscles in his arm bunched as if in response. “Open your eyes. Nellie.”
She didn’t stir.
Furious with himself, he stared at the wall, but saw nothing. What could have frightened her so much that she’d tried to run away?
The sound of every member of the clan running into the great hall drew his attention. As they surrounded him, all of them tried to speak at once.
“By the Gods,” Domnall said, setting down the timber he had balanced on his shoulder before joining Edane. From the wood chips caught in his light brown mane and scattered over his wet tunic he’d been working in the bathing chamber. “Did she escape the underworld?”
Edane: Immortal Highlander, Clan Mag Raith Book 3 Page 1
