Loki (10 page)

“I do so, and you’ll no’ take it.”

“Lad, you have naught but a tin cup, an old pan, and a few dirty plaids.” She rolled her eyes at Kenzie, though the wee laddie was rather cute.

“Aye, and that pan belonged to the great Loki Grant. ‘Tis worth some coin, I think.”

Bella sat up and stared at him. “Did you say Loki Grant? You know him? Where is he?” Pieces of the puzzle finally fit together in her hazed, partially frozen mind. A lad without a home who slept in a crate in the royal burgh…She stared at her surroundings, realizing she was in just the type of situation Loki had spent the first few years of his life in. The man she loved had lived in a location much like this one, and her heart suddenly ached for this lad.

“Nay, I dinna know Lucky Loki, but he used to live here before Alex Grant adopted him.”

“Alex Grant did not adopt Loki Grant, his brother Brodie did.”

Kenzie’s brow furrowed. “That’s what the other man said. Are you sure?”

“Aye, I’m sure. Now where is this other man?” Cute as he was, she wished to grab him by the collar and shake him.

“The lad who was here went to the tavern in Doongait.”

“How long ago?” She hugged her knees tight to her chest, hoping to stop her shivering. Hell, but she hadn’t guessed the cold would soak through her like this.

“Almost a sennight.”

The timing could fit. Loki could have been here before he was kidnapped, before he met his sire. “What did he look like?” Bella’s heartbeat sped up, excited that she might have a lead on locating Loki.

“He was tall and strong…big muscles…and he was odd looking. And he was with an older man who had darker hair. He was a bit shorter, but he was all muscle, too. I’ve seen him before, but I dinna know him.”

“What do you mean odd looking?”

“He had one eye blue and one eye green. ’Tis rare.”

“That’s him!” Bella whooped and hugged the lad. “Where exactly did he go?”

“That’s who?”

“That’s who I’m looking for, Loki Grant and his friend, Logan Ramsay.”

“‘Twas no’ Loki Grant or he would have told me.” The boy looked so disappointed it almost broke Bella’s heart.

“Mayhap he was in a hurry,” she said through the chatter of her teeth.

“Aye, he was. The other man told him to hurry.”

“You mean Logan Ramsay?”

“That was Logan Ramsay, the one who spied for the crown when the Norse were here?” His eyes grew wide while he leaned in toward her.

Her words came slowly between the chattering of her teeth and the shivers wracking her small frame. “Aye. Well done. You met both Loki Grant and Logan Ramsay. Now you just need to take me to them.”

“But you dinna look verra good, my lady.”

Bella shivered and toppled over onto her side.

Chapter Eleven

Loki spurred his horse into a gallop, hoping he could get away before his sire sent men after him. He almost made it back to the outskirts of Ayr before he heard horses. Hiding in the trees, he waited for them to pass, just noticing that it had started to rain, the kind that would freeze on the paths and turn treacherous. He didn’t have his sword anymore, just his sire’s dagger.

His uncle and his cousin stopped directly in front of him. “What took you so long? We thought you would have freed yourself already.”

Loki smiled, but said, “Get me away from here and I’ll tell you the whole story.”

“Didn’t like spending time with your new sire?”

Loki glowered at Logan. “He’s not my sire any longer. I want naught to do with him. When did you find out something was wrong?”

“The messengers bypassed me. He sent one to my brother, one to the Grants, and one to the Camerons, but Torrian and I followed them until they split. We convinced the lad heading to Ramsay land to give us the message. Then we sent another message to the Cameron updating him.”

“The man makes me ill. I waited so long to find him, and for what? He’s naught but scum.”

“Mayhap ‘tis not for naught. You can still tell Bella’s sire you are of noble blood,” Torrian said, “just as you’d hoped.”

“If being of his blood impresses Bella’s father, then I am not interested in convincing him of my worth. Bella and I will just marry. To hell with what her sire wants. Bella and I belong together. I only have one sire—Brodie Grant.”

Logan snorted, “Finally. Must be your true sire knocked some sense into that thick skull of yours.”

Torrian beamed, “Aye, must have been a good swing. ‘Tis one thick head, and stubborn. He finally speaks with a bit of wisdom.”

Loki ignored them and flicked the reins, moving his horse along, all the time feeling quite satisfied with his decision. Logan and Torrian agreed with him, though they’d said it in their own twisted way. Didn’t matter, their agreement was enough for him. Resolved with a new sense of purpose, much of his doubt fell away as he envisioned telling Bella the same.

They headed toward Ayr. Once they reached the tavern, Loki heaved out a sigh and said, “I need a bath. Do you think I’ll get one in the middle of the night?”

Logan said, “Aye, I’ll see to it. You’re covered in blood, and you’ve traveled through rain without a mantle. It’s a wonder the rain did not freeze you. The bath is what you need. We’ll make our plans after. You are likely hungry for victuals as well. I’ll have something ready for you.”

The tavern owner showed Loki where he could bathe. Before he left, he turned around to face his uncle and his cousin and said, “I’ve got naught. Have you aught I can wear? These clothes smell and I do not wish to be reminded of my sire at all. I wish to burn them.”

Logan nodded and went up to their chamber, returning with a satchel that he tossed to Loki. “Take what you need, lad, then meet us out here in the tavern room.”

Half an hour later, Loki came out with wet hair and a fresh plaid over breeches. “I feel much better,” he said as he joined Torrian and Logan at the table. My thanks.”

“Aye, we ordered meat pies and ale. Will that suit?”

Loki sighed in satisfaction. “Aye. My sire’s accommodations in the dungeon were not verra nice. The food was not much either. In fact, there was one oatcake I never could reach.”

“Then eat up. You can tell us all after your belly is full.”

Loki ate everything the other two didn’t want.

“Judging by the colors on your face,” Logan said, “I’m guessing it took you a little longer to escape because you took a beating or two. From your sire or his goons?”

“Hamish and Hector and a few others. I know their faces. I was out for a while after the first beating, but I do not know how long.”

Logan grinned and waggled his eyebrows at his nephew. “You must have got a good one or two in first, aye? Your knuckles are torn up a bit. If you’ve learned aught from me, your answer will be a resounding aye.”

Loki chuckled, then rubbed his belly and sighed. “Aye, I did. I smashed my sire’s face against the iron bars a few times before they stopped me. Shite, but that felt good.”

“How’d they get you in there?” Torrian asked. “You are a hell of a fighter, cousin.”

“Shortly after Logan left, my father drugged me and I awoke in the dungeon.”

“And how’d you get out?”

“Picked the lock on the manacles they had on me, then convinced my sire to come into the cell to talk to me. I nearly choked the rat bastard.”

“Well done, nephew.” Logan gave him a look that told him how proud he was. “Glad to hear you’ve changed your mind about Bella. The poor lass will be pleased. She’s stayed loyal to you through all.”

“Aye, you have a bit of time to think if you’re stuck in a dungeon. I do not care what her sire wants. If Bella will still have me, I’ll marry her.”

“Are you choosing marriage over working for the Scottish crown?”

Loki paused for a moment before he answered. “I would like to discuss it with Bella. I’m not sure where she would prefer to live. Her sister is to marry and move away, so mayhap she would rather live here. If so, I could still work with you.”

“Lad, you’ve only just found your way out of a bad situation. I’ll give you time to think on it. No need to rush your decision. The only thing you need to do at present is fill your belly.”

The door burst open and they could overhear a young lad talking to the tavern owner, upset about something. Loki perked his ears up when he heard his name.

“…and Logan Ramsay. I know they were here before, and I really need to speak to them. ‘Tis someone looking for them, and she’s no’ good.”

Loki shoved his chair away from the table and headed out into the entrance to the inn just as the tavern owner shoved the lad back out the door. “We’ll have none of that here. You go back to your crates, lad.”

“Hold, please. I’d like to speak to the lad.”

The tavern owner turned to Loki and mumbled, “You may speak to him outside. I’ll not have the likes of him inside my establishment. His odor would send my good customers away.”

Loki nodded and stepped outside the door just in time to see Kenzie running away. “Lucky Kenzie!” Loki bellowed down the pathway. The lad halted and spun around, then raced toward him.

“The lass. She was asking for you and Lord Ramsay, but she’s no’ good now. I cannot wake her. I think she’s too cold.”

Loki shoved the piece of bread he held in his hand at Kenzie, then spun back to the tavern to yell inside. “Uncle Logan, I’ll be back.”

Logan followed him outside. “What is it?”

“He says a lass is seeking us, and she’s sick with cold. My Bella is bull-headed sometimes, so it could be her. Can you find a kirk and a priest who would marry us? I’m headed to Woodgait and there’s a kirk not far from there. At least I could warm her there if it proves to be my Bella.”

“Aye, I know the place. We’ll be there awaiting you.”

Kenzie had already climbed onto the horse he’d rode to the inn, so Loki mounted his own beast and followed the boy out of Doongait toward Woodgait. Once they arrived, Kenzie dismounted, tied the horse, and ran to his area behind the tavern, waving his arm to direct Loki toward the back.

Loki didn’t know what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t what he found. Bella was on her side under an oak tree, her skin a grayish hue, her breathing shallow and barely visible in the cold. He knelt down beside her, peering at her in the dark before he shook her shoulder. “Bella! ‘Tis me, Loki.” He paused.

Kenzie stared at him, his eyes wide with admiration. “She was right. ‘Tis you. You are Loki Grant, just as she said.”

“Aye, lad. But I do not have time for that. We must get her to the kirk, somewhere warm.” She didn’t budge, so he lifted her tiny form into his arms and ran back to his horse, slipping and sliding along the way as he fought to stay upright on the ice. “Kenzie, help me get her on the horse.”

Once they were ready to leave, Loki said, “My thanks, lad. I’ll return with coin later. We’ll be at the kirk if you want to get out of the cold.”

He flicked the reins of his horse and headed back down the pathway. His uncle and his cousin already stood in front of the kirk waiting for him. He handed Bella down to Logan while Torrian held his horse.

“She does not look good, Loki,” Torrian said.

“I’ll warm her inside. She’s just too cold. I cannot imagine how far she rode. Kenzie told me ‘twas her horse he rode, and I have no idea where she found a horse.” He stepped inside the church and sat on the nearest bench. “Help me get her mantle off.”

Logan and Loki stripped her down to her chemise, which was miraculously still dry, then wrapped her in an extra Ramsay plaid. Loki wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear. The priest came out from the back room and spoke to Logan.

Loki couldn’t heed them. “Bella,” he whispered. “Please come back to me. I love you, and if you’ll still have me, we’ll get married right now. The priest is here.” He rocked her in his arms, praying she would warm up. She was as cold as the highest ridge in the Highlands in January, but he wouldn’t stop holding her.

The priest led him to the hearth in the back, then brought him a cup of broth. “Here, lad. Try this if she awakens.”

His father had told him he had no heart, but this was proof that he did. He could feel it breaking into pieces at the thought of losing his Bella, his love. He’d never tire of telling her how much he loved her if she’d only wake up. “Bella, please, fight. Come back to me, I miss you already.” He sat for a few moments in front of the fire, rocking her close to his chest.

“Loki?” A soft whisper greeted his ear and he wanted to shout to the high heavens.

“Lass? Here, I have some broth to warm your insides.” He helped her sit so he could feed her the broth. He held her tight, rubbing her arms and whispering sweet words to her, anything he could do to bring her back to him. “I love you, lass. Please do not frighten me like that again.”

Her hands trembled as she reached for the broth, but she was able to offer him a weak smile.

“I love you, too, Loki Grant. Do not ever leave me again…promise?”

***

Bella stared at the love of her life, her heart melting as his words. Was it true or was she dreaming? The last thing she could recall was arriving at Ayr on her horse and having to pay a toll in the frigid wind of a cold autumn night. She recalled naught after that except a wee lad with dark red hair covering her with a plaid. The rest was blank.

But she would swear on her life that Loki had just proposed marriage to her. Squinting at him through her still dampened lashes, she had to ask. “I’m sorry, Loki, but what was it you said to me?”

He grinned and showed her the whitest smile she’d ever seen. “You heard me, aye? You heard the word marriage?”

Squeezing his arm, she said, “Aye, and do not tell me you’ve changed your mind already. ‘Tis quite impossible.”

Loki gazed into her eyes and her heart pounded from the look he gave her. One blue eye and one green reached inside of her and grabbed her, swearing to never let go. Her heart swelled even more when he whispered, “Aye, you heard right, if you wish to marry me and make all my days happy ones, then please say aye.”

“Aye, Loki. Naught would make me happier. Are you sure you do not wish to wait to marry with your family?”

“Nay, I wish to marry you right this moment if you’ll have me, Bella. You’ve had me ever since the day you swore your love for me, but this will make our love known to everyone. ‘Tis what I want.”

She nodded, tears forming on her lashes. He kissed her lips, then turned to face the priest. “Father, would you do us the honor of marrying us this day? ‘Tis almost morn, is it not?”

“Aye, lad, ‘twould please me to marry you, as soon as the lass is warmed enough, we shall.” The priest spoke to Torrian and Logan a short distance away. “Will you agree to be witnesses to this marriage?”

Torrian nodded and Logan strolled toward them with a wide smile on his face. “Aye, the two of you remind me of my sister and her husband when they married in such haste. ‘Twas the best decision they ever made, and my guess is ‘twill be the same for you. Whenever you are ready, lass.”

Bella decided it was time, so she scooted to the edge of Loki’s lap and set her feet down on the floorboards of the kirk to stand. She almost lost her footing, but hung on to Loki with a death grip until she finally managed to push herself upright. As soon as she did, she glanced at the priest and said, “I’m ready, Father, if you please.”

Father nodded to her, his hands clasped in front of him. “My name is Father Brian.” He held his hand out to his side. “Why do we not head to the center of the kirk so I can marry you there?”

Bella padded to the front of the church, Loki’s arm wrapped around her waist for support, until they stood in front of the altar—Torrian on one side of them, Logan on the other. Father Brian began the ceremony by wrapping their hands in the blue Ramsay tartan she and Loki both wore, but Loki stopped him and reached into his sporran to pull out a thin piece of the red Grant plaid that could be used instead of the blue plaid.