A Warrior's Perception (19 page)

The isle, being a part of Fae herself, laughed with her and shared Joaquinn's sentiment, but Her laughter held a far greater amused ring to it. Joaquinn's future had already been planned and Vacrey was intent on seeing those plans through. Vacrey turned Her attention to the realm of mankind as Andra numbly walked the halls of McKregan Keep. She blew kisses of strength and pride at the daughter of JaQuay.

It seemed like an eternity since Kagan had left the keep. He had been gone only two days and time had seemed to slow and the temperature had grown cold. No one in the keep's domain would tell her where he had gone and it had left Andra in a bitter mood. Andra knew he had taken at least ten of his warriors. Their absence was marked by the unheard sounds of clanging steel and hammering fists. The silence hung heavy in the air and even heavier on Andra's shoulders. The keep was deathly quite like the quite before a storm and Andra's nerves were on edge. She ran her hand along the cool stone pillar at the end of the great hall and stopped.

Her thoughts were on Kagan as a maid scurried by, unnoticed by Andra. Her brows knitted together as she wondered why she responded so wantonly to him. The sudden butterflies in her stomach and yearning in her loins flared as her face flushed. She could still feel his breath upon her skin, his hands running along her thighs, and his silky hair caressing her hands like flaming strings of desire. Her knees trembled and her breath came suddenly as she wished he was standing in front of her now. His powerful muscled hard body would lean against the wall and his gorgeous black hair would fall across his eyes.

Andra's dreamy eyes hardened at the sound of a sweet thick voice. Andra's back stiffened in defiance at the woman's appearance. Soft white silk fell from her shoulder and flowed to her ankles. A red sash was neatly tied at her thin waist and her small breasts sliced at the thin fabric clearly defining her erect nipples. The woman's hair was a flame of bright red curls and her white creamy skin was perfect and smooth. Her lips were curled into a suave smile and their glistening red shine brought attention to their delicate heart shaped poutiness.

“
By the by, what ha'e we here?
”
The woman's husky voice asked in amused humor.

“
Indeed. What do we ha'e here?
”
Andra gritted knowing she was a lady of ill repute and silent seductive behaviors. Both of the women looked upon each other as if they were standing on a great battlefield before a lethal enemy.

“
I am Llana. Who, pray tell, are ye?
”
Llana questioned as she sized the voluptuous green eyed tan girl up.

“
I am Ell'andra Duncan,
”
Andra softly replied as she stepped past the lovely woman,
“
Are ye visitin'? I ha'e na seen ye here 'fore.
”

Llana raised her brow in amusement,
“
Nay, ye probably ha'e na. I keep late hours and comfort those in need of private attention.
”

“
Hmmm, I see,
”
Andra stated coolly as they walked into the ballroom on the first floor.  Andra was interested in this obviously independent woman. She held herself well and spoke with intelligence and Andra respected that, for now.

“
What brings ye to McKregan Keep?
”
The question was simple but it held a touch of venom.

“
Kagan brings me here,
”
Andra used his name to emphasis her own independence and was satisfied with Llana's sudden look of intrigue.

“
Kagan,
”
His name rolled off of her tongue like milk streaming from a cow's tit,
“
He is an astonishin' man and is quite a rare breed.
”

“
He is but a man and is na different than the rest,
”
Andra stated matter-of-factly,
“
He is thrown to his desires like an uncouth heathen and rejoices in his ego.
”

Llana grinned wickedly,
“
Aye and I for one am thankful his desires are so uncouth.
”

Her remark was intentional and struck a raw nerve but Andra smiled softly hiding her instant jolt of dislike for the woman,
“
Ye be his lover?
”

It was more of a statement than a question and Llana seductively slid her fingers along Andra's arm,
“
Aye, when he wishes it. He finds my touch rather excitin' and has wondered into my bed more often than most I ha'e been attached to.
”

Andra's skin crawled and she moved away from Llana's fingers,
“
Attached?
”

“
Men ha'e needs that are often unfulfilled by their stuffy wives and,
”
Llana ran her hand across her breast,
“
I fulfill their wildest fantasies as long as they can afford to gi'e me what I want in return.
”

Andra's face paled as she turned away from the woman,
“
Then Kagan is truly na different than the rest.
”

“
He is very different,
”
she whispered,
“
Unlike any of the others, I come to him when he needs me and I take care to completely satisfy his e'ery wanton desire.
”

“
Then perhaps, since ye know him so well, you could gi'e him a message for me,
”
Andra insisted,
“
Tell him, I will be takin' a short lea'e of absence and will return soon to his side as I promised.
”
The lie was smooth and believable.

“
He returns tomorrow and when he is sated, I will gi'e him the message.
”

Andra smiled sweetly as they continued their walk through the ballroom doors and out into another hallway.
“
It is hardly belie'able that he can be sated without help from a fierce old scotch.
”

Llana laughed wickedly,
“
My body is his scotch and I trust ye be well aware how a man's body falls in to the lust of a woman.
”

“
Aye, but a man such has the laird, na doubt has many lovers and visits them frequently and showers them with his urgent needs.
”
Andra's chest tightened and her heart froze as the words rolled out of her mouth like poison,
“
He takes what he wants and gi'es nothin' but superficial offerings in return to those ignorant enough to bend to his will.
”

“
Kagan is set in his ways. Howe'er, I am the only lover he takes to bed that he comes back to. I do hope that ye do'na find yeself taken with him. His lust for other woman wanes quickly and I do'na wish to see yer heart or pride bruised.
”
Llana watched Andra for a jealous reaction but was puzzled when it did not come.

Andra slowly smiled and looked deep in Llana's eyes,
“
I am afraid that ye clearly donna understand the situation. I am his betrothed and he comes to our bed e'ery night and rests his head beside of mine. Our relationship is more than simple lust and heated desires of the flesh.
”

Llana's jaw dropped slightly and she gritted her teeth as she recovered,
“
Ne'er the less, he has sent for me and proves that ye donna completely satisfy him in one way or another.
”

Andra shrugged her shoulders and sighed,
“
His honor will'na allow him to take my virginity ‘til our weddin’ night so I will allow him to ha'e his release elsewhere after he comes to worship my body.
”

Llana's lip curled in prevailing malice,
“
Donna worry ye pretty little head, I will be sure to satisfy his e'ery desire, his e'ery whim of sensual need. After he takes ye, he will see that ye be na more than a plain piece of bread compared to my overflowin' banquet.
”

Andra turned carelessly and politely curtsied with a small grin,
“
Pray ye please him beyond reason and sanity, least he should slip through ye fingers.
”

Andra's heart thudded desperately against her chest as she walked away from Kagan's beautiful lover. She wanted to scream and cry. She wanted to pull out every red string of Llana's gorgeous red hair and wipe her red lips out from existence. She rounded the corner and ascended the staircase to her room. The door closed softly behind her and she slumped against its wooden strength. She pulled herself together and gathered a few articles of clothing and caressed the orb in her dress. She flew out of the door and darted down the steps to her escape.

As she galloped away from McKregan Keep atop a brown mare’s back, she refused to look back. She refused to acknowledge the pain in her chest and cursed Kagan McKregan for ever touching her. Her hot tears of anger, jealousy, and bitter defiance lanced her cheeks and fueled her heart felt rage. The heathen had sent for his lover and she was a beauty. He would no doubt find it amusing when Llana recited their conversation with him after he lay with her.

The deep feeling of not belonging returned to her heart
tenfold
as she rode across the hills. She knew there was something out there that was screaming for her, almost begging her to find. She would find it and swore she would embrace it with all her might.

“
Dagma, help me!
”

The children squealed with joy as the woman they knew as Andra pounced after them like a tiger. Feona and Marilyn laughed as they watched their newly adopted children play happily in the grass. The least of the girls, Carrie climbed onto Andra's back and demanded a ride. Andra obliged and stalked about on all fours as Carrie giggled in delight atop her back.

Marilyn called for the children to wash up for sup and they ran to her side eagerly wishing to please the pretty kind woman, who they now called mother. Andra sat back and smiled. The children were happy and loved. Andra laughed as Marilyn shooed them to wash their hands and caught the oldest boy by his collar as he tried to escape the clutches of water and lye.

Andra caught sight of Flaron by his cottage on the hill. He was leaning on its wall. His smile was big and inviting. She stood, brushed off her skirts and glided up the hill. He greeted her at the door and stepped back to get a better view of her.

“
Thought I'd ne'er see ye again.
”
Flaron admitted as Andra smiled.

“
I could ‘na stay away.
”