A Warrior's Perception (40 page)

When it came, she jumped and bolted to the fireplace. Kagan entered, rather unruly looking and a small grin threatened her courage. He stepped to her and took her hands. She stiffened and pulled away.

“
I came...
”

“
I know why ye came. It's time to end this.
”
She reached for the sword and let its tip touch the floor. Its hilt reached her breast. She caressed its detailed engraving as she wrapped her hand around its blade. The edge pierced her skin and blood trickled down its length. She took Kagan's hand and pressed it to the blade on the other side of hers.

“
I free ye Kagan McKregan from ye oath to me. I free ye from honor, from sword, and from blood.
”
She placed her bleeding palm on his crest, on his heart.
“
With my blood, I free ye and declare ye more honorable than any other, ye sword stronger than any other, and that ye heart's blood is pure and full of warrior's virtue.
”

She took his bleeding hand and placed it on her breast,
“
Do ye accept ye freedom?
”

Kagan was speechless. His words would not come as he watched his blood trickle down between her breasts.

“
Do ye accept ye freedom?
”

“
Aye, I accept.
”

“
It is done,
”
Andra whispered as she pulled away and left his sword in his hand. She turned to the door and stepped away as he caught her wrist.
“
It has been done as I swore it would. Ye are free of ye oath. Ye are na longer bound to me by anythin'. I will lea'e tonight.
”

“
Ye be na lea'ing,
”
he growled as she jerked away,
“
We are betrothed.
”

“
We are na longer betrothed, the time limit is gone three days ago. I will lea'e ye to ye lover. She waits in her room for ye,
”
Andra whispered as she walked to the door,
“
I hope she is good to ye Laird McKregan. Ye are a fine warrior and I am sure a wonderful lover.
”

Kagan grabbed her arms and swung her around to face him,
“
I ha'e na lover!
”

Andra's eyes misted and she forced her sadness down and let her anger control her actions and her words,
“
Donna lie to me McKregan! Ye sent for her while ye were on the battlefield! Ye bring her here to parade her in front of me!
”

Kagan took a deep breath and gritted,
“
She is'na my lover. And I did'na bring her here.
”

Andra twisted away and grabbed the door handle. He leaned onto the door and took her face in his hands,
“
I want to be ye lover.
”

Tears trailed down her cheeks as she spoke,
“
I saw ye in the gardens...ye let her...
”

Kagan frowned and tried to explain,
“
She offered but I did'na accept.
”

“
I saw her, I saw what ye did,
”
she closed her eyes and jerked from his hands,
“
I will'na stay here any longer and ye can'na force me to.
”

“
Ye will stay if I ha'e to tie ye to ye bed!
”
Kagan roared as she went to the window.

“
Nay, I am goin' home,
”
she whispered,
“
Home, where I will be loved.
”

“
Ell'andra! This is ye home,
”
Kagan gritted as he stood behind her,
“
I came back as I swore I would. I trusted ye in my absence and thought 'bout ye e'ery second of e'ery day.
”
His face twisted,
“
Ye should na ha'e come to Fendenbriar. It was too dangerous.
”

She ignored his remark about Fendenbriar.

“
Is that why ye sent for her? So ye could lay in her arms and love her? Just tell me the truth, ye swore to my father that ye would marry me and ye ne'er break an oath. Ye ne'er felt any desire for me did ye? Was she the one ye thought of when ye came here to get ye back rubbed?
”
Andra stiffened as his hands came down on her shoulders,
“
Donna touch me!
”

“
She was my lover. After I met ye, I took her as my lover to ease my desires.
”
Kagan's voice was soft and he kissed the back of her head as he hugged her closer to his chest,
“
I ended it 'fore I caught Calin gropin' ye at Gildon.
”

“
Compared to her, I am plain and homely,
”
she whispered as she stared at the moon,
“
I was a mistake on ye part. Ye are na bound to wed me and I can'na wed a man who loves another.
”

Kagan groaned as she pulled away,
“
I donna love her nor do I want her.
”

“
Nor do ye love or want me,
”
she gritted as she moved back to the door,
“
Worry na milord. I will be out of ye hair shortly. Ye will na ha'e to look upon my fat curves any longer.
”

Kagan bounded after her as she sailed out of the door and headed to the steps,
“
Donna walk away from me! We ha'e the matter of Fendenbriar to discuss.
”

“
Shall I run?
”
Her words were loud and harsh,
“
How can ye degrade me like this? How can ye touch me and then go to her? How can ye think of her and touch me? Ye ha'e won Laird McKregan. I accept my defeat. Go to ye lover and praise her with the same words that ye said to me or ha'e ye already?
”

“
Enough!
”
Kagan's fists were clinched at his sides,
“
Were ye na the one tryin' to seduce my own brother? Ye all but rubbed yeself all o'er him right 'fore my eyes! And how many more ha'e ye done the same to? E'ery time I turn a corner, I ha'e caught ye in a man's arms. First there was that pup Calin, then Flaron, and my brother and ye e'en tried to seduce the guards at ye door. Did ye seduce that dark man who stood by ye side in Fendenbriar as well? Is that why he protected ye?
”
He roared,
“
Is that why ye brought him back to my own house?
”

“
That was ye fault! If ye had sent word ye were alright, I would na ha'e came. And lea'e Calin out of this, he was there when ye were'na. I should ha'e married him. At least he would ha'e loved me!
”

Kagan's cruel laughter bit at Andra's heart,
“
He is a Watcher. He takes great pleasure in beddin' the king's whores and loosenin' their tongues.
”

“
So what? Ye took pleasure with a whore at Shinonoble and still ye bed Llana. What is the difference?!
”
Andra's hands shook as she edged down the steps,
“
And Darten ... Darten wanted to help me...
”

He couldn’t deny he had slept with the wench the night he had met Andra. But that didn’t mean he didn’t want to deny it.

Kagan followed,
“
Help ye?! I damn near ripped his head off after he told me ye kissed him!
”

“
He wanted to make ye jealous! I wanted to...
”
Andra slowly sat down on the steps and buried her face in her hands,
“
Go away!
”

“
Donna lea'e me Ell'andra.
”
Kagan whispered as he stepped past her,
“
We shall talk when we both can remain calm.
”

After she had sup in the kitchen, Andra slipped into her room and peeped into Kagan's. He was not there; no doubt he was in Llana's arms moaning with lust. She quickly undressed and sat down on the bed and hesitated, maybe she should wear clothing from now on. She frowned and slipped into the bed, crushing the pillows to her body. She shut her eyes tightly trying to get rid of Kagan's image. She turned over and buried her face in the pillows, cursing and swearing.

She gasped as the edge of the bed sagged. Kagan sat, glaring down at her. Andra twisted away and covered herself with the largest pillow,
“
What do ye want?
”

He pointed to his back,
“
My neck aches.
”

Andra frowned and kicked his leg,
“
Lea'e me alone. I'm tired and donna want to suffer ye company.
”

He turned his back to her and unlaced his boots. Andra moved behind him, placing the pillow between their bodies. She rubbed his shoulders and neck as she fought to keep her tears in check. She kneaded his back and spine, shivering each time he groaned in pleasure. Her hands burned and ached from touching him.

He smelled like horses and leather, like steel and hot ash, like a man. She leaned closer letting his scent fill her lungs and she clung to his shoulders.

He turned and caught her hands, kneeling on the floor. He placed her fingers on his temples and closed his gorgeous gray eyes. She lightly rubbed in circular motions and caressed his forehead. She edged closer to massage his scalp and ran her fingers through his thick silky hair. Her hands slid down his neck and caressed his shoulders tenderly. She lazily looked upon his face and shoulders with a deep passion that rose to her breast.

When he opened his eyes, her eyes met his and he tugged the pillow away from her body. His gaze fell to her breasts and she quickly covered them with her hands. He gently took her hands and placed them back onto his temples.