Dragon Knight's Ring (Order of the Dragon Knights Book 5) (13 page)

“Your reasons are clouded with shadows. You refuse to see the truth. You are as blind now with fury as you were on the night Meggie died. You continue to wallow and fester in your own sorrow. Even your own crusade was one filled with death and grief.”

“Enough!” roared Adam, shaking his head. Dark spots flashed before his eyes. “’Tis nae concern of yours.”

“Sadly, on the night Meggie died, you became a Dragon Knight. The bloodline divided. A quest to save two races had begun. And in the process, an ancient evil grew. Furthermore, on that night, I was made your protector. If you wish to run, then you are not the man the Fae have chosen, and you can only bring more harm to Meggie and her son.”

Adam raked a hand through his hair, frustrated at Conn’s criticism. “I have no wish to bring harm to Meggie. Or
her
son. Yet, I was not given a voice in this grand decision. Find the father of her son. He can be your champion—your Dragon Knight.”

“You’re an ass!” snarled Conn, his eyes flashing silver. “The Fae have
found
the father, and you are that man. How can you be so blind?”

Adam’s sword dropped to the ground, and he stumbled backward. The shock of Conn’s declaration sent a blow to his mind. Leaning against the tall standing stone, he shook his head. “
Me
? I have a…
son
?” he muttered. “Impossible.”

“For the love of Danu, why would you believe it is not possible?”

“The lad is far too large and speaks as one older.”

“And this is a problem?” snapped Conn. “I have heard that Meggie keeps the boy hidden from prying eyes. Now I understand. Even his own father would look at a child conceived with Fae blood as odd and different.” The warrior sneered. “Do you not think that the MacKays would have put a sword in you earlier had they known of her condition? Or a birth?”

Adam rubbed a hand over his face. His memories drifted back to that summer. The last time he had made love to her was near Midsummer—joyous and full of passion. Afterward… His gaze snapped to Conn. “Angus ordered her not to leave the castle unattended after the Midsummer festival. He knew she had been with me. In the beginning, he locked her in her own chamber.” Adam slumped to the ground.

Conn went and sat beside him. “When did you see Meggie next?”

“At the bonfire during the Harvest festival. I had prayed she would be there, so imagine my surprise when the MacKays were there, as well. However, they never ventured far from her. I made an attempt to walk near her, only Alastair blocked my path and leveled a fist to my jaw.”

Adam rubbed at his chin recalling the night within his mind. “The ground rumbled beneath me, and Meggie screamed at him to stop. As she knelt down beside me, she tucked a note into my hand. Then my bonny Meggie whispered she loved me and left me there.”

“What did the note say?” asked Conn, pulling Adam back to the present.

He gave the man a half-smile. “To meet her at the standing stones on Samhain, so we could be wed.” Letting out a sigh, Adam stood. “And we ken the outcome of that night.”

Conn stood slowly. “So you didn’t know she was carrying your child?”

Adam’s laugh was bitter. “Nae. Though tell me this, Conn, did my son die with her on that night?”

“Yes.”

“Why did the Fae not save her in our own time?” he protested. “It makes no sense!”

Frowning, Conn moved to the tallest standing stone. Taking his finger, he traced a path within the Celtic spirals. “The threads of fate were broken that night. The Fae did not foresee Meggie’s death. An ancient evil power emerged. If they had healed Meggie in her time, the evil would have won, claiming the Fae interfered. The circle weaves and twists, so they sent her to the future. Here.” He turned and faced Adam. “You must have faith,
especially
in the Fae. A great evil has spread across your own lands in the past and has slipped through the veil into this time.”

“I no longer believe,” he stated brusquely. “There is only the one God.”

Conn lifted one eyebrow. “Even the druids believe in the Christ. They say he is their druid teacher. The Fae believe that all can be learned from this new religion—one of love.”

Adam remained silent. Meggie’s words came back to him regarding the two beliefs. She did not seem to mind his own faith. Yet, he judged hers.
Only God can judge, Adam
. “How can I protect Meggie and my…
son
from this vile threat?”

“First, you must begin your training as a Dragon Knight. You are unaware of the power within you. If you don’t learn to control and harness the ability, you will be consumed by the darkness.”

“Power,” he snapped. “What power?”

Conn ignored his question and moved closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Second, Meggie holds one of the keys to unlock the power of the ancients and destroy this monster. If you do not free her memories, all will cease to exist. The Order of the Dragon Knights—vanquished. You, Meggie, her cousins, and your son shall die.”

Adam’s jaw clenched so tight, he feared it would snap. He would never let his beloved die again. And his son? By all that’s holy, he would do whatever it took to protect and save him.

Shrugging free from Conn’s grasp, he watched a lone doe make a path through the trees and stop at the entrance of the stones. Her dark eyes regarded him. For the first time in many moons, Adam relaxed and raised his hand out to her, calling her forth. Silently, the doe ambled to him. His hand shook when he made contact with her soft head. Soon, Adam found himself sighing and released his hand. He watched as she strolled away past the stones and through the trees.

“The animals are your teachers,” said Conn softly. “I am happy to see you have not forgotten.”

“Is this my power?” he asked hoarsely.

“Nae, only a small part of the whole.” Conn laughed. “Yours is much more. You have the power of the shadows. You can blind a person’s mind or eyes with this skill—even cloak yourself in the darkness for protection.”

Adam narrowed his gaze. “Tell me, what power does my son have?”

Conn removed his jacket and whistled for Ciar. “You have to ask the question? Or do you want it confirmed?”

“Fire? And Ciar doesn’t come to any command but my own,” Adam replied.

Conn’s expression stilled and grew serious. “You forget, I’m Fae. I don’t command animals. They just like me.”

Fisting his hands on his hips, Adam was about to utter a retort when Ciar came trotting through the trees toward Conn. “Traitorous beast,” he mumbled.

Ciar shook his head and gave a loud snort.

“Humph! Then let the Fae feed you carrots.”

Conn smiled in delight. “He favors carrots? Well, I believe I have a few in my jacket.”

Adam’s jaw dropped, watching as the Fae produced a few carrots and then fed them to his horse.

“Ye are full of surprises,” commented Adam.

Giving the horse a pat, Conn placed his jacket on the saddle and turned to Adam. “Ready to begin your training?”

“Aye,” grumbled Adam. “Let me retrieve my sword.” He had only taken a few steps, when Conn lifted and tossed him outside of the stones. The blow of the fall sent him tumbling against the hard ground. “God’s blood!” he shouted. Shaking his head, he stood instantly. He would not let the Fae think him weak.

“No swords, Adam,” stated Conn. “And we fight outside of this sacred place. You can fetch your sword later.”

With a great roar, Adam charged forth, only to be pushed away with Conn’s power. His back slammed into a tree, but he quickly stood. Shadows danced before his eyes, and he blinked in frustration.

“Harness the shadows, Adam,” ordered Conn. “See them swirling, building. Let the shadows travel through your body and out your hands.”

Adam’s anger intensified and with it, the shadows. He shook his head, trying to free the darkness, but it only grew.

“You are a Dragon Knight! Embrace who and what you are! Accept your fate, or
all
will die.”

“I will not let them!” he bellowed and surrendering to the darkness, Adam let the shadows flow from his mind down to his arms. Opening his eyes, he gathered the mass and tossed it out at the Fae. The effect barely registered on his opponent.

Conn smiled slowly. “If I was a mortal, I would have been felled. This is only the beginning.”

“Then what will it take to knock down a Fae?”

“Tread carefully, MacFhearguis. You must respect the Fae.”

“Respect is earned,
Fae
,” stated Adam.

They circled each other—man and Fae. Conn built the energy within his hands, letting the swirling mass grow. “How are you going to protect yourself, Adam,” he chided. “You have no weapons, only your brute strength and power. Use the shadows as a cloak.” His smile turned lethal as he continued to stalk around Adam. “If I use this ball of fire against you, I fear you will not survive. Or worse, be horrifically scarred.”

Concentrating with all his might, Adam regarded the Fae with a cold glare. “I dinnae fear ye.”

In a blink of an eye, Conn had Adam by the throat, holding him upward with one hand. The other, holding the glowing sphere. “Your pride will be your undoing, MacFhearguis!”

Unable to speak, Adam focused all of his thoughts on the darkness, seeing it cloaked around the Fae’s arrogant face.

Conn released him, gasping for breath, and stumbled backward.

Adam took advantage of the momentary loss of the Fae’s powers and slammed his fist to his face. Not waiting for his foe to recover, Adam gathered the shadows within his mind, letting it travel down his arms and sending it outward over Conn. As the Fae warrior tried to regain himself, Adam used his fist once again. The energy surged through Adam, pulsing, growing, and he reveled in the way his body felt. Strong. Powerful.
A Dragon Knight.

He blinked in confusion. As if there were two voices within his mind—his body. He brought his outstretched hands to his face. “Who are ye?” He spoke to the other within his mind.

I am one with ye. Do not keep me hidden again.

Wiping a hand across his mouth, Conn spat out blood. “It is your dragon that speaks to you. The source of your power. All Dragon Knights have a dragon, which dwells inside them. Only Angus and your son have the power within their blood, though, I believe your power resides within, as well.”

“Remove the creature!” ordered Adam.

As soon as he spoke the words, pain slammed into him, followed by blindness. “Bloody hell,” he gasped, cupping his hands to his head.

“You should not have called your dragon a creature. I believe you’ve offended said
creature
,” warned Conn.

His mind screamed at the dragon.
Stop! Ye cannae expect me to understand all in this small amount of time.

“
Then learn quickly, Dragon Knight. I grow impatient with your lack of care.
” His dragon gnashed its teeth at him.

Adam nodded and was rewarded with instant relief from the pain. The shadows vanished, and he wandered over to a fallen log. Sitting, he placed the heels of his palms against his eyes. Rubbing vigorously, he blew out a curse and opened his eyes.

“Are you ready to continue, Dragon Knight?” Conn’s Fenian frame leaned against a pine tree.

As the hours passed, the light of the day soon slipped into early evening, both Fae and Dragon Knight beyond exhausted from the training.

“You are a quick study, Adam,” proclaimed Conn, as he held out an ale skin that had materialized from thin air.

Retrieving the skin from the Fae, Adam drank heavily. Handing it back to Conn, he glanced down at his hands. “As the youngest MacFhearguis, it was necessary, especially with my older brother, Michael.”

“Ahh…a bit rough on you?”

Adam smirked. “Always. He rarely challenged my other brothers but sought me out often.”

“We should make a toast in his honor?” suggested Conn.

Adam frowned in confusion. “Toast? The man is dead.”

“Then let us lift our cup”—Conn raised the ale skin—“and wish him safe journey in the other realm. Also, to thank him for making you the warrior you are today.”

“Aye,” whispered Adam.

After once more handing the ale skin to Adam, Conn stood. “I will expect you here before dawn’s light touches the stones. We begin anew in the morn, before your duties in the stables. And don’t look surprised. Word traveled that you are now working for the MacKays.”

And in a flash of brilliant colors, Conn vanished before his eyes.

“Sweet Mother Mary,” muttered Adam and guzzled deeply from the ale skin.

Standing, he made his way back to the center of the stones and fetched his sword. The place where earlier he had sworn away everything and everyone. He shuddered realizing all he could have lost if he had returned to his own time.

“Ye will be mine once again, Meggie. I swear by the one God and those that came before him.” Retrieving the ring from the ground, he placed a kiss on the stone and walked slowly away from the stone guardians.

Chapter Twelve

“The knight brushed away the maiden’s tears with the breath of his kisses.”

“Have you seen Jamie?” asked Meggie as she entered the kitchen. She picked up his wooden shield and propped it against one of the chairs.

“Your wee son has taken a fancy to the new man. You might want to check the stables,” grumbled Scott while he continued to read the newspaper.

“Great Goddess,” groaned Meggie. She rubbed her forehead, feeling another headache descend. “I wish he would leave the man alone. I don’t believe Adam likes children.”

Scott kept his eyes focused on the paper. “I don’t believe he likes anyone,” he drawled.

Meggie poured herself a cup of coffee. Inhaling the rich aroma, she closed her eyes. “The man is…different. Verra out of the ordinary.” Taking a sip, she leaned against the counter and opened her eyes to find Scott staring at her.

“Your words betray your feelings,” warned her cousin.

Meggie’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Excuse me? I have no feelings for the man.”

“Then why did you hire him?”

She started to protest when he held up a hand to halt her words. “Don’t tell me you felt sorry for him. He seems to be a healthy male and can take care of himself. Not some wounded animal. Don’t you find it odd that he appeared out of nowhere on our front doorsteps?”