Highland Fires (19 page)

“Daveth. The gift didn’t come from King
Constantine, however. It has come from someone who is trying to
take the throne.”

Aimery sighed heavily. “What exactly was the
gift given by the emissary?”

When Tane glanced at him, Lugus knew whatever
he was about to say wasn’t going to be good.

“It has sucked your brother into an empty
void. A place that none can get to,” Tane said sadly.

Lugus didn’t believe that for a moment. After
all he had found his way out of the Realm of Shadows, a place that
no one else had managed to leave. “There has to be a way.”

Tane turned to him, his copper eyes serious.
“There is.”

“Wait,” Aimery said, his agitation showing.
“You just said none could get to this void.”

Tane, with his gaze still holding Lugus’,
said, “If Queen Rufina tries to find her husband, not only will she
lose the babe that grows in her womb, but both she and the king
will die.”

Lugus swallowed, for he feared Tane’s next
words. “Don’t say it,” he said before Tane could speak.

“You don’t know what I’m about to say.”

“I do, and I would prefer you didn’t.”

“What in the name of all that is magical are
you two talking about?” Aimery asked. “I have a distraught queen,
an army ready to attack Draconia and a banished prince to deal
with. I don’t have time for riddles.”

“Your banished prince is leaving so there is
one less worry you have,” Lugus said and turned on his heel.

“Without seeing Ahryn?” Tane said softly.

That stopped Lugus in his tracks. He felt
responsible for Ahryn, but in truth, his feelings went deeper than
that. How could he tell Tane and Aimery the truth? It wasn’t that
he didn’t want to save his brother, because despite what had
transpired between them, he held no animosity for Theron.

The truth was he was petrified.

Lugus looked through the doorway of the
dwelling and into Ahryn’s chamber and saw movement on the bed. He
pivoted and walked into Ahryn’s chamber to see her struggling to
sit up.

“Hold on,” he said and rushed to her side.
“Let me help you.”

He shifted pillows behind her and was
relieved to see the luminous glow of the Fae once more returned to
her skin.

She lifted her right arm and stared quietly
for a moment. “Tane held up his end of the bargain?”

Lugus nodded. “Why didn’t you tell me you
spoke to him?”

“I knew you wouldn’t listen to anything he
had to say. Besides, I agreed with him. You needed to return here.
This is where you belong.”

Lugus lowered his gaze and took a deep
breath. “I know you would like to think that, but as soon as I
leave, you will learn just what I did to become banished. Once you
learn the truth, you won’t think so highly of me.”

“How do you know how I will think?” she asked
with a smile. “You got me safely to the gateway just as you
promised. Regardless of your past mistakes, you are a good
man.”

Her words affected him more than he would
have liked, and it was because of them that he knew he had to get
as far away from her as possible. If she was associated with him in
any way...well, she might as well be banished herself for how the
rest of the Fae would treat her.

“Ahryn,” he began , but she put her fingers
to his lips.

“I know what you would say, and I would
rather you didn’t.”

He nodded and raised his gaze to her. “Aimery
is here.”

She bit her lip. “You know who I am.”

It wasn’t a question. “I do. Aimery will
reunite you with your family once you are fully healed.”

“You’re leaving.”

He hated the disappointment in her eyes, but
he had to make her understand. “I don’t belong here. It was because
of me that you were hit with the arrow.”

Ahryn’s stomach flip-flopped as she recalled
the beautiful woman with blonde hair overlooking the gateway. “That
was Moira at the gateway, wasn’t it?”

He nodded, and it was all the answer she
needed.

“You don’t need to apologize. I shouldn’t
have stayed in the doorway watching. Thank you for bringing me here
and for saving me.”

His blue eyes were sad as he gazed at her.
“You’re welcome,” he said and then walked quietly from the
chamber.

Ahryn buried her head in her hands as the
tears came, ignoring the pulling pain in her shoulder from her
wound. Lugus was walking out of her life, and there was nothing she
could do about it.

~ ~ ~

Aimery watched the exchange between Ahryn and
Lugus and found himself intrigued. It was obvious to anyone who
looked at Ahryn that she had deep feelings for Lugus, and though
Lugus might try to hide or dismiss his feelings, he too felt
something for Ahryn.

“They make a striking couple, do they not?”
Tane asked as he came to stand beside him.

“They do.”

“Lugus risked everything to get her to the
gateway. Marcus burned his home as they made their escape.”

“It doesn’t change what he has done in the
past,” Aimery said tightly.

Tane shook his head. “Nay, it doesn’t, but it
should show you a man who is remorseful and wants only to make
amends anyway he can.”

“You approached Ahryn without Lugus’
knowledge,” Aimery said, changing the subject. “Why?”

“To make sure she got him into this realm any
way she could.”

“Why?”

Tane sighed and turned to look out at the
waterfall. “I have a...gift...in that I can see the future.”

“As can I. There is nothing special in
that.”

Tane smiled and turned back
to Aimery. “There is a difference. You see the future one way and
don’t see any of the changes until someone deviates from what
you’ve originally seen.”



“And you do?”

“I see every thread that can
happen.”


Aimery
leaned back against the dwelling and watched as Lugus again walked
to the gateway. “You went to a lot of trouble to make sure Lugus
returned.”

“And you should be going to just as much
trouble to keep him here.”

“What has he to do with anything?”

Tane was quiet for a moment, as if he
contemplated what his answer would be. “I cannot share that with
you now. Lugus must come to terms with his own demons.”

“I do not like not knowing,” Aimery said, his
voice low and menacing.

“Most people don’t,” Tane replied easily.
“Are you going after Lugus?”

Aimery rolled his eyes and disappeared.

~ ~ ~

Lugus couldn’t walk fast enough. This was the
second time he had tried to leave Ahryn...nay, the Fae realm. He
was leaving the Fae realm, he repeated to himself.

Ahryn wasn’t his to worry over any longer.
Aimery would make sure she was returned to her parents, and with
Tane’s aid they would find Theron’s soul.

Lugus’ feet slowed. He hadn’t allowed himself
to look around the realm. Returning here made leaving that much
more difficult. Besides, he had lost the right to be amongst the
magic that flowed so freely.

Being unworthy was all Lugus had ever been,
and it was all he ever would be.

He thought of Moira and instead of the usual
longing and pain that filled him, there was only a sadness for what
he had done to her and Dartayous. Seeing her heavy with child had
made him understand that she had never been his and never would be
his.

In some ways, he wished he had stayed in the
Realm of Shadows. At least there he belonged. It didn’t matter how
much he did, he would never atone for the destruction and death he
had caused.

A shift in the air alerted him that he was no
longer alone, and when he turned and spotted Aimery behind him, he
wasn’t surprised.

“Following me to make sure I leave?” Lugus
couldn’t help but ask.

“Nay. I’ve actually come to ask that you
stay.”

Lugus closed his eyes and sighed. When he
opened them it was to find Aimery regarding him thoughtfully. “You
know what I have done, Aimery. You know better than most that
Theron was right in banishing me. In truth, Rufina should have
allowed me to die.”

“But she didn’t,” Aimery said.

Lugus began walking again. “Save your words.
I will not stay for you do not need me.”

“I may not, but Tane thinks he does, and
Ahryn definitely wants you to stay. And despite what I may wish,
you have royal blood in your veins.”

Just the mention of Ahryn’s name made Lugus
began to doubt his leave taking. “Ahryn doesn’t realize who I am.
As soon as she does, her thinking will change. I know I deserve a
lot, but I would rather not be around when she discovers the
truth.”

“You don’t give her enough credit,” Aimery
said as he caught up with Lugus.

Lugus stopped and turned to
the Fae commander. “Stop using Ahryn for this has nothing to do
with her. Tane thinks he needs me, but he doesn’t. Theron does need
saving, and if the Fae and Draconian unite powers you will be able
to find him yourself. What good would I do with no
powers.”



“You opened the doorway,
something you shouldn’t have been able to do.”


Lugus signed louder this time. “I
know, but you needn’t worry. I will not venture into the realm
again.”

There was something in Aimery’s gaze that
stopped Lugus from speaking. Maybe it was the worry or the
underlying fear, but he knew Aimery was more concerned than he let
on.

“I ask you to stay. If you will not do it for
your brother, I ask you to do it for the friendship that used to be
between us.”

Lugus turned away and looked at the gateway.
“Understand that my wanting to leave has nothing to do with Theron.
He is my brother and regardless of how he feels, he is my only
family. I wish to leave because I...fear my presence will make
things worse.”

As Lugus expected, Aimery walked until he
stood in front of him. “I’m not totally convinced you are the man
Tane proclaims you to be, but because my king is in need and my
queen cannot help him, I am asking you.”

Lugus knew he had no choice. Tane had
convinced Aimery that he needed Lugus, when in fact Lugus knew Tane
could most likely find Theron himself.

“I will stay then.”

In a blink, Aimery was gone.
Lugus didn’t want to walk back to the dwelling and see Ahryn’s
mystical blue eyes filled with doubt so he began to walk
towards
Caer Rhoemyr
to see his sister-in-law and face a fear he had thought he had
buried deep within him.

Chapter Twenty

Ahryn hurriedly wiped her eyes as Tane walked
into the chamber. “Thank you for releasing the bracelet.”

He smiled and nodded. “How are you
feeling?”

“Much better. I should be healed in a few
hours and Aimery is to return me to my family.”

Again Tane nodded thoughtfully. “What awaits
you there?”

“Endless questions. I would rather venture to
my grandfather’s. At least I know he would tell me the truth.”

“About Lugus?”

She blinked and nodded. “Do
you read thoughts as well?”


Tane smiled. “Not exactly. As with
any powerful being you have blocked anyone from reading your
thoughts, I just see things others do not.”

“I just want to know what Lugus is
hiding.”

“Why?” Tane asked. “Is it because you do not
think it is as bad as he thinks it is, or because you fear it is
worse than you think it is.”

Ahryn hated that he knew her feelings. “I’ve
only heard whispers of rumors. Everyone feared for our lives when
we were captured and held prisoners. It wasn’t until we were
suddenly released that we saw the destruction across the Fae realm
and the first rumors began.”

“What were the rumors?” Tane asked.

“That someone had tried to take over the
realm and released the Death Dragons.”

“Death Dragons are a dangerous thing to play
with,” Tane murmured.

“Someone else harnessed the Death Dragons and
released us. Only then did we learn of Lugus’ banishment.”

Tane tapped his finger on his chin as he
paced in front of her bed. “How do you think Lugus was
involved?”

“I think he must have helped the person
responsible for releasing the Death Dragons.”

“Why do you think that?”

She licked her lips and glanced out the
windows. “He spent countless years in the Realm of Shadows. None
even knew he had managed to leave. Some say he was powerful enough
to escape, I think Theron finally realized he had been punished
long enough and released him. After the banishment we learned that
he hadn’t, in fact, killed his father and he had been wrongly
accused, which would explain why he helped the person free the
Death Dragons.”

“A plausible theory,” Tane said softly. “So,
you don’t think he had a bigger role in the near destruction of
your realm?”

“Nay,” she said vigorously. “He is a good
man, a man that deserves to be respected as a prince of our
realm.”

Tane suddenly smiled at her words. “You must
care about him a great deal.”

“He saved me. His home was burned, and he can
never return to his isle because of me. He’s lost another home, and
I wish to make right what was wrong.”

“You will do nicely,” he said before he
turned on his heel and walked away.

“Do nicely for what?” Ahryn called after him,
but she knew he wouldn’t answer.

The more time she spent with Tane the more
she learned of their differences and likenesses. While both the Fae
and Draconians were matched equally in power, there were some in
her race just like Tane that had an exceptional gift.

Tane was planning something, and Ahryn wished
she was privy to it. She would gladly give him her aid if it meant
that Lugus’ banishment would be overturned.