Highland Fires (26 page)

~ ~ ~

Tane released his breath as Ahryn closed the
door behind her. He sank onto the chair she had just vacated and
looked to Lugus.

“I don’t envy you the road ahead, my friend,”
he said.

Despite what he had originally thought, he
had come to think of Lugus and Ahryn as friends. Lugus was a good
man, and he didn’t know if their roles had been reversed if he
could have controlled the power Lugus had once held.

Power in the strongest of men had a way of
turning their hearts black, yet it hadn’t touched Lugus. Instead,
he had come out stronger than before.

It was the reason Tane knew Lugus was just
the man he needed.

He rose and began to pack the herbs he had
requested from the Fae. He was more than a bit surprised that
Aimery hadn’t come to check on Lugus, since Lugus was the rightful
king of the Fae no matter if he was mortal or not.

Tane chuckled when he happened to get a
glimpse of Aimery’s future, which would not be as orderly as the
Fae commander wanted.

“Oh, how the mighty do crumble at the feet of
love,” Tane mumbled.

Once the table was cleaned, he turned to the
balcony and looked out over the gleaming city. It was a beautiful
city, but not even its beauty could dim his longing to return to
Draconian. And return he must. A traitor had to be found before he
wrought more damage.

Tane glanced at Lugus. Already the cuts on
his face were healing, leaving only pink skin that would soon fade
as well. His gaze found the tattoos on Lugus’ arms.

How had Lugus not known the significance of
the special marks and how they would rule his life regardless of
where he made his home?

The gentle flap of wings startled him out of
his thoughts, and as he turned to the opened balcony he spotted the
small brown dragon just before it perched on the railing.

Tane smiled and walked to the dragon. “What
brings you here?” he asked.

The small dragon cocked his oblong head to
the side as he regarded Tane with copper eyes. He tucked his wings
against him and laid his spiked tail over the railing. The dragon
had two horns on his forehead that twisted outward and several tiny
rows of spikes on his back.

“Ah, you’re a pretty one,” Tane cooed.

The dragon blinked and then held out his
front paw. Without hesitation Tane reached out as the dragon
dropped a gold coin in his hand. Tane looked at the coin to see two
intertwining black dragons. It was from his brethren.

When Tane raised his head to thank the
dragon, he had already flown away.

“Thank you, my friend,” he whispered into the
wind before turning back to the coin

He walked into Lugus’ room and closed the
balcony doors. Only then did he grip the coin between two fingers
and hold it before him.

At once a bright light poured from the coin
and a miniature figure became visible. Tane was startled to see
Viggo before him. A gnawing fear began in the pit of Tane’s
stomach. Only in the direst of circumstances would Viggo send out a
message that might be intercepted.

“I hope this finds you quickly, Tane,” Viggo
said softly as if someone might here him as his recorded message
began. “Finish your mission and return. Draconia needs you. Our
king needs you.”

And just as suddenly as the message appeared,
it vanished. Tane leaned back in the chair and rested his head
against the back. There was no way around it, he had to return.
Immediately.

He glanced at Lugus to see his face nearly
healed and his breathing even. As much as he needed to be here to
help Lugus down his path, Draconia and his king needed him
more.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

No matter how hard Ahryn tried, she couldn’t
rest. She had pretended to sleep as her grandfather watched over
her, but now she was growing tired of the charade. She wanted to be
with Lugus.

“You can stop pretending now.”

She should have known she wouldn’t fool her
grandfather. Ahryn rolled over and sat up to find her grandfather
sitting with his arms crossed, his blonde hair long and held away
from his face by braids.

“Even as a little girl you weren’t able to
fool me, Ahryn. Why try now?” he asked, sadness darkening his blue
eyes.

Ahryn sighed. “I don’t know.”

“You will be with Lugus shortly but you need
to rest. You will not do him, nor yourself, any good by becoming
exhausted.”

There was something in his voice, something
that alerted Ahryn that something was going to happen.

“What are you keeping from me?” she asked
hesitantly.

Michyl averted his gaze and uncrossed his
arms. “I had no choice, Ahryn. You don’t know what Lugus has done
in the past.”

“I know what type of man he is now,
Grandfather.” As she stared at the man before her, the man she had
trusted with her heart, she realized what he had done. “You sent
for my parents.”

He nodded slowly.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said as she threw
back the covers and slid from the bed. “I’m not leaving Lugus.”

With one last look at her grandfather, she
walked from her chamber.

~ ~ ~

No matter how Rufina had prayed or the amount
of magic used, Theron wouldn’t wake. Many hours they had stood over
Theron, pooling their powers together in the hopes he would
revive.

She had asked for constant updates about
Lugus’ condition, and though she wanted to go to her brother-in-law
and thank him for returning her husband, she couldn’t leave Theron.
Not until he awoke.

“My queen, you must eat,” Aimery said as he
held a platter of food for her.

She reached over and plucked a piece of fruit
from the tray but didn’t taste it as she chewed. Finally, when she
could stand the crowded room no more, she stood.

“Everyone, thank you for your efforts, but I
need you to leave now.”

“But, Rufina,” Aimery started.

She halted him with her hand. Once the others
had left, she turned to her commander. “Check on Lugus again. Give
Tane anything he needs to speed Lugus’ recovery.”

Aimery nodded and turned to leave.

“Also,” she said, stopping him. “See about
Ahryn. She and Lugus are going to need some privacy and I want to
make sure they have it.”

“Even if Michyl and her parents
disapprove?”

She raised a brow. “Am I queen for nothing?
This is my palace, Aimery, and they will remember that. As long as
Ahryn stays here, she is under my protection.”

“Does your protection also reach to
Lugus?”

She stared at Aimery, trying to discern what
he was referring to. “Others know he is here?”

Aimery nodded. “They are more concerned about
his presence than Tane’s.”

“If anyone harms Lugus, I will banish them.”
She trembled with rage at how callous her people could act. Didn’t
they realize that people could change?

“I will spread the word,” Aimery said then
turned on his heel and walked from the chamber.

When the door clicked behind Aimery, Rufina
sank onto her chair and lifted Theron’s hand in hers.

“I’m at a loss, Theron, and you know that
rarely happens. I don’t know what else to do to bring you back. It
seems all the magic in the Fae realm cannot wake you. Don’t you
want to come back to me? To our child?”

She sighed loudly and dropped her head onto
her hands.

“Our people need you, my love. I need you. I
cannot do this alone.”

“You could do anything,” came a hoarse
reply.

Rufina’s head jerked up to look at Theron,
but his eyes remained closed. Had she simply imagined her husband
had spoken?

“Rufina?”

She knew she heard it that time. She rose up
and leaned close to Theron.

“My love? I’m here. Come to me.”

Slowly, Theron’s eyes opened, his once bright
blue eyes now dulled and nearly lifeless.

But Rufina didn’t care. She smiled through
her tears and kissed his cheek. “I knew you would come back to
me.”

“Wh...what happened?”

“I’ll tell you everything later. Right now
you must get better. Sleep, my love, and regain your strength.”

When his eyes closed and his breath evened
into sleep, Rufina sat back in the chair and wiped the tears from
her eyes. Now that Theron had woken, she felt the iron claw around
her heart loosen.

She rose and went to the door to proclaim the
good news. Soon the quiet palace was abuzz with Theron’s wakening.
Rufina hurried to Lugus’ chamber to tell him.

Without knocking, she opened the door and
found Tane staring off into the distance as if he were deep in
thought. Her gaze moved to the bed to find Lugus sleeping.

“Tane?” she whispered as she stepped into the
chamber.

He jerked and rose to his feet. “Rufina.”

“How is he?” she asked though she could tell
by Lugus’ face that he was healed.

Tane nodded. “He is all but healed. He
slumbers in a healing sleep, though I suspect he will wake
soon.”

“I know his mortality slowed the
process.”

“It did a little, but I was able to work
through that.”

Rufina smiled. “You’re skills are very good
then. I understand you didn’t require any aid from us.”

“You praise me too highly. Lugus’ wounds were
not that severe.”

She waved away his words. “Tell me, will he
completely recover?”

“Because of his mortality, he will walk with
some pain for a few weeks before the bone fully heals in his leg.
Since his ribs were only bruised, he should be fine by the end of
the day.”

“Excellent. I don’t know how to thank you
for...everything.”

She watched as his gaze shifted away for a
moment before returning to her. “I ask but for one small
favor.”

“Name it.”

“Lugus has his destiny still before him. He
needs to reach for it. Many things depend on Lugus fulfilling his
destiny.”

Curiosity got the better of Rufina. “What is
his destiny?”

Tane smiled and shook his head. “That I
cannot tell you.”

“Why is it I get the feeling you are about to
leave us?”

“Because I am. Draconia needs me.”

She nodded as she understood. “Know that you
are welcome in our realm any time. I would like for you to visit
soon so Theron may thank you personally.”

“The thanks goes to Lugus.”

“It goes to both of you.”

Tane bowed his head. “As you wish.”

She watched as Tane walked to the door. “If
you ever need us, you need simply ask, Tane. We owe you a very
large debt that I fear will never be repaid.”

Tane gave her a smile then slipped out the
door.

“He is a good man.”

Rufina’s gaze swung to the bed to find Lugus
watching her. “That he is. I fear we won’t ever see him again.”

“Oh, I think we will,” Lugus said as he sat
up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, careful to keep the
sheet from showing his nudity.

Rufina walked to the bed. “How do you
feel?”

“Like I’ve been dragged behind a horde of
dragons.”

She smiled, but she saw the pain in his eyes
nonetheless. Not pain from wounds, but pain from his soul. “I
cannot imagine what it was like to return to that place, Lugus.
Mere words of thanks don’t seem enough.”

“But they will do nicely. I ask for nothing.
I did it for my brother.”

She sat beside him and laid her head on his
shoulder. “Theron has woken.”

Lugus sighed and closed his eyes. “Thank the
stars,” he whispered.

“You hadn’t planned on returning.”

It wasn’t a question and he knew it, yet he
felt like he had to answer her.

“I didn’t, but I had no other choice when I
found Theron unconscious.”

“How did you find him?” she asked as she
raised her head and looked at him. “Tane told us the realm was as
black as the Death Dragons and as silent as a tomb.”

“It is all that and more. I’m not sure how I
found him. I wandered for hours until I heard a voice,” he said as
he remembered the sweet sound of Ahryn calling out to him.

“A voice?” she repeated. “Who’s voice?”

“Ahryn’s,” he said with a soft laugh. “I know
it was most likely my imagination. That realm will make you go daft
in a matter of moments.”

“Yet, you found Theron?”

“Tripped over him actually,” he said and
touched his cheek that was now fully healed.

“Interesting,” she said then rose to her
feet. “I’ll expect you to come see Theron.”

Lugus looked away from her. That he couldn’t
do. It was better if he left before then. “Aye,” he lied and
watched her walk from the chamber.

He looked around for his clothes but they
were no where to be found. Hesitantly, he stood and found his leg
only ached a little and if he took slow, shallow breaths, his ribs
didn’t hurt.

Upon reaching his wardrobe without incident,
he opened the door and reached for some clothes. He didn’t like
wearing the clothes that signified him royalty. Just when he
thought he would have to wear them, he caught a glimpse of
something dark among the white and silver.

He tossed aside the white tunic he had held
and pushed aside the other clothes until he found the leather
trousers and black tunic. With a smile he pulled on the clothes. He
wasn’t surprised to find his boots next. He pulled on the
comfortable leather boots and an issued a sigh at feeling
more...himself.

First he would find something to eat, then he
would find Ahryn. He hadn’t yet decided what he would do regarding
what was between them. There was so much he wanted to say, but it
was unfair to do anything until she knew the truth of him.

Maybe it was time he told her. Everything.
Even if she did hate him afterwards, at least he would know he had
done the right thing and had given everything.

Peace suddenly filled him. He chuckled and
strode to the door, suddenly anxious to find Ahryn.