Highland Fires (28 page)

“It is very beautiful.”

“That she is. Why have you
come?”


Lugus stared
at him a moment. “You knew I would come, just as you know why I
left my realm.”

“Aye. I do.”

“So why do you ask?”

“In the hopes that you’ll realize what it is
you need to know.”

Lugus sighed. “I just want to be alone for
awhile. If I’m not welcome here, I will leave.”

“Of course you are welcome
here,” he said as he turned back to the forest. “Just remember
that....”


His voice
trailed off as he disappeared into the trees. Lugus rolled his eyes
and sank to the ground. He didn’t bother to call Tane back and ask
him to repeat what he had said. If he had wanted Lugus to hear it,
he would have said it louder.

With his arm pillowing the back of his head,
Lugus stared at the sky and watched the many dragons as they danced
upon the night air.

“Lugus?”

He jumped and sat up. That had been Ahryn’s
voice in his head, just as it had been on the Realm of Shadows.

“Lugus.”

This time she was more insistent, as if she
expected him to reply.

“Answer me please.”

He heard the desperation in her voice and
longed to answer her. He had no idea how she was reaching him
through another realm and part of him didn’t care, but another part
knew it was best if they parted ways.

“I know you can hear me,” she went on. “If
you won’t answer me then you’ll have to listen to me.”

He laid back, but he no longer watched the
dragons. Instead, he closed his eyes reveled in the sound of her
voice.

“You shouldn’t have left me. Again. There is
much that we need to say to the other.”

She was right, he knew.

“Lugus, I...I love you. It was what I was
waiting in the throne room to tell you.”

His heart leapt at her words and he longed to
tell her what he felt.

“It doesn’t matter to me
what you’ve done in the past. I know the man you are today and
that’s all that matters to me.”


He wanted to believe her, but he knew
the Fae would never forget or forgive him. He hadn’t even forgiven
himself.

“Come back to me, Lugus. Let
us explore what’s between us. I’m not whole unless you’re with me.
I need you.”


After
several moments he realized she was gone and he regretted not
speaking to her.

“Ahryn,” he called out, testing to see if she
was listening. But he didn’t get an answer.

He sat up and rested his elbows on his knees
as he thought over her words. Maybe he hadn’t given her enough
credit to make her own decisions. Maybe she really did care.

Maybe....

~ ~ ~

Ahryn let the tears fall. She had failed.
Lugus wouldn’t even speak to her. She wasn’t giving up though. She
would continue to reach out to him, to tell him of her love. Maybe
one day he would see how strong her love was.

She heard the door to her chamber open and
she let out a soft sigh. Theron had been to see her several times,
begging her forgiveness each time. She didn’t think she could stand
to hear him say it once more.

“I just want to be alone,” she said and kept
her back to the door. Maybe he would understand and just leave.

“I must have the wrong chamber because I was
sure you called to me.”

Ahryn’s mouth dropped open upon hearing
Lugus’ voice. She spun around to see him filling her doorway, an
uncertain smile on his face.

“Did you mean it?”

“What?” she asked.

“What you said to me. Did you mean it?”

She smiled and fought the urge to run into
his arms. There were things that had to be said before she could
rejoice. “Aye. Every word.”

“You aren’t ashamed of what I’ve done?”

“Any man would have done what you did if they
were able. I would have done it.”

He walked into the room and closed the door.
“You’re parents don’t approve of me.”

“I don’t care. I do and that’s all that
should matter.”

He took a step toward her. “I’m no longer
immortal.”

“We’ll work around that. I’m not worried.” He
didn’t need to know yet that she had already spoken with Rufina and
Theron about giving up her immortality.

Another step toward her. “We won’t be able to
live here.”

“I don’t care where we live as long as I’m
with you.”

One last step that brought them face to face.
“All I have to give you is my love.”

She closed her eyes at finally hearing him
say it. When she opened them it was to find him regarding her
solemnly. “That’s all I ask for.”

Relief washed over his face and he reached
for her, bringing her hard against his body.

“I never thought...,” he started but was
unable to finish.

“I know,” she said and leaned back to look
into his eyes. “Me either. I’m glad you came back.”

He smiled and kissed her
tenderly. “How could I resist you?”


Ahryn gave in to his intoxicating
kisses until her body was on fire and her sex throbbed for release.
She plunged her hands into his thick hair as her breasts grew heavy
and her nipples hardened in anticipation.

“We need to see Theron and Rufina,” she said
between kisses.

“They can wait,” Lugus said as he picked her
up and laid her on the bed. “I’m going to love you first.”

Chapter Thirty

Lugus fisted his hand again and again over
the hilt of his sword. He blew out a breath as he could well
imagine what words Theron wished to impart upon him, and he just
wished Theron would do it without Ahryn next to him.

Before he and Ahryn went to the throne room,
Lugus had wanted a moment alone. During that time he visited his
parent’s portraits in the gallery hall.

For some reason he didn’t feel as unworthy as
he used to. Maybe loving Ahryn had set him free, or maybe it was
her love that had done it. Either way, he was at peace and ready
for whatever the future held for them.

Now, as he stood waiting for Theron and
Rufina he found himself as anxious as he used to be when standing
before his father when he had been in trouble.

The door opened and Aimery walked into the
room. The Fae commander made his way to Lugus where he held out his
arm. Hesitatingly, Lugus clasped forearms with Aimery.

“Thank you for everything you have done,”
Aimery said. “I’m proud to call you friend and would proudly call
you king.”

Lugus blinked and didn’t know how to respond
to Aimery. All he could do was nod.

He wasn’t given long to think about it though
as Theron and Rufina walked into the throne room. Rufina gave him a
bright smile and one he gladly returned. He watched as Theron
seated Rufina, touching her rounding belly softly before taking his
seat.

“Lugus,” Theron called out, his face
stoic.

Lugus glanced at Ahryn and then walked toward
his brother. He bowed his head and waited for Theron to begin.

“It seems as though I’ve acted a fool.”

Lugus head snapped up and he stared into the
eyes of his brother. “What?”

“I had no idea what you had gone through to
save Ahryn, nor did I realize who it was that risked their life for
mine.”

Theron rose and walked down the steps until
he stood in front of Lugus. “My brother, thank you. Thank you for
saving me, for bringing me back to my wife and child. And please
forgive me for what I did to you and Ahryn.”

Lugus blinked. “There’s nothing to
forgive.”

Theron smiled. “I would ask you to return
here, but I don’t think you would.”

“Return to what?” Lugus asked. “I’m no longer
immortal. I don’t belong here.”

Ahryn squeezed his arm. “Aye, you do, my
love. Immortal or not, you have always been, and will always be, a
Fae.”

Lugus shook his head. “I
don’t know.”


“I
do,” Ahryn said. “I’ve already spoken to Theron and Rufina. I’m
giving up my immortality.”

A jolt of fear plunged through Lugus. “Nay,”
he bellowed and gripped her shoulders. “I’ll not have you put your
life in danger.”

“And neither would we,” Rufina said. “Which
is why we are offering you immortality, Lugus.”

He stared at the fruit in Theron’s
outstretched hand. He had forgotten of the special fruit that grew
on a tree in the back of the palace, a tree kept secret from all
but a special few.

“Are you sure?” he asked Theron.

“It’s time we right a wrong, my brother.”

“I won’t take over,” Lugus said and took a
step back.

Theron smiled. “I knew you wouldn’t. Take it,
Lugus.”

It wasn’t until Ahryn reached for the fruit
and brought it to his lips that Lugus opened his mouth took a bite.
One obstacle had been overcome.

“Thank you,” he said to Theron and
Rufina.

“Now,” Theron said as he walked back to his
throne. “If you won’t take over as rightful heir to this realm, we
have another alternative. You belong here, and we want you to
stay.”

“But the rest of the Fae--” he began.

“Will adjust,” Theron interrupted. “We would
like to offer you the position of Royal Ambassador. With the
responsibility, you’ll be expected to do more than a regular
ambassador. The ‘royal’ attached with let everyone know that you
come from the royal family. You may not have the throne, brother,
but you will have the next best thing. Besides, with your special
tattoos, you’re able to move through realms where others wouldn’t
dare.”

Lugus couldn’t believe what Theron was
offering him. He turned to Ahryn. “What do you think?”

She smiled and leaned up to kiss him. “I say
do whatever makes you happy. I’ll support whatever decision you
make.”

“Even if it means leaving
your family?”


“Even
that,” she replied with a wink.

Obstacle two had been overcome.

Lugus turned back to his brother. “I accept.”
Before the words were completely out of his mouth, Theron had
bounded down the steps and wrapped his arms around him.

“It’s good to have you back, brother. I’ve
sorely missed you.”

Lugus returned the hug.
“I’ve missed you as well.”


They pulled apart and looked at each
other. “I think our parents would be proud.”

Lugus smiled and waited until Theron returned
to Rufina before he turned to Ahryn. Out of the corner of his eye
he spotted Aimery. He glanced and returned the smile the Fae
commander sent him.

“Shall we tell my family?” Ahryn asked. “I’ve
refused to speak to them since I’ve been back. My grandfather has
kept them abreast of everything that has been going on.”

Lugus frowned. “I’ve always admired Michyl. I
would have liked to have him approve of us.”

“Oh, but he does,” she said. “I must have
left that part out. I’m ready to face my family with this
news.”

“Not yet,” Lugus said.

She cocked her head to the side and regarded
him. “Why?”

“I have one other question I need for you to
answer.”

“What is that?”

“Will you marry me?”

Her face broke into a huge smile as she flung
her arms around his neck. “Aye. Oh, aye, I will,” she said and
buried her face in his neck.

Lugus smiled and held her tightly. Obstacle
three had been overcome. He had all he ever wanted, but most
importantly, he had Ahryn.

Epilogue

“What do you think he wants?” Ahryn
asked.

Lugus shrugged and pulled her against him to
wrap his arms around her slim body. “I don’t know. I told him if it
was important he would have to meet us here. We’ve traveled too far
and too long to turn back now.”

She smiled up at him. “I still can’t believe
we’re about to see the blue dragons.”

Lugus had spent weeks locating where the rare
blue dragons were. It had been a surprise for Ahryn after their
wedding. He had just thought she had been emotional at the wedding,
but once she discovered his surprise she had cried for hours.

He grinned inwardly and loosened his hold on
her as he climbed atop the mountain. He reached down and helped
her.

“Now I know why you wanted to climb it
instead of using our magic,” Ahryn said from beside him.

Lugus nodded as he looked out over the vast
mountains and endless stretch of blue sky and mist swirled around
the tallest of the mountain tops.

“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” she
said in awe. “I don’t think I ever want to leave.”

“We don’t have to,” he said and moved to
stand behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his
chin on his chest. “Are you ready?”

“For what?”

“Listen,” he whispered.

Just on the tip of the wind it reached them,
the beating of a dragon’s wings as it soared through the air. Lugus
searched the skies until he found the small dark blue dragon.

“There,” he said and pointed to their
right.

She sucked in a breath as she spotted the
dragon. “You found them.”

“No, my love. We found them.”

She turned her head and Lugus bent down to
claim her lips. He deepened the kiss and was about to lay her on
the ground when he heard someone clear their throat behind them.
Reluctantly, Lugus pulled away and turned to find Theron.

“Brother, I said you could meet us here, but
I would have thought you would realize now wasn’t a good time.”

Theron chuckled. “With the way you two are
always occupied, I’d never be able to speak.”

Lugus could tell by Theron’s pinched mouth
that something was wrong. “What is it?”

“We’ve received a message from Draconia. Tane
is in trouble.”