Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers Book 3) (9 page)

“Certain parts of me can barely wait either, and no more apologies are needed. Now, we need only focus on finding Joseph and nothing more.” He pinched her bottom then stepped back and pulled on his tunic. “Can you collect my brothers and bring them here as quickly as you can? Since there appear to be a number of warriors in this party, I’ll need all the help I can get.”

“Aye, I’ll bring them back.”

“I’ll run a wider perimeter search while you’re gone.”

“I willnae be long.” She became as one with the air, swept around him then brushed one last lingering kiss across his lips before she flew high on the breeze toward the castle.

Inside her chamber on the second floor of the keep, Isla Matheson toppled back onto the blanketed bedcovers with a soft sigh, her rich red skirts settling around her as Iain bolted the door and prowled across the room toward her. She grinned at him. “You look like a hungry bear who hasn’t been satisfied in a while.”

“Last night feels like a lifetime ago, and rising at the crack of dawn to train with Finlay in the hope Kirk would soon return was sheer agony, particularly when I knew you lay naked in our bed.” He set one knee beside her leg then sank down on top of her. “Tell me if I’m too heavy for you? I wouldn’t want to squish our cubs.”

“They are too little to squish, and you always feel sublime on top of me.” She slid her hand over his heavily beating heart and he lifted up a touch and caressed the slight rise of her belly, one barely discernable but still there all the same. Pure joy lit his eyes, just as it had when she’d told him about Nessa’s vision. The seer had seen they would have two sons, both seers. “I can’t believe Kirk is mated to a time-walker. How intriguing is that?”

“Very. As lads, the tale of the Fae Angel of Love used to enthrall us. To think she’s real, not just a legend at all, is incredible.”

“I hope she feels comfortable soon in showing us all her true form. I’m going to love having a new sister, right alongside Arabel.”

“Right now, I’d rather you feel comfortable showing me your true form.” He traced one finger along the white silk edging her red sweetheart bodice. “Your breasts are fuller. Are they more sensitive?”

“They are when you touch me like that.” She loosened the laces at the front of his shirt and tugged his collar to the side. The mark she’d placed on his neck three days ago had faded and the need to bite him again, to imprint her mark on him and ensure everyone knew he was hers, thrummed strongly through her. He was her mate and everything within her longed for more. “Come closer,” she breathed.

“You wish to bite me?” He stretched and angled his neck for her.

“Aye, as well as to nibble on the rest of you.”

“My love, there is nothing I love more than being nibbled on by you. I also love it when you get all hot and bothered and completely demanding.”

“I seem to be far more demanding than usual. My bear has an insatiable appetite since I’m unable to shift while expecting.” Unable to wait another moment, she razzed her teeth over his most sensitive spot then bit down and claimed the man who was hers in every way. He jerked, his breath catching then he pressed his lips to her tender skin and bit her in return. Tingles rippled through her body and she rocked against him, his bite only the beginning of all she needed.

Aye, he was hers, her soul at ease only when they came together as one.

Giggling, Arabel grasped her sapphire skirts and dashed upstairs to the third floor as Finlay chased her, the one thought on his mind clear for her to read along their merged link. “’Tis the middle of the day, Finlay. What will everyone think if we disappear for hours on end?”

“I care little about what time of the day it is, only that I have you in my arms. Got you.” He scooped her up then strode down the passageway to the last door and entered their chamber. With his hip, he knocked the door shut then whispered in her ear, “You are in so much trouble for running in the wrong direction. You should have been racing toward the cavern, not this room.”

“I adore our cavern.” The underground cave they’d claimed as theirs held a large pool of cool water and was hidden deep within the earth at the base of the cliffs farther along the loch. The cove was a place few tread to with it being beyond the marshy swampland. The cavern though had become their sanctuary and saving grace, the one place where they could safely come together as one since her fire skill reared during moments of intense intimacy.

“For now, I’ll just have to steal a few kisses and a couple of bites to tide me through until we can get to where we need to be.” He set her down next to the side table and poured water from the jug into the basin. “For you, just in case.”

“It sounds like you intend to steal far more than a few kisses and bites.” She dunked her hands into the chilly water since ’twas impossible to say no to her mate.

“Keep your hands dunked”—he brushed in behind her, swept her long blond hair to the side and exposed the column of her neck—“because I’m famished for a taste of you.”

“If I burn this castle down, then ’twill be all your fault.”

“Is that so?” His warm breath feathered across her skin and sent tingles racing through her body. Her nipples hardened and poked her satin bodice, a terribly delicious sensation that had her arching her back and pressing against him for more. “You want me to touch you, my sweet?”

“Aye, wherever and however you please.”

“Like this?” He smoothed over her hips from behind then cupped her breasts through her gown. With his thumbs, he flicked her hardened nipples as he sucked on her neck. A deep burning need for more sent a rush of heat to her core and cascaded over and sent steam curling into the air from the basin of water. “Are you ready for more?”

“Only one bite.” A desperate desire for far more raced through her. “Then we leave for the cavern.”

“Mmm, very good. You are a woman after my own heart.” He slid his hand inside her bodice just as he bit down and marked her. All of her throbbed, her control teetering on the edge as a wave of heat shimmered from her and rustled the bed canopy behind them. “Time to go,” he murmured and crossed to the door. “Ladies first.”

“One moment. I need a full dunking afore we leave.” She tipped the entire basin on her head and steam plumed. That should be enough to cool her until they reached their sanctuary. She righted her bodice and brushed her sides as she walked to the door, her gown drying from one step to the next with merely a thought from her mind alone.

Finlay opened the door then frowned as Iain stood with Isla on the other side, his brother’s hand raised, ready to knock. “This is really bad timing, Iain.”

“I know the feeling.” He motioned behind him toward nothing but the passageway wall. “Cherub is here. She knocked on our chamber door a few minutes ago. She needs our aid. A lad from the village is missing, taken by MacKenzie’s men. Joseph, Amelia’s son. He holds the skill of foreknowledge, a rather sought after skill. Kirk awaits us in the forest where the boy was taken. Grab your weapons. We may encounter a battle to get him back.”

Cherub extended her cloaking to cover both Iain and Finlay as she whisked them over the woods toward the meadow where she’d left Kirk. Collecting them had made for an interesting moment. The men had been both frustrated and yet glad to offer her aid, Iain reassuring her that whenever she needed them, they’d come, and without a moment’s hesitation. With both men heavily armed and Iain carrying a war coat for Kirk, she set them all down gently in the meadow currently bereft of her mate. She uncloaked and dipped her head toward them. “Thank you both for answering my call of need.”

“Whoa, how incredible.” Iain’s gaze widened on her. “Your skin glimmers. Has Kirk seen you like this?”

“Aye, he has. Such a glimmer is a physical attribute held only by the eldest child born within the ancient royal line. As such, since I’ve never had children, I’m the last to hold it.”

“It must be a little difficult for you to go around unnoticed on Earth. No wonder you cloak so often.” Finlay stepped forward, hugged her and smiled. “Welcome to the family, to both you and your sparkly skin. I’m going to enjoy having another sister.”

“Thank you.” She smiled and searched the meadow surrounded by tall pine trees for her mate. “Kirk intended to scout around.”

“Then he won’t be far.” Walking toward the forest trail, Iain raised his nose to the air and she and Finlay followed as he tracked his brother.

They tramped through the trees a good furlong or two before they found Kirk crouched next to a trickling stream.

“Kirk, I’ve brought your brothers,” she called out to him.

“Perfect timing.” Kirk rose and crossed to them, his white tunic flapping free under his fur vest. “The MacKenzies are definitely headed back the way they’ve come, toward their own land and we’re after a group of five, maybe six warriors.”

“Then we’ll need to head them off at the pass, before they have the chance to make it back to their lair.” Iain tossed Kirk a black war coat studded with bits of steel, the same as what he too had donned over his brown leather pants. “Cherub explained Nessa’s vision to us, that the MacKenzie was after a woman from the fae village. The fact that they’ve taken a lad instead is very interesting, although Joseph does hold the skill of foreknowledge, an ability the MacKenzie would likely covet as well.”

“Gilleoin will be furious when he learns Joseph was taken. We sent Arabel and Isla to update Nessa and ensure one of his guards rode out with the news.” Finlay adjusted the bow and satchel of arrows he’d slung across one shoulder, his black cotun a thick jacketed padding underneath. “Children shouldn’t be brought into a war. It’s despicable.”

“I agree, which means we need to retrieve the lad and return him to Amelia and Olaf, immediately.” Kirk donned his war coat, his golden gaze sweeping over her. “We need to catch up to them as quick as we can. Can you extend your cloaking to cover us all?”

“I can extend my cloaking to shield all who are connected to me. It takes a little more concentration, although naught I cannae handle.”

“Are you certain?” He slid one hand over her hip, the other around the back of her head as he brought her closer to him. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I’m an immortal. No harm can befall me, no matter if I’m right in the middle of a melee.” Goodness, the first moment she could, she would complete the bond and ensure he too was an immortal. “You’re the one who needs to take care until I can speak the spell to bind a piece of your soul to mine.”

“You can’t do so right now?” He raised a questioning brow.

“I wish I could, but ’tis only possible in the moment when we join as one.”

“I see.” He dipped his head and kissed her, his lips whisper soft against hers. “I wish that were now, but it’ll have to wait.”

Waiting would be sheer torture. With a soft sigh, she turned in his hold so he stood at her back then extended her arms for Iain and Finlay. “No one is to let go of me during our travel through the sky, or if you do then you shall fall to the Earth, and rather fast.”

“We’ll keep ahold, just as we did on the trip here.” Iain grasped her right arm while Finlay took hold of her left.

From behind her, Kirk nuzzled her neck, his breath a warm flutter across her skin. She wriggled her bottom into his groin and winked over her shoulder at him. “Are you ready, my tempting bear?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He nipped her ear. “To the skies, my elusive imp.”

“We’ll follow the enemy’s tracks where possible, although there is only one way to get to the MacKenzie’s keep from here.” She cloaked them all, took them into the skies, just above the trees so they could follow the main forest path.

“How fast can you move through the air?” Finlay asked from her left, as invisible as she was.

“When I am in mist form, a journey of several miles can be done in mere moments, but transporting others as I am now is far slower since I must take into account your need to survive.” She gained a little more height as the craggy hills of the Highlands rose up ahead.

“Surviving is good.” Finlay chuckled. “Arabel will certainly be furious with you should you drop me, and by the way, you don’t want to see her get angry. Fire shoots from her fingertips and she lights up like a storm.”

“Ignore Finlay. I’ll never allow anyone to harm you.” Kirk’s hold around her waist tightened, his chest at her back so deliciously warm. “You’re mine to protect, always mine.”

“As I’ll never allow another soul to harm you either.” A promise she would forever keep. She’d been gifted with a mate and now she’d chosen to accept their bond, she wasn’t letting him go. She crossed the hills then flew down toward the other side where rolling fields of heather awash with wildflowers spread into the distance. A fast-moving river weaved through the lush green pasture, the waters streaming over wide boulders and flowing toward the inner channel of the loch only a few miles away.

“This is the most beautiful, untouched land,” Kirk whispered in her ear. “I love traveling with you this way. We have a bird’s eye view of it all.”

“Aye, ’tis a blessing to be able to hold my skill, even though an all-consuming one.” She left the fields behind as they gave way to the forest bordering the loch. She skimmed the treetops while up ahead, nestled amongst the towering pine and elm trees, a quaint stone inn with smoke puffing from its chimney, beckoned travelers.

“Divert past the inn and take us down onto the beach, right there.” Kirk’s fingers brushed her cheek as he directed her gaze toward a galley with the MacKenzie flag flapping from its center mast. The vessel sat half beached on the sandy shore bereft of even one soul.

“I see it. This appears to be a safe place to set us all down.” She swept down and landed on the grassy verge. Across the other side of the loch lying under a pall of gray cloud, the imposing fortress of the MacKenzie keep sat with its four-story gray tower house rising tall and strong above the massive fortified curtain walls. Built on an island a stone’s throw from the mainland meant one couldn’t easily sneak into their stronghold. In fact, ’twas damn near impossible.

“Uncloak us all,” Kirk said. “We need to find our enemy, and as quick as we can.”

“Mayhap they’re resting at the inn.” They certainly hadn’t seen them thus far. She uncloaked and swayed as black dots danced before her eyes. She blinked and righted herself.

“Are you all right?” Kirk turned her in his arms.

“Aye, I just need a moment or two to recover.”

“Are you sure?” He searched her gaze.

“Very sure. I’m truly fine.”

“If all’s well”—Iain tipped his head toward the trail leading back toward the inn—“then let’s lay low and take a wander and see where everyone else is.”

“We’ll be right behind you.” Kirk gripped her hand. “Cloak yourself, but only you. Obviously shielding us all sapped some of your strength.”

“I dinnae usually transport so many so far either.” She cloaked herself as he’d asked.

“That’s better.” Fingers tightening around hers, he nodded.

Together, they snuck after Iain and Finlay as they crept through the thick underbrush running alongside the main pathway to the inn. A hundred yards in, they all stopped and lowered to a crouch, the underbrush keeping their position well hidden. She tucked herself in behind Kirk and rested one hand on his back so he’d know where she was.

At the side of the inn near the stables, a lad with a brown woolen cap, his dusty tunic’s sleeves rolled to his elbows, brushed down a black war horse tethered to a long rail next to a corral holding several more horses. Within the wooden beamed enclosure, another lad fed handfuls of oats to the animals within.

A stout warrior wearing the MacKenzie plaid belted at his waist and a massive claymore holstered across his back, stepped out of the inn with its low hung eaves and stony facade. With a slosh of the ale within an earthenware tankard he held, he plunked it down on the front step then crunched across the stony courtyard toward the lads. Wiping spittle from his mouth, he narrowed his gaze on them and grit out, “We were never here, nor the lad we have with us. Am I understood?”

“Aye, sir. We’ve seen no one.” The boy rubbing down the war horse dipped his head in obedience while the other lad in the enclosure nodded as he picked up a pail of water and hauled it from one horse to the next.

“Good, ensure that remains so.” The warrior turned and marched toward the trail next to their hidden spot. He strode past them, within fifteen feet before disappearing through the thick line of pine trees toward the bay.

Iain motioned his brothers closer and they tightened their huddle. “We’re not letting the MacKenzies take Joseph past this point. If we do, it’ll be near impossible to get him back without an army in tow.”

“Agreed,” both Finlay and Kirk murmured.

“We stay close, cover each other’s backs, just as we always have and always will. Kirk”—Iain clasped Kirk’s forearm—“go and subdue the idiot that just headed toward the beach, as quickly and quietly as you can. That’ll be one less man we need to worry about when the rest leave the inn. Whistle out if you need a hand. We’ll remain here and alert for the others.”

“Sure will, although don’t forget to whistle out if you need a hand.” Kirk glanced up into the dense foliage of the closest tree, swept her into his arms and hoisted her into the safety of the wide bow, her position hidden even though she was cloaked. “Stay right there where I know you’ll be safe.”

“I shall, provided you remain safe as well.” Although naught would stop her from joining the battle if she was needed. He and his brothers were kin, and she always protected her people, no matter who the adversary. “Be careful.”

“Always.” He blew her a kiss then stole through the trees toward the enemy.

* * * *

High above in the canopy, birds chirped, and on the gentle sea breeze sweeping in off the water came the promise of all Kirk fought for—freedom for his clansmen. No one would take one of his or Cherub’s kin and get away with it.

Stealthily, he snuck behind a wide trunk and searched the bay. The MacKenzie warrior untied the galley’s rope from around a large boulder, coiled and tossed the rope inside the hull then gripped the bow and shoved the galley off the beach and into the water.

The MacKenzies were preparing to leave, and he didn’t doubt the rest of the warriors would soon be heading down that trail. Leaving his brothers to battle the remainder of their enemy on their own wasn’t something he’d ever do. They fought together, always at each other’s sides, and now wouldn’t be the exception.

He nabbed a decent sized rock, one that fit snugly in his hand then jogged as soundlessly as he could from the tree line down the beach toward the beefy warrior. The urge to teach his adversary a lesson, to never bring an innocent child into the middle of a war, thrummed strongly through him. The MacKenzies were a thorn in their sides, a constant threat against his Matheson kin, a threat he needed to send winging back home with their tails between their legs.

Boring down on the MacKenzie, he yelled, “I see you’re ready to leave.”

The MacKenzie swung around, the surprise in his eyes there one moment but gone in the next. He heaved his claymore free and Kirk slung the rock at him. It hit the warrior square in the forehead and he groaned, eyes going dazed as he fell to his knees. Flinging water, he stumbled to push back up.

“No. You’re going down and staying down. We honestly don’t have time for a fight right now, not when I’m needed elsewhere.” He whipped his sword free and slammed the hilt down on the MacKenzie’s head.

The warrior slumped head first into the waves.

“Damn it.” Sheesh, he didn’t have time for a drowning either. He clutched the warrior by the back of his cotun, hauled him up onto the beach and dumped him on the sand. “You can thank me for saving your butt later.”

A pretty trill sounded. Iain’s warning.

With his sword in hand, Kirk dashed back into the trees.

A fierce battle cry rang out and he picked up his pace.

The hefty sound of steel clashing reverberated through the forest. Ahead on the trail, his brothers stood back to back with four MacKenzies battling them. Not the best of odds, or odds he’d allow to remain in place.

He bounded into the fray and whipped his blade into one of the warrior’s sides.