Lily (The Highland Clan Book 3) (19 page)

Only it wasn’t cold; it was quite warm. As her hand sunk into the heat of the spring, she let out a small moan of joy. Removing her hand, she leaned over Moonbeam and wrapped him in her arms. “My thanks, Moonbeam. ‘Tis exactly what I need.”

She stripped off her night rail and set it down on a nearby rock. Moonbeam led her around to the back of the pool, where a small ledge jutted out over the water. It was the ideal spot to sit and dip her feet into the pool. She lowered both feet into the water and wallowed in the warmth of it. Leaning forward, she lapped the water up over her shoulders to warm herself, enjoying every moment. The wolf moved over to the edge and stuck his face in to lap up a drink, then finished by licking Lily’s arm until she giggled and planted a kiss on top of his head.

“Oh, Moonbeam, I do love you so. I hope you’ll stay with me forever.”

He lowered himself to the stone floor, resting his head next to Lily’s arm.

After a glorious bath, Lily climbed out, walking around until her skin dried off because she wished to keep her night rail dry. Once she was dressed, she returned to the mouth of the cave. The storm continued to rage in all its glory beyond their shelter.

How would Kyle ever find her in this mess? She couldn’t imagine searching for someone in this storm. Uncle Logan was one of the best trackers in the land, but this storm would wash all her tracks away. How would they find her?

She hoped it also meant that Cormag would end his pursuit until the storm calmed down. If Cormag managed to find her in the cave, she hoped Moonbeam would protect her. She moved to the back of the cave again, totally exhausted, and fell asleep with only her night rail on, curled up on a section of her gown that was now dry. Moonbeam stood guard at the mouth of the cave.

Much later, Lily found herself back in that old place, the one she so feared.

In the trees.

She was tethered to the tree all over again—a helpless, lost, and lonely child. Awakening with a cry, she wrapped her arms around herself. It was an awful dream, but she knew why it had plagued her again.

She was as lost and alone now as she had been then. Her worst nightmare had come to pass.

But nay, she was
not
alone. Moonbeam had nuzzled against her to give her his heat, and she was surprised at the comfort of his warmth. Her fingers ran through his soft fur and he lifted his head to lick her, rolling onto his back. The sound of heavy rain still echoed through the chamber, but the thunderstorm had stopped.

The sun had come up, so she made her way to the opening to look outside, but there was no sign of anyone coming to her rescue. She stood at the cave entrance and dissolved into sobs.

“Kyle, Kyle, save me, please!” she shouted.

She cried and cried until she had no more tears.

Moonbeam howled at her feet.

Chapter Eighteen

Kyle’s confidence waned. Where in hell could Lily possibly be? He’d searched the area completely, following the tracks of one horse he’d picked up leaving the cottage, but had come up empty, losing the tracks at the stream again. This horse had been different, suggesting only one rider instead of two.

If so, and the horse carried Cormag, then where the hell was Lily? He reviewed everything he’d been taught by Quade and Logan, Seamus and Mungo, all of his teachers he’d listened to over the years about tracking.

On a fluke, he decided to try a different route. His excitement grew when he caught fresh tracks heading in a direction he hadn’t anticipated. He spurred his horse ahead, crashing through the bushes to catch up with the lone horseman. Quite sure it was Cormag, he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword to make sure it was easily accessible. If he had to kill the bastard to find out where Lily was, he would do so without hesitation.

Time passed, and a thunderstorm had moved into the area, lighting up the forest for him. But he was so upset, he hardly noticed the downpour around him.

All Kyle could think of was what a mistake he’d made by waiting to wed Lily. What kind of a daft fool was he? Her kidnapping had made him realize the depth of his love. He would do anything for his lass, even lose his life for her. She was the sweetest person in all the land, a person who was forever generous, loving, gracious, and beautiful of heart. His priorities had been all wrong. Aye, his job as a Ramsay warrior was important, but not as important as being the husband and protector of Lily of the Ramsays, the true pride and joy of their clan. Aye, their chieftain was the center of the clan, but Lily was its heart and soul.

He loved Lily and she was
his
priority—as his wife, as the mother of his future bairns, as his best friend. And he pledged that he would stop trying to put off their marriage. The moment he found her, they would marry—in the forest, at home, it did not matter where. He would pledge himself to Lily and take her as his wife as soon as possible.

But he had to find her first.
Lord, please help me find Lily
.

It was still pouring, but the thunderstorm was finally letting up. It did not matter, he’d find Cormag through any weather. Up ahead, he heard another horse crashing through the brush. He flicked the reins of his horse, urging him forward.

As he approached a small clearing, Kyle could tell the man on the horse in front of him was indeed Buchan.

“Cormag, you bastard! Where’s Lily?” he shouted, pulling abreast of the lout.

Cormag glanced over his shoulder and yelled, “How would I know where Lily is? She’s your lass.”

Kyle growled and pulled up next to him. Leaping from his horse, he grabbed Cormag and yanked him to the ground in one move. His fist connected with Cormag’s face and belly before he allowed the man the chance to speak. “Where is she? I found that foolish cottage you set up for her. I know she was there.”

“Aye, ‘tis true,” Cormag spat. “Lily loves me. She does not want you. I brought her to the cottage because she wished to be away from you. You denied her, so she ran into my open arms. She loves me. I fell asleep with my arms wrapped around her.”

Kyle could not believe the words coming from Cormag’s mouth. Lies, all lies. They had to be lies. Lily would never have gone with him willingly.

“Filthy liar. If she loved you, then where is she?” Kyle punched him twice more, then threw him to the ground. “Where is she?”

Cormag still refused to answer, so Kyle sat on him, choking him around the neck. “I’ll kill you.”

Cormag squeaked. “Then you’ll never know where she is, will you?”

Kyle hit him in his face, the snap against his fist telling him he had broken the bastard’s nose. “Where is she?”

Buchan held his hands up in surrender, attempting to stop the blood pouring out of his nose. “I know not. She sneaked out in the middle of the night. I’m following her as you are. I’ve lost her tracks in the rain.”

A sound echoed through the woods ahead of them, one he did not recognize. Leaving Cormag battered on the ground, he stood up and wandered toward the sound, listening intently, hoping it might provide a clue to Lily’s whereabouts.

A wolf. The keening howl of a wolf. A fist punched him square in the gut at the thought of Lily alone in the woods with a pack of wolves. He heard a rustling sound behind him and turned his head in time to see Cormag headed straight for him, his sword aimed for his belly.

Acting on instinct, Kyle unsheathed his sword and swung it in an arc, cleaving Cormag’s belly open. Cormag stared at him in surprise just before he crumpled to the ground, the life leaving his body.

It had happened so quickly. Cormag was dead, and he was no closer to finding Lily. Kyle climbed on his horse and moved toward the sound of the wolf, not knowing where else to go. As he made his way through the forest, another sound reached him, one that caused hope to blossom in his heart.

Lily. He could swear he’d heard Lily’s voice screaming his name. He moved in that direction, but the undergrowth became too dense, so he leaped off his horse and tethered it to a tree before continuing on foot. He ran through the trees, and though the swinging branches hit him in the side and face, he could not stop. He paused once to yell, “Lily? Where are you? Scream again!”

The wolf howled once more, so he continued to rush through the trees, only pausing when he reached a small clearing in a ravine. He glanced up at the height of the layered stones around him, climbing a small hill toward the sound he’d heard before. Where the hell could she be? There was no sign of aught in front of him but rocks and boulders, shadows of mountains behind them.

His gaze searched the area as he screamed again, “Lily!” He shouted so loud and hard he almost gagged.

Out from behind a rock, standing under an outcropping, came the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen, his Lily.

“Lily, are you all right?” He ran toward her, but came to an abrupt stop as a wolf appeared next to her. There was a snarl on his lips as Kyle edged closer, a snarl that turned to a growl when Kyle lowered his hand to the hilt of his sword.

“Kyle, do not worry.”

She reached down to pet the wolf, and his heart leaped into his throat. “Lily, be careful!”

“Kyle, ‘tis my friend Moonbeam. I saved him and he has saved me. Come. He’ll not bother you.” She continued to rub Moonbeam’s ear as Kyle took a few tentative steps forward.

Kyle was shocked to see the beast sit back on his haunches, the snarl leaving his face as he nuzzled Lily’s hand.

His Lily had tamed a wolf in the wild. He climbed up the slippery slope, grabbing onto rocks and vines to right himself, and when he reached her, she took him by the hand and led him behind the rock and into a cave. She threw herself into his arms as soon as they were out of the rain.

“You came for me. My thanks.”

“Of course I came for you. I love you, Lily. Do you know how I’ve worried? I found that cottage and Cormag.”

She played with the folds on his plaid, fixing it and brushing away the dirt. “Beware, Cormag is still out there, and he will probably come for us, but mayhap not until after the rain has stopped.”

He watched the woman he loved, noticing how her hands never stopped and her conversation never slowed despite how close she was to falling apart. He stilled her hands before cupping her face. “Lily, Cormag is dead. He will never bother you again. He was the man in the meadow at home and in Edinburgh. ‘Tis over, but I’m so sorry I could not stop him from stealing you away.”

Tears slid down her cheeks as she gazed at him, her lower lip trembling.

“I love you, Lily. Will you marry me now?”

“I love you too, but I believe you know that. I have always loved you, even when we were wee. But how can we marry now? Out here?”

“Father Rab can marry us as soon as we return, but we can handfast now. I do not care if ‘tis not a common practice. It’s what’s in our hearts that matters. I pledge myself to you, Lily Ramsay. I will always love and protect you.” His hand dropped to hers, squeezing it as he waited for her response.

“Oh, Kyle Maule. Aye, I’ll marry you. I pledge my heart to you. You are the only one for me.”

He took his knife out and cut his thumb, then made a small cut on her hand and placed his thumb over the tender wound. “We are one. You are mine and I am yours, forever.”

Lily threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Love me, husband. Let us wait no longer.”

“With pleasure.” He kissed her, tenderly at first to let her know how much he treasured her.

She pulled back and grabbed his hand, “Come see what Moonbeam showed me.”

“Moonbeam?”

“Aye, Moonbeam is my new pet.”

She tugged him toward the back of the cave.

“Lily, are you sure you know where you are going?” Kyle couldn’t help but glance over his shoulder to look for Lily’s new pet. Sure enough, the beast was directly behind him. He tried his best not to show any fear of Moonbeam, but he was a wee bit unsettled to have a wolf behind him. “And are you sure Moonbeam doesn’t wish for one of us to be his next meal?”

“Aye, I’ll tell you about Moonbeam later. First I must show you this.” She stepped into another cavern and led the way to a small pool that was illuminated by daylight beaming through a slit at the top of the chamber. She turned around to Kyle and said, “Husband? You need a bath, and ‘twill be my pleasure to bathe you.”

Kyle’s mouth lifted to a quirky grin. “You’ve been in this water?”

“Aye, I was caught in the downpour just as you were.” Grabbing his plaid, she untied it and tossed it off to the side. She reached for his breeches and tugged them off. “I need to see all of you. We must be skin to skin, as is right.”

Kyle couldn’t believe the fervor with which his wee wife was undressing him. “But Lily, the wolf? I do not know if I can perform with him watching us.” He petted the top of the wolf’s head, pleased to see the animal accepted his gesture of affection.

“Moonbeam, you must go to the front of the cave to protect us. Do not allow aught to bother us.” She leaned down to kiss the top of the wolf’s head and rub the soft spot behind his ear, then pushed him toward the entrance. “We’ll not be long, and you may join us then.”

Moonbeam licked her hand and turned around to do as he was bid. Kyle was dumbfounded, but the sight of his wife dropping her clothing onto the floor brought his attention back to where it belonged.

His mouth went dry when he looked at his wife. “Lily, you are so beautiful.” He placed both hands on her hips and tugged her toward him. “I would be lost without you.” His lips descended on hers, but this time he ravaged her lips, letting her know how much he wanted and needed her. His mouth angled over hers, their tongues mating, intertwining as their bodies soon would do. His heart beat so fast, he wished he could slow it, but being this close to Lily was more than he’d ever dreamed.

“Kyle, come with me. The water is warm.” She took his hand and led him to the edge of the pool, showing him the ledge he could use to ease into the water. He dropped into the pool with a splash, dipping his head under the water and to rid himself of all that had taken place outside. Once he felt replenished, he held his hand out to help Lily into the water.

Lily giggled, watching him carefully. “Are you standing? I did not go in that far before. I was afraid to see what was at the bottom.” She was sitting on the ledge now, her long legs dangling in the water.

“The bottom is stone just as the cave is. But I must admit I like you where you are, Lily.”

He moved over to her, wrapping his arms around her, melding their bodies together. He kissed her lips, then trailed a path of kisses down her neck, one of her shoulders, and all the way to the underside of one breast, pausing to lift its weigh with one hand so he could explore the entire breast. “You are so soft.” His tongue followed the edge of her mound until it found her nipple, teasing it until it became a taut peak.

Lily cried out in response, grasping both hands behind his neck and tugging him closer. “More, please.”

Kyle chuckled and took her nipple in his mouth, suckling her until her moans echoed through the cavern. His mouth found hers again, exploring her, teasing her tongue with his, pulsating against her to mimic what he wished to do with her. He wanted all of her, every last inch of her body.

“Do not stop, Kyle, please. I want you inside me.”