Dangerous Highlander

CHAPTER NINE

Lucan waited in the bailey for Cara. The sun was high in the cloudless sky, the wind brisk from the sea. It had been days like this that he had ridden his favorite steed from the castle and raced over the land, the ground flying beneath his mount’s hooves.

How innocent Lucan had been then, thinking of the next girl he would tup and wondering what ruse he would play on Quinn. The days had seemed endless, Lucan’s future stretched before him like the stars in the night sky.

He caught a whiff of heather and swung around to find Cara watching him, her gaze pensive, as if she had known his thoughts. She smiled shyly and walked down the castle steps to stand before him.

“You were deep in thought.”

Lucan shrugged. “Just remembering my life before, when things had been simpler.”

“Did you have a good life?”

“Oh, aye. I did.”

“I can imagine your mother had her hands full with three boys.”

He looked to the battlements near the gate house where his mother used to stand, waiting for her husband and sons to return. “She was an amazing woman.”

Lucan blinked and held out the sword hilt first. “Ready to begin your lessons?”

“I’m not sure,” she said as she slowly grasped the pommel of the sword.

The weapon was small, the blade several inches shorter than a man’s sword, but it was balanced and handled well. It was most likely made for a young lad, which would serve Cara flawlessly. She wouldn’t be able to swing a man’s sword, but she had a good chance with the one Lucan had found.

“You want to grip your weapon tight, but not too tight,” he said, and demonstrated. Once she held the sword properly he said, “Now swing it around you; learn the weight of it, how it moves through the air. You need to trust your sword, let it become an extension of your arm.”

She was a quick learner and readily did as he instructed. He saw her hesitation, though, as she was uncertain of her own abilities.

“Good,” he said with a nod. “Can you feel the difference in the sword at different angles?”

She nodded, gazing at the blade. “Aye, I do. The force of the sword when I swing down is immense.”

“Exactly. If you have the advantage over your opponent, a swing down will leave him cleaved in two. The only problem is that you can leave yourself vulnerable when you raise your sword over your head.”

“I understand wanting to arm me against mortal men, but it’s pointless against other Warriors like you and Deirdre’s wyrann.”

“It isn’t,” Lucan said. “Deirdre’s pets can be killed. They are small like a child and they are quick, but they can easily be outsmarted.”

“I can do that.”

He grinned at her words. “You willna be fighting Highlanders with swords. You’ll be fighting nasty wee creatures that have foul breath and a scream that can make your ears bleed. Keep them at a distance with your sword. Here, let me show you.”

Lucan moved behind her and grabbed each of her arms in his hands. His chest fit against her back, his throbbing rod into her soft backside. He wanted to caress down her arms and cup her breasts as he leaned against her, her soft sighs filling the air.

He battled against the hunger that roared to life at the contact of her body against his and tried to focus on the task at hand. Anything other than tossing her onto the ground and throwing up her skirts so he could see her body. Desire surged through him, centering in his cock that hardened to painful degrees. When she shifted her feet and rubbed against his arousal, he couldn’t stop the groan of need.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“You’re fine,” he said between clenched teeth. All he wanted to do was turn her around and pull her into his arms, to feel her breasts against him, to hear her soft moans of pleasure as he slid his tongue inside her mouth and sampled her once again. He could take an eternity learning her body and giving her the pleasure he could only dream about, only to do it all over again.

“Lucan?”

Her voice pulled him out of his daydream. He shook his head to clear it, but the lust refused to diminish. “You’re fine, Cara.”

She looked over her shoulder to him, her mouth breaths from his. Her eyes widened a fraction, her lips parting. It would be so easy, so simple, to lean down and run his mouth over hers.

“They will come at you from behind,” Fallon’s voice rang out in the bailey.

Lucan jerked his gaze to the castle steps to find his brother watching him. Fallon’s gaze held no censure, but Lucan knew what his brother thought of his uncontrollable hunger for Cara. He didn’t know whether to hit Fallon for interrupting or thank him.

Fallon walked down the steps toward them. “Deirdre’s pets like to sneak up on their prey.”

Cara licked her lips and looked from Lucan to Fallon. “So what do I do?”

Fallon raised his hands and curled his fingers. “The wyrran use their claws. Their arms are long but not long enough to reach you if you hold them at bay with your sword.”

“Their toenails are as long as their claws,” Lucan added. “They like to jump on their prey, using their feet to anchor them, then biting and clawing their victims to death.”

“Oh,” Cara mumbled.

“The trick is to put your back to a corner so they cannot sneak up behind you.”

Fallon nodded. “But be careful; they can climb walls.”

Cara wasn’t sure why the brothers were adamant about her learning to use a sword. By the sounds of it, she didn’t stand a chance against Deirdre’s “pets.”

“Relax against me,” Lucan said in her ear.

A shiver raced down her spine at his warm breath against her skin. She found it impossible to think with his hard, hot body against her. It made her recall his kiss, the way his hands had caressed her, and the delightful sensations that swam through her anytime he was near.

“Relax,” Fallon said. “Let Lucan teach you the movements.”

She gave her arms up to Lucan, watching as he moved them in deft circles, always keeping the blade of the sword in front of her.

When he nudged her legs wider with his knee, she blindly obeyed, too caught up in the emotions swirling within her, and the heat of her blood that centered between her legs.

She jerked when something was placed in her left hand. Fallon gave a nod of his head. That’s when she saw the dagger.

“You’ll need that as well,” he said. “Don’t ever lose your blades, Cara. Ever.”

For the first time since she had met Fallon, his dark green eyes seemed almost clear of the wine. Almost.

“Remember how I told you to hold the sword?” Lucan asked. “Treat any other weapon the same way. Firm, but loose.”

It made no sense to her, but these were men who grew up by the sword. If anyone knew what they spoke about, it was the MacLeod brothers.

She sucked in a breath when Lucan lifted her leg with his knee and lunged forward. At the same time, he thrust the sword out, the tip touching Fallon’s chest, just over his heart.

Lucan nodded, his chin scraping the side of her face. “Good. Let me show you more.”

Again and again Lucan would lunge her one way or the other, bringing her arms up to shield her from make-believe attacks from Fallon. Lucan pivoted her, he turned her, he backed her away, but always he had her weapons in front of her.

“Try it by yourself,” Lucan said as he moved to step in front of her.

Cara instantly missed his heat. The wind from the sea buffeted her, dragging into her eyes strands of her hair that had pulled free from her braid.

She widened her stance and bent her knees. The sword was lifted, waiting, as was the dagger. It was Lucan who came at her this time. She tried to lunge away from him, but he was quick and she ended up spinning away instead.

“A good first try,” Fallon said as he sat on the steps and lifted the wine to his lips. “Watch his eyes, not his arms.”

“How will I know how he’ll attack if I don’t watch his arms?” she asked.

Lucan grinned. “Watch my eyes.”

She thought the brothers were enjoying themselves entirely too much at her expense. She was a woman who had never held a weapon in her life. With skirts that hampered her movement. But she was determined to succeed. They were taking the time to teach her, and she would learn.

“Ready?” Lucan asked.

Cara stared into his eyes and nodded. For the longest time he simply stood there, watching her. There was the slightest movement of his gaze just before he stepped toward her. She spun away from him and lunged, the point of her dagger landing at his side between his ribs.

“I’m impressed.”

The compliment gave her the encouragement she needed. Lucan and Fallon took turns attacking her. The faster she became, the quicker they moved. They helped her find her weak spots and correct them.

“Your advantage is your quickness,” Lucan said. “Use it to your benefit. If you find yourself fighting a Warrior, he will try to overpower you. Keep out of his reach and attack as often as you can.”

“Bloody him,” Fallon added. “Continue to bloody him for as long as you can.”

Cara nodded. “What of your powers?”

Lucan shrugged. “I could prepare you for what we have, but each Warrior is different. Still, I suppose it could help you learn what to expect.”

Her arms had begun to ache from keeping them lifted and moving in ways she never had before. But it felt good to be included in something, to have people take an interest in her.

“Aren’t you going to . . . change?” she asked.

Lucan shook his head, his wavy obsidian locks lifting from his neck in the breeze. “Not yet.”

“You think it’ll frighten me.”

“I know it will.”

She was scared of what he would become, but she also knew he wouldn’t hurt her. All three of the brothers had had ample time to harm her. Yet they were teaching her to protect herself against their kind.

Nay, Lucan wouldn’t hurt her.

“I need to learn,” she argued.

“You are.”

Before she could react, he charged her. Cara tried to pivot away, but he grabbed her around the waist. The contact of his body against hers made her forget about defending herself. Then she looked into his sea green eyes and became lost.

Her breath locked in her lungs, her heart raced in her chest. The desire that drowned out everything was too much. She tried to step away and only succeeded in pushing the point of her dagger into his arm.

“By the saints,” she gasped.

Lucan’s strong arms held her immobile, her skirts tangling in his legs. “It’s all right, Cara.”

She shook her head and dropped her weapons, but it didn’t stop the blood from welling up and rolling down his arm. “I’ve hurt you.”

“I’ll be all right.”

“Nay.” She tripped over his feet as she made to move away, sending both of them to the ground.

Cara screeched, but before she could land on the ground Lucan had turned her so that he braced her fall. As soon as they landed, he rolled her onto her back.

“Are you hurt?” His beautiful eyes searched her face, concern furrowing his brow.

Cara saw his lips move, knew he was talking to her, but she couldn’t hear anything other than the blood rushing in her ears at having him atop her. She had never known the weight of a man could be so . . . thrilling. Her hands had gripped his shoulders as she began to fall. Unable to help herself, she threaded her fingers in the silky thickness of his hair.

Her desire must have been written on her face, because his eyes darkened and his gaze fastened on her lips.

Aye. Kiss me again. Give me the promise of paradise I tasted earlier.

His head lowered, his lips grazing her chin. Just as he was about to claim her lips, a voice interrupted them.

“Lucan, is she all right?” Fallon asked.

Cara met Lucan’s gaze.

“Are you hurt?” Lucan asked.

She shook her head, unable to form a coherent thought, much less speak. Her body wasn’t her own whenever Lucan touched her. She wanted things, desired things she couldn’t put a name to. She knew Lucan could ease the building torment inside her. His kisses, his touch . . . his heat.

“She’s fine,” Lucan said, his gaze never leaving hers. After another heartbeat he rose to his feet and helped her to stand.

Her fingers went to the wound she had given him. The blood was still there, but through the hole in his tunic she saw the skin had already mended.

“I told you we heal fast,” he said with a lopsided smile.

Her stomach flipped when she saw the desire in his eyes. He had been about to kiss her. What would have happened if they weren’t interrupted?

More important, was she brave enough to find out?

She knew she was. The feelings she had for Lucan were intense and overwhelming. For most of her life she had hidden herself away from everyone and everything, but with Lucan she wanted to experience it all. And God help her, she was ever so grateful she hadn’t taken the vows of a nun yet. The idea of being a nun was laughable now that she had experienced such passion.

“It’s past noon,” Fallon said. “Let’s go inside and eat. I’m sure Cara could use the rest.”

She didn’t think she could eat, not when her body throbbed with such alluring torment. And all because Lucan had lain atop her.

“Cara?” Lucan whispered as they made their way into the castle. “Did I hurt you?”

She smiled into his eyes. “Not in the least.”

His hand rested on her lower back, guiding her into the great hall. His touch was comforting, and growing more so by the hour. In such a short time he had filled her senses so completely that all she could think about was Lucan.

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. She preferred it when his desire was evident. Did he regret it now? He was immortal after all. His life could go on forever while her life would be gone in a blink. It would have been enough a week ago to send her running to hide, but not now. Mayhap not ever again.

Once more when they sat to eat, Lucan took the place beside her. She didn’t miss the exchange of looks between Fallon and Lucan or the undercurrent of hostility from Quinn.

Despite the charged atmosphere, she was content beside Lucan. Without him, she wouldn’t have dared to eat with Quinn and Fallon. She had hoped changing out of Elspeth’s gown would help Quinn, but it only seemed to make him more livid.

As for Fallon, she wasn’t sure why he kept staring at Lucan, his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. And the angrier he became, the more he drank.

“Cold roasted fowl again?” Fallon grimaced.

Quinn shrugged and plopped into his seat. “You should have eaten it all yesterday if you wanted something else today.”

“It wasna that great yesterday.”

“Then you should cook instead of holding on to the damned bottle of wine,” Quinn snapped before he sank his teeth into the meat.

Cara watched the exchange with interest. “Who hunts?” she asked.

“Quinn,” Lucan answered.

It seemed each of the brothers had a chore to do, though she wasn’t quite sure what Fallon’s was. “I can cook. I’m only passing fair, though,” she offered.

Lucan grinned at her while Quinn gave a jerk of his head. “Fine with me,” Quinn answered.

“You don’t have to,” Lucan said.

She shrugged and pulled a bite of meat apart. “I need to do something.”

Fallon set his bottle on the table after a long drink. “Anything is better than Quinn’s cooking.”

“At least I don’t see two of everything,” Quinn snarled.

Cara focused on her meal. Only moments later Quinn rose from the table and strode from the great hall without a word to anyone.

She chanced to raise her eyes and found Fallon staring at her. Anger no longer creased his eyes and hardened his lips. Before the killing of his clan, Fallon had been about to be married. He had lost his home, his family, his clan, and his future wife all in one day.

“Did you love her?” Cara asked before she could think better of it.

Fallon shrugged, as if he had known what she would ask. “I barely knew my intended bride. We had met only once before she journeyed here. It was an advantageous marriage between two powerful clans.”

“So your happiness meant nothing?”

Lucan pushed his trencher away and leaned his forearms on the table. “As eldest, Fallon was expected to make the clan stronger.”

“I realize that,” she said. “Did you even like her?” she asked Fallon.

Fallon gave a halfhearted grin. “She was pretty enough with her fair hair, but she was shy and quiet. I don’t know how she would have fared in the MacLeod clan.”

Cara looked at her hands as he spoke. “Quinn married for love?”

“Aye,” Lucan agreed. “They were both very young when they wed. They had been inseparable as children, and when they got older, it was obvious they would marry.”

Cara turned her head to Lucan. “And you? Did you have someone you loved?”

“Besides my family? Nay. There was no woman for me.”

“Not for lack of them trying,” Fallon said with a chuckle. “I’ve never seen women fall over themselves as they did for Lucan.”

Lucan raised his brows and smiled. “Now wait a moment, Brother. I seem to recall you had your fair share of women as well.”

Fallon laughed a full, robust laugh that caught even him off guard. “At least we never had to fight over a woman.”

“Thank the saints for that,” Lucan replied with a wide smile.

His eyes danced with merriment, and Cara had to wonder when was the last time the brothers had laughed.

Fallon’s smile died. “I miss having a woman warm my bed.” His gaze became distant, as if he lost himself in a memory.

Cara winced as she saw the stark loneliness in Fallon’s eyes. She had seen the same in Quinn’s. But Lucan, his had only shown desire and concern.

“Your god was bound once. Maybe he can be bound again,” she said to Lucan.

He shrugged. “We tried. For years we tried to find a way.”

“But it was hopeless,” Fallon said.

Lucan glanced at his brother. “The only person who knows how is Deirdre, and she’s not about to tell us.”

“Not when she wants to use us in her army,” Fallon added.

Cara wasn’t ready to give up. “There has to be a way. Just as I’m sure there are other Warriors like you, hiding from Deirdre, there has to be someone who can bind the gods.”

Lucan scratched his jaw as he considered her words. “You may be right, but if there was someone who knew how, I can guarantee Deirdre has found them and killed them.”

“The Druids were a large part of the Celtic life. Just as the Celts have never gone away,” she said, and glanced at his torc, “the Druids haven’t, either.”

“They won’t show their faces,” Fallon said. “The Druids would be persecuted as soon as it was discovered who they were.”

Cara stopped short of rolling her eyes. For such brawny warriors, they didn’t think half the time. “Have you, or have you not, been hiding in this ruin of a castle for over two hundred years next to a village that never knew you were here?”

Fallon sighed. “Point taken.”

She looked at Lucan. “A Druid could be a practicing Christian but still believe in the old ways.”

“Say you’re right,” Lucan said. “How would we begin to look for them? It’s not as if we have the time to travel over Scotland stopping at every village or cottage we come across.”

“I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

“It’s not a bad idea,” Fallon said after a moment. “I just don’t see how we could carry through with any of it.”

“We could leave the castle,” Cara said.

“To go where?” Lucan asked. “We have nowhere else to go.”

“Why stay here?” she argued. “You said yourself Deirdre would attack again. We could leave and seek out other Warriors and see what we can discover about the Druids.”

Fallon rose to his feet and reached for his bottle of wine. “It is a good plan, Cara, but I’m not leaving my home. This castle is all I have left. If I leave it, I’m afraid I’ll come back to find the MacClures or some other clan has decided they want it. I couldna stop them from taking our lands, but I refuse to give up the castle.”

She watched Fallon walk from the hall and out the castle doors.

“He’s been outside more today than he has the last hundred years,” Lucan murmured.

Cara sighed. “Only because I’m sitting in the place he usually occupies.”

“Our lives got disrupted, and I think that’s a good thing. For too long we’ve huddled in the castle, pretending we didn’t exist. We fought Warriors and wyrran, but we should have been living. Learning the world that has changed so much.”

“We all know the attack is coming. To stay here and wait to be outnumbered seems folly to me.”

Lucan lifted one side of his mouth in a grin. “There is no place any of us could go. They know your scent now. The Warriors will hunt you unto the ends of the earth if they have to.”

Cara shuddered at the thought.