Enchanted Moon (Moon Magick Book II) (13 page)

“No need. As I said, I’m sure we’re safe. Let us take
more caution regardless.”

Ailyn nodded. Too many conversations with her brother
swam to the fore. No matter how much she preferred to take the lead and not
need another’s aid, Danny and Colm were right. Two swords fought better than
one. A man at her back kept her back protected.

She kept to Danny’s pace the remainder of the day and
used the quiet to mull over what Breanne had shared. The way the woman had
lighted a row of tallows, the large leather-bound book filled with drawings and
writing. The old tongue of her grandmother on some pages, the new one of both
their worlds on others. She found it remarkable how parallel a course their
worlds had run.

Breanne confirmed fears like humankind hunting
faeries. She verified that few mortals could draw on the source, unable to
sense the magick in this world. She shared difficult facts such as aging and
death in this mortal world. She called Ailyn’s home Otherworld and defined how
few years humans could live compared to Fae, who rarely died, particularly
those of noble birth.

Her heart ached anew for Tullah. Losing their queen
would devastate all four tribes. The already lingering fears that the Fae would
perish as a race would certainly rise stronger than ever among all. If the
queen could die, born of the purest line, why not any brown- or white-blooded
faerie, too?

Breanne was a wealth of information, aye. She took her
role in her visions quite seriously, too, and at one point had taken Ailyn’s
hand in hers, tracing the lines on her palm and vowing, “Our paths are twined.
Yours and mine. You will not face this alone.”

Ailyn believed her, too, because Breanne knew things
no one else could know. Things not even Colm knew. Breanne knew of her mother’s
last words. She knew the story behind the pendant at her neck and her vow to
never take it off, not even to save a life, so precious it was.

“We can make camp here,” Danny said, drawing up next
to her. His gaze searched hers. “When you’re ready, I have more to show you.”

Much like the moment in Breanne’s home, Ailyn saw a
glimpse of Danny’s maturity emerging. He suddenly seemed much older than his
years. The evening stole the day’s light by degrees as they dismounted in a
meadow some distance from the main road, a smattering of trees offering cover.
Ailyn contemplated what Danny had said. Was she ready to digest more? Did she
have much choice?

Colm and Maera were safe, Breanne had sworn, but for
how long, none could say. Breanne only knew that getting the stones was
critical. A matter of life and death. Her brother and her liege’s. Her own.
Danny lit the fire, tended the horses and offered Ailyn a chunk of cheese and
bread.

“I would offer you ale,” he said. “But it would likely
upset your constitution.”

Ailyn considered asking what ale was, why it would not
agree with her, then decided it mattered not—a sure sign that she was
completely exhausted. She chewed on a bite of the soft, smoky flavored cheese,
contemplating matters at hand. “This Giant’s Causeway, how close are we?”

“Another day’s ride, at least.”

The sun had set and the only remaining light was the
fire which Danny stirred in between bites. He handed her a chunk of the meat.
Ailyn took it, eyeing the wrinkled stuff with some doubt.

“Venison,” Danny said, gesturing for her to try it.

Taking a small bite, Ailyn testing the feel and flavor
on her tongue. Her taste buds pinched to life. An interesting flavor, it was.
Salty but sweet, too. The meat softened as she chewed and her stomach growled
for more. She was feeling settled for the first time in days. Perhaps weeks.

“Once we unearth the bloodstone, it then becomes a
matter of finding its sister stone,” she said, needing to feel she had a clear
grasp of their strategy. They did not know the location of the second stone.
Only a guess based on Breanne’s dreams.

Danny stopped chewing. His eyebrows jutted together.
He peered past the fire. Ailyn followed his gaze, her hand automatically going
to her dagger. “What is it?” she whispered, recalling that earlier sensation of
being watched.

Aye, there it was again, that feeling of eyes being on
her. She stood, drawing her dagger. Danny stood, too, blade in hand. “Stay
here,” he said in a low voice.

She forced herself to do as told. Disobeying her
brother’s orders had gotten her in this debacle. Of course, if Breanne’s
presages held truth, she was meant to be here and thereby her disobedience had
been the right decision. Ah, but that logic did wonders for her urge to follow
him. She moved softly, taking the left flank as Danny approached the right of
the copse of trees and foliage. Part of her suspected she out-skilled the young
man, probably out-experienced him, too, by at least a few years.
She’d not be left by the fire like a helpless child
.

Ailyn peered into the shadows. The fire’s light danced
against the low limbs and trunks. The night’s silence grew more pronounced as
her heart beat harder in her chest, louder in her ears. Unbidden, the memory of
Kristoph pushing up against her came to the fore. The more she recalled
Breanne’s words, the more certain she felt it was he who wanted the stones.

He was Tullah’s most trusted advisor. Yet, Ailyn knew
his true nature. She should have told someone. But who would believe her? Colm
would. But the shame of it had been too much to share all those years ago. Far
easier to simply avoid the man and train with all her will. He’d not be able to
overpower her again. Not without a fight.

Would tonight bring that fight?

“Ailyn,” Danny hissed. “I said stay put.”

She shook her head, pointing at the copse then cupping
her ear. He shook his head as well, looking about as exasperated as Colm ever
had with her. Aye, well, he’d need to be getting used to her ways if they’d be
traveling companions these coming weeks. She arched her eyebrows as if to say,
‘will you be listening or arguing?’

After long seconds, Danny narrowed his eyes but looked
back to the trees. They were not so dense as to miss a moving body within them,
but Kristoph was rumored to be a powerful sorcerer. Some claimed that Tullah
had no magick left in her blood, that she relied on her advisors to create the
illusion of thriving royal magick.

Ailyn refused to believe such ugly whispers, but knew
firsthand how stealthy he could be. In a flash, there, in her face, strangling
her throat, groping her body. In another flash, gone. Ailyn stepped around a
thick trunk, crouching low, listening.

This time when a hand wrapped around her mouth from
behind, she had no doubts whatsoever whom it belonged to. She grinned against
the wide palm and jabbed an elbow backward. Quinlan released her, gasping in
mock pain.

“Quinlan,” Danny said. “Fancy running into you out
here. In the dark. Hiding.” Irritation resonated in every word. He held his
sword at the ready. “Has Niall got you scouting his lands? Counting cattle?”

“I came of my own accord.”

Not at Breanne’s behest?

“Oh? What brought you trekking about into the dark,
sneaking upon us?” Danny widened his stance and folded his arms, although he
still gripped the thick broadsword.

Why was he so menacing with Quinlan? Were they not
friends? Ailyn could guess. Perhaps Danny worried that Quinlan would stymie
their progress. She became torn between her desire to protect her brother by finding
the stones and relief over the notion that Quinlan had come to aid them.

“My apologies for startling you. I meant only to be
sure no one followed.”

Danny’s eyes narrowed. “Did my sister send you?”

A small trill swept up her throat at Danny’s question.
Would Breanne have shared her presages with Quinlan? Did he know what Ailyn
was? She kept her gaze steady when his two amber eyes met hers, her mind
searching for a way to make him stay.

“Will you welcome me to your tour of the lands,
Danny?”

A flash of emotion passed through his eyes so briefly
she wondered if she’d imagined it. The only proof it might have been real was
the new tremble in her throat. What was he trying to decipher in her
expression?

“I won’t insult your intelligence if you’ll not insult
mine, Quinlan. You’ve lingered long enough to know this is no tour. If neither
Breanne nor Niall sent you, why have you come, Quinlan?” Danny asked pointedly.

His gaze went to Danny at last. “A fair enough
question, but if you dinna mind, I’d prefer to tell the tale be firelight.”
When Danny barely nodded, he added, “Today, I discovered something I suspect
will be of interest to you. To both of you.”

Chapter Thirteen

Of the many scenarios Quinlan had run through his mind
preparing to see her, in none had he imagined such a physical reaction to
seeing Ailyn. The firelight had brought a certain glow to her complexion. She’d
unbound her hair, and the breeze that pulled it from her face as she sat, deep
in thought, unnerved him. It had taken every ounce of his will to wait, to
think, to not charge into the small clearing and send Danny home.

He had no call to feel so possessive of the lass.

“What is it then, that you have to so interest us?”
Danny asked.

“In due time, Daniel. Can you allow a man to get
settled before being drawn and quartered?” Quinlan hedged. Allow him time to
come up with something true yet important to tell them. As he conjured such a
thing, he could assess Ailyn’s safety. How easily he found them did not bode
well. Unless naught was amiss here after all.

The younger man grunted. “Where is your horse?” Danny
asked, leading through the trees back to the fire.

The flames had died down a bit. The moon hung high in
the sky, though, offering light aplenty among the stars.

“A pace back, tethered,” he said, keeping his eyes on
Ailyn’s every step, attempting to read her mood.

“You’ll want to fetch it. I dinna like the idea of
leaving bait for robbers.”

“I mean no offense here, but if you’re wanting to
avoid detection, Danny, you’ve failed.”

Ailyn abruptly stopped. “You found us easily?”

He should not feel such satisfaction from the mere
sound of her voice. How had he become so invested in her fate that such a thing
mattered? Oh, the questions he had. But Danny’s presence held the urge to
demand answers in check. The lad—young man, he had to mentally
correct—was acting far too possessive by half of Ailyn. Certainly he was
too young to be thinking of wooing the lass. “Aye. Easily.”

Ailyn looked to Danny, worry furrowing her brow. “We
should ride.”

“Through the night?” Danny shook his head
meaningfully. “If there are any who are wont to find us, they will.”

Quinlan watched the play of expression over Ailyn’s
face. The worry in her full lips, the set of her delicate jaw. Just as he’d
suspected, Danny wasna touring her through the lands. He looked for the pendant
he’d spotted at Breanne’s, but saw no sign of it on Ailyn’s neck. Likely, it
hung between her breasts, beneath her tight-fitted tunic.

The fire made a loud crack in the silence between
them. “I agree with Danny. Rather than ride, I’ll stay as well. Protection in
numbers.”

Danny’s eyes flashed with anger, but he didn’t argue.

Ailyn nodded after a moment. “Do thieves commonly raid
these parts?”

“With such a warm autumn, I wouldna be surprised.”

“Any raiding will fall to the south of the
tuath
,” Quinlan added. “Where the herd
has been moved.”

“Niall moved the cattle?” Danny asked.

“Aye.” Something in the back of Quinlan’s mind warned
him to share as little as possible. He had no reason to distrust Danny, yet he
was a candidate for whoever was occupying Heremon’s home. Thereby, he could as
easily be a part of that slaughter as any. “We’re in agreement then? I’ll
stay.”

Danny grinned readily. “It doesna take danger to make
you welcome here, Quin.” He moved back to the rock he’d been sitting on when
Quinlan approached. “Have you eaten?”

If only he’d been able to hear what they’d been
discussing before they’d discovered him, he could inquire directly, or at the
least, feel better at ease. He’d have to settle for a night’s rest and trusting
that come sunrise, he’d ken where he could best serve the truth—with
Ailyn or returning to Tir Conaill. “I’ll never turn away an offer of a meal.”

Perhaps he could find an opportunity to ask about
Ailyn’s pendant, see it again and verify his suspicion that it matched the
drawing. The drawing Seamus had likely already given to Niall. Why that
bothered him so much, he’d yet to understand.

“I’d not call it a meal,” Danny said, his usual
easygoing demeanor in full force. Enough so that Quinlan wondered if he’d
imagined the earlier reticence.

Danny tossed him a deerskin satchel. Quinlan helped
himself to some seasoned, dried venison and a chunk of soda bread—Rose’s
recipe, if he wasn’t mistaken. He chewed each in turns, masking the churn of
suspicion inside him.

A matter of days ago, his only concerns were whether
to rejoin the Scots efforts or to lay down roots anew in Tir Conaill, perhaps
joining Niall’s
galloglas
after all. Perhaps once he
gleaned some answers, he could settle his unrest around this woman and her lot.

Every few bites of her own meat, she surreptitiously
glanced his way, her eyes never landing on him. Rather, she eyed his feet. The
ground. The fire, trees, satchel. Her thick braid rested on one shoulder. With no
loose strands to hide her beauty, the firelight showed her high cheekbones and
oval face. If ever there were truly beings such as water sprites and pixies
among the
sidhe
, she would be one.

Delicate, yet fierce.

The people of the hills reveled in mischief and
mayhem, though, and Ailyn seemed more the brunt of it. Breanne once said those
folk had abandoned their mischief with mortals once St. Patrick’s message took
hold of the people. Aye, St. Patrick had driven out the snakes, to be sure. The
vipers that Quinlan’s grandmother oft spoke of with a gleam in her eye and a
warning in her tone seem to be hiding well for many years now.

She wouldna look at him, but he had no such qualms.
Quinlan openly appraised her. Danny, meanwhile, did the same of Quinlan. The
younger man’s eyes nigh bore a hole in Quinlan’s chest. The air practically
crackled as loud as the fire with the tension among them. Interesting.

“I’ve no blanket to offer you, Quin,” Danny said,
dusting his hands against his thighs. “Will you be well enough without one?”

Was the man back to pushing him off again? Why so
territorial, Quinlan wondered. “Worry not, friend.” It wouldna be his first
night under the stars with no more than the clothes on his arse to keep him
alive, but he’d come prepared.

He’d had to. After investigating Heremon’s home, he’d
done what he could to talk Seamus out of that parchment. Combined with catching
up to Danny and tracking their route, which was quite easy, he’d counted on a
late night and need of warmth.

That drawing combined with Danny’s oddly possessive
demeanor fed Quinlan’s suspicions. Yet there were no signs that they were
trying to hide, run, or otherwise conceal motives. Except…no, not even Ailyn’s
desire to ride through the night could be marked as suspicious. Perhaps he was
merely looking for an easy excuse to join them.

Was his life so uninteresting as to need the
excitement that Ailyn’s arrival wrought?

“Shall we sleep by turns?” Quinlan asked, knowing full
well he was baiting for more to feed his suspicions than out of honest interest
in keeping watch.

Danny’s gaze hardened, but he merely shrugged. “I’m a
light sleeper, but I suppose it couldna hurt.”

Ailyn’s gaze went from Danny to Quinlan and back to
Danny. “I’ll take the first turn.”

“No need, lass. I’m fit to stay awake a few more
hours.”

“After the ride you must have had? Wouldna think of
forcing you to stay alert,” Danny said.

“I believe you both need rest,” Ailyn said, standing
abruptly. “Your battle of glares and posturing looks exhausting.”

With that she left them, striding to the far end of
the clearing and settling at the base of a
a
large
oak without a backward glance.

Danny looked at Quinlan. “What does she mean?”

Quinlan quirked one eyebrow. “Perhaps she senses some
vexation. Any reason you might be feeling some, friend?”

Danny cocked his head a bit, gave a slight shrug, and
decidedly dropped the matter by fetching his blanket. “If my studies and
travels have taught me anything,” he said, returning and tossing the blanket
over a grassy area, “I’ve learned that given enough time, all eventually
reveals.”

Quinlan snorted, retrieving his own wool blanket. On
such a warm night, he’d likely need little more than his mantle, but a softer
bed than the ground he would welcome. Not that he’d sleep. Weary as his limbs
were from the ride, his mind galloped.

Perhaps if he waited Danny out, he could join Ailyn
and keep watch. Aye. That is what he would do. He’d settle down next to her
under that tree and eventually she would ease her guard down and help him
understand.

The fire died down to embers as he stared, grappling
with what exactly he needed from Ailyn. Some bit of information to quell his
curiosity, he supposed.

The moon hung high. Stars winked in the velvety dark
sky. A chill began to dampen the air. After what felt like an eternity, Danny
began to snore. Quinlan sat up, peering past his shoulder to where Ailyn
earlier sat, hoping she would be looking his way and perhaps wave him over.

Except, she wasna there.

He peered right and left, hurrying to his feet.

She was gone.

“Danny,” he hissed, reaching to shake the man awake.

“Stop,” Ailyn said, grabbing hold of his arm.

Quinlan spun on her, taking her wrist where she’d held
his arm. “Are you mad, lass? You nigh made me pummel your pretty face.”

She smiled, chuckling softly. “Oh? Will you recover?
Need me to fetch you a change of clothes?”

It was Quinlan’s turn to crack a grin. “Only if ye’ll
be helping me out of these ones.”

A blush
pinkened
her cheeks
as her eyes narrowed on him. “Why would I care to do that?”

Somewhere in the back of his mind he heard a
warning—dinna tempt this one. There was no place or call for it. He wasna
of a mind to marry, and she wasna the kind to expect less. Still, her blush
gave her creamy complexion a lovely glow, and the glint in her eyes dared him.
“To feast your eyes and let your hands roam,” he replied, his voice thick.

Her lips seemed to beg to be kissed, parting as they
did over his words. Desire stirred in his groin, unexpected and not wholly
welcome.

“You want me?” Ailyn said, tilting her head.

Of all the reactions his flirtations wrought over the
years, and he’d received plenty, even the rare outrage, Quinlan could not
recall ever confounding a lass over it. He wasna sure how to respond. So he
ignored the question instead. “If you’re ready to rest, I’ll keep watch now.”

She looked from his face to where he still held her
wrist. Quinlan let go, his heart beating unaccountably faster. Ailyn looked
back to his face, her gaze settling on his mouth. “Do you kiss?” she asked.

His body hardened. Did he kiss? He resisted snorting
in response. The artistry he’d been told he plied upon a woman’s sweet mouth
brought women to their knees, offed their clothes, and begged him to their
beds.

What was her game? She seemed genuinely to be asking.
Not so much interested in receiving one as merely curious. He wished he’d not
released her wrist. “Only if you return it, lass.”

Where had that come from? He’d intended to remark that
she’d have to ask for a kiss, not return it. He sounded about as experienced
and skilled as…Danny. He had to remind himself that it mattered not. They’d not
be kissing. Not when there were many a chambermaid and widow in Tir Conaill
eager to see him back home and welcomed after his years away.

Not that he would avail himself to them. He’d learned
in his youth how fine a mess indulging every fancy made.

 
“Do you
require rest, or are you alert enough to keep watch a bit longer?” he asked,
his awareness of the quiet night, of the breeze teasing her hair, heightening.

What would her hair look like against her bare skin?
Would her curves gleam in the moonlight? Were they as perfect out of those
breeches as they appeared to be in them? Ailyn stepped closer, her eyes
searching his.

Quinlan’s groin ached. His thighs tingled as his blood
rushed to the call of desire. Aye. He wanted her. But he’d not be having her.
Setting his jaw, he stepped around her. “Get some rest,” he said.

He certainly wouldn’t be now.

As he walked past her, though, she again grabbed his
arm. Instinctively, Quinlan spun and took her by the wrist, tugging her closer.
So close that their bodies nearly touched. Her eyes widened. She gasped.

“Dinna play with fire, lass.”

Her eyes flashed at his statement. She leaned in
closer, so close he could feel the heat emanating from her body. His erection
pulsed. He pulled her in, twisting her arm behind her. She complied, another
gasp escaping her rosy lips.

“Is this how you kiss?” she said, her voice
breathless.

Her hips touched his and he nearly groaned. He had a
mind to kiss her senseless, but his body warned him. If he indulged in even one
kiss, he’d regret it for an eternity. He couldna kiss Ailyn.