Authors: Joanne Wadsworth
A bellow sounded. Gordon. She patted the space around her and found Cherub. As soon as she slipped her fingers around Cherub’s arm, Cherub covered her with her cloaking and they lifted up.
Gordon stormed along the path and shouted to the warriors at the river, “The Matheson lass has escaped.”
“
That was close, too close,
” she whispered in Tavish’s mind.
“
You should never have been taken from me. I’m sorry I allowed such a thing to occur.
” He nuzzled her neck. “
Tell me you’re all right.
”
“
I am now.
”
Cherub took them higher, over the treetops and onward as she breezed toward Gairloch. The forest gave way to the rockier terrain of the Highlands as they swept toward the high mountain peak with its sheer stony sides.
She clung to Tavish as he scraped his teeth back and forth over her sensitive skin. “
Please, bite me.
” She stretched her neck. Nothing else would settle her quite like his possessive touch did. “
Now.
”
“
I shall never let go of you again.
” Tavish sank his teeth into her flesh and she whimpered for more. “
Where you are, is where I need to be, whether there is a battle raging or not.
”
“
I agree.
”
“
The moment I get you all to myself, expect a damn sight more than just a bite. I intend to ravish you, right after we rescue your parents.
”
“
Ravishing and a rescue sounds perfect.
” She swept one hand around Tavish’s neck, reached up and sucked on his neck. She licked his pounding pulse point then bit him. His desire surged down their link and flooded her and she went to bite him a second time only they began their descent.
“We’re here, everyone.” Cherub set them gently down on the mountain peak, the wind churning all around and the gray clouds out at sea swelling toward shore. Rain lashed the ocean then hit Red Point beach.
She released Cherub and Tavish did the same.
He fluttered into her sight, his golden shifter gaze bright as he leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. “
I need to kiss you, except the kiss I wish for is one for behind closed doors.
”
“
I love having you back in my mind.
” His passionate words and returned touch sent her thoughts flying. She longed for that kiss, but he was right. This wasn’t the place or time. Taking a long breath, she wriggled around in his hold and faced the others. “Thank you all for coming for me.”
Cherub hugged her, her soulful aura sparkling, just as her creamy skin did. “I would say anytime, but I’d rather you never fall into the MacKenzie’s hands again.”
“I second that.” Kirk pulled Cherub back to his side, rubbed his chin over the top of her blond head. “It’s good to have you back, Julia.”
Cherub leaned back against Kirk, her smile wide as she gazed at her mate over her shoulder. “And you, my tempting bear, must cease your mischievousness behavior when we are in flight. Distractions can cause me to drop people.”
“What mischievous behavior?” In tan rawhide pants and a white tunic under his loose fur vest, Kirk twirled Cherub around and grinning, kissed the tip of her nose. His claymore sheathed snugly at his side, gleamed as it swayed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You are the worst liar.” She giggled and kissed the tip of his nose in return.
Tor clapped Tavish on the back then hugged her, his black war coat flapping in the breeze. “Julia, I’m so glad to see you’ve suffered no serious injuries at the MacKenzie’s hand, although no more high-tailing it off with them. We’ve been searching for you all night.”
“What of the battle?” She stretched back against Tavish, soaking in even more of his delicious scent.
“We won the war.” Tor rubbed his hands together. “And sent those damn MacKenzies fleeing.”
“That’s wonderful news.”
“Aye, and now we need to find and rescue your parents.” Cherub swatted one of Kirk’s roving hands then offered her arms to them all. “We need to travel to Loch Broom, with all speed.”
“Hold on.” Frowning, Tavish touched the back of her head and blood spotted his fingers. He spun her around. “You hurt yourself again? When did this happen?”
“A small injury. I knocked my head on the mast when the galley flew out of the bay.”
“I’ll need to take a closer look at it.” He shrugged out of his steel-studded gray coat and slipped it over her shoulders. “Arms in. You look cold.”
She pushed her hands down the sleeves, his heat trapped within the cloth warming her through. “Thank you.”
“Chin down.” His tone brooked no argument.
She did as he bid while he parted her hair and assessed her injury.
“It’s a new wound, an inch lower than the last one and thankfully not deep or long enough to require stitches. Did you lose any awareness at all?”
“I may have.”
“For how long?” He turned her again, the worry in his aura spiking out in sharp waves.
“Not too long.”
“How long? And be exact.”
Clearly she wasn’t getting out of answering this question. “The entire night, although I would like to point out that one usually rests during the night once one is asleep. That was all I was doing. Resting and sleeping.” She reached up on her toes and brushed her thumbs along the darkened shadows under his eyes. “Which it appears you didnae do at all.”
“This conversation isn’t about me but you. Keep your eyes open.” With one hand, he tipped her chin up and peered directly into her eyes, his golden gaze so intent and those luscious lips of his so close. “Do you feel faint at all?”
“Aye, very faint.” She swayed toward him, her heartbeat racing. Goodness. She needed to regain her focus. Tor, Kirk, and Cherub stood waiting, and she needed to find and rescue her parents. No more could she delay. Swiftly, she ducked under Tavish’s arm and grasped ahold of Cherub’s hand. “I’m ready to leave.”
“Julia Matheson.” Tavish caught her around the waist. “You should be in bed, resting. Losing consciousness is dangerous, particularly for a solid night.”
“Yet I just woke up. I dinnae need any more rest. What I need is to find my parents, and then I shall rest once that is done. You may oversee that rest if you like.”
“I’m sorry, Tavish.” Cherub arched a sympathetic brow at him. “You really can’t argue with a woman when she’s in this kind of a determined mood. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can return, then you can tend to your mate to your heart’s desire.”
“Thank you, Cherub.” Julia squeezed her hand. “I need to get my parents back and now we have a destination, to Loch Broom we go.”
“Aye, to Loch Broom. I’ll open a portal and take us directly there rather than fly us through the skies. There’s an inn I’ve visited afore, one close to the loch’s entrance and at a good guess, I’d say his keep will be close to that point.” She glanced over her shoulder at Kirk. “Ready to leave?”
“Always, my elusive imp.” He banded his arms tight around her waist. “How are you holding up?”
“My energy is depleting. I’ll soon need a rest, but for now I can manage one more jump through time.” Cherub swirled one hand through the air and the wind rose and tunneled around them. The dark ensued and they all fell away into the churning abyss.
Moments later they reappeared on the rise overlooking Loch Broom. Dark and ominous clouds gusted in from the sea. Loch Broom weaved inland for several miles with the odd longhouse nestled along its rocky shoreline. Cattle grazed within the lower pastures and sheep dotted the craggy hills rising high either side of the waterway. This ruggedly wild land was so difficult to reach when one traveled the dangerous mountain pass directly across the mainland.
Cherub swayed and Kirk turned her in his arms and eyed her. “You need to rest now, before we go any further.”
“Aye, an hour or so to replenish my strength would be appreciated, a meal as well if possible. Transporting so many so far can be draining.”
“You also haven’t rested since well before the battle. We’ve got time on our hands right now. Not only will Colin MacKenzie be searching for Julia but Red Point is still a half day’s sail away from here.” Kirk motioned toward the winding downward trail where at the base, nestled amongst a stand of towering elm trees, a quaint stone building with smoke puffing from its chimney, beckoned travelers. “We’ll head to the inn for a meal. None of us are wearing our Matheson plaid. We’ll appear as no more than any other warrior or traveler would.”
“We also need to keep a low profile,” Tavish added. “Ensure no one discovers who we are or where we’ve come from.”
’Twas a sound idea and Julia nodded her agreement. She too longed for a hot meal. At the side of the inn, a wooden beamed enclosure housed horses and a lad with a woolen cap, his tunic’s sleeves rolled to his elbows, brushed a horse tethered within. Two other horses dug their snouts into a wooden pail holding feed and gobbled it down.
“Look, right there.” Cherub pointed toward the loch’s entrance. On the jutting, rocky tip overlooking the ocean, a castle stood, its stone curtain wall rising high. The MacKenzie’s banner flapped from the uppermost corner of the gatehouse. “That must be our enemy’s holding.”
“That’s it all right.” Tor’s gaze narrowed on the very strategic location the MacKenzie held. “From that point, the MacKenzie will be able to keep an eye on one and all sailing these seas.”
“Let’s go. I’ll rest, restore my strength then we’ll be underway once more.” Cherub tugged on Kirk’s hand and started down the trail, her white fur cloak resting over her shoulders and her navy skirts flapping. Tor followed them and so did she.
“Julia, slow down for a moment.” Tavish tilted his head in that angle she was fast learning meant business. “If you feel unwell at any time, then you must tell me.”
“I promise you I shall. Now cease worrying.” Before he could issue yet another demand, she picked up her pace and skipped ahead down the trail to prove she was mightily well. This mission was far too important to allow a little head wound to get in her way, one that bothered her not at all. So too Arabel was counting on her and she wouldn’t let her sister down. Not again. Bringing her parents back home was all that mattered, however it had to be done. Surely they lived. The MacKenzie had been so adamant that they did, and she wouldn’t allow herself to think otherwise.
Tavish grumbled as he caught up to her. “I will worry as much as I like.”
“You are one very stubborn mate.” Thunder rumbled overhead and a drop splashed her nose. “We’re about to get wet.”
Cherub glanced skyward. “’Tis best I allow those clouds to remain where they are. No’ only do I need to conserve what strength I have but sweeping them away will alert the MacKenzies to my arrival. Our enemy’s warriors have seen me in action, and far more than once.” The heavens opened and Cherub tugged her cloak’s hood over her head and dashed toward the inn’s front door with its low hung eaves and stony facade.
Kirk chased her and Tor loped after them.
Two lively children squealed from under an apple tree at the side of the inn and with baskets in hand, tore barefoot into the stables where the lad tending the horses too had sought shelter from the rain.
Julia grasped her skirts and darted around a lanky brown-haired dog in the center of the yard and ducked in through the front door, Tavish one step behind her. She brushed the rain from his gray jacket and handed it back to him. “I’ll warm up quickly now I’m inside. This search is becoming quite the adventure.”
“Adventure or not, just don’t forget whose land we’re on.” His golden gaze blazed as he leaned in and nipped her ear. “I won’t lose you again.”
“How can I help ye fine folks?” The innkeeper, a crinkly-eyed man wearing breeches and a loose plaid tossed over one shoulder, ambled over from the bar toward them. “The wife has beef stew cooking and fresh bread warm from the oven. There are travelers aplenty here today.”
“Beef stew and fresh bread would be most appreciated.” Kirk tucked Cherub under his shoulder, her head tipped down within her hood and her cloak fully protecting her identity. Cherub always took great care with whom she allowed to see her. Her glimmering skin was a physical attribute held only by the eldest child born within the ancient royal line of the fae and since Cherub was the king’s firstborn and she’d yet to conceive a child, she was also the last to hold the unique skin trait. It certainly made her easily identifiable.
“Then find yourselves somewhere to sit. I’ll have the barmaid see to ye all.” The innkeeper plodded off through the side door into the kitchens.
“I’d love a moment to freshen up.” Cherub peeked at her from under her hood. “What of you, Julia?”
“Aye, I’ve a great need to freshen up.” Her windblown hair must look a fright and she wouldn’t mind washing the blood from her hair. With the blood out of Tavish’s sight, mayhap her new injury would also be out of his mind. A side stairwell led upward to the top floor of the inn and a young maid of perhaps ten and four swept the floors near the bottom step. She squeezed Tavish’s hand. “Cherub and I will be back soon
.
”