A Warrior's Perception (31 page)

“
Aye, donna I always come back?
”
Crimm grinned as he pinched Andra's cheek.

“
Come, let the man rest,
”
Kagan gritted as he led Andra through the corridor,
“
Perhaps we can talk for a while 'fore I depart again.
”

“
'Bout what?
”
Andra's spine melted in his presence.

“
What do ye think of ha'ing the weddin' in the gardens?
”
He watched her eyes narrow and her nostrils flare,
“
Or perhaps in the ballroom?
”

“
I will'na marry ye!
”
She barked at him with intense anger,
“
I grow tired of tellin’ ye!
”

Kagan frowned and the muscle in his jaw tightened,
“
When I return, we will make it official.
”

“
Then I will'na be here when ye return!
”

Kagan led her outside and briskly led her to the far side of the gardens. His anger was calming when he reached the sanctuary where he knew their conversation would not be overheard.

“
Ye and I are a good match, donna be difficult in this matter. I will be a good husband and be kind to ye. Ye will want for nothin' and be pampered to na end.
”
Kagan sat on the cool stone bench and watched Andra smell of the blooms hanging from the trees.

“
Ye can'na afford to gi'e me e'erything I want. I want horses of e'ery color and breed. I want dresses of pure satin and a white castle with purple banners. I want blue lakes and rainbows e'ery day of e'ery year. I want my friends and family. I want to watch my children grow up in a world of na war or hardships. Can ye gi'e me that?
”
Andra smiled sweetly, knowing she was asking for something he could not give,
“
I want to fall in love with a glorious man and ha'e his children out of love, na out of obedience.
”

Kagan's jaw twitched and pulled his frown deeper,
“
I can gi'e ye the horses and the dresses. I can build ye a castle and dig lakes any depth ye want.
”

Andra waited for him to continue and looked at him through her lashes. He was ruggedly handsome and devilish when he was irritated and she smiled as he cracked his knuckles and gritted his teeth. Andra wondered what life as his wife would be like. Could he love her as she needed? Would he regret settling for her? Would he?

“
War is ongoin' and can'na be stopped. Hardships are what makes us stronger. Love is for fools and weak minded men who are livin' in a fantasy.
”
Kagan nodded his head, liking his answer. It was logical and to the point.

He glanced at Andra and instantly knew it was the wrong answer. She was standing rather erect and her lovely hands were pinned to her hips. She glared at him and her cheeks had gone from rosy to crimson.

Her eyes sparkled,
“
Ye are a heathen! And I thought I did'na deserve ye. Bah! It is ye who donna deserve me. Ye admit ye donna love me and still expect me to marry ye!
”

“
Is it love ye want? Would ye satisfy yeself with love? Love is for foolish boys and women who live in fantasy!
”
Kagan turned on his heel and crossed his arms on his chest,
“
I was under the impression ye were a level headed woman. Was my impression wrong?
”

Andra turned and disappeared into the trees, trying to hide the tears welling up in her eyes. Kagan did not understand her, and for that matter she did not either. Her tears stung and slid down her cheeks as his voice loomed behind her.

“
Ell'andra! Donna walk away from me!
”

Andra kept walking and refused to slow her pace as his hand caught her elbow,
“
Let go of me, I ga'e ye na permission to touch me!
”

“
Ye will listen to me,
”
Kagan spun her around and saw her tears as she dropped her eyes and pushed his hands away.
”

Get away from me. I donna want to be here! I want to go home and get away from ye as soon as possible! I want my freedom!
”
Her words ripped from her heart and she bit her tongue as his face flamed with anger.

Kagan gritted his teeth,
“
Freedom is a matter of perception. Ye are goin' to be my wife and you will ha'e my babes!
”

“
Not as long as we ha'e our oath!
”
Andra’s sadistic grin and emerald green eyes begged him to argue,
“
And if I can'na ha'e freedom then I will make ye life a livin' hell!
”

“
Are ye touched in the head? Any woman would be grateful to be mine. I am a powerful warrior and a wealthy laird. I am the best catch in Scotland and many women ha'e swooned just thinkin' 'bout my touches.
”

“
Ye are a heathen! All ye think 'bout is women and fightin'. What ye can'na best with sword, ye best with lust!
”
Andra watched as his anger channeled down his eyes and settled into his heart.

Kagan's growl was low and threatening,
“
This is ye home now and best ye get used to my touches or watch me shower other women with 'em!
”

Andra's heart stopped at the thought of Kagan laying between another woman's legs and retaliated instantly,
“
And ye will ha'e to watch me gi'e my virginity to another man. A man who will love me for it.
”

Kagan's lips tightened and his jaw twitched with rage,
“
From this day on, any man who dares to touch any of ye forbidden places will die at my hand!
”

“
Perhaps I will be doin' all the touchin' and he will be doin' all the moanin',
”
Andra stepped back and smiled seductively,
“
And at the rate I may be goin', ye may be killin' a lot of men.
”
She knew she was threatening to unleash a horrid beast as she stared into the eyes of a devil.

“
Then ye are the one usin' lust to ye advantage and makin' yeself nothin’ less than a heathen,
”
Kagan bowed his head to her,
“
I ha'e underestimated ye ability to use that luscious body to get what ye want. I am humbled in ye presence.
”

Andra's cheeks flamed and her lips tightened, knowing he was being sarcastic and cruel,
“
Mark my words Kagan, the next time I want a man in my bed, he will get anythin' he wants from this body!
”

Kagan grinned boyishly and Andra's heart melted a little,
“
I can only hope I am the man ye find in ye bed, drippin' with lust and gettin' e'eything I want.
”
He paused as his anger subsided and was replaced with emerging devotion for the woman who dared to stand against him.
“
It will be my utter pleasure to accept ye fervent proposal.
”

“
In ye dreams!
”

Kagan offered his arm as he turned to the cobbled path. Andra hesitated and took it as she stepped forward. Thoughts of Kagan naked and in need rendered her speechless and she quickened the pace back to the keep. The silence was deafening and she was thankful when the neared the bailey. Busy rustling and barking orders filled the trees. She knew that the men were preparing for something as the horses were being brushed and painted. Andra's heart flipped, they were preparing for a battle. She looked at Kagan with questioning eyes.

The devil smiled at her,
“
We lea'e at sunset.
”

“
Where?
”
It was the only word she could get out of her mouth.

“
Se'eral days ride from here.
”
Kagan was still smiling as her hand tightened on his arm.

“
Will ye be fightin'?
”
Andra asked slowly averting her eyes from his face.

“
If it is a good day to battle, aye I will.
”
Kagan's eyes brightened as Andra unconsciously leaned onto his arm and took a deep breathe. Her worry etched itself across her face and it pleased him greatly.

“
Donna worry 'bout me. I am a very seasoned and skilled warrior. Victory is only a few days away.
”
Kagan hoped it was enough to ease her mind and was satisfied when her retort came back to bite him.

“
It was'na ye I worry for! Crimm is goin'. I could care less if ye come back in one piece or many!
”

She refused to acknowledge the prickly sensation in her heart and the rolling in the pit of her stomach. War was bloody and Kagan was only human and very mortal.

“
Happy we could get that cleared up.
”
Kagan's wholehearted grin threatened to burst from his face like multitudes of butterflies as her hand gripped his arm in a tight clutch and she glared at him for being so inexplicably maddening.

Darten stood at the edge of the old priest’s cottage and wondered where he had gone. It was unlike the man to leave his things unattended. Darten called his name several times and strolled behind the building. He knew Haggart often enjoyed the hot springs that emerged from the base of the hillside.

He strolled toward the
thick vine covered
overgrowth and pushed his way through the thicket to the clearing. The bubble of the springs and warm air kissed his skin and invited him to join their revelry. He followed the
well-worn
path and slid across the top of a large smooth boulder and caught his breath.

Haley leaned back and closed her eyes. The springs were glorious and her body relaxed as she let the hot water completely take her. Her hair was swept up in a mess on top of her head and trailed down her back. It'd silky red curls twisted together with the blonde streaks inherited from her mother. She walked out in her bare bottom and lazily stretched out across the boulder to her left. The sun dried her body as she dozed off. Her hair tumbled down the back of the smooth boulder and touched the ground.