Highland Fires (20 page)

She made the decision then
that she would go to her grandfather’s first since she had a
sneaking suspicion that Tane, Lugus and Aimery would be going
to
Caer Rhoemyr
.

~ ~ ~

Aimery found Tane leaving Ahryn’s chamber.
“I’ve convinced Lugus to stay. We need to make haste to the palace.
I want Queen Rufina to hear your words.”

“Where is
Lugus?”


“He started
walking. I wanted to deliver Ahryn to her family first. Catch up
with Lugus. He will lead you to
Caer
Rhoemyr
.”


Tane nodded and disappeared. Once he
was gone, Aimery turned to enter Ahryn’s chamber and found her
standing beside the bed. “Are you ready to see your parents
again?”

“Not just yet.”

He was startled to hear her words. “Why
not?”

“I have a need to see my grandfather
first.”

“He is in
Caer Rhoemyr.
”

“Exactly,” she said and cocked her head to
the side.

Aimery silently cursed. “Did Tane tell you
that is where we are going?”

“Tane told me nothing.”

“You really need to see your parents,” Aimery
argued.

Ahryn shook her head. “My powers have
returned. I will go to my grandfather’s one way or another. I have
already sent word to my parents that I am once again in the Fae
realm.”

“You get your stubbornness from your
grandfather.”

“It’s why I love him so,” Ahryn answered with
a smile.

~ ~ ~

Lugus spotted Tane leaning against a tree
about twenty paces ahead of him. “I suppose Aimery sent you.”

Tane nodded and fell into step with him.
“Aimery is trying to bring Ahryn to her parents.”

“What do you mean trying?” Lugus asked and
stopped. “Is something wrong with her? Is her injury not healing
correctly?”

“She is fine,” Tane answered with a knowing
smile. “You are wounded.”

Lugus touched the material around his throat.
“It’s nothing.”

“Let me see,” Tane said before he reached
over and untied the strip. “The arrow barely missed you.”

Lugus shrugged. “It will heal in time.”
Before he could move away, Tane placed his hand on the wound and
closed his eyes. Lugus felt the magic flow through him and found
himself lightheaded.

When Tane stepped away, Lugus reached up and
felt the healed skin. He threw aside the soiled material. “Thank
you. Now, you were saying about Ahryn?”

“You worry greatly for someone you proclaim
to think of as a responsibility.”

Lugus turned back to the
path and began walking. “Tell me why Aimery is having difficulty
with Ahryn.”



“She wishes to see her grandfather.”

Lugus frowned and tried to ignore the feeling
of despair that settled around him.

“You have no response?”

Lugus shook his head, unable to find his
voice. He knew why Ahryn wanted to see her grandfather, she wanted
the truth about him. Lugus now regretted not telling her when he
had the chance.

Now she would hear all the ugly details and
know him for the monster he really was. In a way, it was better
that she finally heard the truth. Then, he would have to stay away
from her. As it was, he was finding it difficult to keep his
distance from her.

His rod still throbbed with a need to be
buried inside of her. Their pleasuring each other had only wet his
appetite for her, and he feared he would never get enough.

He stopped in his tracks. “I am meant to walk
the realms alone, a monster that everyone turns away,” he said
softly.

“One never really knows what the future
holds,” Tane said.

Lugus looked at him and saw
something in Tane’s copper eyes. “But you can see my
future?”



“I see many different paths that you can
take. Which one you journey is your choice alone.”

“Why go to so much trouble to bring me back
here if you won’t tell me what I need to do.”

Tane smiled sadly. “It isn’t that easy,
Lugus. I saw what was to happen to your brother and who has done
it. I also saw what would become of your realm if King Theron
wasn’t returned.”

“And that in itself made you come to a realm
where Draconians haven’t been welcomed in millennia?”

“Nay. I came because I had
to. Like you, I have no choice.”



That’s when Lugus understood. “Someone sent
you?”

“Something like that,” Tane said and glanced
away.

“I will not delve into your
secrets,” Lugus said, “for we all have them.”



No sooner had the words left Lugus’ mouth
than Aimery appeared before them. “The queen wishes to speak with
both of you.”

Lugus inhaled deeply and waited for Aimery to
transport them to the palace. He was afraid he would see the palace
and city still destroyed. When they arrived in the palace throne
room, Lugus hastily made his way to the balcony and looked out over
his precious city.

All traces of destruction were gone. It was
as though the Death Dragons had never come to the city.

“You always did love to look at the
city.”

Lugus jerked at hearing Rufina’s voice beside
him. He moved his head and found her usually smiling face full of
despair.

“I’m sorry, Rufina,” he said.

To his utter surprise, a single tear slipped
down her face. “I’m trying to be strong,” she said, her voice soft
as though she was afraid someone might hear. “But I’m failing
miserably.”

Lugus turned to her as she faced him. “I will
be strong for you.”

At his words her face crumbled, and he pulled
her into his arms as she cried. He clenched his jaw and knew then
that he would gladly give his life to find Theron.

He didn’t know how long he and Rufina stood
together as she cried and he offered her his strength. When her
tears began to dry, she pulled back and looked into his eyes.

“I’m glad you are here. I feel as though I am
losing my mind.”

Lugus took her hand and tucked it into the
crook of his arm as he led her back to the throne room where Tane
and Aimery waited. As he drew closer he spotted Michyl, Theron’s
High Chancellor, and Ahryn beside him.

He stopped and stared at her. When she gave
him a hesitant smile, he returned it with a nod and continued to
Rufina’s throne.

Rufina leaned close, “I see how you two
looked at each other. I’m anxious to hear the tale.”

“There is nothing to tell because there
cannot be anything between us.”

Rufina’s brow creased. “Lugus, haven’t you
lived in punishment long enough?”

He nearly laughed at her words. “The first
time I was punished it was undeserved. This time, however, I
deserve it and much more.”

“Anyone would have wanted revenge.”

“Not Theron,” Lugus answered, and with
Rufina’s silence, he knew she would argue no more.

She sighed softly. “I still wish to hear the
tale if for nothing more than to take my mind off Theron for a
little while. I feel so helpless.”

Lugus seated her and moved down a few steps.
“Maybe one day.”

“Tonight,” she said.

He knew better than to argue with her here.
Tonight he would explain why he didn’t wish to speak of Ahryn or
their time together.

Lugus turned and walked to stand beside Tane.
Regardless that Tane was a Draconian, he had risked everything and
saved Ahryn, and Lugus would trust him with his life.

Rufina raised her hand, and Tane walked
towards her. He knelt on the steps below her and placed his right
hand over his heart. “Your majesty,” he said softly, and he bowed
his head.

“Rise and tell me what you know,” Rufina
demanded.

Tane rose then and squared his shoulders. “As
I told your commander, it was not our king who sent the gift.”

“Who did?” Rufina asked.

“Daveth. He is a powerful Draconian that is
trying to usurp the crown.”

Rufina folded her hands in her lap. “How do I
know you are speaking the truth?”

“May I approach?” Tane asked.

Lugus watched Aimery step near Rufina.

Tane threw back his black cloak over his
shoulders revealing the intricate gold material that lined the
inside. He held his arms out and palms up as he moved toward
Rufina. Once he stood in front of her he turned his palm down.

Lugus watched as Rufina leaned forward and
stared at Tane’s hand. She nodded, and he stepped away. Lugus knew
the only reason for Tane to show Rufina his hands was if he had the
Truth tattoos on him. The Truth tattoos had been implemented
several millennia ago, and it had worked well for not only the
ambassadors, but also the realms.

“So, you speak the truth, and it is Daveth
that is trying to take the crown from your king. What has that to
do with us?”

“Theron is a very powerful
king. Despite the Draconians and the Fae not mingling, Daveth knew
that if Theron ever discovered his treachery, Theron would make
sure and stop him.”


Rufina nodded sadly. “You are correct. My husband would have
done just that, however, I don’t think you are telling me
everything.”

“I am not,” Tane answered honestly. “I am
what my people call a Diviner, able to see not just into the
future, but to see all the different paths a person can take.”

“So, you saw some path my husband would take
and you came to save him?”

Tane glanced at his feet before he shook his
head. “Nay. I came because of Lugus.”

Lugus met Rufina’s gaze and knew she worried
that he might try and take over the throne while Theron was gone.
He needed to set her straight on that when they talked. There were
too many people, namely Ahryn, in the room that didn’t need to hear
everything.

“I thought you came to save my husband,”
Rufina said, her voice low and tight as if she were about to lose
the single thread that held her together.

“King Theron plays a large role in this,
Queen Rufina. Once the details are sorted out, we can try to find
him.”

“Nay,” Rufina said as she rose to her feet.
“You will find him now. He is somewhere out there suffering. I
won’t sit here and wait for you to do something. I will go after
him.”

Lugus saw her wobble and began to make his
way to her. He passed Ahryn and felt her eyes on him, but he was
too worried about his brother’s wife to spare Ahryn a glance.

Tane’s voice rose and filled the throne room.
“If you do, you seal yours, your babe’s and Theron’s fate to death.
He was sent to the Realm of Shadows.”

Lugus caught Rufina just as she crumpled. She
pressed her head onto his shoulder as her body shook.

“I’ve lost him,” she said softly.

Lugus lifted her in his arms and met her
eyes. “Nay. I am going after him.”

Tears filled her eyes, and she wrapped her
arms around his neck as he walked to her chamber.

Chapter Twenty-One

Ahryn knew she shouldn’t be jealous of her
queen, but with Lugus carrying her, Ahryn felt a jab of emotion hot
and true rush through her.

She had hoped Lugus would be happy to see
her, but when he had looked at her, she thought she
saw...resignation in his blue depths. She hadn’t had time to ask
her grandfather about Lugus, and now she feared there might never
be time.

“Follow Lugus,” her grandfather said. “Queen
Rufina is going to need you.”

Ahryn lifted her white skirts and hurried
after Lugus. It had been a wonderful feeling to shed the awful
garments of the humans and don the Fae dress.

Her soft soled shoes made no sound as she
stretched her legs and caught up with Lugus. Rufina still had her
arms locked around his neck and her face pressed into his shoulder.
Ahryn could only imagine the pain and heartache her queen felt with
her husband betrayed and trapped in a place that she couldn’t reach
him.

She ran ahead of Lugus and opened Rufina’s
door. His eyes met hers as he passed, but they didn’t speak. When
he laid Rufina on the massive bed, her eyes were closed. Lugus
stepped back and pulled the silver cloth around the bed closed.
Ahryn did the same on the opposite side and waited for Lugus.

He walked to her and gently touched her face.
“How is your shoulder?”

“I feel nothing, like I never had an injury,”
she said and smiled.

He didn’t return the smile. “I thought Aimery
was taking you to your family?”

“He did.”

“I wasn’t speaking of your grandfather.
Though I know how valuable Michyl is to Rufina and Theron, I’m sure
your parents would wish to speak to you.”

“I’ve sent my parents a message.” She watched
as his jaw clenched.

“You need to be far away from me,” he
whispered, his expression pained as though he wanted to be away
from her.

“I know, but I can’t.”

“You came to find out the truth,” he nearly
shouted.

Ahryn covered his mouth with her fingers to
silence him. He let out a low moan and closed his eyes. When he
opened them they burned with desire.

“You can try and hide it, but I know what you
feel.”

“You don’t know anything,” he said right
before he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Ahryn threaded her fingers in his long blonde
hair as his tongue plundered her mouth. Moisture gathered between
her legs, and she began to pulse with need, a need only he could
quench.

“Nay,” he said and wrenched his mouth from
hers. “Ahryn, you do not belong here. What is going to take place
is dangerous, and I want you as far away as you can get. Go home,”
he said just before he turned on his heel and walked out of the
room.