Highland Fires (8 page)

He told himself it was simply because he had
been alone for so long and had not tasted a woman’s flesh in all
those years. It was because of those reasons alone that Ahryn had
been taking over Moira’s image in his dreams. It had to be, he told
himself. He refused to think of the other possible reasons.

His gaze moved to Ahryn. She had been quiet
and withdrawn the entire day, and he couldn’t blame her after what
he had done that morning. He wouldn’t speak to him either after
what he had done to her that morning.

What really angered him was that Ahryn was a
good sort, someone that he didn’t want to harm, yet he seemed to be
doing just that. It was one of the reasons he had wanted to reach
the Isle of Skye that day. The sooner she was away from him, the
better off she would be.

He was surprised when she moved her head and
met his gaze. Her mystical blue eyes sparkled in the fading light
of the sun.

“What will you do once I am returned to my
realm?”

He pondered her question a moment. “I don’t
know,” he said after not being able to come up with a lie.

“You cannot return to your isle.”

He shook his head. “Nay. Even if we manage to
get to the Isle of Skye and you pass through the gateway without
Marcus catching you, he will hunt me. Returning to my home isn’t an
option.”

“You like Scotland,” she said suddenly.

He was surprised that she had managed to see
that about him. “I do.”

“You won’t leave it.”

“It suits me,” was all he said in answer.

She tilted her head to the side and regarded
him. “Aye, it does. Marcus’ hand reaches far and wide, and his
power over other clans is great.”

“I had assumed as much. There are many places
in which a man can live undetected for a few years.”

He had already decided he would head deeper
into the Highlands and the rugged mountains. There he would find
some place to call home.

“And you?” he asked. “What will you do?”

She looked down at her hands
that played with the material of her skirts. “I will return to my
parents and explain what happened, and then, after that, I want to
visit
Caer Rhoemyr
.”

Lugus jerked at hearing of his city. “What is
there?”

“An aunt. I think some time away from my
family is in order so I can determine what it is that I want, not
what my parents want for me.”

“A smart idea.”

Silence fell around them, but he was loath to
break it. When he heard Ahryn’s stomach rumble, he rose and gave
her the last bit of cheese and bread.

“What about you?” she asked.

“I’m not hungry,” he lied and walked down to
the shoreline.

Water gently lapped at his feet as he watched
the sun disappear into the horizon. He sighed and refused to let
the fear take hold of him. He would see the light in the morning,
he repeated over and over in his head.

Their water supply had run out earlier, and
Lugus knew he had to find some fresh water for them soon. He looked
to his right and the village. There was nothing else for him to do.
He had to get some water.

“Where are you going?” Ahryn asked as he
walked to her.

“Into the village for some water.”

“It’s safe. There is no way Marcus and his
men got here before us. Why not let me come?”

It probably was safe, but the more people
that saw them, the more that could lead Marcus to them. She looked
so hopeful that Lugus couldn’t refuse her, not after all she had
been through.

“All right, but try to keep your hand hidden.
If anyone sees that....”

“I know,” she said quickly.

Lugus looked over her and resigned himself to
the fact that he would have to trade another of his daggers for a
room so she could bathe and rest peacefully. There was no way he
was going to chance another night alone with her.

Her steps were lighter as she walked beside
him to the village. “Do you know where the gateway is?”

“Nay.”

“So it could be anywhere on the isle.”

Lugus didn’t bother to answer her
statement.

“How big is the Isle of Skye?”

He cursed and plodded forward.

“That big,” she said softly. “It could be
another several days before we find it.”

Lugus hadn’t wanted to tell her until once
they had reached Skye. She was exhausted, and to learn that they
would have even more days of travel would only worry her. Yet, he
hadn’t wanted to lie to her either.

Once they came to the village, Lugus found an
inn with two empty rooms and traded another dagger for it, food, a
bath and clothes for Ahryn. He walked her to her room and pointed
to his across the hall. “The owner is sending up hot water, a new
gown and some food. Don’t leave.”

“Where are you going?”

“To ask some questions,” he said and turned
on his heel.

Lugus didn’t breathe until he had reached the
stairs and stepped into the dining room. He seated himself in a
corner and ordered a mug of ale. The owner had told him that the
dagger would cover anything he and Ahryn ordered for the next two
days, so Lugus was going to be certain to get his money’s
worth.

When the owner’s wife came
to bring his mug, he stopped her and asked, “Is there a ferry to
the Isle of Skye?”


“Aye,” she replied, her graying brown hair coming loose and
falling about her face.

“Do you know much about the isle?”

She chuckled and placed her hand on her plump
chest. “Ye could say that. I’ve lived here me whole life. What do
ye want to know?”

Lugus took a long draught of his ale before
answering her. “Do you know of a place on the isle where there are
two massive standing stones?”

She peered closely at him. “There are many
such stones all over Scotland and the isle.”

“These are different. Both stones are set
apart and face the sea, their height reaching high into the
sky.”

“I know those,” she answered softly, her gaze
glancing around the dining room.

Lugus said a silent prayer of thanks. “Can
you tell me where on the isle they are?”

“For a price.”

Somehow, that didn’t surprise him. He reached
into his boot and pulled out one of his throwing daggers. It was
smaller than the others, but the weapon was one of his most prized
possessions. It had been one of the first he had made.

“Will this do?” he asked and slid it toward
her on the table.

She smiled, showing two missing teeth.
“’Twill do nicely,” she said as she placed it in the pocket of her
apron. “The stones are on the northeast side of the isle. If you
follow the coast, you won’t miss them.”

“How long will it take to reach them?”

“Depends on how fast you travel. If you walk
it could take up to five days. There is a ship that will take you
and get you there in three.”

Lugus had already bartered three of his
weapons, leaving him with his sword and only two more daggers. He
had no wish to trade more, but their food was gone and they had no
coin in which to spend. It was either barter the weapons or barter
themselves.

~ ~ ~

Ahryn stared at the big wooden tub that was
being filled with water. She couldn’t wait to lower herself in the
steaming water. It wasn’t the giant stone bath of her parent’s, but
it would do just as well.

The young girl gave her a smile. “I will
return with your food and a gown later.”

Ahryn nodded and kicked off her shoes. She
didn’t care about food at the moment. All she wanted was to wash
the grime and dirt from her body and hair. Her long hair had become
tangled and knotted so that she knew she would be combing it out
the rest of the night just to work out all the tangles.

She dipped her toe into the water and hissed
as the heat connected with her skin, but it didn’t stop her from
stepping into the tub and sinking into the delicious hot water.
With a long sigh, she leaned back and let the water lap around her.
She closed her eyes and felt her muscles began to relax little by
little until she was nearly asleep.

Leisurely, her hand reached over and grabbed
the bar of soap. She brought it to her nose, thinking it would
smell as wonderful as the soap that was made on her realm when she
got a whiff of the foul concoction. Holding it as far away from her
as she could, she lathered up and began to scrub her body. Twice.
Even then she wondered if she should scrub it again. Instead, she
dunked her head to wet her hair.

She wiped the water from her eyes and looked
around for the bottle of hair wash. Seeing nothing but the
offending soap, she rolled her eyes and reached for the bar again.
As loath as she was to use it, she had to admit it seemed to get
her skin and hair clean.

By the time she was finished, the water had
begun to turn cool. As she stepped out of the wooden tub and began
to dry off, there was a soft knock on the door, and Ahryn heard the
serving girl call out.

“Come in,” Ahryn called and wrapped the
material around her body.

The girl smiled shyly and set the tray of
food on the table before laying a gown on the bed. “I hope the
color suits you,” she said softly.

Ahryn looked at the pale blue gown and
smiled. “I love the color. Thank you.” She waited until the door
closed behind the girl before she ran over to it and bolted it.
Only then did she let the towel drop as she reached for the new
chemise. She debated on whether to put the gown on since she knew
she wasn’t going out. She decided against it and sat down to
eat.

~ ~ ~

Lugus walked woodenly back to the inn. The
night had not gone as he had planned, and his mood had soured
quickly. He didn’t even glance at the innkeeper as he walked in and
climbed the stairs.

As he passed Ahryn’s door he saw light from
beneath it. He knocked softly and heard her hurry to the door.

“Who is it?” she asked hesitantly.

He rubbed his eyes and said, “It’s me.”

A moment later, the door cracked open. “Is
everything all right?”

“I need to come in and tell you the plans,”
he said as he pushed open the door and walked in. It never
registered in his mind that she might not be dressed, so when he
turned and found her in nothing but her shift, he could only
stare.

She shrugged. “I tried to warn you.”

He blinked as she walked to her table and sat
down to continue eating. Unlike the women on Earth, the Fae didn’t
conceal every part of their bodies and run and hide if someone came
upon them. The Fae body was one of beauty, and they didn’t mind
showing it off.

Lugus stared at the ceiling as he tried in
vain to tell himself not to look at her, and he begged his body not
to respond.

She giggled. “I find it odd that you have
changed to this realm’s ways.”

“A person gets used to something, but that
isn’t it,” he said and turned his back to her so that he looked at
her bed and the pale blue gown.

“Then what is it? Does my body not please
you?”

It pleases me too
much
.

“I didn’t come up here to discuss your body
or what pleases me.” He knew he should have continued on to his
chamber and spoken with her in the morn. Yet, instead of walking
out, he stayed, wondering what outrageous question she would ask
him next.

“True, but that’s what we’re discussing now.
So answer me. Do I not please you?”

He sighed and leaned against the bed post.
“You know you do. Fae are some of the most beautiful, alluring
creatures in creation.”

“Exactly. So it only makes sense that you
would please me as well,” she said matter of factly, as if there
wasn’t a debate.

Lugus turned around, prepared to tell her the
news and leave. Instead, he found himself watching her as she
slowly rose from the table, the light from the single candle behind
her illuminating her silhouette through the thin shift. All the
moisture in his mouth vanished as he simply stared.

His heart began to beat wildly and his blood
pooled in his rod, bringing it to a painfully hard and yearning
state. All he had to do was reach out and touch her. He could sense
her own need which only spurned his desire.

But to touch her, taste her would be to give
in to his pleasure, something he had denied himself for too long.
Giving in now would not be fair to either himself or Ahryn.

With more willpower than he ever thought
himself possible, he said, “I came to tell you the plan for
tomorrow.”

“The plan?” she asked, her voice low and
seductive.

“Aye. I discovered the gateway is on the
northeast side of the isle,” he said and stepped away from her
toward the door. “It would take us longer by foot, so we’re going
by boat.”

“All right.”

He swallowed and reached for the door. “We
leave at first light.”

She smiled knowingly. “Why are you fighting
this? We both know what we want.”

“I have my reasons.”

“Lugus,” she said.

“Don’t,” he said harsher than he intended. He
glanced down before gazing into her mystic eyes. “I have my
reasons, Ahryn. Please don’t ask more of me than I can give.”

Ahryn stared at the closed door, not
believing Lugus had walked out. For a moment she had thought he
would give in, but then something had happened and he had left
before she could say another word.

Whatever prison Lugus kept himself it, it was
near impenetrable.

~ ~ ~

Lugus hurried from Ahryn’s chamber to his own
and barred the door. He sank onto the bed, his head in his hands as
his body ached with need. If it had been anyone else, he might have
given in if only to relieve himself. But it was Ahryn. A Fae that
had entrusted him with her life.