The Morrigan: Damaged Deities (16 page)

He wouldn’t know how to express them anyway, wasn’t sure what they were.  So instead he deflected.

 “What’s so engrossing anyway?” he motioned with annoyance at the paper.

“An ancient, druid artifact has been stolen from the British museum,” Kamden answered, as though that would make Kade’s agitation ease.  Removing his glasses, Kamden motioned to the chair before him. “Sit. We need tae talk anyway.”

“This canna be good,” Kade grumbled, taking the chair in front of Kamden’s desk. 

How many times had he sat there, enduring another lecture from his younger brother?  Kade knew with a single order he could end the talks—he owned the company and now was the head of the family, but he was too fond of his brother to not endure them if Kamden felt they were needed.

“Now that ye’re back, I would like yer help in matters concerning the business—a laundry list, in fact, of public appearances I’ve been unable tae make.  Starting with yer new restaurant in Edinburgh.”

“Since when did I open a new restaurant?” Kade asked.

“Since ye put me in charge of mindin’ yer finances and gave me control of the business.  It’s a modern and posh place, it’ll be good for the company’s image.  The grand opening is tomorrow and I’d like ye tae attend.  Ye’ve always been better in social situations than me and it would be good for the locals to see yer face.  It’s a formal affair so ye’ll need tae wear yer tux.”

“Aye, alright.”

“Can ye find a date?”

Kade frowned at his brother. “Why, do I need one?” he asked. 

“Yes, ye need one.  And I already have someone in mind.”

“Who might that be?” Kade asked slowly, doubt and dread crawling up his throat like bile.

“The horse trainer I brought in from America.  Miss Brandon.  I think she’d be a good match.  She’s strong and seems tae be a stickler for professionalism.  I think she’ll keep ye honest.”

At first his brother’s request sounded like a chore, but if Kade could get Morrie away for a night, he could distract her from this silly horse hunt and make her stay a little while longer. 

And he could put forward more effort to get her to bed and then maybe these inexplicable thoughts and needs that had endlessly harassed him since he first saw her would ease.

His damn face must have betrayed how pleased he was at the way events had unfolded as his brother narrowed his gaze at him with suspicion.

 “Are ye interested in her?” Kamden asked, folding his hands on his desk.

“Have ye seen her?” Kade asked hoping to appear indifferent before he thought twice about it.  Upon seeing his brother’s expression of appreciation, he quickly amended, “Nevermind, doona answer that. Ye shouldna be lookin’ at her that way, ye’re her employer, for Christ’s sake.”

A surprised eyebrow rose with discovery. Kamden grinned like spreading jam. 

“I just think this hunt ye have her on is fruitless and she might as well get tae see Scotland while she’s here.”

His smile fell. “I suppose I should send her home.  It was a daft idea in the first place.”

“Let’s no’ be too hasty, now,” Kade sat forward. “Let’s see what she can uncover, it could be good tae know, aye?”

Shrugging his concession, Kamden sat back and watched Kade in silence.

“Alright, then, brother,” he finally said. “I’ll make the request of the lass.  It would only be proper, seeing as I’m the one tae bring her here.”

Smiling, Kade slapped the arms of the chair and moved to stand up.

“Aye, no’ so fast,” Kamden put out a hand to stop him. Kade slumped back down into the chair, stretching his long legs out before him.

 “About these finances…”

And with that Kade submitted to another afternoon of listening to his brother go over the books. 

The only consolation this time was the date that lay ahead.  And the possibilities it might bring.

C
HAPTER
F
OURTEEN

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

Mother Teresa

Even in the daylight, the loch looked haunted.  Maybe it was the lives that had been taken along its shores or its choppy waters darkened by shadows even as the green foothills beyond wore the sun’s golden rays. 

At its edge, Morrie sat atop Annabella with Danny on Banner beside her.  The horses showed no interest in drinking from the lake, knowing as well what beast it held in its depths. 

For now, its waters were calm, reflecting the broken blue sky above.  But something seemed to hang over the loch, something that blurred its lines and Morrie wondered if she were to step into its shallow waves, what exactly she would be stepping into.

Nights before, she had walked for several miles around the estate, finding a high point from which to look down at the loch.  Up there Morrie watched as its waters glistened undisturbed.  She had found no trace of the horse.

Morrie stared out at the water now stretching out into the mountains beyond, disappearing where the foothills met. 

She had forgotten how magical Scotland could be in sunlight; as haunting as it was beneath the moon. 

Looking out across the land now, she could almost hear the roar of passionate battles fought, the green hills slicked with bloodshed, the strength of men in their numbers and in their belief behind a cause.  Back when she and her sisters would take raven form, circling overhead as the wars raged on. 

Life had been simple then. 

Men outgrew the gods and goddesses, taking with their worshipping ways the powers of the deities.  That didn’t mean the gods died, they just fell dormant, fading away into the landscape, waiting for the day they would be resurrected.  But man didn’t believe anymore, at least not enough and not in the many.  And the immortals that were left behind couldn’t erect the temples necessary to bring them back. 

Morrie and her sisters had been spared.  It helped to be beings of such carnal acts; sex and war were still as much a part of being human as breathing and eating, they were always in fashion. 

As long as the humans lusted for both, Morrie and her sisters would stay strong. 

But she wouldn’t deny that she missed the old gods.  The world was more exciting when magic swept the land.

There was definitely magic at play here.  She could feel it.

Searching along the lake’s shore, she looked for her coat.  She twisted in her saddle, checking all around her, but there were no signs of it anywhere. 

Did the monster take it?

Morrie couldn’t be certain the beast was a kelpie or a shapeshifter, but she was growing more certain he was something more than a horse.  She had seen the fire in his eyes, felt a connection, a sense of familiarity.  And if she knew her immortals, she knew her actions in capturing him would be determined by the moon. 

It had been full the night she encountered the horse—that meant he had either been at his strongest or his weakest. 

But she was certain the weeks until it lifted its face unhidden again were all she had, regardless of Kamden’s deadline.  She would have to capture him again before the next full moon, or she may never catch him at all.

“It looks no different does it?” Danny asked, breaking into the storm of Morrie’s thoughts. She looked over at him resting his elbows on the horn of his saddle, grinning at her as his eyes glinted like jewels in the sunlight.

“What’s that?”

“The land…,” he answered, hesitant.  She must have surprised him with her broken daydreaming and sharp response.  “I imagine it’s looked like this a very long time.  Not changed at all.”

“No, I suppose not.”  In fact, she could see herself on this very land, fighting great armies over such silly little things, like cattle and border disputes.

“Ulster’s reach was far,” he looked out on the horizon, his voice soft and winsome. 

Morrie cocked her head and watched him, curious. “They teach you a lot at your university.”

He grinned at her. “I’ve always taken an interest in ancient studies.” 

Morrie answered him with an arched eyebrow.

“You know, I may not believe the ol’ fairy tales,” Danny said, “But this lake gives me the creeps.  How ‘bout we see just how fast we can take these steeds?”

Facing the rolling hills to her left, Morrie’s gaze traveled the horizon before she looked back over her shoulder at Danny and grinned.

She tilted her head slightly to him and said, “Try to keep up.”

Over cold meats and bread, Morrie and Danny chatted like old friends.  While she was supposed to be listening to him talk about his home in Ireland, instead she drifted back to thoughts of the older MacLeod.  She had expected Kade to be waiting for her at the stalls when they returned, considering he had almost appeared jealous when she left.  But instead he’d been absent at lunch and hadn’t made an appearance since. 

When Danny departed to his duties outside Morrie headed to her room.  As soon as she stepped out of the kitchen, Kamden peered out of his study.

“Miss Brandon?” he asked, glasses sitting low on his nose.

“Yes, Mr. MacLeod?” Morrie stopped.

“A word, please?”

Morrie slipped past him into the dark, cozy room.  A fire was dying in the stone hearth, casting low light and shadows against the two deep armchairs sitting before a heavy, oak desk.  The thick velvet curtains were drawn closed, letting no light eek in. 

Morrie chose the chair closest to the fire as Kamden sat down behind the desk.

He cleared his throat. “Are ye enjoying yer time here?”

“I would feel better if I could catch this horse, but yes, you have a lovely home and everyone is very friendly.”

“Ah, about the horse, it’s been quiet since ye’ve arrived so I believe ye can take a wee break. I hope ye won’t mind if I ask ye tae take on a side job.”

Curious, Morrie tipped her head the side. “What would that be?”

“We’re opening a new restaurant in Edinburgh tomorrow and I’m sending Kade to make an appearance on behalf o’ the family.  I would like for ye tae escort him tae the event.”

“You want me to be his date?”

“Aye. I know it’s rather inappropriate and not what I asked ye here tae do, but it would be a great help tae me.  I need someone tae keep an eye on him.  Kade seeks trouble as much as it seeks him.  It’s just for the evening, there would be separate rooms for your stay overnight.  I just really need someone tae make sure he attends and behaves himself while there.”

“I had intended on going back out to the loch…”

“Please.  Consider this part of the job.  Besides, the forecast is for heavier rain, which would make it harder for ye tae track anything other than a cold.”

Heavier rain would make it hard, if not impossible to find the horse and would mean Morrie stuck in the house, going out of her mind with boredom.  At least a trip to Edinburgh would be something to do. 

Even if that meant going alone with Kade. 

But why should that make her hesitant?

She could handle herself with Kade.  Morrie had managed a life of celibacy for centuries before the handsome Scot was ever born; one night would not change that. 

As more of a challenge to herself than anything else, Morrie looked up into the expectant gaze of Kamden and nodded. “Alright, I’ll go.  But I have nothing to wear.”

The man waved her off as relief relaxed the lines in his face. “Doona worry none about that, everything will be arranged.  Be ready tae go in an hour.”

Morrie stood, a little surprised at the situation she had placed herself in suddenly. “See you tomorrow then.”

Kamden nodded, but appeared to have moved onto the next thing as he muttered, “See you tomorrow.”

In her room she found a black garment bag hanging from the armoire door.  Inside was an oatmeal-colored, knee-length wool coat with round wooden buttons.  It was soft beneath her fingertips as she ran them down the fabric.