CHAPTER FOURTEEN –Sloan–
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
–Sloan–
“I WILLNAE BE handing Willow over to Dugal,” I made clear to Broderick, shaking my head once and looking him dead in the eyes.
“Because we both know what he’ll do to her, and I willnae allow it to happen.
Not for the love of anything be it kin, king or country, and ‘tis safe to say I love ye all a great deal, but no lass deserves the likes of Dugal, let alone my fated mate.”
“And I don’t blame him any more than you should,” Aspen said when Broderick pulled her onto his lap, where he still sat behind the desk.
Thankfully, she had subtly been working with Aunt Chara to soften the blow of what was coming because they all knew I would battle him to the death if he meant to hand Willow over.
“I dinnae blame you,” Broderick agreed, giving me a pointed look.
“But as you well know, there is a bigger picture to consider that includes countless lives, and typically you would be the first to remember such.” He sighed.
“That said, we need to think things through and figure out if we have a foot to stand on because I guarantee ‘tis only a matter of time before the king arrives if the Sutherlands even bother letting him know before they attack.”
“Which is a distinct possibility,” Chara said.
“According to Kenneth, there’s more activity than usual at Sutherland Castle, so they undoubtedly got a clear look at Willow’s dragon and the partial gem on her chest.” She shook her head.
“Unless they’re leaving in a more discreet way, he hasn’t actually seen any warriors depart yet. ”
“’Twould be far wiser for them to report this indiscretion to the king first and handle things as he sees fit,” Marek said. “That would put them on the right side of the war from the beginning.”
“A clan war King Robert doesnae want,” I reminded. “So ‘tis best to give him a reason not to back the Sutherlands and at least, for now, find a way to mediate the situation.”
“Which would be the Sutherlands imprisoning you in a dungeon at the very least,” Willow said, sipping her whisky. “And making plans behind your back with the woman you were supposed to marry.”
“Verra true.” Chara considered me with that wise look she occasionally got. “’Tis rather coincidental given how long she’s put off your marriage, is it not? Truth be told, one would have thought she’d want to marry you long before now.”
“Aye,” I agreed, beyond grateful she didn’t for obvious reasons. “Yet I cannae see how the two could be related.”
“Nor I.” Chara cocked her head in question. “And there was no mention of which Sutherland she would marry instead?”
“Nay.” I shook my head. “Though I would imagine she’s hoping ‘tis one without dragon blood.” I gave Willow a look when she went to set aside her corn muffin. “You need to eat, lass. Please.”
“You do,” Hazel agreed, setting down some meat beside her as well, no doubt sensing she needed it more than ever after shifting. “And then you need a good night’s sleep. You look wiped, sis.”
“Definitely.” Aspen’s eyebrows whipped together. “I think shifting took more out of you than most.”
“Fine, guys,” Willow muttered, looking skyward and nibbling on her meat. “Eating.”
“And the meat,” I encouraged.
“After the muffin,” she swore, clearly more interested in her whisky, and I didn't blame her, yet still. Everything was finally catching up with her. Mayhap more than it should, and I addressed that when I saw Aunt Chara’s gaze lingering on Willow with concern as if she could see something the rest of us could not.
Although tempted to ask her discreetly within the mind, lest it upset Willow, I sensed our growing bond would allow her to hear anyway, plus I wanted to be open and honest with each other always.
“You sense Willow’s exhaustion and lack of appetite might have to do with shifting for the first time in the Morrow, Aunt Chara?” I presumed.
“Mayhap,” she said softly, her gaze falling to the tattoo. “Or mayhap ‘tis because there’s only half a gem.”
“Why?” Willow wondered, seeming nonplussed about the discussion rather than worried.
“Why, indeed.” Broderick eyed his mother. “What are you sensing, Mother? I cannae quite pick up on it.”
“’Tis hard to say other than Willow’s tattoo feels different from Aspen and Hazel’s,” she replied. “Granted, that makes sense given only half of the gem appeared on her dragon, but it feels like more somehow.”
The effects of the whisky were already evident when Willow quirked the corner of her mouth. “Even though, technically, it’s only half a gem and less.”
“Or so it seems,” Lucas said, seeming to sense something in that. “Unless, of course, as it was for Evan, Hazel and I, there’s powerful magic behind it, determined to steer us in a certain direction.”
Aspen narrowed her eyes. “You think it’s our father at work again?”
Lucas shrugged. “I couldnae say but I wouldnae rule it out.”
“Nor would I,” Chara said. “Though ‘twould be a great magical feat to do such a thing to a dragon.”
“I cannae speak to its powers but from what I have seen and heard of yer journey thus far,” Evan said, “it sounds like the Morrow is capable of such feats.”
“Aye, ‘tis quite the place,” I confirmed, wondering if everyone wasn’t on to something. “Yet the gem was still there after her dragon exited the Morrow.”
“But only half a gem,” Willow reminded, shrugging as she polished off her whisky in record time.
“Which is weird, right?” She shook her head.
“There’s nothing about half a gem in this pact, is there?
I’d say that—she chanted more whisky into her cup and rested her hand on my thigh dangerously close to an arousal I was already working hard to control from her proximity— “above everything, is the angle you want to take with King Robert.”
“Agreed.” Broderick shook his head as well. “The pact says nothing about half a gem, so to my mind, that means Dugal has no direct claim on you.”
“And in Dugal’s eyes, nor will Sloan,” Chara suspected, looking at me.
“So you will want to choose your words to the king wisely because he will be torn about where Willow should stay until this is all worked out. I would count on both Dugal and Elspet trying to convince him it should be at Sutherland Castle.”
“Mother’s right.” Broderick looked at me gravely. “And the king might verra well agree because he knows how unpredictable and unstable they can be.”
No truer words were said, unfortunately.
“And ye dinnae have yer willow tree yet, either,” Evan pointed out, still standing at the window where he could see if it had appeared beside Aspen’s and Hazel’s trees at the outskirts of the forest. Trees that appeared once it was confirmed they were no longer part of the pact and were with their rightful fated mates.
“How do we confirm the fated mates thing, anyway?” Willow asked, sort of drifty-eyed as she smiled at me and winked as if such a dire conversation wasn’t happening. “Not to say you didn’t feel entirely like my fated mate when you lifted me against that tree and—”
“And I think mayhap ‘twould be a good idea if you took Willow upstairs and got her tucked into bed,” Chara smoothly interrupted with a small, knowing smile.
“I think mayhap you’re right,” I confirmed, sweeping Willow up into my arms before she could argue, eager to see her safely into my bed where I knew I could protect her.
“I’ll bring up food if—”
“Nay, ‘tis all right,” I assured Hazel as Willow rested her head on my shoulder, inhaled my scent, and smiled a little before her eyes drifted shut. “I dinnae think Willow will be eating much more tonight.”
“Seems not,” Hazel agreed, brushing Willow’s hair back from her eye and smiling softly when her sister issued a dainty little snore, sound asleep already.
“I know I probably shouldn’t, given the circumstances, but I like seeing her slow down a little.
” Her eyes met mine. “And I really like the way you two look at each other.”
“Me too,” Aspen echoed. “I know I don’t need to say it, but take good care of her, Sloan.”
“Always,” I vowed, because I would always protect Willow with my life. I looked at Broderick. “I know you’ve warriors already at arms, safeguarding the castle’s perimeter, but I will stand vigilant tonight from my balcony and—”
“Nay,” Broderick said, surprising me. “I will need you at your best when the king arrives, so get some rest because whether you realize it or not, you need it just as much.” When I shook my head, his dragon eyes flared. “’Tis an order, not a request. The castle is protected.”
I frowned. “Aye?”
“Aye.” He gestured at the secret door through which we had entered. “Now go.”
So I did after bidding everyone a good eve, knowing full well I could not, yet again, do what I was told, because only my protection was enough for my lass tonight.
Especially with Dugal out there somewhere with all his twisted fury.
His mother might order him to heed her wishes and wait, but something told me Dugal could easily defy her because of his sick desires and rabid need for power.
To that end, after I finally carried the love of my life and undoubtedly my fated mate into my chamber for the first time, I laid her on my bed and tucked her under my furs.
She barely stirred but for a deep inhale as she pulled in my scent and again issued a soft smile.
My gaze lingered on her for a moment, and I cherished the sight of her in my bed before I made my way to the balcony with a blade in hand and kept an eye on the sky.
The stormy weather did and didn’t work in our favor. It would be easier for dragons to approach unseen, but it would also make attacking us more difficult because of the gusty winds and turbulence.
“Sleep, cousin,” Broderick ordered into my mind again as several of our larger and more powerful dragons landed on the balconies overhead as well as below.
His inner tone broached no room for argument.
“Ye have my word ye are well protected now by not only those ye see but by the rest of us, so get some rest. ‘Tis crucial to the clan, given today’s events.”
Though tempted to argue, I became increasingly aware of exhaustion settling over me. Too much exhaustion, given how concerned I was about Willow’s safety, telling me either Hazel or possibly even Chara had done something to the food to make sure I rested.
It seemed my inner beast was okay with it because it didn’t flail in defiance when we finally relented, but seemed just as eager as I was to crawl into bed and pull Willow into my arms. Warm her. Inhale her scent.
And that was the last thing I remember because the next thing I knew, it was dawn, and I was being stirred awake in the best way possible.