Chapter 14
Rowan
The dark and eerie path through the castle from the night before vanished in the light of the day.
Gone were the shadowy corners, the frolicking figures in the alcoves, the twisting tapestries.
Instead, the stone walls were warm and inviting.
I ran my finger along one, a feeling of surrealness still driving my thoughts.
Jesmina had rushed off to the kitchen, set on preparing me some breakfast. Her promise of a modest repast made me smile.
She had also mentioned I would find Their Lordships in the garden.
Another phrase ensuring that smile stayed in place.
So, it was with a certain joy, a lightness in my soul and my steps, that I strolled through the halls, hoping to find my way to the bottom floor.
I vaguely remembered the route I had taken yesterday, but I doubted it would lead me to the gardens.
I did, however, distinctly recall spotting glass doors hiding within the confines of the library.
That was my intended direction, for surely the gardens would not be too hard to find once I was outside.
Cleaners bobbed a curtsy or ducked their heads, rushing into rooms or dusting windowsills when they caught sight of me. From their attire, similar to Jesmina’s, I assumed they were the household staff and wondered how many there were.
At the end of the hallway, on the second floor, a faint sound caught my attention, drawing me towards a partially opened door. Fragrant mist kissed my cheeks as I pushed it open, and when my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I was astonished to see an indoor pool.
This must be the warm springs Jesmina mentioned.
The room appeared to have been carved into the side of the mountain, walls and floors all hewn from solid stone.
Wisps of steam floated into the air, stirred by the stream of water cascading down one end.
It sprinkled from the ceiling, crystalline drops catching the light as they tumbled gracefully into the waters below.
A waterfall!
For a moment, I simply stood there, mesmerised by the sheer beauty, before a voice sounded in my head.
We’re outside. Around the eastern side.
Brows pinched, I turned away, closing the door behind me. I didn’t think I would ever get used to that masculine voice in my head. It sounded so foreign.
Finding the library was relatively easy after that, but just as I was about to enter, Jesmina hurried towards me from the dining room. She clutched a small basket and a blanket, handing then to me before gesturing towards the glass doors. “Through there and to the left.”
Following the sound of metal striking metal, I perused the grounds as I leisurely followed the stone path that wound its way around to the left.
It led to a large, flat, open grassed area, the land beyond it gently sloping towards a thick line of trees.
They created a natural barrier against the lawn, but it was the two men sparring on the grass that held my attention.
They danced their way across the grass, stripped to their shirtsleeves, their sweat clinging the material to their muscled backs.
The clash of their blades was the sound I’d heard.
With each parry and thrust, their eyes remained locked.
Their gazes fierce. Their focus unwavering.
Every manoeuvre appeared to be executed with calculated precision.
I didn’t know much about swordplay, but the clang of steel ringing through the air as they engaged in their mock battle hypnotised me, and I stood watching in awe as they continued their fight.
Aenan murmured something I could not hear, but the grin that crossed his face had me believing it was a slight of some sort.
Caelan swung his head in my direction, and in that brief moment of distraction, Aenan nicked him on the arm, blood staining his shirt.
With a gasp, I dropped the basket, rushing towards them.
“Bloody hell, man. What are you doing?” Caelan exclaimed, glaring at my brother.
Aenan simply smirked and strolled towards me, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “You can thank me later, brother.” He grinned at me as he passed, barely containing his laughter. “Sister,” he said with a nod.
“Brute,” I retorted, my voice filled with disdain. But he only laughed and went on his merry way.
Caelan was inspecting the tear in his shirt when I reached him.
“Are you okay?” I asked. “Let me see.”
“It’s nothing, lass, just a scratch. Look, it’s already stopped bleeding,” he assured me, turning to show me his arm. It did appear to have stopped bleeding, but the wound was still red.
“Does that happen often? Blood being drawn?” I looked at him with concern.
“Aye. It’s just part of the training. We usually don’t finish until someone draws the first blood. It’s nothing more than a nick each time, so dinna fash.” He was trying to ease my worries, I realised, despite not understanding his words. “What have you dropped over there?”
I glanced back at the basket I’d dropped in my rush to see to him, now lying forgotten on the ground. “Oh, my breakfast!” Hurrying back to the forgotten food, I gathered it up, thankful it had been wrapped securely and nothing had been spoiled.
Caelan followed me, pointing to a patch of lawn where we could sit. I relinquished the blanket and he laid it upon the ground. The side garden was more sheltered than the front, the trees forming a windbreak, and I reclined in the sun, happy to soak in its warmth for a bit.
“Are you going to join me?” I asked, squinting up at Caelan, who was suddenly looking uncomfortable.
He looked back towards the house before loosing a breath and sinking to his knees. “Aye. For a little while,” he said, opening the basket. “Now what do you have in here?”
He rummaged for a bit, inspecting what had been packed, before handing me a sandwich. It was filled with ham and cheese, but the bread was not one that I had seen before. It was buttery, tasting just like a scone.
“What is this?” I asked, holding it out.
“It’s called a bannock. Do you not have them where you come from?”
I shrugged. “Probably. I’ve just never had one before.”
He pulled out an apple, crunching into it.
I watched him closely. I couldn’t help but study his features.
He had straight brows that slashed across his face, and cheekbones that dipped in ever so slightly.
His jawline was strong, his chin proud. Dark stubble prickled his upper lip, continuing down his face.
His hair, curled with sweat, hung across his forehead in twirling strands.
“Like what you see, lass?” he teased, catching me staring.
I blushed, but quickly replied when something he had said to me once before popped into my mind. “I was just thinking that you reminded me of someone. I just can’t think who.”
“An ex-lover, perhaps, or a boyfriend waiting for you back home?” he joked.
I laughed. “No. There are no exes waiting for me. Boyfriend or otherwise.”
He let out what I thought sounded like a relieved sigh, but I couldn’t be sure. He kept his emotions so close I struggled to get a read on him. “That’s good to know,” he murmured. Lying back, he folded his hands beneath his head, closing his eyes.
Placing my sandwich wrapper into the basket along with his discarded apple core, I lay down beside him, my head propped on my arm. “What about you?” I couldn’t resist asking. “Any maids you’re currently avoiding?”
He let out a bark of laughter and opened one eye to look at me. “No. There are no maids waiting to accost me in the hallways.” He closed his eye again, clearly trying to suppress a small smile. “Not here, anyway.”
“Oh, you!” I swatted his chest playfully before lying back, staring at the clouds.
We stayed there in silence, shoulder to shoulder, listening to the wind as it weaved its way through the leaves of the trees.
Birds twittered, the sound of their wings as they fluttered back and forth on the branches relaxing to my ears.
There were horses in the distance, whinnies and nickers travelling through the air.
I realised as I lay there, taking it all in, that I was happy.
Happy to simply be in Caelan’s company. Happy with the quietness he brought to my soul. To my heart.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked. “Right now.”
I turned my head towards him, catching his eye. “Just that I’m glad to be here.”
His gaze softened and flicked to my mouth, and again I had that feeling I’d had the day before, when I was certain he was going to kiss me. When he leant in a little closer, I frowned.
“What? What is it?” he asked, suddenly concerned. He sat back, the moment lost.
“I… It’s just… I was thinking about Aenan.” I giggled at how absurd that sounded. “What I mean is, can you tell me more about shielding?”
His eyes lightened with understanding, and he sat, pulling me with him until we were knee to knee. “Close your eyes,” he instructed. “I want you to find that connection in your mind that links you to your brother.”
Still frowning, I did what he asked, focusing my thoughts on that place where I could hear Aenan’s voice.
“Can you feel it?”
“I’m not sure. I think so.”
“Okay. Now I want you to imagine placing something in front of that connection. Blocking it,” he directed.
“Like a wall?” I questioned, trying to visualise his instructions.
“It can be anything you want, as long as it’s solid. And strong,” he clarified. “Make sure nothing can break through.”
I pictured a stone wall. Just like the ones in the castle. I built it across that link, slotting each slab of stone into place until I couldn’t see any gaps. When it was done, I opened my eyes and looked at him.
“How did you go?” he asked.
“I think I did it,” I said, feeling it out in my mind. I ran invisible fingers across the rock, searching for any gaps. When I found none, I was confident I had done it right.
Caelan nodded. “Test it out,” he said, with a playful grin.
Not sure I understood his meaning, I raised an eyebrow.
“Think of something you definitely would not want your brother to know or see. Something he would not be able to help speaking to you about.”
“Oh! Um… okay.”
I closed my eyes, trying to think – and then a wicked thought crossed my mind. My lips curled as I let my imagination run wild.
Warm water cascaded over my face, caressing my skin and catching on my lips. My neck arched as I tilted my head back, and a delicate sigh swam through the steam as I ran my hands through my hair.
Quaking at the presence of a body sliding in behind me. At the hardness that pushed against me. At the arm that wrapped around my waist and pulled me back against a chest. I melted into the embrace, instinctively knowing who it was. My head fell back against his shoulder.
A hand swept up my side. Touching. Teasing. The roughness of that palm, compared to the softness of my skin, made me shiver. I gasped when he clasped my breast, his grip firm, before softening, moulding, kneading. My nipples tightened, pressing against his hand, poking against his skin.
A shudder ran down my spine as he explored my body, igniting a fire within me. I clutched at his hair. At the backs of his thighs. Pulling him closer. Holding him tight. His touch was electric, and waves of pleasure sparked in my veins with each gentle caress.
“Greedy little thing, aren’t you?” he whispered, and I moaned again.
My breath hitched as his fingers danced along my stomach, teasing me with their incessant movements. My hips bucked, and I clasped his wrist, pushing it down.
Down.
Down.
Need surged through me, hot and slick, as I drew him closer and closer still. Closer to the wetness I knew was gathered there. He groaned, the noise shivering through me.
Leaning in, he brushed his mouth against my ear, and whispered—
“I need to go,” Caelan said, standing up suddenly.
I blinked at him, my mind still consumed with the daydream. “Oh. Uh, okay. Will I see you later?”
He turned away, as if hiding his face. “I’ll – I’ll come find you later.” His voice sounded hoarse. He stalked away, his movements stiff.
Frowning, I watched him leave, wondering what had brought on the sudden departure. Had I groaned out loud? Had my face betrayed what I had been thinking? What I had been dreaming about?
My eyes widened in embarrassment. That had to be it! Why else would he have sprung to his feet and practically jogged across the lawn in his haste to get away from me?
With another heartfelt sigh, I gathered the basket, suddenly wishing for a cool breeze to calm my reddened cheeks.