Chapter 17 #2
None of the men yet occupied the great hall, and when they sat down by the banked hearth Rebecca almost changed her mind.
As the laird’s wife Lucy shared everything with her husband, and she might not keep this to herself.
At the same time Rebecca knew that not saying anything might put others at risk.
“You can trust me, too, you know,” Lucy said, as if she could hear her thoughts. “Even something very personal will stay just between us.”
“Okay.” Rebecca took a deep breath. “The scarf the hunter used to hang me in the barn was the cluet. It showed me my future if I chose not to fulfill the wish that brought me here, and it was pretty ghastly.” She told her about what she’d seen, and then added, “I didn’t know Dorchad had wished for me in a dream, and neither did he, apparently.
The cluet only said that it brought me for one of the men needed to preserve and protect this realm.
I think it’s deliberately choosing which men whose wishes it grants, and the very specific type of women it brings back from the future. ”
“You’re that specific to him?” When she nodded the laird’s wife tapped a finger against her lips. “Okay, so my idea about having the guys all make the same wish while touching different textiles around the castle probably won’t work.”
“That’s not all,” Rebecca said. “There’s something wrong with Dorchad’s brother. I’m not sure what, but for a moment in the barn...” She tried to think of how to explain what she’d seen. “For a moment, I thought I saw his face change.”
Lucy’s brows rose. “Change? How?”
“This is going to sound crazy, and I’m still not sure of what I saw. For an instant right after he and Dorchad killed the hunter, and there was blood everywhere, the seneschal’s canine teeth got longer and pointier.” She grimaced. “Like fangs.”
“No. Really?” The laird’s wife shuddered. “That’s awful but are you sure? You were in a terrible situation.”
“I know. That’s why I didn’t say anything to the chieftain.
It could have been a trick of the light, or emotional overload, or both.
” She rested her cheek against her fist. “They say that Sgathan doesn’t have a mortal weakness, right?
What if he actually does? Maybe it makes him change into something when he smells blood. Something with fangs.”
“You mean, like a vampire.” Lucy swallowed hard. “Okay, so what do we do to find out if you’re right?”
“You’re wrong, Healer.” Sgathan came out of nowhere to appear beside her, calmly taking out the dagger he carried. “And I shall prove it.”
As he made to drag it across his palm, Rebecca’s hand instinctively shot out. “No, don’t!”
But when he paused, her fingers closed around the blade.
“Rebecca,” Lucy said, rising from her seat. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Rebecca said, despite knowing that she wasn’t. Slowly, she opened her hand and stared down at the cuts that were closing spontaneously.
Sgathan tossed the bloodied blade between them. “You see? No fangs,” he declared and stalked off.
Lucy snatched up the knife and looked like she wanted to throw it at the seneschal.
“Lucy,” Rebecca said, flexing her healed fingers. “I think the cluet granted another wish. Isn’t this what happened to you when it made you immortal?”
“Bloody right it did.” The laird’s wife grinned at her. “Right then. I guess we can cross vampire off the ‘What’s wrong with Sgathan’ list.”
Sheona made sure not to let Lady Lucy or the healer see her eavesdropping on them, and went back to her chamber to idle away the day until nightfall, when she could safely leave the island without arousing suspicions.
After dark she walked out to the fishermen’s dock, but all the boats were gone.
Two guards stood posted there, and one of them told her the laird had ordered that no one leave the island at night.
“Why cannae I go?” she demanded.
“’Tis for your own safety, lass,” the guard said. “Come back in the morning, and I’ll bid old Juss take you back after he delivers his fish.”
Not being able to escape the island at night posed an entirely new set of problems for Sheona.
She had only a brief opportunity to do her part, and time was running out.
She could change her tactics, go to Cath MacRune and tell him that Sgathan had been meeting Malvina Duff in secret.
Now that the magistrate’s wife had gone missing the war master would be obliged to investigate.
Dinnae act with haste. Think before you speak.
Lying about the seneschal’s involvement with the hoor might expose her to troublesome questions, however, for the war master was no fool.
He’d want to know how she’d discovered the two had been meeting, and for what reason she’d gone to the shelter in the first place.
He might even question how she had learned Lady Duff was missing.
She had no excuses to make, and she couldn’t confess to meeting her lover when she had been facking Cath ever since coming to serve his clan.
Watch. Listen. Learn from him.
As she walked back toward the stronghold, Sheona decided the safest course was to get word to Cath in a meandering manner that would protect her as the source.
That meant dropping a little gossip here and there into the ears of those who loved to natter on, especially about outsiders like the Duffs. Garia could be counted on to do that.
A low growl came out of the shadows on Sheona’s left as she approached the back gate, making her jump.
“Who’s there?” she called out, pulling the dagger she carried in her pocket.
A cloud passed over the moon, deepening the shadows until the darkness seemed to press around her, thick and heavy, like smothering fur.
She ran for the gate, sure that some creature would snatch her away at the very last moment.
Only nothing did, and she laughed at herself as she waited for the guard to let her inside.
Sgathan didn’t step out of the shadows until the gate had closed again.
Rebecca spent the day working in the infirmary, and performed a few more tests to be sure she could now heal almost instantly from various wounds.
She completely forgot about going downstairs for the evening meal, but only just realized it when Dorchad came carrying a tray of food, hot brew and a dish of honey still in the comb.
“Why didnae you stay in our bed?” he asked after kissing her breathless. “No, dinnae speak.”
“I’ve got my voice back,” she told him, and touched her neck. “Nothing hurts, either.” She told him about the incident of spontaneously healing, but didn’t mention that his twin had been the one to cut her. “We can check with Kiamh the next time he visits, but I’m pretty sure I’m like Lucy now.”
Dorchad pulled her into his arms and held her for a long time.
“Thank the Gods. You may be immortal now, but you’re no’ to leave the island unless I’m with you.
” He stepped back and scowled at her. “You’ll ask my pardon for fleeing Gealladh, and I shall beg your pardon for switching places with my brother.
’Twas unkind. I merely wished to keep you from wasting your affection on me. ”
“I’m sorry, too. It’s okay, you know. You already told me that you can’t love me,” Rebecca reminded him. “If you can never feel anything but lust for me, I’ll be happy.”
“I cannae sire your bairns. Nor may we wed.” Dorchad waited as if expecting her to argue, and then gruffly added, “I may tire of you in time.”
“Liar.” She gave him a sweet smile. “You can’t even ignore me for one night, and what other woman could understand you as well as I do? Assuming that grim face of yours lets any other female come close to you.”
“You lie as well.” He tugged her into his arms. “You assured me I’m the handsomest of men.”
“I never did any such thing. You’re the most beautifully dark and scary man I’ve ever met.” She wound her arms around him. “All the other men in the world look like silly boys next to you. I’m the one who isn’t pretty enough for you.”
“You’re my fire.” He ran his fingers through her curls, his expression filling with that strange gentleness he showed her only when they were alone.
“I shall never leave you sleep for I cannae stop warming myself in you. Each night you shall suffer my mouth and hands and cock all over you, inside you. Even as I kiss you I shall bite you. Even as I fack you I shall bind you and spank you and torment your lovely wee quim.”
Rebecca smiled and leaned in to whisper against his ear, “Good. I can’t wait.”
“And I shall love you as you love me,” Dorchad said, looking into her eyes. “As well as I may, for I’m half the same as the monster that nearly ended you last night.”
“No,” she said, kissing his chin. “You’re mine, Chieftain.”
THE END