Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Kragorn
My knuckles tightened on the arms of my chair as Vrogul Stormseeker, laird of the Islay Battleborn, stepped into the weak firelight, followed by a giant of a warrior.
Neither of them was armed, which was interesting, considering my brother’s story of his twin swords.
Mayhap the Bloodfire guards had persuaded them to come with honor and not bloodshed to my council hall.
The light from the firepit flared as Vartok threw more wood on it before coming to stand at my side. His voice was deceptively mild when he nodded to the laird.
“I owe ye a favor, Stormseeker, so I’m not punching ye for what ye did to my brother.”
The other man, his rings of status glinting in his ears, inclined his head to my brother, a look of…was that amusement on his face?
“Thank ye, Blacksmith. How is yer Mate?”
At my side, Vartok growled, and I held up my hand to halt whatever violence he was contemplating. I knew my brother and his Mate had recently had an altercation with the Battleborn, and Stormseeker had not only spared their lives, but given them word of my predicament.
So I kept my tone steady when I spoke to Vartok, although my gaze didn’t leave the two warriors.
“The Stormseeker did me nae harm.”
“He didnae help ye, either,” growled Vartok.
True.
It had been an eventful day for me, and I could feel my energy draining with each hour. I wanted naught more than to return to my cottage and curl around my Mate. I would…just as soon as I finished with this clan business.
Why had the Battleborn chief come here, and why now? Where was the rest of his clan? They were fierce warriors, ones the Bloodfire clan couldn’t afford to make enemies of…but Tarbert had planned on gifting me to the Stormseeker… Did he want me dead?
I felt my claws extending, and I forced myself to shake off the exhaustion.
The other male pulled his dark cloak more snuggly around himself.
“I hear congratulations are in order? Ye’ve found yer Mate. The brave lass from Tarbert Keep, I assume?”
At his words, I relaxed somewhat. He’d seen her bravery, and recognized it for what it was?
“Aye,” I agreed gruffly. “Tarbert’s youngest daughter. She cared for me in the dungeon, and I kenned then who she was.”
The Stormseeker’s grin was lightning-fast, a mere glint in the firelight.
“Then ye are lucky indeed, to deal Tarbert such a blow. He is one of the reasons I’ve come to find ye.”
Sighing, I resisted the urge to pinch the brow of my nose. “One of the reasons?”
“I have others, but ye are recently recovered from yer wounds, and I’ll no’ keep ye from yer bed for too long. My lieutenant and I—” he gestured to the silent, scowling giant at his side, “—heard the commotion and thought to approach ye tonight.”
“Where’s the rest of yer warriors?” I asked wearily, not certain I could handle the diplomatic tip-toeing such a discussion required. I was too tired to worry about a fooking war…but I couldn’t put my clan in danger.
“They did no’ come,” the Battleborn chief said. “This was between the two of us—”
“Ye owe an explanation to more than just Kragorn,” Vartok rumbled angrily, and the Stormseeker inclined his head in what might have been agreement.
“Aye, ye’re right. But what I have to say can wait until yer chief can keep his eyes open.”
“I’m fine,” I growled, pushing myself to my feet to prove my point. “What news do ye have of Tarbert?”
Stormseeker would have had to have left Tarbert Keep shortly after I did in order to cross back through the veil to our world at the full moon. He met with Vartok and Myra on Islay two days later, as they were gathering the herbs to make the tea which had kept me alive this last fortnight.
So, what could he know about Tarbert?
The male exchanged a glance with his hulking bodyguard and now faced me once more. “Tarbert is with the Bladesedge. He must have crossed over the same time ye and I did. They’re planning to attack ye.”
My blood ran cold. “For Lillian?” I rasped.
The Stormseeker shrugged. “Who knows why the bastard does aught? He didnae seem to show her much affection at their Hogmanay celebration. Mayhap ‘tis to avenge the humiliation of being stolen by ye.”
“Fook,” I muttered, pressing a thumb to my temple and turning away. “Fook. I thought he would head back to his castle once I released him.”
“His men attacked my brother on the night of the full moon,” Vartok explained. “Lillian managed to get him through the veil, but he was severely wounded.”
Oh, fabulous, now my twin was sharing my humiliation with a possible enemy?
“That makes sense.” The Battleborn chief’s drawl was unhurried. “He would have sent men after ye, as he went in the other direction to cross the Bladesedge stones. Is that his cloak ye’re wearing?”
This time, my groan was audible, and I swear I heard the bastard chuckle.
“Fook off,” I muttered, then scowled because ‘twas a weak insult. What can I say? I’d been feverish for a fortnight and I’d spent the day pleasuring my Mate. I was drained.
Vartok’s palm landed on my shoulder.
“I would hear what other reasons the Stormseeker sought ye out.”
I sighed. “They cannae be worse than Yer enemies have allied and are coming to attack those ye hold dearest.”
“Nay, they are no’,” the Battleborn chief announced with another quick grin. “But ye have new allies now, and what I have to say to ye I would prefer to be in private. I’ll return—”
“Ye and yer giant can stay in the barracks,” Vartok offered, squeezing my shoulder briefly. Thinking I might object? “And meet with my brother tomorrow.”
Stormseeker hesitated, then inclined his head and shoulders slightly. A bow of respect?
“Thank ye,” he said simply. “’Tis a cold night for camping, and we’ll take ye up on that offer.” His dark gaze switched to me. “Tomorrow, chief?”
“Aye, tomorrow,” I mumbled, flicking my fingers in another dismissal. I heard the other male—the male who should be my enemy—snort as he turned away, murmuring to his lieutenant.
Were the Islay Battleborn our enemies? Or had he been referring to himself when he’d spoken of new Bloodfire allies? Gods below, why did he have to drop this riddle on my lap now, when my head pounded and my bones ached?
“Go to yer Mate,” Vartok murmured to me. “I’ll see our guests settled, and ye can tell me his tale after he’s left.”
“Aye, and my thanks.”
I might be home, but things were never going to go back to how they were before. I was a different male, and so was my brother. Lillian had been right to suggest I continue leaning on the council my brother’d set up, and I would be foolish to deny this advice.
So I stumbled home and my Mate met me at the door with a worried look on her face.
I wanted to ask her how she’d spent the evening—she appeared distracted—but she wasted no time in peeling my new cloak from my shoulders, leading me to bed, and kneeling to unlace my boots.
“I should be caring for ye—” My admonition was interrupted with a yawn, and Lillian glanced up to send me a soft grin.
“Mates care for one another, Kragorn, and you are still very much in need of caring for. Get into bed.”
Any other time, I might have made a joke about her being so eager to get me in bed, especially after the pleasure we’d shared that day…but she’d called us Mates. She’d acknowledged our bond.
Whatever came tomorrow—whatever news Vrogul Stormseeker brought, whatever horrors the Bladesedge wrought—tonight, my Mate had accepted me.
I fell asleep holding her.
Kragorn
My cock woke me in the morning with its incessant throbbing, and my Kteer wasn’t far behind. I suspected neither would be satisfied until I had claimed Lillian and our Mating Heat was behind us.
How soon could the Mating ceremony be arranged? The new moon was past, but I refused to wait another month for the next. Nan would have to be satisfied with the inauspicious waxing crescent, for fook’s sake.
I might not be able to sink my cock into her delicious cunny, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t pleasure my Lillian. As the light peaked around the shutters, I pulled her to me and showed her how much I wanted her.
The second time she came on my tongue, with my thick fingers deep inside her, she yanked my hair as she whispered my name. I grinned against her cunny, loving the sound of her wonder.
“Ye ken, love,” I told her, crawling up her body, pressing kisses to her skin, “nae one will judge ye for making noise when yer Mate pleasures ye. In our world, sex isnae something to be ashamed of, and kitlings learn early what their parents do.”
Her cheeks flamed adorably as she rolled over to bury her face in my shoulder.
“I know. I have seen much in these last weeks and have learned to knock very loudly before entering any of my friends’ homes.”
Chuckling, I gathered her close, pleased my Mate was settling into her new home. Although my cock still jutted beneath the blanket, I was content to lick her dew from my lips and hold her close.
“Ye please me, Lillian.” I rubbed my palm up and down her back. “Malla the Beginner chose well when she paired my soul with yers.”
Slowly, my love lifted her head to peer at me.
“Did she?” Lillian whispered. “I am no leader, Kragorn. The thought of a chief picking me…”
“A male picked ye, Lillian. Did I no’ tell ye, in yer father’s dungeon, that ye were the most desirable female I’ve ever seen?”
She scoffed slightly and rolled her eyes. “Aye, but you had been stuck in darkness for months. You were delirious.”
“I was brilliant, is what I was.” Grinning, I tipped my head to the side to kiss her forehead. “Ye are mine, dkaar, as I’ve been saying.”
“And…” She took a deep breath. “You are mine.”
My smile grew as my hold on her tightened. “Aye. Once we are joined—” I stopped, a sudden thought knotting my stomach. “Ye understand what I mean?”
“About the sex?” Her tone was dry. “I have extrapolated from the previous few days, Kragorn.”
I had to chuckle. “I meant about the public joining. I explained well enough for ye?”