by Donna Grant
“Good morn,” he called to the elder man, putting a smile on his face though he felt like anything but smiling.
The man nodded in return. “Good morn.”
“There’ve been rumors around that someone from the MacKay clan has come to the castle. Is it true?”
The old man looked back at the castle for a moment. “Aye. It’s a woman who came. It must be bad at the MacKay clan for their people to begin coming to Ravensclyde.”
Stefan patted the horse pulling the cart. “What does the laird say?”
“The laird isna here yet, lad. He and his men will be here soon enough, I wager. If clan MacKay wants a war, they’re going to get one.”
Stefan had seen enough of death. He wanted to be as far from the battle as he could. Now he wondered if it had been a good idea to leave Morvan at Ravensclyde. “What have they done with the woman?”
“She’s in the castle,” the old man said and snapped the reins.
Stefan let him drive off. He walked back to the forest and circled the castle, his gaze on the battlements. The longer he went without seeing Morvan, the more worried he became.
Were they keeping her prisoner? Were they hurting her?
It was time he found out.
~ ~ ~
“She’s not waking,” Meg said as she wiped a wet cloth across Morvan’s forehead.
Leana stood beside the bed, her face pinched with frustration. “I’ve tried all the herbs I know. Nothing is working.”
“We have to do something. If we don’t, Morvan is going to die.”
Leana looked at all of the herbs sitting around the chamber. “I don’t know what else to do, Meg. She’s pale as death already. And I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”
“We’ve gotten some water down her. That’s something at least, right?”
Leana licked her lips. “It’s not going to be enough.”
~ ~ ~
Stefan was on his second round of the castle when he realized whoever had been following him had found him once more. If he took the time to confront them, it would be longer before he could get to Morvan.
He didn’t understand the sudden urgency he had to reach her, but he wasn’t going to waste another moment. It was essential that he get to Morvan immediately.
With his mind so focused on Morvan, he didn’t realize how close his pursuer had gotten until the point of a sword pressed into the back of his neck.
“Slowly turn around.”
Fury ripped through him. Who was this bastard that was going to keep him from Morvan. For five days, there hadn’t been a seed of anger in him.
Until now.
Stefan spun around, ducking as he did. He came up and slammed his fist into the chest of his attacker, sending him flying backwards.
A second man stepped forward. Stefan threw his elbow back into the second assailant’s throat. Then he fully faced his opponent and reared back his hand to punch him when the first man jumped on Stefan’s back and held his arms so Stefan couldn’t punch.
“Easy!” the man shouted.
Stefan, however, was long past the point of controlling his anger. The monster was back. He bared his teeth and lunged for the second man who was coughing. Then he thought of Morvan. He didn’t want to be a monster anymore. He wanted to be a man worthy of her, one who could control all his emotions – especially his anger.
And just like that, his anger diminished.
Not that he was going to let the two men attacking him win. Stefan got an arm loose and elbowed the man on his back.
“Stefan, please!”
It wasn’t his name that got his attention, but the voice. There was something recognizable about it.
“Look at Ronan,” the man said. “He willna be able to talk for a few days after that hit you landed in his throat.”
Stefan shook his head. Ronan? He blinked several times.
“That’s it, brother. Look at Ronan. Hear my voice. We didna let you succumb to your monster before. We willna let you now either.”
“I’m in control,” Stefan said calmly as he looked into the pale green eyes of Ronan. Despite his coughing, Ronan smiled. It was Ronan. It wasn’t a dream, but the man himself. And the man on Stefan’s back was none other than Morcant.
“Control, aye?” Morcant asked as he slid off Stefan’s back. He came around to stand in front of Stefan, a bright smile on his face. “You are in control. We didna think we’d ever catch up with you. By the saints, it’s good to see you again.”
He allowed himself a few seconds as Morcant embraced him, pounding him on the back. Stefan then faced Ronan, helped him stand and motioned to his throat. “I’m sorry.”
Ronan waved away his words and roughly pulled Stefan close so he could embrace him.
Steven couldn’t believe he had his friends, his brothers back. He looked around, waiting for Daman.
“He’s no’ here,” Morcant said. “Ronan was first, and I came a few months ago. Now it’s you. All of us were drawn to Ravensclyde, so we’re hoping Daman will be, as well.”
Stefan faced the castle. “Morvan. I need to get to her.”
Ronan slapped him on the arm and walked around him as he said in a hoarse voice, “Come.”
“Nay. I need to be there now. Something is wrong,” Stefan said glancing at the castle again.
Neither man questioned him. They raced to the castle. As soon as the guards saw Ronan and Morcant, they opened the gates to let them through.
Stefan followed his friends into the castle and up the stairs to a chamber. He threw open the door and felt as if someone had kicked him in the stomach when he saw Morvan lying so still upon the bed.
There were two women with her, but Stefan paid them no heed. He walked to the bed and tenderly lifted Morvan in his arms. “I shouldna have left you,” he whispered.
“We’re glad you’re here,” she said the brunette. “I’m Leana, and the one with Ronan is Meg.”
“Thank you for looking after Morvan.” Stefan turned to his friends. “She’s a child of the forest. I need to get her there quickly.”
“The forest is near,” Meg said while standing next to Ronan.
Stefan noticed Leana stood with Morcant. Two of his friends had found women. He glanced down at Morvan. Somehow, he wasn’t surprised. He had found much more than a beautiful woman. He’d found peace, and…love.
“I need to take her to the cliffs. The last time we were there, both of our injuries were healed. It’s also the place where she pulled me from the darkness.”
Morcant took his woman’s hand and nodded to Stefan. “Lead the way. We’ll do whatever you need.”
Stefan walked out the castle doors and down the steps. There was a commotion near the gatehouse, and a horse came running out of the stables.
“No’ again,” Morcant said.
But Stefan wasn’t concerned. “Morvan helped him.”
“How did you know?” Leana asked.
Stefan waited for the horse to reach them. “Because the animals she helps never forget her.”
He walked to the horse and smiled when the steed lowered himself into a bow so Stefan could climb upon his back with Morvan still in his arms.
Stefan grabbed the horse’s mane in one hand. “We’ll go to the cliffs.”
He raced beneath the gatehouse and heard the sound of horses behind him. Stefan didn’t need to look back to know it was Ronan and Morcant. Although he didn’t realize until the horses drew even with him that Meg and Leana were on their own mounts.
The six of them entered the forest. Stefan saw the color begin to come back into Morvan’s face, but it wasn’t enough. She needed whatever magic was at the cliffs. For whatever reason, the cliffs were magical. They hadn’t just compelled Morvan there, they had gotten her to release him from the darkness.
It felt as if an eternity had passed before he saw the cliffs. As soon as they reached them, he swung a leg over the horse’s neck and slid to the ground. Stefan walked to where he and Morvan ha
d made love, but nothing happened. He looked up at the cliffs.
“You’ll never make it up there holding her,” Ronan said.
Stefan looked at his friends. “I have to try.”
“Then we’ll help,” Morcant replied.
Stefan was about to tell them he would do it himself, but then he remembered why he considered them his family. “All right.”
Ronan and Morcant didn’t even try to dissuade their women from accompanying them. Together, all four of them helped him get Morvan to the top.
He was sweating, his muscles fatigued by the time they reached the crest. Despite the fact he hadn’t remained at the top long the first time, he recalled the tall boulders and the narrow passages.
Stefan led the way until he eventually found the wall Morvan had spoken of. He stood looking at all the carvings in the rock as the others fanned out around him.
“I doona know what this place is, but it led Morvan to me, and it has led me back to her.” Stefan kissed her forehead and turned to lean against the wall.
Then he slowly lowered himself until he was sitting with Morvan in his arms. “With one touch she calmed the monster within me. I was in a fit of bloodlust and was after her. I was going to kill her because I couldn’t control my anger. I grabbed her, and that’s when the haze of fury cleared. I can’t lose her.”
Morcant squatted beside Stefan. “You said she’s a child of the forest. You’ve brought her back. She’ll be all right.”
Stefan looked into Morcant’s eyes before he turned to Ronan. “If she doesna live, you’ll have to kill me. You both need to understand that. The grief mixed with my anger will be too much. I willna be able to be stopped.”
Ronan put his hand on Stefan’s shoulder. “We’ve no’ let you down before. We willna this time either.”
Stefan pulled Morvan closer. “You didna just give me peace, Morvan. You showed me gentleness and kindness. But your greatest gift was your love. Come back to me. I willna ever leave you again.”
Hours faded with the daylight. With each passing hour where Morvan didn’t wake, Stefan felt his anger try to stir. He refused to give in to it. He no longer cared about Ilinca and getting his revenge. All that mattered was Morvan and the new life he wanted with her.
Ronan and Morcant had found him, but more importantly, Stefan had found Morvan. For the first time in his life, he prayed. Long and hard.
The stars were bright overhead when Morvan finally shifted her head. Stefan’s eyes snapped open. He held his breath, ignoring the four others sitting around the fire.
“Morvan,” he whispered.
Her eyes slowly opened to meet his. “Stefan.”
He couldn’t contain his joy as he ran a hand down her face. “How do you feel?”
“Better. You came back?”
“Aye.”
She nodded. “You figured out that Ronan and Morcant were here.”
“I came back for you. I tried repeatedly to leave, but I could never get verra far. My mind was filled with you. It took me long enough, but I realized that I couldna leave you. You touched my soul, Morvan. You gave me a gift I thought I’d never have.”
She was very still as she whispered, “What?”
“Love. I love you more than life itself. I know I’ll have to earn your love, but I’m prepared to do whatever it takes.”
She put her finger over his lips to stop him from talking. “You’ve already done all that you could. I saw you,” she said, placing her hand over his heart. “I felt you. There is nothing else for you to do, Stefan Kennedy, because I already love you.”
He couldn’t believe fate had finally smiled upon him, but he wasn’t going to question it. Stefan brought his head down to her lips and kissed her.
Morvan’s arms wrapped around his neck and he deepened the kiss. Dimly, he heard the sound of four sets of footsteps leaving. Then he didn’t care as the desire took them.
EPILOGUE
Morvan climbed down the cliffs with Stefan. They had passed the hours of the night with lovemaking, talking, and more lovemaking. She was pleasantly sore, and the look in Stefan’s hazel eyes whenever his gaze met hers made her stomach flutter.
He had said she saved him, but in truth, she thought it was the other way around. She inwardly chuckled as she recalled him telling her that they had the rest of their lives to debate it.
As Stefan lifted her off the last boulder to the ground, Morvan faced Ronan and Meg and Morcant and Leana who had remained at the base of the cliff. They were all smiling.
Ronan cleared his throat. “At this point with Morcant, I asked him and Leana to come to the castle to help me fight the MacKays. I doona think that offer will be accepted by you.”
“Nay,” Stefan said and looked at Morvan as he tightened his grip on her hand. “Our place is in the forest.”
“We’ll help in the coming battle,” Morvan said.
Stefan raised a brow. “You want me to fight?”
“They need you.”
Morcant rocked back on his heels. “Are you no’ afraid of his monster returning?”
Morvan cupped his face. “That’s what I’m for.”
“Then I guess we’d better get busy building you and Stefan a cottage,” Meg said.
Ronan glanced up at the cliff. “As close to the castle as we can, right?”
They all laughed at the comment. Morvan looked up at Stefan as he pulled her against him. Fate had been leading her toward Stefan. For all those years she’d thought she would spend her life alone, it was all worth it to finally have the love of a man like Stefan.
“What of Ilinca?” she whispered.
Stefan shrugged. “I’d rather focus on you, and them,” he said with a jerk of his chin to Morcant, Leana, Meg, and Ronan.
“And Daman.”
Stefan nodded slowly. “And Daman. I’ll find him.”
Morvan didn’t have any doubts. If all three of them had found their way to Ravensclyde, the odds were good that Daman would, as well. She couldn’t wait until all four of them were back together again. Stefan was happy, but he wouldn’t be complete until Daman was found.
The air stirred around her, and Morvan knew that the old gypsy wasn’t finished with the four men yet.
Look for the next Rogues of Scotland story – THE SEDUCED – Coming February 9, 2015!
Daman scratched his jaw and ignored the thunder and lightning that had been on display over the next mountain for the past half hour. The knot in his gut about the gypsy camp only intensified the longer he was there.
Something bad was going to happen. He knew it just as sure as he knew the storm coming in would last for an entire day. The sooner Ronan, Stefan, and Morcant were finished with the women the better.
Daman wouldn’t make the mistake of returning with his friends again. And he would do his best to prevent them from coming back as well. Perhaps a talk with the gypsies was in order. They were on his clan’s land.
Three hours had already passed already. It was time for he and his friends to leave. Daman rose and walked between the wagons to get their attention. Then he paused.
In the middle of the camp was a large fire and many of the gypsies sitting around it. Two were playing the violin in a hauntingly eerie song that somehow kept in time with the thunder. Among the gypsies was Stefan who stared into the fire as if searching for something. An old woman sat off by herself, her gaze on the wagon Ronan had entered hours ago.
Unease prickled Daman’s skin.
He wanted to leave, but he wasn’t going to go without his friends. Some unknown, unnamable emotion was coursing through him. Every instinct told him they needed to leave. Immediately.
Daman rose and walked to the edge of the camp. He looked at the ground, then up at the wagon where Ronan and Ana were. He could shout out Ronan’s name, but his friend wouldn’t answer even if he heard him.
Daman’s gaze slid to Stefan. With Morcant busy, he could get Stefan’s attention, but Stefan was talking to three male gypsies. B
esides, Daman didn’t need help. All he had to do was cross the boundary and get his friends.
He looked up at the sky and stared at the thousands of stars. The moon was only a sliver in the night, leaving the land cloaked in darkness. Daman ran a hand through his hair and returned to the tree. As long as it took, he’d wait for his friends. Then he’d get them away.
No sooner had that thought crossed his mind than the night was shattered an anguished scream. It was filled with despair and fury dragged from the depths of Hell itself.
Daman’s blood ran cold, because he knew his apprehension was becoming fact. He looked from Stefan to Ronan, who was exiting the wagon. Ronan was shirtless and standing outside Ana’s wagon with a hand on the hilt of his sword. Ronan looked at an old woman who stared at something in the grass.
Daman reached the edge of the camp when Morcant exited a wagon still fastening his kilt. Something bad was coming for them.
Daman searched the ground for where Ronan and the old woman were looking. The bright pink and blue skirts of Ana, Ronan’s lover was visible from the dim light of the fire. As was the dagger sticking out of Ana’s stomach.
The odds of any of them getting out of the gypsy camp without a fight wasn’t in their favor. By the looks exchanged between the gypsies, they were prepared to die to avenge Ana – regardless that Ronan didn’t kill her.
Daman looked to Morcant and Stefan and saw the slight nod of Stefan’s head. Morcant slowly began to pull his sword from his scabbard as Ronan shook his head in denial.
“Ronan,” Stefan said urgently, palming the hilt of his sword, and waited.
There was a moment of silence, as if the world held its breath.
Then the old woman let loose a shriek and pointed her gnarled finger at Ronan. Ronan’s eyes widened in confusion and anger.
Daman heard a gypsy near him whisper a name – Ilinca – as he stared at the old woman. Ilinca’s face was contorted with grief and rage.