by Claudy Conn
We were fast on our feet and precise, oh so precise with our swords. One ugly Unseelie after the other was sliced, diced, and had its head neatly severed.
When it was over, only two Unseelie remained standing. They looked at us and started slithering off as fast as they could go. I wanted to give chase, but the two big guys stopped me, one of them physically (the one who had arrived on the scene first). When he spoke, his masculine, low-throttled voice was soft and low. “Nay, lass … doona go after those two.” He grinned wickedly and added, “They are headed right into more trouble.”
I considered him and wondered if that meant there were more where he came from. I turned to the mess at my back and sighed. I thought I had better ‘blink’ what was left of the Unseelie and their innards into another dimension when all at once the bodies, the goo, the gore, all of it … gone. Okay, I had to ask, Who are these guys?
Asking myself this question didn’t supply the answer, so I asked them, “Who are you … no, better yet, what are you?”
The hunk that had arrived later than the first and looked (to my observation) to be slightly older spoke but not to me. “Chancemont, not now. We must go.”
Hmmm. Chancemont’s name sounded like he appeared—from another century. I reached out and touched his arm because for a moment I thought he was going to leave as quickly as he had arrived, and I needed to know more.
He smiled and took my hand to his lips. “You fight like a warrior born and bred, lass.” His tone was soft. “And I’m thinking you doona need to concern yerself now—go home, and, mark me, I’ll be finding ye, I will …”
“Yes, but—at least tell me, for I know you are not Fae … what are you?”
His arm slipped behind me, and his hand pulled me close. “And I know that you are Fae, a princess no less. I have had many women, but never a Fae. You and I … are not meant to be friends, in spite of the Treaty … yet, I would friend thee, lass.”
This sounded like he wanted to do a whole lot more than just ‘friend’ me. But what was he saying? Was he saying he was human? “You are not human,” I accused.
He laughed. “Oh but I am … of a sort.”
As he pulled me in closer I could see this was a heartbreaker—hot damn hunk of male. At that same moment, he took a good whiff of me as he whispered in my ear, “Och, lass, ye know that we’ll be doing more than fighting the Dark ones together, soon …”
I took a good whiff of him in return. He smelled of heather and spice. I liked it. He did not smell like a Seelie Fae, and yet, there was something similar about his scent. He was very sure of himself.
Me, I was just having a good ol’ time. “More than fighting, Chancemont? What more is there?” I flirted with my eyes, for I knew full well what he had meant.
He bent and kissed my lips, lightly and sweetly, and I let him, savoring the soft touch of his sensuous mouth. At his back I heard an irritated moan. “Chancemont, by all that is holy I do not blame thee, but ’tis not the time …”
“In a moment, Da …”
Da? Did he call the other one Da? He called the other hotty Da! I had thought they were brothers. Now it turned out the other one was his father. Ageless—what then? Were they immortals? I had never met a non-Fae immortal. I had learned about them and was told they were a rare breed.
Chancemont grinned at me and said, “I see that busy brain working. Next time, if you are very good, I might tell you exactly who we are. For now, all ye have to know is that, like ye, we are committed to destroying any Unseelie Fae that walk this earth …”
In another fluid movement he bent once more, and when his mouth met mine this time it was to part my lips and introduce his velvet tongue to mine. When he was done, he nibbled at my neck and whispered, “Ah, lass, ’tis hard pressed I am to leave ye … but, I must. What may I call ye then?”
“Radzia—Z, if you like,” choked out of my mouth. His eyes were so deep blue, like the color of bluebells, and for a moment, I was just a girl, being romanced by just a hot guy. Down deep I knew I didn’t have time for this, but he wasn’t in earnest, and I knew neither was I.
“Z … I like that. I will see you again, Z—very soon.” He turned and stared at his father. “She should come with us.”
“Chancemont—that is enough.”
“Da, she is worthy.”
“And still, that is enough,” Da said in a clipped, harsh tone.
My mouth had dropped open. What did he mean I should come with them? Where were they going exactly? What did he mean I was worthy?
He laughed and closed my mouth with his finger. “Ye’ll catch flies like that, lass. I bid thee good day. Right then, Da … I’m ready.”
“Wait—just tell me—how did you happen to be here?”
Chance put a finger to my lips, and his voice was full-throttle sexy. “I saw ye take a stand against the Unseelie. We made quick work of the ones we were fighting and came to aid ye.”
“You saw me? You weren’t here … you … they … how did you …?”
But all I heard was his laughter as his father touched his shoulder and they shifted—sort of—and were gone. Something was different about the manner in which they shifted. I puzzled over it, but not for long, because I didn’t get the chance.
Without warning Danté, who had taught me not to shift like a savage, did. He came roaring into the atmosphere and stood like an outraged primal beast as he glared down at me way too close and way too personal.
He took my arm in his firm grip and shifted us back to MacDaun, into the training room, where he stepped away from me and then rounded on me to blast, “What the hell were you doing with them?”
“My Jeep is still in Inverness,” I objected, and then his question came through the thoughts bumping out of my mind. Them—what did he mean them?
“I will fetch it later. Now speak, you—what were you doing cavorting with them?”
He said it again, so it wasn’t an error of the moment. My eyes narrowed as I asked, “Them? By them, do you mean those guys I was just with, and does that mean you actually know who they are?”
“I know they aren’t the sort you should mingle with—let alone allow to touch and kiss you!” His eyes narrowed. “And do you always allow strangers—for I am assuming you don’t know who they are, hence, strangers—to touch and kiss you?”
I felt the heat in my cheeks. “You have that all wrong. We actually fought a pack of skeleton yuck things, and we fought them side by side, and those two were fighting Unseelies in the city when they somehow knew I was surrounded and came to my aid.” I shrugged. “It seemed only right to thank Chancemont with a kiss …”
Why had I just said that? What was wrong with me? Now I was going to hear it forever, but as I looked at the fury written all over his handsome face and saw his gold-dust eyes light up with anger, I felt a moment’s thrill.
“And he actually allowed you his name … he told you that he was Chancemont, did he?” Danté said the leather guy’s name thoughtfully, and most of his anger seemed to dissipate as he was sidestepped off his purpose. He regained his step though a moment later, and before I could think of a good reply, he barked. “Stay away from them.”
“Who are they? Are they immortals? I didn’t go looking for them—I told you, they kinda rescued me, not that I couldn’t have taken on all those uglies on my own, but the help was good.”
“Incorrigible little fool. What were you doing engaging so many of one caste?”
“They were headed for the children … in the school playground.”
Danté’s dark eyebrow arched, and he pulled at that sensuous bottom lip. I couldn’t look away for a moment. So much about him was beyond decent and good, and yet he annoyed the hell out of me. He said quietly, “I see.”
I smiled at him, and I don’t know what got into me as I stepped forward and touched his broad chest and felt the hardness there under his heavy sweater. I used to be a touchy-feely sort, but I had put all those needs aside—I had to if I was going to
be a ruthless killer and bring down Gaiscioch. However, in that moment of shared understanding, some of the ‘old me’ pushed aside the new me. “You see it now, don’t you Danté, Prince of Lugh?”
“Enfant, it is damnable, for I do see it, and it is at odds with my mission. I must keep you safe, and how am I to do that if you go about the city playing at Wonder Woman?”
Well, that blew away our moment. I was his mission, nothing more, and he was once again sneering at me. I turned away and headed out of the training room. I wanted a shower—hot and full with pressure! My irritating prince called after me, “Now I’ve got to go and ward the grounds again … and when you aren’t on MacDaun, stay away from those two!”
I looked at him over my shoulder. “Don’t ward my grounds against them. I may want to see Chancemont.”
“Not happening,” my prince growled.
“Why—who are they?” I paused and waited for his answer.
“No one you need to mingle with … or thank by kissing,” he snapped.
I cursed under my breath and stomped out of the room. I was going to stay in a hot shower and, for the time it took to soothe my body with the hot spray, just try and be an ordinary girl.
* * *
When I’d changed into a black sweater and jeans and made my way back downstairs, everyone was gone for the day, including Danté, who was nowhere to be seen. I sighed and went to the kitchen. It was getting late, and I was starving.
I found the tray of food Sally had left us. I took a sizeable portion and put it in the microwave to heat. That done, I took up a very excellent bottle of red wine, uncorked it, poured, and sipped before I moved to the corner fire all cozy warm in the big pot-belly stove. There I stretched out on a chair, sipped, and contemplated the descending darkness through the panoramic window overlooking the back gardens.
I didn’t hear him come in. I should have as I have Fae hearing, but I guess I was in another world, dreaming about … other things.
“Aye, finally … you look settled,” Danté said as he poured himself a glass of wine and pulled up a chair to sit beside me.
“Hmmm, it is such a lovely evening. The sun setting there with the mountains all dark and towering just was too pretty a scene to pass up.” I turned to eye him. “Are you hungry? Shall I pop in a plate of food for you as well?”
“What is it?”
“Sally’s wonderful shepherd’s pie… sooo good.”
“Aye, then—I would like that,” he said softly and sipped more wine.
I got up, made him a plate, and took mine out to rest while his heated up. A few moments later we sat again with the plates in our laps watching the close of the day over the mountains and then the valley.
“I love Scotland,” the prince said softly. “It is wild and cold and teaming with history. Breslyn and I fought with the Bruce centuries ago …”
“Breslyn?” I asked, curious because of the tone he had unconsciously used when saying the name.
“He is the Prince of Dagda … my very good and trusted friend. He also is on a mission with young Ete, for our queen.”
“Seems to me that you are over-qualified for the job of baby-sitting me,” I told him. I felt the frown on my face and immediately tried to shake it off.
“Precisely what I informed Queen Aaibhe, but would she listen? No. She says you are an important part of the prophecy and must be protected so that you can fulfill your destiny. She is a big one on destiny.” The prince sighed and gave me a considering glance before telling me, “I have warded MacDaun … again, but you will still have to be careful if you leave the property.”
“Warded it against Chancemont and his father, you mean?”
“So you know that as well?”
“I do, so now why don’t you tell me the rest? Just what are they, and why do they not like the Fae?”
“Just how long were you with them?”
I laughed, because he looked so comical all bent out of shape and gruff. He surprised me then by taking up my hand for attention. “Do not laugh, enfant. They are a dangerous crew, and you are right—they despise the Fae … In spite of the centuries, in spite of the Treaty … and Chancemont will play you as he does all women and then never look back.”
“Ha,” I scoffed. “Play me? No one plays me. You may be Danté, Prince of Lugh, but I am Radzia, Druid Priestess and Princess of Nemid.”
Danté put back his head and roared. I did see the humor in this and giggled with him; when we were done we finished our glasses of wine and our dinner and set aside our plates. Our legs were stretched out in front of us—his so much longer and muscular, and I looked there a tad too long I know. I decided I shouldn’t look at him when he wasn’t speaking—I got all sorts of thoughts … hormone-related, you see.
I glanced from his legs to mine (don’t know why—I just did), and thought, Not bad. Not as long as a model’s but long enough, and nicely shaped. I looked at him, and he was staring at me intently. His voice when he spoke was husky and low, and I don’t know what I expected but I know I did not expect him to say, “Enfant … shall we watch some TV?”
I burst out laughing again.
“What?” He grinned. “What is so funny?”
“Come on,” I offered, getting up and taking his hand to pull him upright. “TV it is.”
~ Ten ~
I WOKE UP IN the middle of the night and had the oddest feeling of warm contentment. I wasn’t though—content—not at all. Maybe warm—too warm. I realized I had all my clothes on.
Nowhere near being content—Gaiscioch was still alive. No contentment until he was dead, by my hand—no others.
I stripped down until I was naked and dove under the covers once again, and there it was, that ‘feeling’ of quietude. Why? I should still be the raging Daoine princess out for justice and nothing else.
Yet, I was evolving. I felt more powerful, but something Danté had taught me had clicked in my brain. If I were going to kill Gais myself, I needed more cunning than I had been exercising up until that point.
My dad deserved that I be at my best when I faced the beast that killed him. Perhaps that slice of justice would wake my mother from her illusion and give her back to me?
No—no contentment here … if you discounted the fact that I had (with serious help), kicked some ugly ass earlier that day. And still, I felt it—a measure of serenity that I hadn’t felt in months.
For some reason, that realization brought Danté to mind. He was tirelessly demanding. He expected me to learn everything at once. He expected me to see behind my back … he … he expected and expected, and I wasn’t sure I could deliver.
Although I had done a really furious job on the Unseelies I had encountered at the schoolyard in Inverness the previous day with the father and son team (who knows what they were) at my side, they were simple beasts. Gaiscioch was a Seelie Fae, and I needed everything Danté had to offer …
The previous night had been comical. Danté, who I thought of as ‘my keeper’, had been more playful (for him) than anything else. He wasn’t interested in training me that night. He’d said I needed time off from that.
I had fallen asleep watching TV with him.
All at once I felt him put me into my bed (fully clothed). I felt his hand stroke my head and pull at one of my locks, and then I heard him say softly, “Midnight, beauty …”
I knew I’d woken up to those words; I had a vivid memory of it. His touch, his soft voice had … there was no getting away from it, aroused me. Yup—aroused all right. I immediately hushed my body and my brain.
Danté and me—absurd. For one thing, he didn’t even seem to like me. He just barely tolerated me for the job. Besides—we had nothing in common.
And thirdly, I was not interested in him or anyone else. So, when I heard him leave the room and whisper soft and low, “Sleep, enfant …” that was what I pretended to do.
Didn’t work. Tossed, turned, and tossed some more. Threw my pillow to the other end of the bed and twenty
minutes later retrieved it. Don’t know when I finally fell asleep, but it was in the early hours …
I should have been tired, but I was not. I felt wide awake, chirpier, and, for some reason, ‘secure’ for the first time in a long time. Danté had my back, and I took a certain measure of comfort in that. It was only a ‘mission’ to him, but nevertheless, I knew he was there … somewhere.
I had been on my own the last few months, and that had been fine because I hadn’t been fit company for anyone. I got up from the bed and stretched as I got ready to shower and get dressed. He was a big, arrogant, bossy, controlling rule-maker of a watchdog, but it was good to know he was close by.
* * *
The door chimes sounded and then the doorknocker. I was on my way out of the kitchen, where I had been chatting with Sally and eating everything in sight. I laughed and told her, “Wow—someone wants in …”
“Maybe ye should leave it for Danté to get,” she called after me.
I turned and saw the look of concern on her face and teased, “Don’t be silly … who do you think it is, the boogeyman?” I was in fact a little taken aback that she should be so worried, and that she had come to rely so completely on Danté.
There was, however, no sign of Danté, and I wondered for the hundredth time that morning where he could be.
I pulled the door open wide, and displeasure shot through me. I wasn’t sure how far I wanted to take a ‘friendship’ with Aaron Dunbar. Didn’t have time for romance, and it was obvious to me that he wanted some.
However, he was good-looking, so I smiled at him and shook my head. “Doing double duty there aren’t you, fella—doorbell and knocker, eh?”
He beamed, and I couldn’t help but notice that his smile lit up his face. He said ruefully, “I wasn’t taking any chances—you could have been anywhere in this”—he motioned widely with his arms—“castle.”
I laughed and inclined my head. “Enter … if you dare.”
“Now that sounds ominous,” he said lightly and chuckled as he stepped into the hall and stood over me.