Embrace the Highland Warrior

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Embrace the Highland Warrior Page 7

by Anita Clenney


  Her eyes still flashed fire, but her breath was steadier, and she kept glancing at his mouth. He thought that was a good thing. He wondered if she’d calmed enough not to hit him, because he should move. She had to notice the effect all the wiggling around was having on him. He felt her hips push against his, and he groaned. He relaxed his grip and lowered his head, letting his lips touch her chin. He kissed his way to her mouth, and she head-butted him in the nose.

  While the stars exploded in his head, she shoved him aside and bolted out the door. He jumped up and went after her as she pounded down the stairs. He caught up with her outside. She was swinging her purse like a whip, headed for the car.

  “Where are you going?” he demanded.

  “Get away from me.”

  “You can’t leave.”

  “Watch me.” She opened the door. “I’m tired of people hiding things from me. I thought you were going to stop. Now you’re handcuffing me to the bed.”

  “I explained it to you.”

  “Don’t touch me,” she said, jerking away when he grabbed her arm.

  “You’re not leaving.”

  Shay straightened her shoulders. “You can’t stop me.”

  He grabbed her, tossed her over his shoulder, kicked the car door shut, and stomped up the steps.

  “Put me down!” Shay kicked and twisted, cursing at him. He dumped her on her feet inside the door.

  She blew her hair out of her face, and as soon as she could see, she threw a punch at his chin. He deflected it and grabbed her arm. “Stop hitting me.”

  “How dare you throw me over your shoulder like some kind of caveman,” she spat, trying to wrench her arm free. It didn’t work, so she used her knee.

  “Ah, not there.” Cody trapped her knee. “I made the mistake of letting you leave here nine years ago without listening to me. By God, I won’t do it again. You’ll listen if I have to sit on you,” he growled.

  She drew back her other arm, and before she could throw the punch, he had her on the floor and was sitting astride her, pinning her wrists to the floor. She bucked and twisted, but he held her down. “We can do this all night if you want, but you’re going to listen to me this time.”

  “Listen to more lies? You’re still hiding things from me. Like the fact that you have Nina’s entire house under surveillance. Like the fact that you’ve got a Bat Cave in your basement. Like the fact that you were in Scotland when the stalking started.”

  “You think I’m your stalker?” he yelled. “Me! I’m trying to keep you alive. We’re all trying to keep you alive. That’s what the clan’s been doing your whole damned life, trying to keep you alive! And just like always, you’re making it hard as hell. Your father wasn’t a bloody spy, and that thing in your living room wasn’t a man. Damn!”

  Chapter 4

  Shay sagged against the floor. “What do you mean, my father wasn’t a spy? And that man… if he wasn’t a man, what was he?”

  Cody cursed. He sat up, letting go of her wrists, still astride her. “He was a demon.”

  “A demon?” A cackle escaped her lips. “Is this a joke? Another lie?”

  “Do I look like I’m joking?”

  He looked angry. “Like a hell-and-brimstone demon?”

  “Aye, but they spend a lot of time here.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Why do you think we had to keep your identity hidden?”

  “Because my father was with the CIA or some top-secret organization, and I was in danger. That’s what you said.”

  “No. That’s what you thought I said. I just didn’t tell you any different, but you got the top-secret organization part right. Your father was a warrior.”

  “What kind of warrior?”

  “The kind that fights demons. The kind of warrior who keeps humans alive.” Cody blew out a breath and stood. He ran his hands through his hair. “Why do I let you do this to me? This is going to blow up in my face, just like last time.”

  Shay stood and faced him. “This is insane. You’ve already lied to me once. How do I know—”

  “I didn’t lie. I just withheld information that wasn’t my place to give. After you walked away, I couldn’t tell you the whole story. The clan wouldn’t allow it.”

  “Who is this… clan that’s making decisions for me?”

  “Your mother and father’s clan. Your clan. When you were a baby, someone killed your mother and left you for dead. That’s how you got the scar on your shoulder.”

  “Nina said the scar was from a bicycle wreck.”

  “She had to tell you something. It was a car wreck, but it wasn’t an accident. You were meant to die, but an old man pulled you from the burning vehicle.”

  Speechless, Shay shook her head. “They didn’t catch the killer?”

  “No. He was probably a demon.”

  “I’m sorry… this is just insane. Assuming you’re correct—”

  “I am.”

  “Assuming you are, then why did this demon want me dead?”

  “The clan didn’t know if you were the target or if it was revenge, but you were marked, so they had to hide you. That’s why the house is monitored. That’s why we’re here. To keep you safe.”

  “I’m marked?”

  “Your scar is probably a demon’s mark.”

  Shay touched the pale, jagged line beside her collarbone. “Does Nina know about this?”

  “She does. Matilda doesn’t.”

  “Why would a demon target a baby?”

  She’d known Cody long enough to recognize the fear that slipped past his eyes before he put on his blank face. “Probably revenge.”

  “My mother died?”

  “Aye, and your father died not long after. The clan hid you, buried the empty casket, and gave you a new name, a new family. They had to make it look like you’d really died.”

  The empty grave had been to hide her from a demon, not a mobster or a terrorist?

  “Is Nina really my aunt?”

  Cody lowered his gaze. “No. She’s mine. My mother’s half sister. My father was friends with Nina’s husband, who died just before my father was sent from Scotland to watch over you. Nina was grieving. She needed someone. You needed someone. So they gave her you.”

  “Ewan was a warrior?”

  Cody nodded. “The whole family came here, with the understanding that when my brothers and I grew up, it would be our mission too.”

  She’d known Ewan was involved, which was part of the reason she left. She didn’t want to be anyone’s job. She hadn’t known Cody, her best friend, the boy she’d trusted with her heart and soul, had protected her because it was his job?

  “The clan planned to tell you the truth after you graduated from high school, but you left before they met to see who would break the news. It probably would’ve been my father.”

  “And they let me walk away, with a demon after me?”

  “The demon your father had been hunting when all this happened had disappeared. Just before you left, the Watchers found out he was dead, so they thought you were safe.”

  “Watchers? Demons? This sounds like something out of a movie,” Shay said, rubbing her throbbing temples. “They should have told me.”

  “They couldn’t. You wanted nothing to do with us, and there was too much at stake. Outsiders can’t know about the clan. They had no choice but to let you go. Besides, you’d just turned eighteen. Nina couldn’t force you to come back here.”

  “Did the clan know why I left?” she asked, braving a quick look at his face.

  He rubbed the tattoo on his neck. “Not all of it.”

  “You and your brothers are warriors too?”

  “I’m retired. We’re active from age eighteen to twenty-eight. Marcas chose to stay active. Lachlan has another year and a half.”

  What about the hayloft? Where did that fit into his mission? “You were never in Special Forces?”

  “No.”

  “And Marcas and Lachlan’s expedit
ions are a cover?”

  He nodded.

  “How long have you known about… me?”

  His mouth twitched with indecision. “Since I was seventeen.”

  Two years before it happened. “And you didn’t tell me? We never kept secrets from each other.”

  Cody looked away, and when his eyes met hers again, they were sad. “I was afraid if I told you, you’d start looking into your past and on the off chance that this demon wasn’t dead, he would find you. I didn’t want you hurt. I wish I’d done a better job explaining it then; maybe things would have turned out different.” He hesitantly reached for her arm. “I don’t want to fight, Shay. Come on. I’ll help you clean up the mess.”

  So much for leaving Virginia.

  He followed her into the sitting room. She was still furious that he handcuffed her to the bed, but her anger was overshadowed by shock. Nothing about her world was what she thought. Her stalker had followed her here. Someone had broken into Nina’s house. Cody had a girlfriend. She didn’t have the surplus of emotion to ask him about her.

  “So these demons, what do they want?”

  Cody righted the bookshelf “They want to get rid of humans. They want the earth for themselves.”

  “My God. I’m living in Lord of the Rings.” People usually told lies to make something seem believable. This was too bizarre to be a lie.

  “This makes Lord of the Rings look like a lullaby.”

  She picked up a photo album and put it on the bookshelf. “You’d think even a demon would have the decency to leave a person’s family photos alone.”

  “Demons don’t care about anything but evil.”

  She picked up a book and saw something white lying beside it.

  “What’s that?” Cody asked.

  “Looks like a piece of ivory,” she said, laying it on the shelf.

  The cat appeared in the doorway, still as a statue, other than its swishing tail.

  Cody frowned. “You brought a cat?”

  “It’s not mine. It showed up this morning. I thought it might have been yours.”

  “No. Maybe the Peterson’s.”

  Shay gave a sarcastic laugh. “Maybe it belongs to the demon. It came inside the house and ran toward him. I tripped over it.”

  Cody handed Shay a stack of books. “Not likely. Demons hate animals. That’s why they rarely take on an animal form.”

  “Demons can take other forms?”

  “Aye. Their natural forms aren’t a pretty sight. They stink, and they’re ugly. The problem is they can shift into disguises. They might be your neighbor, the little old lady down the street. The older they get, the more powerful they become. The ancient ones are particularly deadly.”

  Shay put the last book on the shelf. “Ancient ones?”

  “They can live around a thousand years.”

  “Good grief! What are they doing all that time?”

  Cody shrugged. “Trying to come up with ways to destroy us.”

  “Do they all live that long?”

  “No. There are three orders. The first is eternal. Humans don’t see them. The second, they’re the ones who cause the most trouble, full demons. The third, the halflings, they live a couple hundred years.”

  “Halflings? Like in half human?”

  Cody nodded.

  “Can only warriors kill demons?”

  “For the most part,” he said. “And even then, the powerful ones have to be assigned to match the warrior’s strength or the warrior could die. A demon can kill a human in a heartbeat.”

  “Good thing I didn’t have gun or a knife.”

  “You scare me sometimes,” Cody said.

  After the room was straight, the two started back to his house. The cat trailed along behind them. “You sure this cat’s just a cat?” Shay asked. “He has white fur, and that intruder was blond.”

  Cody turned to look at it. “It showed up long before the demon did. Probably belongs to the Petersons.” Shay heard yelling even before Cody opened his front door. “Damn! I forgot to tell him,” he said, rushing in.

  Faelan had a man pinned to the kitchen wall, while Lachlan, Marcas, and a beautiful woman Shay assumed was Cody’s girlfriend tried to drag Faelan away. Cody grabbed Faelan’s arm, and the group finally restrained him.

  “I swear, if you weren’t my ancestor,” the new guy said, giving Faelan a hard shove, “I’d lock you in a time vault myself.”

  “How could you drag her off on one of your adventures?” Faelan shouted, looking as fierce as an ancient Highland warrior with his kilt and angry face. “You were supposed to make sure she got safely from Scotland to New York.”

  “My adventures? Have you lost your bloody mind? I came to protect her. Damned woman tried to sneak off and come to Virginia alone. You’re lucky I figured out what she was up to.”

  The woman scowled. “Hey.”

  “Are ye trying to drive me to madness?” Faelan said to the woman, his face hot with anger. “If you don’t start listening to me—”

  The woman grabbed a loaf of bread off the counter and swung it at his head. Faelan ducked, and the loaf caught Cody on the ear. The woman planted her hands on her hips, glaring at Faelan. “You jackass! Sorry, Cody.” She glared at Faelan. “This isn’t the nineteenth century. You think I’m supposed to sit home bored, while you’re out having all the adventures? I don’t think so.”

  “Told you,” the new guy said.

  So she was with Faelan. Every muscle in Shay’s body sagged with relief. But why had the woman slept in Cody’s bed?

  “I forgot to tell you they were here,” Cody said, flicking a slice of bread off his shoulder. “Shay and I had just gotten back from Leesburg.”

  “What am I supposed to think?” Faelan asked the woman. “You’re supposed to be safe in New York, and I walk in and find you here. With him.” He pointed at Ronan. “I haven’t slept, and I need food.”

  The woman rolled her eyes. “God help us.”

  “There’s some food left over,” Lachlan said. “It’s probably cold.”

  The woman turned and saw Shay near the door. Her eyes widened. She blinked several times and smiled. “I’m Bree Connor, this Neanderthal’s wife.” She nodded toward Faelan, who was lifting pot lids, still scowling. “You must be Shay. Sorry to stare, but you look just like you did in my vision.” The others in the room stopped talking and were watching her. “I get these… premonitions sometimes.”

  Cody touched Shay’s back. “Bree had a vision that you were in danger. That’s why Faelan came to keep an eye on you.”

  Now she had perfect strangers trying to protect her. “But you don’t even know me,” Shay said.

  “I know. My premonitions aren’t normal. Usually they’re about family or friends, but lately I’ve been having them about strangers.”

  The good-looking man chuckled and ruffled Bree’s hair. He seemed unfazed by Faelan’s attack. “Darlin’, there’s nothing normal about you.”

  “This is Ronan,” Cody said. He surprised Shay by placing his arm around her shoulders, pulling her to his side. Marcas watched the gesture, and Shay thought she saw a glimmer of a smile.

  “Sorry about the scuffle.” Ronan grinned, and Shay’s heart skipped two beats. She could almost understand Faelan’s frustration. What man would want his wife going anywhere with someone who looked like that?

  Ronan bumped Faelan with his shoulder and stepped up to shake Shay’s hand. “Glad you’re okay. We were worried.”

  “Are you all part of this clan?” Shay asked.

  “You told her?” Lachlan said. “Are you crazy? The Council’s gonna hang you this time.”

  “I’ll deal with the Council,” Cody said, but his jaw tightened as he said it.

  “We’re all from the same clan,” Ronan explained, “but we’re from Scotland, not far from where you live, I understand. I’m surprised we didn’t run into you over the years.”

  She would have remembered if she had run into Ronan. “Guess th
at explains Faelan’s kilt,” Shay said. “It looks authentic.”

  “It is authentic. Nineteenth century, him and the kilt. He’s my great-great-great-uncle, the Mighty Faelan. Bree found him in a time vault while she was searching for treasure. I think sometimes she wishes she hadn’t. I know I do.”

  Faelan looked like he wanted to hit Ronan again. “If you don’t stop calling me that I’m going to stick you in a time vault,” he said, pulling off another slice of ham.

  “Time vault? Are you saying he was born in the nineteenth century?” He couldn’t be.

  “Aye,” Cody said, rubbing his neck. “He was born in 1833.”

  “That’s impossible.”

  “There are a lot of impossible things in this clan,” Bree said.

  “More than demons and… what was it, a time vault?” Shay asked.

  “You can’t imagine,” Bree said. “These time vaults imprison demons until Judgment. Time stops inside.”

  Cody hadn’t told her that part. What else wasn’t he telling her?

  “What happened to your neck?” Marcas asked Cody.

  Cody touched a red mark just over his jugular vein. “Shay bit me.”

  Everyone stared at her, cocked eyebrows leading to grins.

  Shay’s face heated. “That’s what you get for handcuffing me to the bed.”

  The grins grew wider, and Shay’s face hotter.

  “Sorry,” Cody said looking at her lips. “Do you want something to eat?”

  “Careful,” Ronan said. “She might take a chunk out of the other side.”

  “No, thanks,” Shay said, spearing all the men with a glare.

  “Good,” Lachlan said. “’Cause Faelan just took the rest of the food.”

  “You wouldn’t believe how much that man can eat after being suspended in time for a hundred and fifty-one years,” Bree said. “Come on, let’s get away from all this testosterone before we choke.”

  “Who brought the cat?” Lachlan asked, looking at the cat, who’d pushed through the cracked door.

  “It showed up at Nina’s,” Cody said. “Probably belongs to the Petersons.”

  Bree and Shay left the room. “Now,” Bree said, lifting one dark brow. “Why exactly did Cody handcuff you to the bed?”

 

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