Ian's Story (The Immortal Clan Keith Book 1)

by Ardent Rose

His brothers, in various states of dress, rushed to his side. “Ian, what is it?” Calum spoke.

  Ross noticed the claymore buried in the ground, glistening feathers scattered around. “Tricia, by the fates, the trolls have taken her.”

  Bram grabbed Ian’s shoulders and helped him up. He nodded to Alpin and Ewan to get him inside. “Ross gather her feathers and meet me in the library. That goes for all of you. Gear up.”

  He wrapped an arm around Ian. “We will get her back my brother, or die trying.” He motioned for his brothers to get going.

  Within an hour, the seven brothers sat in conference. “How do we begin to find her?” Calum asked.

  Bram scrubbed his bearded chin. “Alpin and Ewan, survey outside and see if they left something behind. Alpin, Use the sniff, it is important.”

  The sniff was one of Alpin’s special attributes. He could smell signatures of other beings but it would usually cause migraines and he would be bedridden for the day.

  He knelt beside Ian. “Can you sense her or see her?” Bram encouraged him to use their mated bond.

  “Don’t you think I’ve tried, man, let me clear my mind. I will be right back.” Ian went into their suite went to the window. He watched his brothers scouring the area for anything that might lead them to Patricia. Finally, he turned and walked over to the bed. He grabbed her pillow and closed his eyes. “Patricia me love, I can feel y’er pain. Tis me pain as well. Let me in me love.”

  His mind opened into a dimly lit room. There were no windows. It was damp and cold. He heard the surf on the rocks. “Yes, my darling, let me in.”

  He spotted a whip and a flogger. She appeared to be in a dungeon. He heard her scream in agony and a feather was held up to her face. “Dear god they ‘re plucking her feathers…I am coming me love, hold on.”

  Before the connection was lost he perceived hideous laughter, an all too familiar sound…Morganna.

  “Yes, my darling highlander, I have your precious treasure. Once I drain her power for me, I will seek your bed to make you mine.”

  A deep roar echoed the walls. Mungo forced the door and saw his brother weeping on his knees praying in the old language for strength and comfort for Patricia. He didn’t want to interrupt, but Alpin and Ewan had news. Mungo whispered. “We will find the dear one, come we have news.”

  Ian sprang to his feet and grabbed his trusted claymore and sheathed it. “Time to go.”

  Alpin reported what he had found. “I sniffed the sea, but t’was the loch of Nessie I fear.”

  “Yea, I have more news. Morganna has her and they pluck each feather as we speak. My sweet Patricia was screaming in pain. They’ve a dungeon set up to extricate her powers until death overcomes her and then Morganna believes she will have me.” He spat the words out and heaved, a sickening sound.

  Alpin had drawn out the maps and pinpointed the probable location. “I’d say they’ve taken her to Cherry Island.”

  Bram ordered Calum. “Ready the boat, and we set sail.”

  “Aye, in fifteen minutes.” Calum jumped to the marina and checked the boat. From the dock, he loaded on supplies and ammunition. He plotted the course and pushed into the loch. One by one, his brothers joined him, except Alpin and Ewan.

  The boat rocked a steady pace down the inlet and the brothers planned their attack.

  Part Thirteen

  Patricia tried to call upon her inner strength. Each feather pulled as a fingernail from its bed. The pain overcame her and she passed out.

  “Come now, Patti girl, don’t be sleeping when you should be screaming.” Anita tormented her and splashed her with freezing water.

  Patricia gasped and shivered in her nearly naked state of dress. She had been shackled feet and hands to a St. Andrews Cross, but this was not for pleasure.

  Helen and Anita took turns plucking feathers and slapping her face. At least, she had not been defiled, not yet anyway. A dark woman with crazy hair supervised the action and cackled like a witch.

  She vaguely remembered when her brain tingled and Ian was reaching out to her. Patricia knew she needed to clear her mind and contact him, but the agony was too great. She felt she had failed him and would die without him knowing that she indeed carried his child.

  “Enough playtime my pets.” Morganna exclaimed rubbing the horns of both trolls. “He is on his way. How shall he find his bonded mate?”

  Both women fell at Morganna’s feet clawing at her dress, willing to reciprocate the rubbing for her pleasure. “You’ve been such good little pets, you may play together in the corner as a special treat for our guest. Please feel free to use the toys.”

  Helen beamed at Anita. “We have been without contact for so many days, we are grateful for the pleasure, goddess Morganna.”

  Patricia breathed out. “Morganna?”

  “Yes, my dear, I am the Goddess Morganna. Do you know me?” Morganna sauntered toward Patricia with a whip in her hand.

  “I have read about you, yes. I am familiar with your craving for power and your need to be queen.” Patricia head lolled but she snorted in derision.

  Morganna smirked at her answer. “You do know me well. I never fail to get what I want. Right now, I want you dead.”

  Morganna grabbed her head and shrieked. Anita and Helen focused on their goddess, as she tumbled to the ground in agony. “They’re near, I feel their strength in numbers.”

  She gasped out the last words before rushing out and screeched for the guards. Her troll lackeys followed close behind.

  The commotion allowed Patricia time to concentrate through her own pain. “Ian, she knows you are near. Guards … ogres…Morganna.” Her mind lapsed and she fainted.

  ***

  “Hush brothers…” Ian motioned for quiet. He centered himself hearing Patricia’s words. He spoke aloud. “Morganna knows we are here. The ogres are guarding the island. Dammit, I lost her. She is weakly with trying to hurry us along.”

  Calum at the helm. “Guess there’s no need to approach quietly.” He pushed the throttle forward and sped off.

  The island came into sight and Calum killed the engines and ordered Ross to drop anchor.

  Bram surveyed the area. “See that clump of trees, jump.” He commanded. Each brother armed with battle gear, materialized among the trees.

  Mungo and Ross snuck up behind the one lone ogre on guard at the hidden entryway. Ross easily slit his throat and dropped him to the ground. “Ogres are supposed to have supersonic hearing. Guess he left his hearing aid at home.” The brothers chuckled and waved to the others.

  Bram turned to Ian. “Try your bonded link again.”

  Ian inhaled deeply and fixated on the last images from Patricia. She lay limp being held up by cuffs. Her signal was still weak but alive. “This way.”

  Ian leaped down the stairs. Once at the bottom, three passageways lead off from it. He felt her life signs straight ahead. Ogre guards flanked all the sides and attacked.

  Bram swiftly engaged one guard in a sword fight. Mungo grabbed two ogres by their throats and crushed their windpipes.

  Ross drew first blood. “You call that a sword?” He unsheathed his claymore which dwarfed the ogre’s sword. “You be getting the business end of me claymore, you, ugly oaf.” He thrust the into ogre and he popped like a grape, splattering blood and ooze all over.

  While his brothers created a commotion, Ian scurried for the passageway straight ahead. He ran headlong into Morganna herself. “Welcome to my den of iniquity. Do make yourself comfortable.”

  From out of nowhere her two huge guards shackled his arms together and shoved him into a chair.

  “You’ll not be getting away with this. Me brothers will see to that.” He spat at her. His eyes slowly raised to gaze at his mate. Tears welled in his eyes at the travesty done to her beauty.

  The air was tinged with the scent of blood and sweat. The sound of clanking metal echoed in the chamber. Ian took a deep breath and said “Keith.”

  His brothers miraculously s
ummoned by name stood with swords poised around Ian.

  Tersely, Morganna held the dagger she had given the trolls at Patricia’s throat. “A family reunion, how nice of you all to come for her funeral.” She sneered.

  “Stop, Morganna. Take me, but leave her be. It’s me you want.” Ian struggled against his chains.

  “Yes, darling Ian, but we cannot be together unless she is dead. You will not want me if I am not imbued with her essence and power.”

  Her eyes glowed neon green and her mouth contorted into a foul sneer. She had gone totally mad. “Don’t you see that she must die?”

  The jostling of her body awakened Patricia. Her eyes met Ian’s and an exchange of energy pulsated between them. The shackles and cuffs vibrated loose. The brothers guarded the door. Ian sprang to his feet ready to tackle Morganna. Patricia sent him a message. “Watch me before you move. Keep her attention.”

  Patricia reared her head back and smashed Morganna in the nose. She reached for her face and dropped the dagger. Patricia stumbled forward and swung around with the dagger in hand and sliced through Morganna. She gasped clutching her hands to her stomach and slid down the wall.

  Patricia vaulted into Ian’s arms. Blood splashed the room and dripped down the stairs. The time for a reunion must wait. Instantly, the family jumped to the security of the waiting boat.

  Bram ordered Mungo to secure the entrance and Calum to set sail for home. Ross tended to Patricia’s wounds. “This would be a hell of a lot easier if you’d let her go, Ian.”

  Patricia held onto Ian as her lifeline. She needed strength but with no privacy, proximity would have to do for now. “Go fook yourself, if ye think she’ll e’er be out of me sight again.”

  Patricia kissed his cheek and tickled his brain. “By the way, we’re having a baby.”

  He picked her up and twirled her around. The boat sloshed mightily, but Calum righted it. “Damn man, you nearly sank us.”

  “Don’t be doing that whilst carrying the first heir to the Clan Keith.” He beamed and kissed Patricia long and hard. The brothers cheered and patted Ian on the back and lit pecks on Patricia’s cheek.

  Calum’s Story

  Once home, Patricia healed nicely under the expert love and care of the Clan Keith. The family prepared for the arrival of the wee babe, but something was amiss.

  Calum, with his long dark hair and mesmerizing eyes, could easily have any woman around. He often paraded skinny women, plump women, blondes and brunettes, dark skin or alabaster through the castle. But not one seemed to scratch that itch.

  Until Agatha McDougal, a red-headed green- eyed beauty with alabaster skin who would not look his way. A might pixie, she was and he was determined to have her despite the cost. There be the rub, could he pay the price with his immortality?