Heart Of A Highland Warrior

by Anita Clenney

  Anna flipped through the notebook, looking for recent entries that might shed some light on his death. Angus’s writing wasn’t always easy to follow. He wrote as he thought. Scattered when he was distracted, and when he was hot on the trail of something he could go on and on. Reading his notebook was almost like talking to him. She could feel his excitement in the words. She skimmed the pages, recounting relevant entries, such as when he’d found Nigel Ellwood’s letter—it made her sad that he hadn’t told her that—right after he’d found Ian’s notes about a possible traitor in the clan.

  She read aloud how Angus had thought he’d found Faelan. Ian had left clues to where the time vault key had been hidden, buried in Aiden Connor’s grave, and when it didn’t open the time vault in the crypt, Angus decided it must be a decoy. He’d found the second time vault in the chapel cellar and freed the warrior inside, not realizing he’d freed Faelan’s brother instead. Angus’s handwriting grew scratchier as he wrote. He was frantic with his discovery, and terrified that Jared, the archaeologist, would find him. Angus had suspected that Jared wasn’t what he pretended to be. He’d followed Jared and discovered that he was involved in the gathering of demons. He suspected it had to do with Druan’s virus.

  I’m going to confront Jared and make him talk. That was his last entry. The room was silent.

  “I guess he found out Jared was Druan in disguise,” Brodie said quietly. “That’s probably how he got some of his injuries.”

  “And Druan sent his demons to finish him off,” Ronan said.

  He’d tracked them down and killed them, but they wouldn’t say who’d sent them. If only she’d replaced her phone, he might still be alive. He wouldn’t have told anyone else about his discoveries until he was certain what he’d found. But he had tried to call her. If she’d known, she could have come to help him before it was too late.

  “Poor Angus,” Sean said.

  Anna quietly slipped away as the others began talking about traitors and demons. She went to her room and sat on her bed, holding the notebook to her chest. There were other scrawled entries that made no sense. I need to tell Anna, but I don’t want to trouble her. And later, I must tell Anna. No matter how difficult it is. She hadn’t read those aloud. They were too personal. “Tell me what? What was so important, Angus?” Was he referring to his feelings for her?

  How could she have not known how he felt? No wonder he was so angry when he found Ronan in her bed. Sex might not be the big evil she’d thought, but it caused a lot of trouble.

  What was she going to do about this thing between her and Tavis? She’d never felt anything like this. It was like an obsession. She thought about him constantly. She wanted to touch him all the time. She needed space to think and remember who she was. A warrior. Always a warrior. No matter how good sex with Tavis was. And how much she wanted to touch him and hold him.

  She started to lay the book aside when she noticed a piece of paper stuck between two pages. It wasn’t Angus’s handwriting. The paper was stained and yellow with age. It was Ian’s notes. The page she and Angus had found in the treasure room in Scotland. This should be given to Tavis. His brother had sacrificed and suffered to make sure Tavis was here to save Faelan. It might be one of the few things left to remind him of Ian.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  ANNA WALKED TOWARD Tavis’s door and raised her hand to knock, but stopped.

  What are you doing? You can’t go to his room. Not after what happened at the bed-and-breakfast. You can give him Ian’s letter later. She returned to her door, stopped, chewed her lip for a moment, and then walked back. She was still waiting for the courage to knock when the door opened. Tavis had on the boxer briefs she’d bought him. That sent a thrill up her spine—not just the sight of Tavis in his underwear, but Tavis wearing something she’d chosen for him. It was so intimate.

  But she didn’t want intimate. No intimacy.

  “Anna?”

  “You open the door in your underwear? Geez.” What if she had been another woman? Sorcha for instance.

  He frowned. “I knew it was you. I heard you muttering. Are you all right? You look bothered.”

  “I found something in Angus’s notebook. It was written by Ian.”

  “Ian?” A pained look crossed his face. “Come in.”

  She looked at his body. “You’re not dressed.”

  “Sorry.” He left the door opened and grabbed a pair of jeans. Jeans she’d bought him. “I think I’m getting better at this,” he said, pulling them on. He grabbed a shirt, again, one she’d bought. She was definitely feeling bothered now. There was something so intimate about seeing a man she’d had sex with wearing clothes she’d bought him.

  “Are you coming in?”

  Even though he was dressed, she hesitated. It didn’t seem to matter what he did or didn’t wear, he just affected her in the strangest way. But she didn’t want him to be alone when he read it. Or maybe he would rather be alone. “I thought you might want to read it in private.”

  “I’d rather you were with me.”

  Another thrill. Dammit. Tavis Connor was derailing her plans. Maybe she needed to go back to ignoring him. But she followed him inside.

  Tavis took the paper and sat on a small settee next to a lamp. “It’s his hand, all right.” He smiled. “He was always jotting down notes.”

  Anna sat beside him. “Like Angus. Did he look like you?”

  “No. He was thinner, lighter haired. A bit of a mischief-maker.”

  “He must have been a great warrior. And a great brother. It couldn’t have been easy doing what he did. I don’t think I could do it.”

  “He didn’t want to. He begged me to find another way. At the time, I thought I was the one with the hard task. Now I think it was him. He was the one who had to tell Ma she’d lost two of her sons and her husband. He had live with the worry of not knowing if Faelan and I would survive the time vaults. Or even be found. He had to raise my son.” He rubbed a hand over his chin. He looked different without his beard, even more handsome, though he needed to shave again. “I’m having trouble dealing with it. It doesn’t seem possible, even though I have Ian’s letter as proof.”

  “Duncan is living proof. It isn’t Faelan he resembles so much. It’s you.” Anna put her hand over his. “I can’t imagine how it feels to lose a son you didn’t know. I wish I could help you.”

  “You have.” Tavis touched her face. “You have more than you know.”

  Too much intimacy. She needed to get back to safer ground. “So tell me about your son’s mother.”

  He looked almost embarrassed. “She was kind. And persistent.”

  “You said she loved you?”

  “Aye, so she said. I tried to…avoid her, but it was hard.” His cheeks colored. “I mean, it was difficult staying away from her, with her coming around all the time.”

  “What happened? If you don’t mind telling me.”

  “She cornered me one night, and I wasn’t thinking with my brain. We were careful though. I didn’t even…” He looked embarrassed. “Even spill my seed inside her.”

  Anna touched his arm, and his muscles tightened. “I’m sorry you lost him, and her.”

  “Thank you. Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

  “I won’t know until you ask.”

  Dark eyes, lined with thick lashes, studied her, making her stomach quiver. “Are you certain you didn’t love Angus?”

  “Not like that. We were best friends.” At least on her part, and Angus hadn’t asked for anything more. She felt a pang of sadness. If he had, would it have been a different relationship?

  “He must have been barmy, then.” His gaze moved over her face, and her pulse beat faster.

  “But he loved me.”

  “You mean he was in love with you?”

  She nodded. “I didn’t know until just before he di
ed. It was the last thing he said to me. I love you. I’ve never told anyone. I feel guilty about it. Guilty about not being here to help him. Guilty for not replacing my phone. Then I would have gotten his call. Guilty for not knowing how he felt. And a little angry at him for not telling me. We told each other everything.”

  “Would it have made a difference?”

  “I don’t think so. In fact, it might have ruined what we had. And that would have been a shame.”

  “They said you don’t want to marry or have a family. Is it because of your past?”

  She shrugged. “I just want to be a warrior. That’s what I am. A warrior.”

  “What’s wrong with being a warrior and having a family too? I mean when the time comes? You don’t have to be a warrior forever.” She started to squirm. She was feeling overheated and uncomfortable.

  “Don’t run away.”

  “I’m not running.”

  “Yes you are.” He touched her face, fingers stroking lightly down her cheek, then moving to her lips. “Can you feel it too?”

  “Feel what?” she asked, hoping he didn’t move his hand, wondering what he’d do if she kissed his fingertips.

  “This…this feeling between us? It’s eating me alive. I can’t stop thinking about you. Is it just me?”

  She shook her head, afraid to say the words. But she couldn’t stop herself from touching his face, feeling the strong cheekbone and stubble of his jaw. Such a sexy face. She put her hand behind his head and pulled his face to hers. “No, it’s not just you,” she said, and kissed him.

  He kissed her back. Her hands dropped to his chest, and she felt his battle marks tingling underneath her palms. She bunched her hands in his T-shirt to stop the sensation. She opened her mouth wider and felt the tip of his tongue. How could a man taste so good? She ran her hands up and down him, touching anything she could find. Skin, muscles, cotton, jeans—it was all delicious.

  “I think I’m dying,” someone muttered. Tavis, she thought, but their mouths and breaths were so fused she wasn’t sure.

  She was lying half across his lap with his hand up her shirt when the door opened.

  They both jumped, and Anna fell onto the floor.

  Faelan stood in the doorway, his mouth open. His look of surprise changed into a grin as Tavis and Anna both jumped to their feet. “I’m sorry,” he said. “The door wasn’t locked.”

  “You should have knocked,” Tavis said.

  Faelan’s grin widened. “I thought you were expecting me.”

  Tavis glowered at him. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “I’m sorry, but the looks on your faces.” Faelan chuckled. “It reminded me of that time Ian and I caught you in the stables with Marna—damnation. I’m sorry, Anna.”

  “Forget it,” Anna said, straightening her shirt. “We were just…discussing something.”

  “Aye.” Faelan grinned again. “That’s my favorite kind of discussion.”

  “I’m going to knock that smile off your face if you don’t stop,” Tavis said.

  “You’re right, Tavis. I offer my sincerest apologies to you both,” he said through clenched teeth and sparkling eyes. He backed toward the door. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He started to close the door, then popped his head back inside. “Carry on.”

  Tavis started toward the door, but Anna stopped him with a hand on his arm. “He’s just teasing.”

  Tavis scowled. “Bloody rude bastard.”

  “I think brothers are allowed to be rude. You’re lucky to have him here to tease you.”

  “You’re right.”

  “It’s getting late,” Anna said, feeling awkward now that the moment had been interrupted. “I suppose I should be going.”

  He glanced at the bed and frowned. His frustration was so obvious, Anna almost grinned. “You don’t have to.”

  “But I should.” She stood. “Good night, then.”

  A muscle ticked in his jaw, and his gaze dropped to her lips. “Good night.”

  As Anna closed the door she heard him mutter, “Bloody bastard.”

  Tavis lay in his bed staring at the ceiling. The cat had found its way back in and was curled on the bed near his feet listening to him complain. If Faelan hadn’t opened the door, Anna would probably be lying here instead of the cat. And they wouldn’t be sleeping. How was a man to find sleep knowing that? He tossed and accidently kicked the cat, who gave him an annoyed look.

  He was about to drift off when he heard a sound in the room. The cat’s head rose, and it stared at the wall. Tavis didn’t see anything, but he heard something. The cat hissed and jumped off the bed. Tavis grabbed his dagger and walked toward the wall. Something was moving behind it. This castle was like the one in Scotland. The secret passages likely opened the same. He felt for the familiar catch and pushed. The door slid open. He heard a squeal, and a blinding light struck him in the face. He caught a glimpse of red as he threw up his hand to shade his eyes.

  “Tavis, thank God it’s you.”

  “Matilda?” Tavis flipped the switch, and light flooded the room. Matilda climbed out of the doorway, hair bright as a beacon. “What are you doing in there?”

  “Looking for the cat. I got lost. Is he with you?”

  Tavis glanced at the bed. “I saw him earlier, but I think he’s gone now.”

  Matilda clutched a bottle of water. There was something written on it. “I’ll tell him you’re looking for him if I see him,” Tavis said.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Just tell me, and I’ll come and get him. He’s avoiding me. Can I use your door? I don’t want to get lost again. There are more secret passages in this place than a haunted house.”

  “Sure.” He took her arm to escort her and saw “Holy” written on her water bottle in big black letters. He bit his cheek. “What’s that?” he asked, pointing to the bottle.

  “It’s just plain water, but I figured it might trick them.”

  “Them?”

  “Vampires.”

  “You think they might get in here?”

  “They did in Scotland. You never know.”

  “Then do you think it’s wise to go into the secret passages alone?” That’s where the vampire had gotten in before.

  “Probably not, but I’m worried about the cat.”

  Tavis smiled. “If I see the cat, I’ll let you know.” He looked for the cat after Matilda left, but it wasn’t there. He didn’t know if it had overheard and was hiding or had somehow escaped, but his brother was right. That wasn’t a normal cat.

  Morning came too quickly. He’d slept fitfully, and his eyes felt like they’d been pasted shut. He quickly dressed and went to find Anna. She was all he could think about. This couldn’t be normal. It must be the time vault. Sorcha was just leaving the kitchen when he arrived. “Do you know where Anna is?” he asked.

  “In the field with Ronan. I’m headed there now.”

  “Ronan? What’s she doing with him?” Was he trying to get close to Anna like he was Bree?

  “So what’s with you and Anna?” Sorcha asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Come on. Don’t play dumb. It’s plain for anyone to see.”

  “Like you and Duncan? Even a man fresh out of a time vault can feel the tension between you two.”

  “You’re just like your brother.” She stalked off toward the field, leaving Tavis to walk alone.

  A small crowd had gathered near a practice ring where Ronan and Shay were sword fighting. Tavis immediately spotted Anna. She was wearing dark trousers and a very tight shirt. Tight by nineteenth-century standards. Her hair hung down her back in a long braid. She turned as he approached, and her smile faded.

  “Is that how they do things in this time?” he whispered. “Kiss a man at night and ignore him the next morning.”

 
; “You make it sound like we’re dating.”

  “I don’t really understand dating.”

  “It’s what you’d call courting,” Bree said from behind him.

  He whirled and saw her smiling. “Where’d you come from?”

  “I’m practicing my warrior sneak,” she said. “It’s the only thing your pigheaded brother will let me do.”

  “What’s wrong with Cody?” The warrior was scowling as he watched Ronan and Shay.

  “He’s upset,” Bree said. “He didn’t want Ronan to train Shay.”

  Tavis didn’t blame him.

  “I would be out there if your hardheaded brother would calm down.”

  Pigheaded? Hardheaded? She knew him well. Faelan could outlast anyone in a battle of wills. “He is hardheaded.”

  “Hardheaded? He could drive nails with his skull.”

  “No. He tried that once, when we were kids.”

  “You’re joking. He tried to drive a nail…oh my God.”

  “That was in his earlier days, before he…”

  “Before he took the weight of the world on his shoulders.”

  “Aye.”

  “You’re a good brother. He told me how you would watch out for him because you thought he was too busy watching out for everyone else.”

  “It’s what brothers do.”

  Ronan and Shay handed their swords to Brodie and picked up knives. Ronan moved around behind her and held her wrist.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Nina said, as she as Matilda joined them.

  “Has anyone seen the cat?” Matilda asked.

  “You didn’t find him?” Tavis asked.

  “No. I think he’s hiding.”

  “Matilda, you can’t keep that cat in your room.”

  “I take him out for walks.”

  “You don’t walk a cat,” Nina said. “What’s wrong with Cody? He looks like he’s going to explode.”