Quest of a Scottish Warrior

by Sky Purington

  Something about his earnest words, the untampered need in them, made the microbursts spreading through her body become an astronomical swelling deep inside. Like a bunch of small waves becoming massive ones. She had never felt anything like it. Digging her nails in deeper, desperate to either escape or rush toward whatever was heading her way, she wrapped a leg around him and met his thrusts.

  “Bloody hell,” he said through clenched teeth as their movements turned almost frantic.

  After that, everything became a blur as their sounds of pleasure and desperation mingled. Then, as if a huge wave of pure, unfiltered euphoria crashed over her, her body exploded into heart-stopping throbs. Cassie arched and cried out, trapped within the mind-numbing climax. At the same time, Logan locked up against her and roared with release.

  There was no way to convey the intimate feeling of what she experienced. The way his deep pulses almost seemed to draw out her pinnacle. His forehead was pressed against the plaid beside her face, his breathing staggered and fast. Their hearts thundered. Heat and sweetness surrounded them as her body very slowly relaxed.

  Desperate to keep him close, she wrapped an arm around his neck and allowed the other to fall beside her. A means to ground herself before her body drifted away. Thrown by the plush softness beneath her hand, she turned her head, still dazed, and whispered, “Oh, wow. Look at all of them.”

  Logan lifted his head, shock in his voice as he eyed the bed of flowers that had bloomed around them. “Purple petunias.” He inhaled deeply. “Just like Ma used to grow in New Hampshire.”

  “Where did they come from?” she murmured, surprisingly bashful when her eyes met his. Lord, Cassie, you just made love to the man. You should be past this. But she imagined it might take a while to wrap her mind around the two of them…together?

  “I dinnae know where the flowers came from. My magic I suppose.” A warm smile blossomed on his face as he picked one then lay beside her, propped up on an elbow. He sniffed the flower, nostalgic, before he trailed the soft petal over her collarbone. “How fare ye, lass? Are ye well?”

  Cassie fingered one of the tiny braids hanging in his hair before meeting his eyes, well aware she was blushing again. “Very well.” Then, because it seemed like the thing to say. “You?”

  “Verra well.” He dragged the petal lightly up her neck sending little shivers through her. “Better than I can ever recall being actually.”

  Flattered, she arched her brows and found flirting far easier than she anticipated. “So I take it this is the first time you’ve magically grown a flower garden for a woman?”

  “Aye.” Logan chuckled, genuine happiness in his eyes. “My favorite flowers grown for my favorite lass.”

  “Am I then,” she murmured, said less as a question but more as a means of humoring him.

  He trailed the petal over her chin and along her jawline, eyes suddenly serious. “Aye, ye are.”

  Cassie truly didn’t want to ruin the moment, but her mouth was stuck on ‘spit it out’ mode. “Back to what I was starting to say before. What about what Grant said? What about me being meant—”

  Managing to keep the flower away, he pressed a finger to her lips and shook his head. “I dinnae care what the Hamilton said.” His eyes almost seemed to flare a paler shade of blue with his passionate words. “I care about the way I feel toward ye. I care about the way ye feel toward me. Nothing else matters. Especially not my cousins because ye’d have to drive me through with a sword before I’d let one of them have ye.”

  Heat again flared beneath her skin at the possessiveness of his declaration. The truth was she liked it immensely. But there was a ‘but’. She held up her hand and eyed the ring, stunned by how much she wished it reflected his eye color. “You might be willing to ignore Grant but what about this? I would think its actions override what either of us wants.”

  “So ye want the same,” he murmured, eyes riveted on her face.

  “That’s not…I mean to say…the ring that is…”

  Logan set aside the flower and tilted her chin until their eyes were aligned. “Do ye then? Do ye want me as I want ye?”

  How could she not? Cassie swallowed, not sure what to say. What she would love to say is yes, like you wouldn't believe. But that niggling sense of self-awareness was gradually returning. The fact that she had not been truthful with him about what to expect from her. That she wasn’t always going to be the woman she was today.

  “I can see the worry in yer eyes, lass. And I know ye want me." His finger brushed lazily back and forth over her lower lip. "What holds ye back from putting voice to it?”

  Again, she lied. “It’s just that…won’t I eventually go home? You guys obviously travel between here and there. So after I help you save Robert, I assume I'll be returning to the twenty-first century.” Then she said something that she actually meant but wasn't so sure she wanted to hear the answer to. “Besides, even if I were to stay, would you really want to be with a woman from the future? One that doesn’t even have that much Scottish in her? Especially considering you’re the Laird and all.”

  Logan’s expression had grown more and more troubled as she spoke. “I dinnae care what nationalities you are and I wouldnae care if you didnae have a drop of Scottish blood. I want you.” His lips pulled down further. “And it doesnae matter in the least that I’m Laird. With God’s blessing, I’m free of a betrothal I’ve stayed true to and He’s given me the free will to follow my heart.” He pressed her hand over his heart. “Now this belongs to you, lass.”

  Warmth uncurled inside. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined such an amazing man saying that. Her fingers rippled against the dusting of hair on his hard chest and she closed her eyes. She should just come out and tell him her secret. Why was it so hard? But she knew. She did not want to lose him. Selfish. He didn’t deserve this. Not at all. Opening her eyes, she was about to spill everything when Logan shook his head sharply and yanked the plaid over them.

  “I’ve given you plenty of time,” Niall said with a grin as he ducked in out of the night.

  Eyes wide, she yanked her dress back into position beneath the plaid as Niall shook the water from his hair and plunked down across from them.

  “What the bloody hell are you doing here?” Logan muttered.

  “Where else would I be?” Niall leaned back against the wall, crossed his legs and tossed Logan a skin. “You didnae think I’d leave the Laird unprotected all night, did you?”

  “I know full well there are at least twenty men watching guard over me from those woods.” Logan handed her the skin. “And I’d rather they be under cover and warm.”

  Oh, fabulous. Cassie took a swig, mortified to think of all the sounds she had made when she and Logan made love. Even more mortified to think one of those men might have very well been watching.

  “‘Tis not up to you when it comes to your protection, cousin.” Niall shrugged. “Besides, they’re taking shifts and have found shelter in several nearby caves.”

  “And why is it again that you’ve decided this is the cave for you?” Logan asked.

  “Because no one can protect you better than I,” Niall said with absolute conviction. “And that is best done from right here.”

  Logan muttered under his breath and took a swig of whisky when she handed it back. It looked like she wouldn’t be sharing any truths with him tonight after all.

  She eyed Niall’s wet hair and kilt. “Logan, why don’t you magically dry your cousin off?”

  “Och, nay lass.” Niall grinned. “I like being wet. It feels good.”

  Interesting. She cocked her head. “Is that because your element is water?”

  Niall’s brows arched in surprise before he shook his head and chuckled. “Nay. It just feels good after the battling is all. What little of it there was that is.”

  She had grown more comfortable with Niall but then he seemed far less intense when he wasn’t hitting on her. Something he had not done since they left the MacLo
main castle.

  Like his cousins, he seemed to possess a rather consistent sense of humor. She had to wonder how they managed it considering the circumstances, better yet the current state of their country. But she speculated that perhaps the humor was an innate means of protecting themselves from how bad things really were. A means to keep things from growing too depressing at times. Or maybe even a means to keep their fellowmen’s spirits up. In any case, she found it an interesting shared trait considering they were such fierce warriors.

  “What of the leader you brought back to the MacLauchlin castle?” Logan said. “I assume Clyde’s keeping busy with him.”

  “Aye.” Niall’s eyes landed briefly on Cassie before returning to Logan. “‘Twas wise of you to keep the lass away for the night. The MacLauchlin Laird is making a bloody show of it for his people. And I cannae help but approve of his methods.”

  Ah, she had wondered why they hadn’t gone back to the castle. Her eyes went to Logan, warmed by how thoughtful he had been. Yes, she loved history and knew she was going to see bad things while here but she was fine not watching torture for now. Then again, if she had seen what they had in that village, she might likely think otherwise.

  “And what of his people?” Logan went on. “Were any hurt?”

  A flare of anger crossed Niall’s features. “None were killed, but the bastards had their share of the lasses available.”

  Cassie murmured a prayer and put a hand over her mouth. Those poor women.

  “Bloody bastards, the lot o’ them,” Logan growled and took another long swig before handing the skin back to her. “Might the MacLauchlin release his wrath in full this eve.”

  “Aye.” Niall nodded and took a long swig as well. “Clyde said you’re to take some of his men wherever you might be heading next. It seems he suspects you’ve a journey ahead.”

  “Nay, he has too few to spare.” Logan eyed the fire, troubled. “I’ve sent a message to our castle that extra men be dispatched to protect the MacLauchlins.”

  Niall nodded, yawned and leaned his head back against the rock, amused as he eyed the carpet of flowers surrounding them. “I never knew you were such a romantic, cousin.”

  Embarrassment flared once more and Cassie looked anywhere but at Niall.

  “‘Twas a thing this,” Logan said, fingering one of the flowers. “I didnae think I used any magic.”

  Oh, he used magic all right. Just maybe not the sort he was talking about.

  Niall chuckled. “‘Tis good that. It says much about the exchange.”

  Exchange? Odd thing to call it. Then again, though Niall was certainly the lusty sort, she didn’t get the impression that he was particularly romantic when it came to the actual art of lovemaking. He seemed more of a rash type which she could not really imagine when it came to sex. But then what did she know about sex and its variations. Pretty much nothing save what she had just experienced. She decided prom night didn’t count because it sucked. Best just to erase that memory.

  “‘Twas far more than an exchange,” Logan murmured, his hand sliding into hers. “I mean to make Cassie Lady of MacLomain castle.”

  Her eyes rounded. Say what?

  Niall’s grin slowly dropped and he spoke before she could. “‘Tis a fine thing that ye got some lusting out with such a bonnie lass, but ye are not born of the Next Generation, cousin. Laird Grant said—”

  “I know what Grant said,” Logan cut him off. “But I willnae give up my lass.”

  “Um…” she started.

  “Ye speak against the MacLomain arch-wizard then?” Niall interrupted with a frown. “That willnae go over well.”

  “Um…” she said again, trying to jump in but wondering what the hell would be the most effective thing to say.

  “Grant will see things differently once he learns I am no longer betrothed,” Logan said.

  “I dinnae think it has much to do with yer betrothal but something that was meant to be by the Fates.”

  “Guys…” She scowled when Logan continued.

  “Then tell me this. Why are there four Broun lasses and only three of you lads born of the Next Generation?”

  Niall shrugged before the corner of his mouth shot up. “Mayhap one of us is meant for two of them. I know Rònan and I would be just fi—”

  “Enough,” Logan ground out.

  But Niall kept going. “Well, I for one willnae go after yer lass but I cannae speak for the other two. Especially Darach. He seems quite taken with her.”

  Logan’s eyes narrowed and Cassie finally managed to insert a whole sentence into the runaway conversation. “Hey, guys, I’m sitting right here ya know.” Then she pushed out a few more sentences while she was on a roll. “First of all I can’t be Lady of any castle without a proposal.” She gestured back and forth between her and Logan, sort of amazed at how brazen she was being. “And no offense but you and I are nowhere close to that stage in the game.” Then her eyes went from Logan to Niall. “Furthermore, I’ll be with a guy because I want to be with him not because Grant or anyone else says I’m supposed to be.”

  Niall shrugged. “The best of luck with that, lass.” He yawned again and closed his eyes. “‘Tis time for me to rest.” His lips quirked. “Dinnae let me keep you from your business.” Then his lips hitched up just a bit further. “Mayhap this time try to keep it down a notch, though.”

  Cassie almost groaned. Unreal.

  Logan’s mood seemed to have soured as he muttered, “And here I thought ye were here to protect me.”

  Niall gave no response and within a few seconds his breathing slowed.

  “Did he really fall asleep that fast?” she said.

  “Aye, always after battling.” Logan laid back. “Time to sleep, lass.”

  His discontent bothered her. “Sorry to be so blunt before but surely you understand that…well, you can’t just declare I’m going to be your wife without asking first. Not to mention the fact that we just met. It’s way too soon. We don’t know each other nearly well enough.”

  Did he seriously want to marry her? Or was he just caught up in long repressed lust? While she contemplated continuing their conversation from earlier and telling him more about herself, she just couldn’t do it with Niall here.

  “Dinnae worry, lass.” She rested her cheek on his chest when he wrapped his arm beneath her head. His deep voice rumbled softly against her ear. “‘Twas just my desire for you speaking. When a lad’s gone so long without the love of a lass, the length of time he’s known her means verra little.”

  Understandable. In her own way, she could completely empathize. Save in her case, it had always been a complete lack of interested men. She was about to respond when his breathing slowed. A quick peek at his face proved that Niall was not the only one with the ability to zonk out fast. Probably for the better.

  She could use some time to think.

  That was the last thought she had before she dozed off.

  “Cassie? Are ye there?” came a whisper. “Can ye hear me? Please say ye can hear me.”

  Startled, she shot up and looked around. Logan and Niall were gone. So was the cave. Instead, shadows rippled through a thick forest swathed in purple twilight. It almost seemed as if she hovered high in the trees as she looked down. A band of warriors traveled on horseback. She honed in on the child with a sack over his head riding in front of one of them.

  “Robert, is that you?”

  “Aye, ‘tis me,” he whispered so softly she had to strain to hear. He was clearly trying to keep his words from being heard. “Are ye still coming?”

  “Of course. Are you doing all right?”

  “Aye.” But he sounded scared. “They mentioned that they were being followed so we’re no longer in the cave.”

  Cassie nodded. “Have they said anything else? Do they know who is following or have they said where they’re heading?”

  “Nay, they didnae say who follows,” Robert whispered. “They say that their Laird is eager for their arrival a
nd that 'tis taking too long.” His voice quivered with fear. “And they will suffer for it.” Then his voice sounded stronger. “He waits for us at the oak tree ford.”

  The oak tree ford? Wasn’t that the meaning of Athdara’s name?

  The man sitting behind Robert suddenly grunted and shook the child’s shoulder roughly. “What are ye saying, ye little bastard?”

  Trying to keep anger from her voice, Cassie said all she could think of to soothe him. “We are coming for you, Robert. Stay strong. It will be all right.”

  But it was too little too late.

  Chapter Twelve

  Logan cradled Cassie against his chest as she murmured again and again that the man had just pulled Robert off the horse and was dragging him somewhere. “He’s going to hit him, I know it.”

  Regrettably, she wasn’t talking to him. There was no way to know who she spoke with now.

  “How long did her vision last before?” Niall said, worried.

  “Not this long,” Logan replied as twilight crept through the trees. Grant, Darach, and Rònan had arrived a short while ago and crouched nearby, concern on their faces.

  “And it wasnae like this before either.” Logan looked at Grant. “She snapped right out of it. This time she seems caught in the vision.”

  Grant had already put a hand to her forehead in hopes of drawing her out but had no luck. “Keep speaking with her. If anything can pull her back, ‘tis a voice she recognizes.”

  Logan nodded and kept murmuring in her ear, urging her to focus on his words. He never stopped stroking her hair in hopes that maybe physical connection might help as well. His eyes met Grant’s and his frown grew heavier. The thought of her somehow getting caught wherever she was scared the bloody hell out of him. She might think they needed to know each other longer to feel so strongly, but he knew better. He had not been exaggerating in the least when he told her his heart was hers. But then wizards tended to have more insight than most.

  Her mumbled words suddenly stopped and she whispered, “Logan?”

  Thank God. “Aye, lass, I’m here.” He tilted up her chin but like before her gaze seemed distant. “Can you see me, Cassie?”