Moonstruck Masness
Page 39
Sabrina grabbed Richard's hand and ran from the room, the evilly grinning skulls dancing in the light behind them. They ran through the darkness of the narrow passageway, slipping on the rocks as they skidded down it. Richard missed his footing once, falling painfully to his knees, but Sabrina jerked him to his feet before he knew what had happened, her sense of urgency spurring them on faster. They breathed a sigh of relief as they came out into the lighted main cavern, and not stopping to rest, Sabrina urged Richard on through it, her heart jumping in terror as she heard the cry of rage echoing behind them. She remembered it from the battlefield, and knew MacElden was out for their blood as he gave the war cry.
As they cleared the tunnel that opened into the hillside, Sabrina stopped in disbelief. Ewan had lied to them—the mists had lifted, she could see sky above them and in the distance through the trees the rim of the lake shimmering silver.
They ran down the hillside, fear quickening their steps as they scurried like rabbits through the pine trees and around outcroppings of rock until they reached the lake's edge.
"What do we do now?" Richard cried, looking back over his shoulder fearfully, expecting to see the crazed Highlander come charging down on them any second.
"Help me, Dickie," Sabrina called as she struggled to pull the small boat across the beach. Richard grunted as he pulled and pulled along with Sabrina until they finally managed to get the boat in the water. Jumping in, they slowly floated away from the shore, but not before Sabrina saw the glinting of Ewan MacElden's broadsword through the trees, and a spot of plaid near the shore.
They paddled wildly as they tried to move the boat across the lake, the water splashing noisily as they struggled. Sabrina looked up startled as Richard cried out in fear, looking over her shoulder to see another boat leave the shore with a kilted figure rowing smoothly through the water in pursuit of them.
"Together, Richard, together," Sabrina cried, tears of frustration and fear streaking her face as they moved jerkily through the water. But suddenly the little boat began to move steadily and faster towards the opposite shore where they could see the familiar ruins of the castle.
"We're in the current!" Sabrina cried out, new hope surging through her as she saw the distance lengthen between the two boats as they neared the shore. The boat scraped bottom abruptly, throwing them to the floor as it beached. Richard scrambled out, giving Sabrina a helping hand as they stumbled over the rocky shore towards the concealment of the ruins of the castle. They ran along the narrow path they had traveled on only the day before and breathlessly fell into the castle grounds. They would never have made the cover of the trees along the shore or have made it back up into the glen.
Sabrina tried to catch her breath as she stared between two large blocks of granite at the empty lake. She could see the two boats bobbing on the shore, but there was no sign of Ewan MacElden.
Richard pressed against her as they hid under the overhanging stairwell and waited. Sabrina cursed beneath her breath at the cries of the gulls protesting their presence and certain to give their hiding place away.
"Rina," Richard whispered brokenly, his voice shaking with fear, "I'm sorry." Tears trickled from his eyes as he hunched beside her, his face white as a sheet.
Sabrina put her arm over his shaking shoulders protectively. "It's all right, Dickie, I don't blame you, love."
Richard sniffed, taking deep gulps of air as he tried to control his sobs. Sabrina rocked his body back and forth trying to calm him, when suddenly she stilled as she heard the sound of a foot striking stone. She could feel Richard's uncontrollable shaking as they crouched together, frozen with fear.
The terrible scream directly behind them frightened Sabrina until all she could hear was the pounding of her blood in her ears, and looking up she screamed in pure terror as she saw Ewan MacElden swinging his broadsword from the top of the crumbling wall above them, his eyes blazing with blood-lust as he screamed and jumped down behind them. He raised his claymore and began to run towards them. Sabrina pulled Richard behind her, shielding his body with hers and prepared to feel the cold blade cut into her body. But before he reached them a loud shot rang out, and with a stunned look on his face, Ewan MacElden fell to his knees, his broadsword clanging against the broken stones of the castle as he fell forward onto the ground, his plaid spread out across his arm and claymore.
Sabrina stared at the dead man in disbelief, not hearing the running footsteps that came up quickly to where she and Richard still knelt against the ruins.
"Sabrina, my love," Lucien said hoarsely as he pulled her up into his arms and held her body to his tightly, as if making sure she really existed.
Sabrina looked up into his scarred face, her violet eyes full of shock and disbelief. "Lucien?" she whispered, her hands holding on to him desperately. "You are here?" she asked in confusion as she managed to drag her eyes away from his face and saw Terence holding Richard against his chest comfortingly.
She looked back up at Lucien, her eyes taking in every detail of his tired face. "You came, you came when I needed you. Oh Lucien, I don't ever want to leave you again. Never let me go, please," she pleaded tearfully as she buried her face against his shoulder, blocking out the chilling scene of poor Ewan MacElden.
Sabrina smiled shyly at Lucien as he sat down on the edge of the bed in her room at the inn in Timere. Richard was asleep in the other room, his little face drained of emotion as he mechanically ate his dinner and then without argument allowed Lucien and Terence to put him to bed. Sabrina sighed as she remembered this morning, pain darkening her eyes to purple.
"Try not to think about it, Sabrina," Lucien advised as he took the tea tray off her lap and placed it on a table nearby. "The poor fool is better off dead."
"I keep remembering how he saved my life so long ago, only now to try and take it," Sabrina said sadly. "Do you know, I won't be sorry to leave here. Once I would've given anything to have been able to return to the Highlands, but now all I want is to return to Camareigh and Rhea."
"And me?" Lucien asked softly. "Would you want to return to me?"
Sabrina looked up into his sherry eyes, humbled for the first time in her life. "I would like to return to you, if you want me. I know you do not love me, but," Sabrina hesitated, swallowing painfully, "it does not matter as long as I can be with you. Lucien."
"Oh, Sabrina, little love," Lucien spoke against her ear as he pulled her into his arms and held her against his breast. "I have loved you since we kissed in the fields at Verrick House."
At her start of surprise he laughed. "I was all kinds of a fool, and I knew in your anger you would never believe that I would've married you even if my inheritance had not depended upon it."
Sabrina's violet eyes were wide with astonishment as she Stared at him.
"I decided not to pressure you, to give you time to learn to love me all over again, only your stubbornness and pride stood in the way, as well as my temper." He put his hand under her chin and held her face to his. "I love you, Sabrina, and I will not live without you. Do you think you can find it in your heart to forgive me?" he asked gravely, his eyes clinging to hers, waiting for an answer.
Sabrina clasped her hands around his neck and looked deeply into his eyes, her violet eyes mirroring her deepest feelings. "I missed you desperately, Lucien, and I longed for you to come to me. I thought if ever I got back to Camareigh I would do anything to try and make you love me. My pride be damned, life isn't worth living without you, Lucien," Sabrina confessed, then touching her lips to his softly, whispered, "I love you, and if you'll have me, this time I'll gladly give you a son."
Lucien laughed, holding her close to him, loving the feel of her soft body against his. "The sun is indeed shining in the Highlands today, for Richard has found his treasure, and I. . ." He paused, kissing Sabrina lingeringly. "I have found mine."