Midnight Sky (The Wolf's Bane Saga Book 3)

by M. Katherine Clark

  “I donnae want you here alone,” Tristan replied.

  “Donnae worry about me, brother. I will be well,” Eion said. “Go. Leave me to my own devices.”

  “If you are sure,” Tristan said.

  “Aye, aye,” Eion waved him off.

  “I will make the announcement that in my absence you are leader,” Tristan replied. “I will phase at night when the moon is high in case you have need of me.”

  “I will do you proud,” Eion said.

  “I ken you will,” Tristan answered. “Be well, brother. Feel better. We will tell you when we arrive.”

  ***

  “Oh Loeiza, he is beautiful,” Eithne gushed over the perfect little baby wrapped in his father’s plaid sleeping in his mother’s arms.

  Loeiza looked up at her and grinned. Both she and Gregor looked as if they had been through a battle, but as the hulking highland warrior knelt beside his wife and kissed his sleeping prince’s forehead, he looked as awe struck as any new father. Watching the love flow between them, Weylyn held Eithne close to him remembering when she had given him the greatest news and when he stayed by her side through the birth of their first child.

  As if sensing his thoughts, Eithne leaned into him. She smiled and reached for his hand that circled her shoulders and kissed it. At that moment, the sleeping prince woke and began to cry. Loeiza hushed the babe but the women knew that cry.

  “We will leave you both in peace,” Isla said shooing the men out of the door before Loeiza silenced the pup at her breast.

  Once out in the hallway, Caylean and Giorsal came out of their room and joined them.

  “How is she?” Giorsal asked.

  “She is healthy and the babe is strong,” Isla confirmed then looking at her son, she spoke again. “We should give thanks to the gods for a safe delivery.”

  Caylean nodded and squeezed his mate’s hand. Following his mother down the stairs, out of the keep and toward the standing stones on the land, they were joined by the Sutherland druid brothers to give thanks to the gods.

  Chapter

  Twenty-Three

  “Notch the arrow, aye, just like that, love,” Caylean encouraged. “Now hold tight to the grip,” he covered Giorsal’s hand with his holding the bow tighter. “Aye, good, now see the target? How far do you think that is?”

  “Thirty paces,” she answered.

  “Nearly,” he replied. “Now draw the bow, keep your elbow turned out,” he gently twisted her left arm, “Good, pull it back,”

  “I cannae pull any farther,” she said. Gently he slipped his fingers over hers and pulled the string back further.

  “Keep it level to your chin,” he answered kissing the spot. Giorsal rolled her eyes.

  “You distract me, husband,” she said.

  “Aye, deliberately,” he replied kissing her neck. “Now when you feel like you can strike the target, let go,” he breathed hotly in her ear making her quiver and letting the arrow fly. It flew wide of the target and landed in the grass. He chuckled. Turning around to face him like a fierce kitten, Giorsal huffed.

  “You distracted me and made me release too soon,” she complained.

  “Aye, I did,” he answered.

  “Why?” she demanded.

  “Do you think there will be nae distractions on the field of battle?” he asked. “There will be many. You must focus your mind and donnae let anything distract you. No’ even your need for me.”

  Raising her head with a shake to move her luscious golden locks out of her face, she stared at him.

  “Again,” she said.

  Quirking a smirk, he nodded once and gestured for her to turn and continue. Taking a deep breath, she focused her mind clear of thoughts of her husband. She notched an arrow and turned to the target. Caylean pulled her back to be flush against him. Gasping she dropped the arrow.

  “You donnae play fair,” she said.

  “I donnae intend to,” he answered.

  “I donnae believe you would be able to strike the target if you were as distracted as I,” she said.

  “Oh?” He asked.

  “Aye,” she replied. Nodding slowly, Caylean waited. In one swift movement, he had relieved her of the bow, grabbed an arrow from the quiver and fired, striking the target straight in the middle.

  Giorsal stood there with her mouth agape. Turning back to her, Caylean leaned down and closed his mouth over hers. She was breathless when he pulled back.

  “You are right,” he teased. “I was nae as distracted as you. I was more so. For I had need to kiss you since we began this and now I find that I need far more.”

  Giorsal stood straight and looked him in the eyes.

  “Then I suppose you should help me strike the target quickly, for I tell you husband, I will nae allow you to take me to bed until I am able to strike the target,” she said.

  Caylean groaned. “You donnae play fair, my love.”

  “I donnae intend to,” she answered slipping her hand down his arm and retrieving the bow. “Are you to help me husband?”

  ***

  Alexina walked up to her husband standing by the window of their room.

  “What has your rapt attention my love?” she asked looking out the window to see Caylean lean down to kiss Giorsal. “Ah I see,” she walked back to the chest she was packing for their journey back to their lands. “You donnae wish for our daughter to learn to defend herself with human weapons?”

  “I would rather no’ see their affection, it only confirms what I ken in my heart,” he said.

  “You donnae wish to think of our daughter with him?” Alexina asked. “Or do you prefer no’ to think of her in the throes of passion with her husband.”

  “Aye, that,” he answered.

  “’Tis nae different than us, my love,” she answered.

  “Nay ’tis very different, you are my mate, she is my daughter,” he replied.

  “But she is his mate,” she said. “And to them ’tis nae different. So, what is it that is really bothering you, my love?”

  Tristan huffed and turned away from the window just as Giorsal began training again.

  “The lad dinnae ask my permission,” he stated.

  “I believe you ken why that is, Tristan,” Alexina replied. “He dinnae intend for it to happen but she is like her mother, she seduced him.”

  “You dinnae seduce me, woman,” Tristan teased.

  “Did I no’?” she asked.

  Shaking his head, Tristan chuckled. “She is strong like you,” he said. “Caylean had no chance of avoiding her once she put her mind to it. And I am sure he loves her very much. I just would prefer no’ to ken what they do behind their closed door.”

  “Giorsal is very happy with him, Tristan,” Alexina said. “Be happy that we still have her. If Caylean had nae been there,” she shivered. “We could have lost her in more ways than one.”

  Crossing the room to hold his wife, he placed her head on his chest and held her tightly.

  “I ken and I am so very sorry for it,” he said. “I should have been there. I should have protected her better. That will always be a black mark on my heart.”

  “Nay, there is nothing you could have done differently,” she replied. “You were following her but she ran off the path. I just thank the gods every day that she was saved.”

  “Aye, the second time I was nae there for her and another was,” he spat out.

  Alexina pulled back and looked up at him. Tristan could not meet her eyes.

  “What is this?” she asked. “Why do you say that?”

  “Nothing, never mind I did nae mean it,” he replied.

  “You said it so you meant it,” Alexina said. “What did you mean by it?”

  “I just…” he huffed. “’Tis petty I ken but I should have always been there for her. I was nae there for her birth and now I was nae there for her when she was nearly killed. What kind of father does that make me?”

  Alexina looked up at him mouth hanging open.


  “How dare you speak of yourself like that,” she breathed. “You are the most wonderful father I have ever kenned. You sacrificed your freedom, thinking you would go to your death just to protect me and your child. You were there. You sent Weylyn with us. Kenning we needed someone to be there for us, you had the foresight to ask him to protect us. I will nae allow you to disparage yourself. And I will nae allow you to begrudge Weylyn his part in our story.”

  “I donnae begrudge him,” Tristan stated. “I just wish that I had been there.”

  “And you hold yourself accountable for that?” she asked. “’Twas nae your doing.”

  Tristan stepped back and closed his eyes.

  “But it happened. I cannae take it back, I was nae there for the birth of my child. My eldest,” tears gathered in his eyes and Alexina froze feeling her heart lurch at her husband’s obvious distress. Gregor had been there for the birth of his first but Tristan had not. He had never said anything before. She did not know he hated himself so. There had only been one other time she had seen him cry and that was when he had to kill his kin. Turning his back nearly disgusted with himself for showing tears, Tristan pinched his nose with his forefinger and thumb.

  He felt his wife’s small hand on his arm. Taking a deep breath, he turned to her. Alexina wrapped her arms around his waist and held tightly to him, resting her head on his chest.

  “You ken how much I love you?” she asked. He finally wrapped his arms around her and held on.

  “Aye, lass, I do,” he answered.

  “Nay, truly how much I love the man you have become? We may be frozen in time, my love, but you have aged to the man I kenned you would be when I first saw you,” Alexina said.

  Tristan said nothing but his arms tightened around her. Holding each other for a long time, they did not pull away until they heard their daughter’s laugh followed by a door closing. Tristan sighed and pushed back from her.

  “’Tis glad I am that she is happy,” he said. “’Tis merely that it is difficult to give her up.”

  “I ken,” she answered. “But she is still here with us even after being given immortality. That should tell you she cares a great deal for us.”

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  “And I love you,” Alexina answered. “Every day I am thankful to the gods for letting us be together.”

  After a moment of silence, Tristan continued. “I donnae ken what will happen when we return home, but ken this, whatever happens we have a plan,” Tristan said.

  “A plan?” Alexina asked. “What do you mean? What is going to happen?”

  Tristan shook his head. “I will tell you when the time comes,” he offered.

  Chapter

  Twenty-Four

  Tristan had never felt so at home as when he passed the gates of his keep. Taking a deep breath, he looked around and smiled.

  “Welcome home, Alpha,” Blane’s wife, Odara called as she hung one of Blane’s tunics on the wire to dry.

  “’Tis good to be home, Odara,” he said. Passing the training area, Blane and another wolf stopped sparing and looked up.

  “Welcome back, Alpha!” Blane shouted. “You were missed.”

  “I look forward to besting you in the arena, Blane. It has been too long,” Tristan shouted winking at his friend.

  “Ha! Aye I look forward to it,” Blane shouted back. “Perhaps later today I could meet with you in your solar, Alpha.”

  Tristan’s brow furrowed, but he nodded. Blane was a quiet male with an ear to the ground. If he asked for time to speak with him, Tristan always made time. Hopeful that nothing happened while he was away, Tristan headed up the steps. Eion stepped forward.

  “Welcome home, brother,” he embraced Tristan. “How is our sister?”

  “Delivered of a healthy lad,” Tristan explained. “Both are well.”

  “’Tis glad I am,” Eion answered. “Come, I have ordered a feast be prepared, you must all be hungry.”

  “I thank you, Eion,” Tristan replied. “How have things been?”

  “Quiet,” he said. “There were MacRae’s in the area. I am nae sure if they have found Galbraith. I have nae wanted to send any wolves to that area to scout.”

  “You did well, Eion, thank you,” Tristan said. “I will speak with those on patrol later. I hoped all was well, for a few days I had nae been able to speak with you.”

  “Aye, I apologize, brother,” Eion said. “I spared heavily with some wolves as soon as I was feeling better. It exhausted me.”

  “How are you feeling?” Tristan asked.

  “Much better, it must have been something I ate,” he said. “But come now. Let us feast. Gloaming is fast approaching.”

  ***

  Wine and ale flowed as the pack feasted for the return of their alpha and celebrating for Loeiza’s and Gregor’s child. Music played and couples danced.

  Toward the end of the evening, Tristan sat beside his brother panting.

  “You dance well, brother,” Eion smiled.

  “Aye, my mate helps me look better, she is so lovely I ken other’s eyes are on her and nay me,” Tristan said.

  “I see,” Eion chuckled.

  “You have nae drank your ale, brother,” Tristan said leaning forward and grabbing his ale. Sloshing it onto his tunic, he cursed but then drank it dry. “I have missed this,” he raised the empty cup and promptly hiccupped.

  “You have drunk much, Tristan,” Eion stated. “Should you perhaps go to bed?”

  “Hmph, I am fine,” Tristan slurred.

  Weylyn came up beside them and took the cup from Tristan.

  “Tha’ was mine,” he whined clearly being well into his cups as well.

  “Nay, it was nae, ’twas mine,” Tristan slurred.

  “Nay,” Weylyn argued. “And I will never say otherwise.”

  “Do ye challenge me?” Tristan demanded.

  “Aye, join me outside if ye dare,” he answered.

  Both men stood and stumbled out of the keep. Eion stayed seated, his mind too focused on other things to find their behavior odd.

  Chapter

  Twenty-Five

  Caylean woke to a hand slipping over his mouth. His eyes changing to red, his druid self coming to the forefront. Seeing Weylyn before him, a finger to his lips, he calmed and nodded once. Weylyn motioned with his hand that he needed him.

  Glancing at his mate sleeping beside him, Caylean gently shook her awake. Giorsal woke softly, scrambling to make sure she was covered seeing Weylyn in their room. Caylean put a finger to his lips and she nodded.

  Weylyn turned his back and waited as they dressed.

  “What is it?” Caylean whispered.

  “We need you,” Weylyn said. “Your mother asked for you.”

  “What has happened?” Giorsal asked as she watched Caylean dress as a druid instead of a wolf.

  “Something is happening outside the wall,” Weylyn said.

  “Did you ken something like this would happen, seanair?” Caylean asked. “I saw you and Tristan pretending to be well into your cups this eve.”

  “Aye, we needed several people in the pack to think we were incapacitated,” Weylyn explained.

  “I felt something was wrong when we arrived home,” Caylean said. “I need a moment to prepare.”

  “Meet me on the battlements,” Weylyn stated. “Quickly.”

  When Caylean and Giorsal were alone, she stood and pulled out her bow from behind the chest.

  “What are you doing?” Caylean asked calmly meditating with his eyes closed.

  “You donnae think I will let you go by yourself, do you?” she asked.

  “You are nae accompanying me, my love,” Caylean said. “I am nae going to stand by and allow you to put yourself in danger.”

  “You are nae allowing me to do anything, Caylean,” Giorsal replied. “I am coming,” she pulled on her hunter green cloak over her silver blue gown that reached to the floor. Holding her bow in her hand, she strapped the quiver to her
back and turned to her husband.

  Caylean had pulled half of his shoulder length hair back, his tunic was long and tan colored and his dark brown cloak covered his arms. Sighing once, he reached into the chest and pulled out a circular leaf wreath. The gold color surprised Giorsal and when he lifted it and placed it on his head it was like a change came over him.

  Once he was ready, he turned to her and they headed out to the battlements.

  ***

  “What in the name of the gods are you doing here, Giorsal?” Tristan demanded.

  “I am with my mate,” she replied.

  “This is nae a place for you,” Tristan answered. “Go below.”

  “Nay,” she raised her head in defiance.

  “I said, go below,” his Alpha order made her quake.

  “Tristan, it would help me to have her here,” Isla said. “Please release her from your order.”

  “Why? She does nae belong up here, she could get hurt,” Tristan replied.

  “I would never let anything happen to her,” Caylean swore.

  Tristan sighed harshly.

  “Just this once,” he finally replied. “I release you, Giorsal. You may stay if you would like.”

  “Thank you, Papa,” she said.

  “What are we dealing with, Tristan?” Caylean asked.

  “About thirty druids,” Tristan replied.

  “Have they made any demands?” he asked.

  “Nay,” Tristan answered. “They have merely stood there.”

  Caylean nodded. Placing a hand on his wife’s arm, he nodded to her. Giorsal stayed slightly behind him. Stepping forward, Caylean saw them. All similarly dressed as he was, some of them wore fur pelts to keep them warm while others wore long cloaks. The men had long beards and looked Germanic. During Caylean’s time with Dagda, he had travelled far and wide in the spirit realm and had visited Germany or as it was called in his current time; Rhineland.

  He raised his hands to them. Looking up, they immediately knelt in a bow.

  “I am Caylean, Lord of Loch Alsh, student of Dagda, Supreme Lord of Erin. Who speaks for you?” Caylean called.