Laughter and pounding hit the doors. The women squealed and opened the door. Throwing Ian inside they waited at the doorway. Ian shouted. “Oot! You all oot! Now!” He pushed the men outside. “Women tae!” He growled.
****
He looked at Moira and smiled. “Thank you, Mither.” He grinned and kissed her cheek. “Now oot.” He led the giggling women to the door and lightly shoved them out, closing and locking it. He heard the laughter of men and woman descending the stairs. The party would go on most of the night. He wondered how many bairns would be made tonight.
He shook his head and stared at Elspeth standing in front of the fire. With the light behind her he could see her voluptuous curves through the barely there, nightdress. He was instantly hard, though truthfully, he had been since he got his first glimpse of Elspeth walking toward him on Arthur’s arm.
He licked his lips and told himself to take it slow. He poured wine from the pitcher that was sitting on the table near the bed. He walked slowly to her. Two cups in hand, he held one out to her. He could see she was a little nervous seeking out his silver gaze. He knew she wanted everything perfect. He was glad she hadn’t been sick in a while so he didn’t worry about that any longer. She reached for the cup. He slid his fingers over hers and she shuddered.
“My bonnie wife,” he said huskily. “I could drink you in all night, gaze at your beauty until I go blind, and never, never get enough of you.” He pulled her in for a slow intimate kiss. Breaking away he said, “I have something for you and the bairns I want tae show you. Come.” He took her hand. He unlocked the door that connected to the adjacent chamber, took a torch, and put it on the wall inside the smaller sitting room.
In it were the two cradles he had made for the bairns, dark wood and waxed to a high shine. The room was decked out with furs on the floor, wooden toys on shelves and strewn about. Paintings of puppies and horses and children playing. It held a warm and comfortable feeling. He glanced at her waiting for her response.
“Och, Ian it’s gorgeous.” She walked to the cradles where various sized rattles lay inside them. She picked one up. “This is what you’ve been doing during the days. I dinna ken. These are wonderful. She gazed wide eyed at everything. He beamed and was pleased at her reaction.
“My gift tae you and the bairns,” he said proudly.
“But, I have nothing for you, Ian. I dinna ken.”
“Hush my bonnie wife. You give me the greatest gift. Your love, and—” he placed his hand warmly on her stomach. “—the bairns.” He turned her for a kiss and she squeezed the tears from her eyes as she closed them and met his delicate kiss.
When he broke away he said, “Come, tonight we bond in the way of the fae. Are you ready?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “More than.” And he led her back to the room.
“Come by the fire, we will do it here. Her pulled her night dress off her slowly and removed his clothing.
“Stand in front of me and put your hands tae mine.” He raised his hands up in front of him, palms out. “Look into me eyes.” He stared into her eyes and their bodies touched slightly, tingling.
****
A greenish light slowly surrounded him and that glow grew to encompass her. She felt the heat travel her body and her loins grew heavy. Never breaking eye contact, she felt herself melt into him in a way that engulfed her very being, and before she knew it an orgasm overtook them both sending them in space of a thousand million stars, together they traveled the path and soared, and it felt endless.
She never knew such a thing as wonderful as this could exist. When she didn’t think the pleasure could get any better, they exploded together again, and traveled yet higher. A third orgasm took them, and then another, each time more intense than the one before. It continued until they were two flames floating in the darkness.
They merged together and became one, in an explosion of colors dancing as one large flame, and then they melted in each other’s arms and the light about them faded. When she moaned, Ian brushed the hair from her face.
“It can only happen once for a fae. When they choose their mate. I heard it was extraordinary, but I never realized myself, how so, until tonight. Are you aright?”
“Mmmm,” she purred against his neck. “That was the pinnacle of making love, can we do that again?”
“Nae my bonnie bride, now we spend the rest of our life duplicating it the old-fashioned way.” He gave a deep throaty laugh. “We can start now.”
“I adore that idea, and you. I doona think I can take more withoot you inside me anyway. I would desperately miss that.”
“Our souls united tonight. That is what this is aboot. We have given each other ourselves. I am completely yours, and you mine, and I want what’s mine,” he huskily replied kissing her hard, lifting her off her feet and carrying her to the bed.
Laying her there he climbed over her. She pulled her legs up widening them, showing herself fully to him. He lay atop her between her legs and nestled himself at her core without entering. He leaned down and licked the side of her neck where her vein increased in beats.
Her blood heated up and pooled in her mid-section and she wiggled against him trying for access to his overly large hard erection, and she whimpered. “Not yet, luv. I want tae savor ye.” He licked down her neck to her nipples where he pulled one deep in his mouth, sucking gently, while he used his hand playfully on her other one.
He jerked against her, which in turn made her insides quiver. She tugged at his shoulders, silently begging him to enter her. Instead he kneeled between her legs and pulled her up to his mouth. She gasped. Mating as fae was definitely great, but this was truly her world of pleasure. The feel of his mouth, the feel when he first enters, filling her. The feeling at the pinnacle of release. She moaned. “Please, Ian, inside now.”
Ian chuckled against her, then looked up. “My you are a wee bit in a hurry. I’ll please you lass, of that you can be sure.” Then he dipped his head and continued his ministrations.
Ian was cooling down, at least that is what he told himself. But the taste, the noises she was making, the perfume, and the silkiness of her skin, did nothing to abate his roaring desire to take her. Finally, he moved up and looked at her flush face, and her half-mast eyes. “Aboot time,” she whispered, panting.
That’s all it took, he climbed on top of her, with himself at the precipice of her core, his manhood bounced against her with a mind of its own. If he wasn’t careful it would spill his seed with a mind of its own. Knowing he wouldn’t, couldn’t last, he entered her. They pumped toward each other never breaking eye contact and when they came together this time it was carried with the joining they felt earlier. Ian knew it was yet again different even now, even better that he had joined her in the fae way of bonding. He gently rolled over and pulled her to him, spooning they fell into a blissful deep sleep.
****
The next morning the noise of horses and people talking and laughing, and getting ready to leave, woke the couple. Ian looked at his sleepy wife and she snuggled closer. A knock came to the door and Bradana brought in breakfast. “How are you happily married couple doin’ this fine morn?” she asked setting down the food beside them. “I willna stay long, doona worry. I’m goin’ tae stoke the fire and leave.” It was customary that the newlyweds stay in the room three days and Ian had absolutely no problem with that. “Do you wish a bath, Ian for you and Elspeth?”
He glanced at Bradana, “Yes, that would be great.” He pulled the covers more fully over Elspeth, and she snuggled deeper. “That sounds wonderful,” she mumbled closing her eyes again.
****
Most of the people left that day, though some of the family stayed on to visit for a couple longer. The castle was much quieter. Moira would make her announcement when all the people left. For now, she was enjoying herself, and her family, and children. It was tough to go through the wedding without Lachlan.
Her mind and heart returned to the memories of their marriage day.
It was one of her happiest memories, but she wouldn’t spoil this yet with her announcement, she’d wait until the right time. Until then she would enjoy what she could.
****
It was a few weeks later while at dinner she decided to finally speak. No easy way she thought, but she’d made her decision. Tomorrow most of her sons were leaving for Pendragon in the Wesladus Veil to begin training their men again. It had to be tonight.
She listened at the laughter of her family and knew she would miss them, but she couldn’t go on any longer without Lachlan. She had to decide now while her mind was still intact. She’d somehow bought time, more than anyone else she’d ever known. She was on borrowed time now. She cleared her throat.
“I have an announcement to make.” She waited for the chatter to quiet. When it did she cleared her throat again. “I ken that Ian and Elspeth have agreed to take over control of the McGregor Keep, for which I’m thankful, and ken they will do great here. Och, there’s not an easy way tae say this. I canna live withoot Lachlan any longer. I feel my mind a goin’. I have decided to quit takin’ the blood.”
The group let out a rush of breath in shock. Elspeth leaned toward Ian and whispered. “Doesn’t that mean…?”
“Yes,” replied Ian. “She will grow old within a year and die. Mither, have you thought this through? We all still need you. I doona understand.”
“You of all my family should understand now that you have Elspeth, but nae, you wouldn’t unless you lost her, you want me Ian, none need me as much as I need Lachlan, and he needs me. I ken you doona understand, but you all ken, that when one loses their mate the other dies within days. I have managed a little longer than a year, somehow with my mind intact, and now my time has come. It’s unavoidable.”
The children all talked at once, all in naes and doona, except Ian.
“She has every right,” said Ian. “We’ve all been selfish with Mither. It’s time she had her happiness, she had her mate, our father, we ken what we felt losing him, think how she felt, she wants, no needs, tae be with him. We canna deny her that. You ken it’s the way of our kind.”
“I agree,” said Elspeth. “Kenning what I ken now, I couldn’t live withoot Ian. When I became united with him, I can’t imagine life withoot him. I wouldn’t want someone tae keep me from him. The pull is life itself.”
“Thank you, Ian and Elspeth,” said Moira with tears in her eyes. “I need you tae all understand, and hopefully give me your blessings. I need Lachlan and I feel he needs me. I’ve stayed this long because my love for you all is so great. I feel my mind leaving me and I canna live with that. If I go on, and my mind completely leaves me, you are left with a shell tae care for, and I willna have it.
“Most would have left months ago. I thank the Gods for the extra time I have had with all of you. I need you tae understand. Ian and Elspeth will do great here, and I have no doubt their ability tae care for all of you. I will nae do this withoot your blessings, but ken this is my wish.”
Taryn the logical one spoke first. “I ken not what it is like tae have a mate and go through the binding rituals, but you have always spoken how once done, one canna live withoot the other for long. You have gone to great lengths Mither, for us all. I for one support your decision to be with Da.”
“Thank you, Taryn. I appreciate that.” She wiped at a tear. “It was a hard decision, because of my love for all of you.” She waited to hear what the rest of her family had to say.
Her daughters broke down and cried, but it was Akira who spoke up. “I ken ye love Da. I love Da and miss him too. Even though I will terribly miss you, I support your decision.”
“Being the baby, Akira, that means a lot coming from you.”
The rest of the family said their piece and ultimately gave their consent, save Angus.
“I canna see how love would make someone wish tae die. I canna understand it. Nae. If only for yourself, you should want tae live. I canna support death.”
“Angus, I will nae die, I’m only going to where Lachlan is now. I doona want, nae canna, be apart from him any longer. I ken ye doona understand, but please try. When you find your true mate, you will understand.”
“I will nae give you my blessing, but I will support your decision, even if I doona understand it. You are my Mither, and smart, I ken you have givin us all you can. I will support you, but I doona have tae like it.”
“That’s all I can ask for, Angus, and I thank you for that much. Now I think I will retire. You all have desert. Bradana, please bring it in.”
Bradana was in the shadow of the doorway listening, like she often did, and she knew it. That is why she’d asked for the desert. She rose and left everyone at the table to think about her decision. It was finally out in the open. She only hoped her children could understand.
Making it to the main bedroom she made it inside, closed the door, then slumped down in front of it. She was weakening, she was surprised she hadn’t way before this. Most died within days of their mate’s death. It was unavoidable. She had somehow managed to live this long. Her and Lachlan were so tied together, the web so tight, her mind was with him more and more. She tried to stop it, gods how she tried. She knew she was now losing the battle. She leaned her head back and looked up and whispered. “I’m sorry Lachlan, I held oot as long as I could for the children.
“My mind is goin’ I can feel it. I canna tell them how far it’s progressed. Somehow, I’ve managed to keep what’s happening to me hidden from the children, but I ken I’m losing what little control I had. I canna hide these things any longer, they are going to find out. One minute I’m in the solarium, the next minute I’m in an orchard and I doona ken how I got there. I’ve gone to the kitchen several times to eat something, and cook looks at me strange and says I was just there eating. Two days ago, I woke up standing in the loch, and it was so cold. I doona ken why? I canna have them takin’ care of me. So, I told them, Lachlan, tonight. I have tae go.”
She felt the rush of air pass through her, as she often did when she felt Lachlan’s presence. Then she sat and sobbed. She wanted to be with her children, she wanted to be with her grandchildren, and she wanted Lachlan back with them too.
She knew he would if he could. She felt his anguish and wherever he was, she knew he was proud of her. “Just a little longer, please?” she asked out loud. “Just give me a little more time.” She was always asking for a little more time. But she knew she had made the decision. No, it was coming, she knew it, it was time. Then she sobbed at the loss she felt.
Chapter 33
Pendragon Castle, Wesladus Veil
Cameron was deep in the Grimoire in Merlin’s library. He was thinking about how peaceful things had been these past few months since Angus took over leadership and didn’t need to guard the queen any longer.
Ian was restless of late and his brothers worried about his quiet countenance. But he was also anticipating the birth of his two bairns. The first was always the most worrisome, his mother had said. He was worried about her too. She was aging and becoming forgetful. He didn’t like to see it, but he understood it.
He was reading about how to make magical swords when a portal opened and Merlin came through. “We have major problems,” Merlin said breathlessly. “You need to get your brothers and meet me here.”
Cameron looked up. “Merlin, what now? I knew peace was too much of a good thing.”
“Get your brothers. You think Athdar was bad, you haven’t seen bad. Now go get them.”
“Right away, I’ll be right back.”
The men came through the door while Merlin sat looking at what Cameron was reading, waiting. “Sit boys, we have a big problem. First and foremost, the Grimoire to the Dark is missing, good news is I know who has it. When I did a spell, a certain person was holding it, and I saw him. Juppar Heiwynn. But that’s not the half of it. He is the one who stole the Kearals from Athdar, about a hundred of them. He’s making more as we speak. The thing is, he isn’t like my brother…�
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“That’s good then, isn’t it?” interrupted Dougal.
“No, I’m afraid it’s worse. I saw his eyes and they weren’t just red like a demon’s. They had flames in them.”
“What does that mean?” asked Flynn.
“Nothing good. He’s the God of Dark’s son. He was created by him. It means Juppar Heiwynn has god-like powers. We must stop him. I’m not even sure the God of Light knows about him yet. This is bad, very bad,” said Merlin.
“It’s funny you should mention that,” said Cameron. He pushed the book aside and looked up. “I was just reading about swords, and the only way to kill a god is with Godslayer, The Longsword.”
He continued. “It explains how to make it minus one ingredient, blood from a specific individual, The Peacekeeper. It doesn’t say who that is. Of course, the answer to that is in the other Grimoire. We canna make it, Merlin. It calls for a metal I ne’er heard of afore, called Dharan metal, it comes from the Dharan ruins, from the extinct Dhara race. Do you know where these ruins are?
“They were the only ones to mine it and made many technical gadgets from it. It’s the strongest metal ever made, rare, and holds magical properties. When properly forged it has a golden glow to it. It also calls for fairy dust. The fae don’t have fairy dust. It’s a myth. The fae come from the ancient Fairies, but they don’t match the stories in the myths.”
“Yes, they do,” said Merlin. “You don’t know it, but there are different species of Fairies. Not in the sense of what we know fae to be. Don’t ever call a true fairy a fae, they see it as an insult. These Fairies live in a land cut off from everyone. Their powers have evolved tremendously and are unlike what we know or expect of our fae. Your part comes from the ancients, Tuatha De Danann, these fairies are completely different from you.
“They are Aos Si. Evolved from centuries of change. You are nothing alike. You have the basic power, they have incredible power and magic. I’ll see about the fairy dust. Now what does it say about the blood?”
The Peacekeeper Page 29