“He had two blades,” Keenan said

by Editor

  “Who’s that?” Brodick asked suspiciously.

  “I ken that old man should put his coins away,” Gavin said and moved his hand to the hilt of his sword.

  Keenan watched two men dismount and greet King Will with formal bows. One quick glance told him Serena’s door was still closed. He turned back to watch King Will motion them to sit down. Both visitors were dark of complexion, much like the entire Faw tribe, except Serena. They must be Romany, perhaps from a neighboring tribe.

  The older man did most of the talking while the younger man surveyed the area. He looked strong, could possibly make a good warrior. His eyes were piercing, searching. As he moved from one end of the lit camp to another, he finally came to Keenan. The two men locked gazes. Keenan felt the man weigh him, judge his capabilities. Keenan shifted his weight into a battle stance, legs apart, arms at his side, ready to move toward his weapons. He moved with the natural reaction of a warrior. Something had triggered it. Was the visiting Rom a threat?

  The man spoke without looking away, and King Will glanced over at Keenan. Keenan nodded once to the Faw patriarch. King Will nodded back and then went on talking to the visitors.

  “Thomas,” Keenan said evenly, “find out who they are. Quietly.” Thomas moved off into the opposite direction. He would skirt the area and try to hear the conversation.

  The constant murmur of the small crowd changed, hushed, as the rhythm of the music turned more hypnotic, like undulating waves.

  “Bloody, look at that,” Gavin said in awe, and Keenan turned to see Serena break into the circle of firelight. She wore the same type of gypsy dress she had worn the night he’d met her, but this one shimmered in a shade of blue turned nearly purple by the red glare of the fire. She stretched her arms over her head, bare except for her gloves. The blue silk wrapped around her waist accentuating her trimness and the womanly flare of her hips. The bodice was cut low enough to see her collarbone but not her cleavage. The way the material hugged her breasts was even more enticing than the low necklines that were in courtly fashion.

  Her red hair hung in waves, free to dance around her hips as she moved with the waves of music. Her eyes were half closed like the other time he had watched her. Without conscious thought, Keenan moved forward to stand with the others around the perimeter. Would she feel his presence, the void she had felt the first time? The outline of his scar tightened slightly as he remembered how she had run her fingers down it to read him. He rubbed his jaw.

  Keenan watched her move, her hips and arms, her torso, her feet dressed in leather slippers. Serena mimicked the waves of flame in time to the melody that surrounded them. He heard the tinkling of the small bells tied to a scarf around her tilting hips. As she disappeared on the other side of the fire, Keenan noticed that Gavin and Brodick stood next to him, their mouths open like fish thrown ashore. Thomas stood across the fire with much the same expression.

  “Sweet Lord Almighty, our Serena can dance,” Brodick said.

  “Uh huh,” Gavin answered, the same dim-witted expression marking his face. Keenan frowned as he noticed the appreciative looks of the men around him. Keenan’s hands clenched into tight fists. They were watching Keenan’s woman. He wet his lips remembering the kiss in the cave while the unnatural storm raged.

  The younger Rom visitor stepped forward and caught her hand. No one stopped him. Fury, from watching the men ogle Serena, fed into his need to protect her. Keenan shouldered his way quickly through the onlookers. With one quick grasp of the man’s hand, Keenan flipped his arm off of Serena.

  “Doona touch her,” Keenan warned.

  The man looked mildly amused but Keenan saw the restrained anger in his eyes. Despite his coloring, he would fit in nicely with the snakes at court.

  “I was introducing myself to King Will’s daughter.”

  “She was in the middle of her dance.”

  The man smiled. “I could hardly help myself.” Then the man said something in Romany, something that made Serena look down at her shoes. Had he offended her?

  “I doona speak yer tongue.” Keenan began to pull his long sword from the scabbard across his back until the soft touch of Serena’s hand on his arm stopped him.

  “He didn’t offend me, Keenan.”

  Mari and King Will stepped up next to the visitor. Keenan noticed that Brodick and Gavin flanked him. Thomas stood across, his hand on his sword as well. No one spoke for a long moment as everyone assessed one another.

  Finally Serena spoke. “Keenan Maclean of Kylkern, this is Damin Yallow of the Yallow Romany tribe. He is here,” she stopped as everyone looked at her. “He’s here on family business.”

  “Ye ken this man?” Keenan wanted to run the man through, wanted to face him across a bloody moor, wanted to run him into the ground.

  Damin Yallow’s voice was smooth as he spoke in the lyrical Romany language.

  “In my land, it is rude to speak in a language that isna’ understood by everyone present.”

  Damin turned his gaze away from Serena to lock with Keenan. Controlled annoyance lurked there. “Forgive me. My native language flows more easily from me.”

  “So what are you?” Damin asked Keenan and smiled. “I mean, I know who you are, Keenan Maclean of Kylkern, but what are you to the Faw tribe?” He inclined his head to Serena. “What are you to Serena Faw?”

  Bloody hell, what was he? Keenan’s eyes rose directly to Thomas’s pinched face. What could he say? What was he to Serena? Was he her lover or her soon to be brother? The last one turned his stomach so he threw it out immediately. Was he her soul mate then? Time stood still as he warred with the words in his mind.

  “I,” he began strong and hesitated. “I helped to save William Faw from the false accusation of murderer.”

  “Serena’s brother,” Mari supplied to Damin.

  Damin nodded. “So you are a friend,” he said stressing the title. “A friend to the Faw Tribe. A friend to Serena.”

  He was so much more than that. But what could he say here in front of his men, in front of her family? Did they know that he had claimed her? Keenan looked at Serena. She watched him, her eyes glassed over with some emotion he couldn’t quite understand. She almost seemed to plead with him. But what did she want him to do?

  Keenan felt himself nod. “Aye, I am a friend and protector.”

  Mari seemed to release her breath as she took Serena’s arm. “Yes, and a very fine protector at that. He’s brought my daughter home to us and has my son safely up in his brother’s castle.”

  “My thanks to you, then,” Damin Yallow said. His eyes followed Serena as Mari turned her toward the wagons.

  “Good eve, men,” Mari called out. Serena looked back at Keenan over her bare shoulder. Were those tears in her eyes? Keenan’s chest clenched so tight he thought he might double over. What had just happened? All the Romany filtered away leaving him with his men.

  Ewan walked over from the wagons, a scowl on his face.

  “Rom women only let their husbands touch them,” Ewan grumbled at the dumbstruck Macleans. “What’s going on here?”

  Thomas spoke first. “They only spoke in Rom over there. I couldn’t understand a word. They may have been discussing a couple of milk cows if I understood anything.”

  “I doona like this,” Brodick said low.

  Gavin frowned fiercely. “Why do I feel like we were just in a battle?”

  Keenan slammed his fist into his other palm. Crack. “Because we bloody hell were. And I’m fairly certain that I just lost.”

  ****

  Serena felt the hollowness that a shadow must feel if it had its own consciousness. Her will left her as Mari pulled her along behind her toward a new wagon.

  “Àngelas, you will sleep here tonight.” She indicated the door and smiled. “It is nice inside, comfortable. Look,” Mari said indicating the edges along the wagon, “good sturdy holds for garden boxes. You can have your own.”

  Serena nodded and ran her hand over the side of the wa
gon. “My own gardens,” she trailed off then turned to Mari. “Wouldn’t it be nice, though, to plant seeds in the ground?” Serena indicated the ground around them. Mari looked confused. “There is so much more space.”

  “But you would leave them behind when the camp moved.”

  Serena smiled slightly. “Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to move, but to settle and raise vegetables on the land where you live?”

  Mari shook her head. “Àngelas, that’s not our way. We move on and take what’s ours with us.”

  Serena couldn’t explain to her duy her newly recognized feelings. She was only beginning to realize them herself. Perhaps it was all the travel in the last weeks, perhaps it was the nights of luxury in soft, large beds. But the thought of moving on once again with her tribe or any tribe, made Serena’s head ache.

  “Of course,” Serena said and turned back to the wagon. “It looks sturdy enough to hold many garden boxes.”

  Silence sat between them until Mari’s voice broke into Serena’s thoughts. “You will be happy.”

  Serena turned to her, realizing that her duy had tears in her eyes despite the smile. Serena had been so wrapped up in her own torment that she almost missed the deep sadness of loss underscoring Mari’s hope for her future. Her duy had just found her again, and now she was urging her to move away.

  Serena looked at her. “It is still my decision.”

  Mari nodded and let go of Serena’s arm. “Of course. But please, consider your future.” Mari smoothed one of Serena’s curls that lay along her shoulder. “He’s quite handsome.”

  Serena nodded. “I will consider.” Mari seemed satisfied and left Serena standing there in the darkness, its fresh spring smell calming her. Calming her until she heard the sharp snap of a stick somewhere off to the right behind the wagon. Keenan?

  Damin Yallow stepped from behind a tree. His hands were in the pockets of his coat, his broad shoulders seemed stiff up around his neck. She sensed his nervousness. Luckily he couldn’t sense her disappointment for it was so strong she could taste its bitterness on her tongue.

  “Good Eve, Serena.” His words came out calm.

  The anger, infused by her disappointment, turned on him. “Were you eavesdropping?”

  His eyes opened a bit wider. “No,” he stammered. “I saw you talking over here near the new wagon, and I came this way as your duy left. I just wished to speak alone with you.” He pulled a hand from his pocket and gestured back toward the fire. “Our introduction was strange, uncomfortable. I meant only to start fresh.” With that he bowed gallantly. Upon standing he found her hands in the folds of her gown and cupped them.

  “I am honored to meet you, Serena Faw of the Faw Tribe. I am the eldest son of John Yallow, leader of the Yallow Tribe.” He spoke in the comfortable smooth flow of the Romany language.

  Serena nodded and leaned against the brightly colored side of the wagon. Damin moved closer. “You know why I have come to visit the Faw tribe?”

  “Yes,” Serena said plainly, without encouragement. She was tired, tired of pleading in her mind for Keenan to claim her publicly. Tired of searching for some sign from him that she should risk her heart and go against what her family had clearly laid out for her future.

  Damin pulled a long strand of her hair gently between his thumb and forefinger. “I will officially ask King Will for you in marriage. I will ask him tonight.”

  Serena breathed out slowly and looked up at the handsome, hopeful man. “You don’t know what you are asking for.” Serena touched Damin’s bare arm, closed her eyes, and wove a fine thread through him, seeking, discovering who he was. Details that only he would know.

  “If you speak of your magic, Serena, I know about it. My grandmother could scry the future and had an unnatural ability to judge people. I loved her and our tribe revered her wisdom. The Yallows will welcome you.”

  Strong confident words. Serena nodded.

  “But do you understand the extent of my magic?”

  He looked confused for a moment but then smiled. “I will learn.”

  Time for his first lesson. Serena smiled back. “Good. I know you speak the truth for I’ve read it in you.”

  He raised an eyebrow but smiled encouragingly. Did he believe her when she said she’d read him, or did he think she just played the witch to scare suitors? She sensed it was more the latter, just from his face. When had she begun to read faces, expressions? She never had before. Her chest tightened, Keenan appeared in her mind, but she quickly squelched the image.

  Serena touched Damin’s arms again and could feel his tamped down desire for her. But he was honorable and would hold onto his patience.

  “Yes, you are honorable, Damin.” She smiled. “And an excellent judge of horseflesh.” He raised both eyebrows, but Serena heard his thoughts through the contact and nodded. “Yes, I could have heard that from King Will I suppose, but could my father really know about the foal you brought into the world when you were eight. You were all alone and scared and knew you should find help. But you wanted to be the one to bring the foal into the world. Your pride kept you there even when the mare screamed.”

  Damin’s smile turned stony. “That was a long time ago,” he whispered.

  “Yes, a very long time ago, but it still haunts you. Rides in your mind whenever you see a mare heavy and about to foal, like the one you rode by on your journey here yesterday.”

  Damin just stared at her as if she had grown a hideous wart on her cheek. Serena almost lost her nerve. “I also know that you are excited about this union for it will elevate you in your father’s tribe, once you have a wife and children. You intend to get me pregnant as soon as possible.”

  Damin’s face began to harden. Had she pushed too far? “Do not be angry with me for stating the truth.”

  Damin forced a smile that almost looked real. “Serena, I am not ang…” he began and stopped. “You would know if I was angry inside, if I lied to protect your feelings.”

  “Yes.” Serena nodded. “You are beginning to understand, understand that I have more than just a feeling about things. I know things, Damin. I could know all about you, your thoughts, your secret desires, your past, those feelings you keep deep down inside. I could know them all.”

  He looked at her, tilting his dark head slightly. “You say, could know?”

  Serena glanced down. “I can block your thoughts and emotions from coming to me. It is harder when I touch you skin to skin.” He looked at the gloves tied to her side. “I wear them to mute the images I see when I inadvertently touch someone.”

  “Is it just your hands that are sensitive?”

  “No, my entire body.”

  “So,” he stopped. “So, if we touch skin to skin,” he raised an eyebrow, “you won’t be able to help but read me, read everything I want to,” he hesitated again and cleared his throat a bit. “Everything I want to do to you.”

  Serena took a deep breath in and nodded.

  He raised both eyebrows and grinned. “That has its advantages.”

  Serena couldn’t help but smile at his reaction. “I suppose it could.”

  Damin put his hand out to her. “Here, take my hand. I give you permission to walk your way through me. See me for who I am. I have nothing to hide.”

  Serena laid her hand in his palm. Feelings of worry tangled with excitement. Damin held nothing back. He felt no embarrassment toward her, about her. Only wonder at what Serena could do. Brief images of alliances formed by using her powers, knowing the plans of certain enemies, keeping his tribe safe from trickery and bigotry. These all came along her thread mixed with ideas of dark haired children running around her skirts.

  It was so much that Serena leaned backwards letting the wagon support her. He offered her an honorable life, filled with children and respect, with the potential for love. As Serena opened her eyes, she realized that Damin had moved much closer in the darkness, so close that his lips hovered near hers.

  “That’s it. Open your eyes.�
�� His words sang soft and deep in the chilled air. “I want you to see me, Serena Faw, when I first kiss you.” His lilting Romany words were a luring song promising her a future of happiness.

  Damin’s lips brushed against hers and a course of desire rushed from him. She felt it in her mind, images of how he could make love to her. He would be erotic, gentle, teasing. He tilted her head with his hand so that he could easily slant his mouth against her, deepening the kiss.

  Serena felt the hard planks of wood against her back as he leaned into her slightly. She felt the chill of the air around her legs. She felt the pressure of his body. She heard Chiriklò chirping somewhere high above her. Serena could hear the woods breathing around them as Damin kissed her. Her mind roamed to the scene at the fire and then the lovely wagon she leaned against. What did it look like inside?

  She kissed him back. It was pleasant. He seemed quite the expert at kissing. Serena dove into his mind. There were other pretty girls there, lurking in his memory, one in particular still sat heavy near his heart. Kristina.

  Serena waited for the stab of jealousy to hit her as Kristina’s face surfaced briefly during the kiss. Instead she just felt curiosity. As Damin touched the tip of his tongue to hers, Serena waited for her mind to give way to tumbling heat, but instead she just wondered when she could fit in a breath of air. She must have pulled back slightly because Damin pulled away and smiled at her.

  Serena realized that she must have looked stunned because Damin’s smile turned cocky. “Forgive me, Serena for taking such liberties. I lose control around you.”

  Serena smiled blankly as she worked through the strange kiss. It had been pleasant enough, not forced or awkward. But something was missing, something important. Her smile faltered as she realized that the something missing was Keenan Maclean.

  She closed her eyes to hide the emotion. Damin Yallow had everything to offer her, but her heart didn’t want it. No fire burned in the kiss, nothing hot and rushing to melt her insides, no throbbing desire in the pit of her stomach and below at her core. Serena’s stomach tightened into nausea, a sickly feeling.