Oath of a Scottish Warrior

by Sky Purington

  “Well then let me at least say sorry for the lass I stole so long ago. I didnae know you felt so strongly.” Rònan sighed. “Even if you hadn’t, I never should’ve gone near her.”

  Darach eyed him for a long moment before he nodded. “Aye, lad. Like Erin said, ‘twas a long time ago and ‘tis well past time that I let it go. Besides…” His eyes went to Erin then back to Rònan. “You ended up with a far better one.”

  “Thanks, Sweetie,” Erin said. “And while I’m glad you boys have made up, I still want to know what’s going on. I get that you’re trying to push Jackie away to keep her safe but she’s wearing a ring. That means she can only end up with a MacLomain wizard, right? Last time I checked, you’re the only one left.”

  “I think there’s a way around that,” Darach said softly. “Something that has to do with shifting the passion betwixt us to another.” He pointed to the corner of his eye. “Because of her birthmark.”

  The crown shaped birthmark! She had forgotten about that.

  “Passion shifted because of a birthmark?” Logan frowned. “I dinnae ken.”

  “Is this why Adlin told me in the Otherworld that you would soon hand off the sword to another...that you must... but he never said why?”

  “Aye,” Darach whispered. There was no mistaking the fresh round of pain that entered his eyes. “Now that I know Adlin supported my decision with the blade I cannae share more. Not yet. Mayhap never.” He shook his head. “Jackie is safe where she is.” He met his cousins’ eyes before meeting Erin’s. “All is well enough for now. I’m bloody proud of you, lass. Verra much so.”

  “Back at ya.” She narrowed her eyes. “You know I love you no matter what you're going through, right? That I’m here for you?” Her eyes flickered from his cousins then back to him. “All of us are.”

  “Aye. I know.” He hugged her before he squeezed Rònan’s shoulder then strode off the wall walk.

  Erin knew he needed space but she wasn’t above saying to Niall and Logan, “You two should go after him. He’s fighting some demons and needs support.”

  “Aye,” they agreed before turning to Cassie and Nicole.

  “Go on,” Nicole said to Niall. “Erin’s right. Darach could likely use some guy time. We’ll catch up with you later.”

  “Aye then, lass,” Niall said.

  The men kissed their women then left.

  Her friends had been amazingly quiet up to this point but it was clear both sensed she was ready for some time alone with Rònan.

  “Why don’t we go find something to eat, Nicole?” Cassie suggested.

  “You read my mind.” Nicole gave a little wave to everyone before she wrapped elbows with Cassie and winked at Erin. “Enjoy your man. We’ll see you guys in a bit.”

  Erin nodded. “You bet.”

  After they left, she eyed her Viking posse who stood on either side of the wall walk doing their best to give the family privacy. First she went to Tait and cupped his cheeks. “So what do you think? Can I handle myself alone now?” She nodded over her shoulder at Rònan. “He’s pretty devoted considering we're mated and all.”

  “So it seems.” Tait narrowed his eyes at Rònan nonetheless. “I could love you far better, woman.” The corner of his lip shot up. “And please you much better.”

  Erin ignored Rònan’s growl and shook her head before hugging Tait and whispering, “You wish, Gorgeous.”

  That, it seemed, was exactly what Tait needed to hear because he puffed up and shot Rònan a triumphant look.

  Erin met Tait’s eyes. “Thank you for all you did for me, my friend.”

  Before he could respond, she went to Bjorn.

  Unlike Tait, he had trouble meeting her eyes.

  “Hey?” Erin gripped his forearms and angled her head until their eyes met. When they did, she was surprised by his emotions. She might've thought Tait was the dragon for her in a pinch but little did she know that there was one who cared for her every bit as much as Rònan.

  A dragon who thought himself in love.

  “Bjorn,” she whispered and cupped his cheeks. “You had to know I was never the girl for you.” She stood on her tip-toes and brought his ear down close to her mouth. Who cared if they spoke within the mind, it felt more natural. “Just wait until you see who you end up with. She’s gonna be something else.”

  When she sank back down and their eyes met, she winked.

  The corner of Bjorn’s lip twitched, the first inkling of a smile she had seen since meeting him. His eyes stayed with hers before they met Rònan’s, sizing him up yet again before his gaze returned to Erin. Their gaze held for several moments before he nodded.

  True to form, he made a firm declaration. “I feel you are safe.” He looked at Tait. “We must go.”

  Bjorn embraced Rònan swiftly and ordered Tait to do the same before both men bowed to Erin, leapt into the air and shifted. She went to the railing and waved as they flew into the moonlight and vanished.

  Erin couldn’t help it.

  She cried.

  Not loud and obnoxious, just a few tears. Tears that meant everything. Those dragons had protected her every inch of the way without expecting a thing in return. Yet what she thought was only going to be a few tears turned out to be more as Rònan held her from behind.

  “I had my girls in the twenty-first century, women who had my back,” she whispered. “But those Vikings gave me as much loyalty if not more without even knowing me.”

  “’Tis what we dragons do,” he murmured. “We protect our own.”

  “I know,” she whispered, eying the horizon for another long moment before she turned in his arms. Her eyes rose to his. “Thank you, Rònan. Not only for protecting me as well as they did but… for loving me so perfectly.”

  “Perfectly?”

  “Yeah.” She put her hands on his chest and kept her eyes with his. “You did this thing between us right every step of the way.”

  His brows lowered. “I wasnae trying to do anything right or wrong, lass.”

  “And that’s what made it so perfect.” She cupped the sides of his neck. “You followed your heart and I love you for it.”

  He lifted her onto the edge. Instead of pressing his obvious arousal against her, he cupped her cheeks and held her eyes, concerned. “You knew that protecting Robert would mean losing your voice, didn’t you?”

  “Yeah.” She nodded, thinking nothing of it. “I would’ve given my life for that kid.”

  “I know you would have. You verra nearly did.” His eyes searched hers, still worried. “Are you truly all right, lass?”

  She answered without hesitation and with all her heart. “Rònan, I’m better than I’ve ever been and though it’s disconcerting as hell not being able to talk…I still am, aren’t I?”

  “Aye.” His lips brushed hers. “You are.” A small smile came to his lips. “And you’re still able to sing. We all heard it when your dragon was protecting the Bruce. And ‘tis even more beautiful within the mind.”

  Erin swallowed a rush of emotion. Outside of mating with Rònan, it had been the most intense experience of her life. But right now it wasn’t about her.

  “I never would’ve tried singing if you hadn’t given me the idea at the Viking fortress,” she reminded.

  “I just wanted you to know that all wasn’t lost if—”

  She put a finger to his lips and shook her head. “Like my Dad, you encouraged me to never give up on my dream no matter what life threw at me,” she murmured. “Thank you for that.”

  “You dinnae need to thank me, lass,” he said softly. “Like your Da, I understood ‘twas not a dream to let go of.”

  “Apparently not.” She pulled him in for several soft kisses before she pulled back, concerned. “Do you think Darach is going to be okay? And what’s with Jackie and the Viking?”

  Rònan cupped her cheeks, eyes never more serious. “We will protect those we love. So whatever is happening with Darach and Jackie, we’ll be there every step of the wa
y. Your family is mine as mine is yours.”

  “You promise?”

  “I promise, my wee dragon,” he whispered before he closed his lips over hers.

  Erin might have murmured a thousand times how much she loved him. That she had fallen in love with him. But dragons were dragons.

  They took what they wanted.

  She wrapped her legs around him. He slammed her back against the wall.

  He growled.

  She growled.

  The perfect thing about being dragon mates? Words were no longer necessary. The love they rediscovered was thorough, timeless, endlessly lustful and theirs for all eternity.

  Untouchable.

  So though the enemy had not been defeated, it now had a face.

  A face that would be remembered by the dragons it had tried to destroy.

  In the end, the oath of a Scottish warrior had nothing to do with what he set out for but everything he ultimately needed.

  True love, a mate, and someone to share a future with.

  The End

  Determined to keep Jackie protected from the dark demi-god, Darach flees MacLomain Castle without telling anyone his destination. As foretold by Celtic Goddess Brigit, that should have made the enemy pursue him. But nothing is as it seems. When he learns the demi-god isn’t after him but chased Jackie to ninth-century Scandinavia, he races to get there only to find something unexpected. Things have changed. There might be hope for them. Maybe he can finally be with her. After all, he’s been dreaming about her for years. The only problem? There’s another man involved. One that Darach insisted she be with. Viking Heidrek.

  Find out how everything unfolds in Passion of a Scottish Warrior, the final installment in The MacLomain Series: Later Years. Coming May 16th, 2016. Available now for pre-order.

  The MacLomain Series

  Later Years

  Quest of a Scottish Warrior (Logan’s story)

  Honor of a Scottish Warrior (Niall’s story)

  Oath of a Scottish Warrior (Rònan’s story)

  Passion of a Scottish Warrior (Darach’s story)

  Previous Releases

  ~The MacLomain Series- Early Years~

  Highland Defiance- Book One

  Highland Persuasion- Book Two

  Highland Mystic- Book Three

  ~The MacLomain Series~

  The King’s Druidess- Prelude

  Fate’s Monolith- Book One

  Destiny’s Denial- Book Two

  Sylvan Mist- Book Three

  ~The MacLomain Series- Next Generation~

  Mark of the Highlander- Book One

  Vow of the Highlander- Book Two

  Wrath of the Highlander- Book Three

  Faith of the Highlander- Book Four

  Plight of the Highlander- Book Five

  ~The MacLomain Series- Later Years~

  Quest of a Scottish Warrior- Book One

  Honor of a Scottish Warrior- Book Two

  Oath of a Scottish Warrior- Book Three

  Passion of a Scottish Warrior- Book Four

  ~The MacLomain Series- Viking Ancestors~

  Viking King- Book One

  Viking Claim- Book Two

  Viking Heart- Book Three

  ~The MacLomain Series- Viking Ancestors’ Kin~

  Coming Summer of 2016

  Rise of a Viking- Book One

  Vengeance of a Viking- Book Two

  Soul of a Viking- Book Three

  Fury of a Viking- Book Four

  ~Calum’s Curse Series~

  The Victorian Lure- Book One

  The Georgian Embrace- Book Two

  The Tudor Revival- Book Three

  ~Holiday Tales~

  Yule’s Fallen Angel

  + Bonus Novelette, Christmas Miracle

  ~Forsaken Brethren Series~

  Darkest Memory- Book One

  Heart of Vesuvius- Book Two

  ~Song of the Muses Series~

  Highland Muse

  About the Author

  Sky Purington is the best-selling author of over twenty novels and several novellas. A New Englander born and bred, Sky was raised hearing stories of folklore, myth and legend. When combined with a love for nature, romance and time-travel, elements from the stories of her youth found release in her books.

  Purington loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at Sky@SkyPurington.com. Interested in keeping up with Sky's latest news and releases? Visit Sky's website, http://www.skypurington.com to download her free App on iTunes and Android or sign up for her quarterly newsletter. Love social networking? Find Sky on Facebook and Twitter.