“Stand aside,” MacKenzie issued to his torturer and the brutal beast came to attention, his beady black eyes staring back from behind the slit in his helm. With a nod, MacKenzie gripped the prisoner’s sides, gave a shove and sent him slamming back into the wall. The warrior lifted his head and roared, kicked free of the wall and the spikes he’d been impaled on and swung forward. Blood oozed down his back, flowing over the shredded bits of his tunic, his blood dripping into a pool of rusty-red at his feet.
MacKenzie sauntered around to the prisoner’s back and eyed the bloodied spike holes. “Hmm, interesting. You are the first Matheson warrior who has survived more than an hour with my torturer. What possibly keeps you alive? Could it be the lass you guarded with your life at the warrior encampment during our battle?”
The warrior gritted his teeth, but uttered not a word.
Scowling, MacKenzie stepped back around in front of the prisoner. “I’ve admired the lass for a long time, her ability to move amongst Gilleoin’s warriors, as one with them as any man would be. She has two sisters as well, but I’m after the one who is lethal with her blade and can hit a target with her bow and arrow from over a hundred feet distant. I’m certain she’s one of the full-blooded fae and that makes her a treasure to capture and make mine. You should never have boarded my galley in your attempt to save her life. You only ensured your own death when you did.”
“Leave Ailith alone.” The ragged demand escaped the prisoner’s lips, and she gasped. He knew her name?
Colin MacKenzie pulled back his fist and swung.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Claws sliced free of the warrior’s fingers and fur rippled across his body then just as swiftly retracted. A warrior shifter. She didn’t recognize him. He certainly wasn’t Gilleoin or either of his two sons, nor was he Kirk. How did he know her?
“Well, well. I wondered if you were of shifter blood since you’re still alive.” MacKenzie let off an evil laugh. “You’re clearly a ‘son of Gilleoin,’ although you are neither his firstborn or second-born from his fae wife, and there are only two heirs. So,” he muttered, the evil glimmer in his eyes flickering. “Where did you come from and by what name are you known?”
“I am from a place and time you could never imagine.” The warrior’s eyes blazed a rich golden shifter hue, a gaze full of deadly intent. Hers likely blazed with the same intent too. She itched to wrap her fingers around Colin MacKenzie’s neck. A quick twist and she’d be done with him. Hurting her kin wasn’t permitted.
“Tell me, and I shall offer you your life in return.”
“I would sooner have you slice my head from my shoulders than ever speak to you again.”
“Then I shall oblige.” MacKenzie slid his sword free and pressed it against the warrior’s throat. Leaning into his ear, he muttered, “Can a shifter survive the loss of his head?”
“What we can’t survive is the loss of our chosen one, and I promise you, Ailith is mine.”
“Nay, she is mine. I shall speak vows with her, and soon she will carry my son and when she does, I’ll have ensured the strongest fae blood runs directly through my line.”
“Ailith will never consent to being your wife. Touch her and I’ll kill you.” The prisoner lifted his head and roared, and as he did, the MacKenzie sank his blade even deeper into his neck. Blood spurted, so much blood, too much blood.
It coated her vision and she jerked back, her hand trembling on the pebbly shoreline, the moon aglow high overhead. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she couldn’t halt her sobs. The warrior was about to lose his life and even though she didn’t know him, had never met him, she clearly would meet him soon. From her vision, he’d certainly known her.
“Tell me what you saw, Ailith.” Cherub crouched before her, her aunt’s skin sparkling in the moonlight and giving evidence of the fact she was their fae king’s firstborn.
“I saw a son of Gilleoin being brutally beaten after his capture at Colin MacKenzie’s hand, although he wasnae Kenneth or Ivan, Gilleoin’s sons. He told the Chief of MacKenzie he was my mate, although he was unrecognizable, caked in dirt and restrained deep in MacKenzie’s dungeons.” Still trembling, she gripped the pouch of faerie dust swaying at her hip. “I need to find this warrior shifter who believes we’re mated and see if what he says is true. Then, I must ensure he can never travel to this time. My vision proves he is the one I need to protect next from the MacKenzie’s murderous hand.”
“Then we’ll leave, this very moment, for Murdock’s time. I have no issue going now.” Cherub swirled her fingers through the air and the wind rose and whipped all about. A portal opened and her aunt grasped her hand as a powerful blast of air swirled. Kirk gripped Cherub’s waist from behind and the three of them fell away into the dark, churning abyss.
Stars sparkled and lightning flashed. Ailith’s heartbeat pounded and sheer exhilaration raced through her, just as it always did when she traveled so swiftly through time and space. Over the wild wind, she yelled, “The warrior’s face might have been unrecognizable, but I got a good sense of his height, build, and voice. I’d surely know him if I met him.” Or at least she hoped she would. She had to ensure he never had the chance to travel to the past and perish because of her.
“Let’s hope you find him swiftly.” Cherub twirled her fingers again and the wind slowed and the darkness receded. “We’re about to land.”
Ailith bumped down onto solid ground, right within the inner sanctum of Murdock’s solar. With the whistling wind still churning, papers scattered across the desk, a pen clattered to the floor and the navy drapes either side of the window swayed. Slowly, the air calmed and she let go of her aunt’s arm. “We need to find Murdock.”
“I’ll scout him out, while you two remain here.” Kirk squeezed Ailith’s shoulder. “That’ll give you some time to analyze your vision, and the fact you’re allowed to show yourself to everyone here. It’ll be a big adjustment.”
“Thank you.” She wouldn’t mind some time to adjust.
“He pressed a kiss to the top of Cherub’s head. “I won’t be long, my love.”
“We’ll stay here for the night, and for as long as Ailith needs us to remain until she uncovers who it is she needs to protect.” Her aunt tweaked Kirk’s nose. “And dinnae find any trouble while you’re scouting. When you say my love, all sweet and innocent like that, ’tis a clear indication you intend to.”
“Nothing ever escapes your notice.” Grinning, Kirk breathed deep and lifted his nose. His jaw fell open on a moan. “Mmm, I can already scent cinnamon sugar donuts. Hell, I’ve missed being back in my own time. There’s a stash of chocolate in the kitchens here too, damn good chocolate. I’ll bring you two some when I return.”
“You’d better, and oh, dinnae forget, I’m rather partial to Cadbury milk chocolate, with caramel inside, if that’s within the stash.” Cherub smiled sweetly at him.
“Righto. Donuts and caramel chocolate coming right up.” Kirk gripped the hilt of his sword as he strode to the door, halted in the doorway and nodded resolutely over his shoulder. “Ladies, this is an incredibly important mission, and I won’t let anyone stand in my way of the donuts or chocolate. I promise you both I shall return with them.”
Ailith barely suppressed her laugh. Her aunt and Kirk always knew how to lighten the mood at just the right time, particularly when pressure pressed down on her. With her combat skill, an element of pressure always existed and right now even more so, particularly when she had a warrior to find and keep safe. A warrior who might just be her mate.
“Kirk, dinnae forget to bring Murdock too.” Cherub pinched his backside.
“That’s right. Murdock.” Kirk wagged a finger at Cherub then disappeared out the door. “I won’t forget,” he called back, his voice echoing to them. “Whatever you ask, will be provided.”
“He is such a delight.” Still smiling, Cherub crossed to the window. She stood there, peering out over the inner courtyard, then slowly, her expression changed.
She worriedly nibbled on her lower lip. “A warrior’s life lays in the balance, and we must discover exactly who he is.”
“Aye, we must.” She rolled her shoulders, gave them a quick shake up and down and tried to relax, although tension coiled deep in her gut. She fisted one hand over her pouch of fae dust swinging from her hip. Usually, once Cherub brought her here, her aunt either extended her cloaking over her, or she herself sprinkled a little fae dust and made a wish to remain unseen. Either worked rather well. No dust was needed right now though. She would finally be able to meet Murdock’s clansmen, in the flesh.
She walked past the forest-green couch tucked along one wall and halted before the stunning black and white framed drawing of Matheson Castle as it had stood over eight-hundred years ago. Her mate might not be from the past where she’d spent a great deal of time of late at the warrior encampment, but he was here, in this time. Staggering. It hadn’t yet fully sunk in.
“Come here, Ailith.” Cherub opened the window and beckoned her over with a wave of her hand. “Send your senses out. See if you can see anything new now we’re here in the same time as the warrior.”
“Of course, I should have done so already.” Usually she needed to connect to the soil itself for a vision, but if one were close to rising and she caught the sensation of it, she could whip outside, plant her hand on the ground and connect more fully so those images would strengthen. She trotted around Murdock’s chunky wooden desk and joined Cherub at the window. Moonlight peppered through the thick darkened clouds overhead, while below in the inner courtyard all appeared calm and quiet. “’Tis late. Everyone is abed.”
“Nay, this castle never sleeps. There are plenty of guards on duty. See, right there.” Cherub pointed across to the other side of the inner bailey.
A warrior strode out of the gatehouse and walked along the battlements. He halted at the corner crenellation and crossed his wide forearms on the craggy stone edge, his shoulders wide as he peered into the darkened depths of the forest beyond. Clouds parted and the moon lit the white of the warrior’s shirt a soft golden color. His Matheson plaid was hooked around his waist with a leather belt and the burnished hilt of his claymore glinted at his hip. Aye, the warriors of this time still adhered to the old ways, their shifter blood running far hotter than most and their need to expend their great energy ensuring they trained daily with the sword. She dug her fingers into the stone windowsill and closed her eyes. She breathed the fresh night air deep into her lungs and waited. No images came forth, so she opened her eyes and shook her head at Cherub. “There is naught yet.”
“Still, you should remain alert. A vision willnae be far away.”
“I shall.” She cleared her throat, nodded at the warrior who’d drawn her attention. “Who’s that guardsman across the way?”
“Hunter Matheson.”
“Is he one of the unmated warriors?”
“Aye, and has been these past six years.” Cherub’s brows pinched together. “Does he draw your interest for some reason?”
“Nay, he’s only the first warrior I’ve seen.” Yet for some reason he had drawn her interest. His dark hair was cropped close to his head, no more than an inch or two long, with a wayward lock curling across his forehead. Her fingers tingled with the need to sweep that errant lock back and oh my, he had two sweet dimples either side of his lips. How adorable.
“You need to meet each and every one of the thirty-six unmated men here, and as quickly as possible.” Cherub clasped her shoulder and squeezed. “Do you think you can identify the warrior who insisted you were mated from just his voice alone?”
“Hopefully, aye.”
“I might be able to help you with that identification as well.” Murdock Matheson, the seer and chief of this clan, trod into the chamber wearing a dark blue button-down shirt and gray dress pants, his brown hair wisped with a little silver at the sides.
Kirk brought up the rear with a plate brimming with donuts and chunks of caramel chocolate piled on it. He grinned as if he’d won the lottery, then held out the plate with a flourish of one hand to her and Cherub. “Never say I don’t deliver, my ladies.”
“You always deliver, my tempting bear.” Cherub pinched a donut and some chocolate and bit into a mouthful of each. Moaning, she eyed Murdock. “That’s good, but down to business. How might you be able to help with that identification, my dear friend?”
“I caught the same vision as Ailith did.” Murdock plucked a donut from the plate and handed it to Ailith.
“Thank you.” She accepted it and chewed. Oooh, de-li-cious. The flavors of the cinnamon and sugar danced across her tongue. Once she’d finished her mouthful, she continued, “So, you’re saying you saw the same vision as I did, of the warrior imprisoned within MacKenzie’s cells and his conversation with MacKenzie?”
“Aye, and I’ll never allow one of my own men to be beheaded at that monster’s hand.”
“Neither will I.” She would stand by that vow. “Who is the warrior?”
“His voice was raspy and rough, but from what I sensed at the time, including his build and height, he can be one of only three men. Hunter, one of my best trackers, Liam who’s our resident clan doctor, or possibly Levi who holds the skill of apport.”
Apport was a skill greatly admired by many of her kind beyond the veil, one in which that person could make solid objects materialize out of thin air. She shook her head. “Surely if Levi was the warrior within my vision, then he could have brought forth a tool into the dungeons to cut through his chains, correct?”
“I considered that, but if there is a great deal of steel lining the cell door, it can play havoc with his ability. He may not have been able to apport what he needed into the cell to free himself.”
“No’ even the keys from the guardsman?”
“Not even that.” A frustrated shake of his head.
“I see, then I wish to speak to all three men, this very night if I might.”
“There’s more.” Murdock bit into a donut from the plate too, his expression thoughtful. “What I don’t understand from the vision, is why the warrior claimed you two were mated, when it’s impossible to know until the full moon rises. That’s still three weeks away, and this vision is current. What we’ve seen will happen within the next few days, that’s if the warrior leaves with you once you discover who he is.”
“I thought the same following my vision, although he might just be saying what he believes to be the truth, even though that truth is yet to be uncovered. No matter what though, once I’ve discovered who he might be, then I’ll ensure he remains right here in this time while I return to the past.” She eyed her aunt as Cherub sucked madly on a chunk of chocolate. “Do you agree with this plan?”
“I completely agree,” Cherub mumbled around her mouthful before popping another chunk between her lips. “This chocolate is divine. You haven’t had some yet.”
“I’m pacing myself.” She ate the last bite of her donut, then helped herself to a chunk of chocolate and nearly melted at the rich, silky smooth texture which glided down her throat as she sucked on it. “I should travel here more often.”
“You should.” Murdock chuckled, then eyed Cherub. “There’s more of that chocolate in the dresser drawer of your chamber. I dropped it in there myself after I caught sight of your coming arrival.”
“Seers are the best, which is why I love visiting you.” Cherub popped a kiss on Murdock’s cheek then grasped Ailith’s hands. “I’m going to leave you to speak to the three warriors on your own. Take some time to speak to each one individually. Soak in their voices and identify the warrior we need to protect.”
“Aye, I surely will.”
“My chamber is three doors down on the right, so should you need me, come and knock.”
“I will. Sleep well.” She hugged her aunt, and Cherub swept one hand through the crook in Kirk’s elbow and steered him out the door with the remainder of the delicious offerings on the plate still in his hand.
“Come with me.” Murdock gestured for her to follow him. “I’ve a chamber you can use for the night too, which I’ll show you now so you can retire to it whenever you please during the night.”
“Thank you. That would be lovely.” At his side, she wandered down the wooden paneled hallway, the thick blue and green woolen runner underneath her feet lining the center of the passageway. Darkened wooden doors led off each side, while overhead light streamed from the recessed lights tucked into the ceiling. Modern technology. How wonderful it was.
At the end of the passageway, Murdock halted before the last door and pushed it open. He motioned for her to go in first and she stepped past him into one of his guest chambers. A large bed sat against one wall, covered in a burgundy and white tartan quilt with plush white pillows propped against the chestnut headboard. Along another wall sat a matching chestnut dresser with an elaborately designed and framed looking glass.
“This guest chamber shares a bathroom with the connecting chamber next door.” Murdock crossed the room and opened the top dresser drawer. “There’s chocolate in here for you too, along with nightwear and a dressing robe. “I’ll ask Isla to bring some more clothes by in the morning. She’ll have plenty you can choose from.”
“Thank you, and hopefully I can discover who this warrior is afore the morning and I can be away as soon as possible.” She opened the bathroom door, which had another door on the other side. The marble vanity countertop gleamed, as did the glass sides of the shower cubicle. Perfect. All she needed was right here. “Who resides in the connecting chamber?”
Highlander's Claim: Time Travel Romance (The Matheson Warriors Book 2) Page 2