by Donna Grant
He rounded a bend and he saw a horse slip on the narrow ledge of the mountain before regaining its footing and running off. The horse looked similar to the one he had seen Kenna ride, but if that was her horse, where was she?
Frang's stallion took the steep climb carefully, picking his way through the loose rocks that dotted the side of the mountain. Frang told himself to stay calm until he knew for sure it was Kenna's horse.
But all control left him when he spotted flame red hair amid the grey rocks. He pulled his mount to a stop and vaulted from his back.
"Kenna,” he said as he rushed to her side. He swallowed when he saw how close she had come to tumbling over the side of the mountain.
Blood gushed from a wound at her forehead running into her hair. Frang bent down and listened to her ragged and shallow breathing.
His gaze rose to the stallion. “Find the mare and return with her."
He didn't wait to see if the stallion did as he commanded, for he knew he would. Instead, Frang felt along Kenna's body for broken bones. He started to lift her in his arms when he heard a growl from behind him.
Frang slowly turned and saw the huge grey wolf staring at him with his teeth bared. Frang held the wolf's gaze. “Go, and leave us be."
Instantly the wolf stopped growling, then he turned and loped away. With a sigh, Frang turned back to Kenna. He gently lifted her in his arms and stood.
He needed to find shelter. There were no caves to hide in for the night, nor did he have time to go down the mountain to the clumps of trees below. He looked over his shoulder at the way they had come and knew he couldn't retrace his steps.
His gaze swung to the mountain looking for anything that could shelter them. He found it in the shape of boulders. Two massive boulders served as a wall towards the trail where no one either coming or going would be able to detect them.
Frang wasted no time in hurrying towards the boulders. He laid Kenna down next to one and quickly gathered some small sticks to start a fire. Once he had the sticks gathered and arranged he held his hands over them and closed his eyes. Within moments, the sticks caught fire.
Next, he reached under Kenna's skirts and tore a piece of her underskirt to use as a bandage for her head. He had no herbs with him and was surprised that Kenna hadn't brought any either.
He stood and walked to where he had found Kenna. He searched the area, hoping to find a small bag of herbs. Instead, he located a rather large satchel hanging gingerly on a rock over the side of the mountain.
Frang tested a rock at his left. Once he was assured of its soundness, he began his descent to the satchel. It was farther down than he'd originally thought, and more difficult to reach than he would have liked.
He was nearly to the rock that held the satchel when his feet slipped out from underneath him. Frang grabbed for anything he could as he began to fall down the mountain.
With a jerk he came to a stop. He closed his eyes briefly, and looked up to find himself holding the satchel. Carefully, he found another foothold and once again held onto the mountain. Only then did he lift the satchel and slip the strap over his head and over one arm.
He took the climb back up as slowly as he needed to. Once he was again on the path, he rushed to Kenna, lifting the satchel over his head as he did.
A sound drew his attention and he looked up to find his stallion had returned. With Kenna's mare.
"Thank you,” he told the horse.
He opened Kenna's satchel expecting to find the Book of Magic. It filled nearly the whole satchel, and if he were to find any herbs, he needed it removed first. Frang hesitated only a moment before he gripped the heavy tome and nearly threw it on the ground beside him.
After a deep breath at the frisson of magic that ran through the book and into his fingers, he sifted through the herbs to find the ones he needed. He rose and went to the stallion, searching through the bags until he found a skin of water.
He soaked part of Kenna's underskirt with the water as he set out to stop the bleeding. It seemed to take forever for the bleeding to stop, and only then was he able to wipe away the blood that stained the side of her face and her hair.
Next, he reached for the elder and put the leaf over her wound as he wrapped her head with another strip of her underskirt. As he sat back and looked Kenna over, he wasn't able to keep his fear at bay.
Fear for her safety, or fear from him he wasn't sure.
Chapter Twelve
Kenna woke to her head pounding as if several hundred soldiers marched on her skull. She tried to sit up and was immediately assaulted with nausea.
"Don't move."
She stilled. She knew that voice. All too well. Slowly, she opened her eyes to find Frang staring at her, one side of him in shadow, the other illuminated by the small fire.
"You took a nasty fall,” he said. “You were lucky you didn't go over the side of the mountain."
The harshness in his voice was too much. Tears stung her eyes. She turned her head away, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out at the pain that simple movement caused.
She heard him move and felt his heat as he settled near her. “I'll need to check the bandages soon. You must have hit your head when you fell which caused the gash on your temple.” His voice was soft and low, like a brush of velvet over her skin.
Kenna shivered and immediately he covered her with something. She looked down to find a plaid in the colours of her clan covering her. Her gaze rose to his.
"How did you find me so quickly? The last I saw you, you were ... occupied ... with two women."
His gaze narrowed for just a moment before he leaned back on his haunches, his hands resting on his thighs. “So you were at the castle last eve."
"I had to deliver the herbs to the Wallace.” She wasn't able to hold his gaze and quickly looked away.
"I could have delivered them for you. But you didn't want that did you? What is it you were trying to keep from me?"
Her eyes snapped to his. She opened her mouth to tell him all, but the accusation and distrust she saw in his gaze held her tongue.
"Thank you for saving me,” she said and closed her eyes.
She heard him sigh a heartbeat before his hands gently touched her face. His touch was soothing, almost as if he took part of her pain away, though she knew that wasn't possible. Even when he removed her bandage to look at the cut, his touch was feather light.
Before she knew it, she was once again drifting off to sleep.
Frang ran a hand down his face as he stared at Kenna. She had almost told him, he had seen it in her eyes. But she must have seen something in his for she held back.
Shite!
He had been overjoyed when her eyes had fluttered open, but their amber depths had been disoriented and not the clear eyes he was used to looking into. His worry had doubled when he'd seen the amount of pain she was in.
The herbs he used weren't going to be enough. He knew that now. Yet, he had needed to know before he used his own magic on her. Frang had managed to dominate many powers through his years. Though he couldn't control fire, he was able to call its use to ignite a small flame.
Frang let his finger trail down the side of Kenna's face. She was pale and listless, unable to do more than lie there as her body tried to heal. It made Frang realise just how fragile she was, how fragile they all were.
He moved until his knees brushed against her arm, then he held his palms face down over her. Beginning at her head, he chanted the ancient words to heal her, moving from her head to her feet and back again.
Many times he repeated the chant until he felt her body begin to heal. Once she was healed, exhaustion overtook him. Frang let himself fall to the side. He glanced at the horses before his eyes fell shut and sleep claimed him.
* * * *
When Kenna opened her eyes, the pain that had crushed her last night was gone. She raised her hand and looked at it. It had felt raw last eve, as if she had run it over jagged glass during her fall. Yet now, it was healed.
The only evidence of the injury was faint white lines marking her palm.
"How are you feeling this morn?"
She lowered her arm and turned her head towards Frang. When no pain greeted her, she slowly began to sit up. Immediately, he was by her side, helping her.
"Don't do too much, Kenna. Your body may not be ready for it."
Only slight nausea greeted her once she was sitting up. “I'm better. Much better."
"Good.” Frang's blue eyes searched hers, as if he was looking for something. He must have found it for he rose and turned away.
For several moments she watched as he moved about their small space behind the huge boulders. She spotted the mare she'd taken from the castle and the big grey next to it. Her gaze swung back to Frang and the ease with which he moved. He was a man who moved with the grace of a cat and the lethalness of a caged beast.
Her stomach knotted with pleasure when he bent over and she nearly saw his bum exposed. She tucked her legs under her and worked on trying to stand up.
She was nearly on her feet when the world tilted precariously. Her fingers gripped the boulder, but she couldn't find a hold to keep herself steady. She knew without a doubt she would crash to the ground, but there was nothing she could do.
Instead, Frang caught her in his arms.
His face was inches from hers. A day's growth of dark whiskers dotted his neck and face, lending him more of an air of intrigue than gruffness.
"Kenna?"
She smiled at the worry in his voice. “I cannot lie about all day."
"Jesu, Kenna.” His voice was rough but his hands were gentle as he lowered her to the ground. “I thought you were better."
Kenna chuckled. “I am better than last eve."
"But not well enough to ride."
There was something in his tone that told her he expected her to be able to ride. She raised her hand and untied the bandage around her head. Just as she expected elder had been placed on the wound.
Gently, she probed where the herb had been and only felt a slight ache when she pushed on it. She raised her eyes to Frang's. “My herbs are good, but they've never been this good. What did you do?"
He shrugged. “I soaked it in water then placed it on the wound."
Kenna shook her head, not understanding how she could have healed so quickly. If she had been completely healed, then she would have suspected magic, but there were still traces of pain in her body. So it wasn't magic, just her herbs.
"You must have done something different. I've never healed this fast."
He smiled suddenly. “So, you've had serious head injuries before?"
A soft laugh escaped her lips. “Nay. I've cut myself before, though. I never healed overnight."
"Maybe you just weren't doing it right,” he said with a wink as he once again stood.
First he healed quickly, and now she was? Something wasn't right, and she could almost guess it had to do with Frang and not her healing skills.
Kenna opened her mouth only to hear several voices. Voices of men. Terror seized her. She grabbed hold of the boulder and tried to rise but Frang wrapped an arm around her waist to still her.
"Wait."
In that one simple word he asked the impossible. Kenna knew without a doubt that at the base of the mountain was the Wallace and his soldiers. She had to leave, to get as far away from them as possible.
She looked over her shoulder at Frang, his face was so near that his warm breath fanned her neck sending delightful shivers down her back. “I cannot."
"Wait,” he said more forcefully. He gave her a gentle squeeze as he let go of her to move around the boulders.
Although every fibre of her being told her to run, she wasn't a fool. She wouldn't get to the horses without falling on her face. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the rough surface of the boulder. Her fate was now in Frang's hands.
A moment later he was once again at her side. “'Tis Wallace. He and his men are at the base of the mountain trying to decide which way you went."
Kenna turned her head to the side and regarded her saviour. “It isn't you they want, Frang. Run while you can."
"I won't leave you.” He sat back against the boulders and pulled her against him. “We are hidden here. The horses are hidden. They won't find us."
"But the fire,” she said only to find the fire gone and no smoke billowing towards the sky.
The only response she got was Frang's finger on her lips to keep her quiet. The fire was soon forgotten as the feel of his finger on her lips sent her blood pumping furiously. His hand covered her mouth, and then moved slowly down her chin to rest at the base of her neck.
Her eyes closed. Her heart began to beat louder, quicker. She wanted him to touch ... more of her. Anywhere. It didn't matter as long as his hand was on her bare skin.
When he urged her head back against his shoulder, she acquiesced. At her back she could feel the beat of his heart, feel his chest rise and fall with each breath he took. His hand stayed at her neck while his other wrapped around her waist just under her breasts. How she wanted his hand to cup her breasts, to run over her bare skin and ease the ache that continued to grow between her legs.
She squeezed her legs together and closed her eyes as the sensations swept over her. She was moulded against him, and it was divine, but she wanted more. She wanted his kisses, his skin meeting hers. She'd dreamed of running her hands over his body, learning every inch of him.
The world he had created for her shattered when she heard horses approach. Her eyes flew open and she started, but he held her back.
"Shhh,” he whispered in her ear. “All will be well."
Many times she had longed to trust someone and here was her chance. Her stomach clenched in fear, and the closer the horses came, the more the fear ruled her.
With the slightest of touches, Frang turned her face up to his. Trust me, his eyes seemed to beg.
And so she did.
His head lowered. His mouth came within breaths of hers, and her breathing once again quickened. Her lips parted, and her eyes closed.
"I will protect you."
When his lips lightly brushed her ear, she sighed and settled against him. Kenna didn't know how long they sat as they did waiting for the Wallace and his soldiers to either discover them or move away.
Finally, the Wallace commanded that they turn back where another trail forked off the main one. She smiled and slowly opened her eyes.
To find Frang watching her.
Chapter Thirteen
Frang's entire body throbbed with desire and begged him to take Kenna. She was pliant and willing in his arms. He'd seen her lips part, as if she had waited, wanting his kiss.
And the Seasons help him, he wanted to taste her sweet lips like a dying man wanted water.
His fingers moved against her throat. He'd never felt skin so soft or seen a neck so tempting. Or felt a body so inviting. He gritted his teeth to try and staunch the flow of desire through his veins, but it was futile.
He wanted her.
No longer would he deny himself, not when he had her right where he wanted her. His lips brushed across hers, tasting, testing. Her hand gripped his arm as if she were afraid he'd move away. But that one taste of her had been the sweetest of wine, and there was no turning back for him now.
He placed his lips over hers, nipping and licking until she opened her mouth and his tongue swept inside to touch hers. She moaned low in her throat when he deepened the kiss, sealing both his fate and Kenna's for there was no turning back for him now. He would have her for his own.
As soon as he heard Wallace and his soldiers move away, he reluctantly removed his hands from Kenna's soft body and ended the kiss before he took her right then. She was still too hurt for him to make love to her as he longed to do. She opened her eyes and blinked several times as she gazed up at him with a mixture of thanks and unease.
He could well understand her disquiet. He had asked the impossible, and she
had relented, trusting him when she never had before. But Frang knew that didn't mean she would trust him with everything. She had feared for her life, and he had been there to defend her. Only a fool would have shunned his protection.
When she hadn't been able to stand this morning he'd become concerned that he hadn't healed her enough the previous night. It would have been too much for him to heal her completely, though that was what he had wanted to do.
Though every fibre of his being wanted to remain in their hidden world behind the boulders, Frang knew they had to leave. Grudgingly, he helped Kenna to stand. Once she was steady on her feet, he moved to the bag he had taken off his horse the night before. He pulled out a loaf of bread and water.
"Here,” he said as he handed her the items.
He could feel her eyes on him as he saddled his horse and hers. When he turned back towards her, she was looking at her horse while she hastily ate as if it were some kind of evil creature.
"What is it?"
"Yesterday was the first time I had ridden a horse for a full day. I ached all over, and I don't think I can get back on her today."
Frang smiled. “It'll be fine. Besides, we need to make some distance on the Wallace. It won't be long before he realises this is the way we've come."
"And just where are we going?"
Her tone implied he had no inkling what she planned. He shrugged and led her mare to her. “You wanted to find the Druids, so I assumed that is where you were headed."
She gaped at him. “Do you read thoughts?"
"Nay.” Though at the moment, he wanted to read hers. He waited until she had finished her part of the bread and drink then lifted her onto her mare while trying to ignore how his hands nearly spanned her tiny waist.
It wasn't until he handed her the satchel he had retrieved the day before that her eyes refused to meet his. He didn't say anything to her about the Book of Magic inside. There would be time for that later.
He kicked the evidence of their fire while he bit off some of the bread and tucked the remaining part back into his bag with the water then, swung up onto his stallion. With a nod to Kenna, he clicked the stallion into motion, leaving the safety the boulders provided them.