Lachann took a step forward, fell to his knees, and cursed. He was armed, eager to fight, but utterly useless. To his astonishment, the man he thought had died beneath Ulf’s flailing hooves rolled free of the threat, and then ran for his horse. His stumbling gait revealed that he had not escaped unharmed, however. By the time Lachann looked toward Adeline again, she had calmed Ulf, sheathed the sword she had been waving around, and was dismounting with a distinct lack of grace. That awkward dismount completely shattered the image of Adeline the warrior queen. He did not know whether to laugh at the absurd but successful rescue she had accomplished or yell at her for the risks she had taken with her own and Osgar’s lives.
“Oh, Lachann,” Adeline cried as she stumbled to a halt in front of him. “They have whipped you!”
Her outrage touched him but he shook aside the feeling and clumsily sheathed his sword. “Help me to my feet, lass. We need to get away from here.”
Even as she did as he asked, she said, “But they have all run away.”
“Aye, but they may pause to grow a new backbone and come back. Get me on Ulf and later we will have a talk about ye riding my horse.”
He was not surprised when she ignored his threat. He needed help just to stagger over to his horse. One look at his saddle and he knew he would need her help to mount the horse as well. Lachann sighed in resignation as she pushed and steadied him while he crawled up into the saddle. She stood and stared at him, biting her lip in indecision for a moment, and then held out her hand to him.
“Best ye get in front of me, lass,” he said. “I am nay sure I have the strength left to take the reins.” It tasted bitter just to make that admission but Lachann could not allow pride to put them all in danger.
Adeline could see how that confession had stung his pride. She was glad she had not spoken her thoughts about his weakness. It was best if he saw it for himself. She was just very glad that he had.
She pulled herself up into the saddle in a graceless way that would have undoubtedly made him laugh if he were not in so much pain. Taking the reins, she rode toward where Osgar waited with the ponies, Lachann leaning heavily against her back. It was terrifying to see how weak this large, strong man had become. Adeline buried her fear for him and fixed her mind on getting them all to shelter as quickly and safely as she could.
“He needs blood, Maman.”
Fixing closed the last shutter on the windows of the small cottage, Adeline hurried to the bed where Lachann sprawled. He had stayed conscious enough so that she and Osgar had been able to get him onto the bed and only then had he given in to the unconsciousness that must have been lurking for a long time. It had not been easy to strip him of his clothes and bathe and tend his wounds. She had hoped that that would be enough to help him heal, but Osgar was right. Lachann was going to need blood. Adeline touched the mark on her neck and prayed she could do it with the calm detachment of a skilled healer.
When she reached Lachann’s side, he was awake, staring at her, and she knew he would not ask it of her. That meant that the decision would have to be hers alone. She would have to freely offer what he needed. It puzzled her that she hesitated, for she never had with Osgar.
“I can give him some of mine,” said Osgar.
“Nay, I willnae drink from a child,” said Lachann.
“Of course not,” said Adeline as she sat down on the edge of the bed and held out her arm. “Such a wee lad wouldnae have enough for ye anyway.”
“Are ye certain, lass?” Lachann asked.
The weak, husky tone of his voice banished the last of her reluctance. “Aye. Just like Osgar, ye need it to heal.”
He drew her wrist to his mouth and kissed it. It was just a simple kiss but she felt as if it was a benediction of some kind. Adeline winced as he sunk his teeth into her flesh, but then the heat began, curling through her body and stirring to life all her passion for him so rapidly it made her a little unsteady. His dark gaze remained fixed upon her as he fed and she was unable to look away. By the time he was done, she was almost panting and the way he licked the wound to close it made her shiver from the strength of her need for him. Embarrassed by her own weakness, she gently pulled away and hurried to prepare something to eat.
Lachann watched her as he felt his body immediately begin to heal itself. He had seen her arousal in her eyes, in the light flush upon Adeline’s fair skin, and heard it in the way her heartbeat had increased. It had tasted sweet, flavoring her blood with Adeline’s need for him. It was a need he shared and intended to feed as soon as he was strong again. By the time she brought him some bread and stew, he was able to sit up and feed himself. The way she blushed every time he looked her way told him that his desire was no secret to her.
Adeline was coming down from the small loft where Osgar now slept when she was caught by the waist and carried toward Lachann’s bed. “I can walk, Lachann,” she protested with a laugh.
“Nay fast enough,” he said as he dropped her on the bed and then sprawled on top of her.
“Ye are all healed now, are ye?”
“Aye, and now I wish to celebrate my health and freedom.”
She opened her mouth to tease him and he kissed her. All thought of play fled her mind as passion swept over her. Lachann had them naked so quickly she fleetingly wondered if her clothes were still whole. Then she lost herself to the wonder of his touch, to the sensation of flesh against flesh, and bodies uniting. A tiny still sane part of her mind reveled in the way their cries blended as they found their release as one. When they soared to the heights together it only made it all the more intense.
Adeline faintly murmured a protest when she felt Lachann move away from her, not sure how much time had passed and not really interested in knowing. She squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment when he washed them both clean and then wrapped her arms around him when he climbed back into bed. At first, she idly enjoyed the soft caresses and kisses he treated her body to. It took several moments for her to realize those touches were not idle ones and her body was rapidly warming to them. By then Lachann was kissing her stomach, his clever fingers slipping between her legs to torment her.
The heated touch of his mouth replacing his fingers had Adeline opening her eyes wide in shock. The protest she began died quickly. With every stroke of his tongue, fire flared through her veins, burning away all resistance. All modesty fled as well as she writhed, his intimate kisses driving her wild with need. She called to him to join her when she felt her body tightening, to share the bliss that was swelling inside of her, and cried out with relief when he joined their bodies with one fierce thrust.
Lachann gently stroked Adeline’s back as she lay limp and sated in his arms. He kissed the mark on her neck and began to lecture her concerning her actions, for although her rescue of him had been successful, she had put herself and Osgar in danger. Ignoring her muttered complaints, he scolded her for not doing as he had ordered, for not taking herself and Osgar to safety, for riding his horse like a madwoman, and for waving around a sword she did not know how to use. By the time he finished she was so stiff in his arms, he was surprised he did not hear a few bones snapping. Lachann decided the only sure way to mend that and soothe her was to make love to her again and he proceeded to do so.
The last clear thought Adeline had before sinking into a sated, exhausted sleep was that Lachann was a sneaky devil. She promised herself she would tell him so when she woke up.
Staring down at a sleeping Adeline, Lachann thought his heart would burst with the strength of the joy that filled it. He was alive. His body was healed and now happily sated. He kissed her cheek and settled her comfortably in his arms.
The only problem facing him now was telling her that she was his mate. Perhaps he should have slipped that information into his lecture, he mused, and smiled. There was still time, he told himself as he closed his eyes. Even if he failed to tell her until they were at Cambrun, there would still be time. If nothing else, Adeline would not just set Osgar down at Cam
brun and then walk away.
Chapter Nine
“Cambrun.”
Adeline blinked in surprise. One moment they were riding through a mist so thick she wondered how Lachann could know where to go. The next, a massive stone castle that seemed to grow out of the mountain itself loomed in front of them. Its dark, high walls threatened all comers even as they promised safety to any who were allowed to shelter behind them.
“It is huge,” she whispered, wondering just how many MacNachtons lurked behind its sturdy, wellmanned walls.
“Aye,” said Lachann. “And safe. It was built to shelter us from our enemies, including the sun.”
“Can none of ye bear the sun?”
“Some can. We all test ourselves and those of us with a wee touch of Outsider blood can bear a bit more than a Pureblood. For nearly forty years now we have been trying to breed out some of the more, weel, constricting traits of our clan. We decided to seek Outsiders as mates. Unfortunately, there is some danger in that, especially since the Hunters came. But there are women and one mon within those walls who are Outsiders wed to MacNachtons and the children they have bred can abide some sun, a few more than others. Many of the Lost Ones can also abide some sun.” He shrugged. “It was the laird’s idea. A way to solve our childless state and give us people who can mix weel with the world surrounding us. That world inches closer every day and we need to be able to slip in and out of it without too much risk.”
“Is his plan working?” she asked as they rode through the huge iron-studded gates of Cambrun.
“Slowly. Verra slowly. And, we begin to think we will ne’er be able to breed every trait out of our bloodline.”
Before she could ask how he felt about that, if he actually wished to breed out every trait, they were surrounded by people. Adeline was a little unsettled by how beautiful the women were and how handsome all the men were. Were there no plain-faced MacNachtons? she wondered a little crossly as Lachann caught Osgar up in his arms, dismounted, and set him down on the ground. He then came and helped her dismount.
When Osgar was presented to his kinsmen, the cheers that sang out through the bailey warmed her heart even as her fear of losing him to this clan choked her. Lachann caught her hand in his and kept her at his side as everyone struggled to welcome Osgar. It was as if some long-lost princeling had returned home to save the kingdom.
Lachann called for quiet and then told Osgar’s story. There was no surprise when he told of Arailt’s death, but Adeline could see the signs of grief and anger over the loss in many of the faces. The crowd parted when Lachann finished and a tall, handsome woman with streaks of white in her hair stepped forward.
“So my nephew is dead,” said the woman as Lachann bowed to her.
“Aye, Nan. Nearly two years past he died at the hands of some fools sent after him by his lover,” replied Lachann. “I had no time to make her pay for her crime. I am sorry.”
“Nay, I have done my grieving. I kenned he was gone and I want no more of ours lost in avenging him. I felt it in my heart and soul when he died.” She looked at Osgar. “But he is not completely gone, is he? He left a part of himself behind. A fine lad with much the look of Arailt about him.”
“He is a Blooded Son, Nan.” Lachann nodded at the shock Nan and others could not hide. “Arailt kenned that he was in danger, that his woman had betrayed him, and that the journey here to get help would be a treacherous one. He thought to protect the boy and give him skills to protect himself.”
Nan knelt down and touched Osgar’s cheek. “And it worked.” She looked at Adeline. “Those skills and this young woman have kept the last of my bloodline alive to return to Cambrun.” She stood up and kissed Adeline on the forehead. “I thank ye, Adeline Dunbar. I but ask that ye let me help in the raising of him.”
Adeline was speechless and could do no more than nod. Lachann had said nothing about keeping her with him at Cambrun, but this woman clearly believed that she would remain with Osgar. It was what Adeline wanted but she feared that if Lachann tired of her and set her aside, even Osgar’s presence in her life could not make Cambrun a home to her.
“If it pleases ye, Nan, I would claim the boy as mine and raise him to make ye proud,” said Lachann.
“That would please me weel, Lachann, but what does young Osgar say?” Nan smiled at the boy.
“I would like that,” Osgar said and grinned up at Lachann. “A lot.”
Adeline was still reeling from Lachann’s announcement as she was taken away to a room where a hot bath awaited her. She sank into the water with a sigh of pleasure, but her thoughts would not be still so that she could fully enjoy such luxury. Resting her head against the edge of the large bathing tub, she stared into the fire it was set in front of. Lachann had claimed Osgar as his own before all the MacNachtons gathered in the bailey. But he had not claimed her.
“Why didnae ye claim my mither, too?”
Lachann shook aside his concerns over how pale Adeline had been when she was led away and looked at Osgar. The boy, as freshly washed and clothed as he himself, sat beside him at a table in the great hall enjoying a hearty meal. Perhaps Adeline just needed to hurry and join them, he thought, and then wondered why she was taking so long at her bath.
“What do ye mean, Osgar?” he asked.
“Ye claimed me but ye didnae claim my mither.”
“Of course he did, child,” said Nan as she placed some fat blackberries on Osgar’s plate and covered them in thick, sweet cream. “Every MacNachton who saw her saw that. The mark was clear to see.”
“What mark?” asked Osgar.
Lachann felt the heat of an unaccustomed blush upon his cheeks as everyone stared at him. The men looked amused and sympathetic, the women cross and obviously disgusted with him. Poor little Osgar just looked confused.
“Oh, Lachann.” Bridget, the laird’s wife, shook her head. “Ye will have some groveling to do now.”
“I ken I should have told her ere now but it isnae an easy thing to tell an Outsider. ’Tis nay something they can understand and I wished her to become more accustomed to what I am.” It was a weak defense and he really did not need Bridget’s or Nan’s looks of feminine disgust to tell him so. He had been a coward but he would rather be tied to stakes under a noonday sun than admit to that.
“She has raised and protected a Blooded Son for two years, took him into her home and heart. And, Osgar, did ye not say that ye fed from her at your verra first meeting?”
Osgar nodded. “Anne had cut me, so I bled a lot. It was so the beasties could find me quick. It was healing but I hurt. I ken now that I should ask first. She fed Lachann, too, when he was hurt.”
Lachann rolled his eyes when the women scowled at him. “I didnae ask. She gave willingly. I had lost too much blood due to the gentle persuasion of my captors and was dangerously weak. I couldnae e’en help in my own rescue.” He reluctantly told the whole tale and had to join in the laughter it caused, for, looking back, humiliating or not, it was funny. He did not think he would ever forget the sight of Adeline charging into that camp.
“Lachann, tell her now,” said Bridget. “She needs to ken it and the more I hear of how she cared for Osgar and you, the less I think she will be shocked by how ye marked her. Or by any of the other things she will need to ken as your mate. S’truth, I think she will be most pleased. After she recovers from her anger over your silence, of course.”
“Did ye nay see her face when ye claimed Osgar before us all?” asked Nan, shaking her head when Lachann just looked at her in confusion. “Ye claimed her boy and that shocked her, but I am thinking it was far more than that which had her looking but one breath from collapsing at your feet. Ye claimed Osgar but ye didnae claim her. That is how she sees it since ye havenae told her what the mark means. Ye have left her wondering what her place is now that ye have openly taken the boy she loves as her own son.”
Lachann looked at his laird, hoping the man would scoff at such thoughts and ease the increasingly tig
ht knot in his gut. Cathal looked much as he had when he had first wed Bridget about thirtyfive years ago. Miraculously, so did Bridget, even though she had no MacNachton blood at all. Mating with a MacNachton appeared to give the mate the same incredible longevity MacNachtons enjoyed. It was something they were still researching and yet another thing he had to tell Adeline about. When Cathal just smiled and nodded his agreement with all the women had just said, Lachann cursed.
“Dinnae ye want my mither?” asked Osgar and then started to look alarmed. “Ye willnae send her away, will ye?”
“Nay, never,” vowed Lachann and he leapt to his feet. “I will speak to her now.” He stopped at the doorway and turned to look back at the members of his clan gathered in the great hall. “One last thing, something that has begun to disturb me greatly and preys on my mind. We have all heard this laird spoken of by the Hunters before and most of us think he may be the leader of the fools, aye?” A rumble of agreement went through the hall. “Mayhap ye can all put your minds to the puzzle of why the mon was trying so hard to get his hands on Osgar, offering a big bounty for the boy.” He nodded at the silent, grim-faced clan members staring at him. “Was it just Osgar or is it a MacNachton child he seeks?”
“We will definitely discuss it,” said Cathal, his voice hard, almost a full-throated growl. “Now, go and soothe your woman. She might try to flee. Outsider women can have some verra strange turns to them.” He grunted and then grinned when his wife hit him in the belly.
“She willnae be going anywhere,” said Lachann. “I will tie her down if I have to.”
“I have some verra fine, verra soft, silken bonds I can lend ye,” called out Jankyn. “They work verra weel on a mate, e’en if she isnae mad at ye.”
Born to Bite Bundle Page 35