King of the Isles

by Debbie Mazzuca

Evangeline shuddered at the memory of what Arwan had used the State Room for when he’d ruled the Enchanted Isles. If the son was anything like the father, she would not be taking Aurora into that den of iniquity.

  Evangeline felt the child’s gaze upon her as she hustled her up the marble staircase. “Maybe if you didn’t play tricks on them they would like you better, Evangeline.”

  “No, Aurora, I’m afraid no matter what I do, they shall never like me.” Her answer appeared to sadden the child, and she gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry, I’ve grown accustomed to their enmity. It doesn’t bother me anymore.”

  For the most part it was the truth. If Evangeline wanted companionship, she went to the Mortal realm and spent time with Syrena. Although, since her best friend was now the mother of a two-year-old and soon to deliver another child, they didn’t spend as much time together as Evangeline would’ve liked. This was partially due to the fact Evangeline did not do well with small children. They didn’t seem to like her, and if she was honest, she didn’t like them very much either. Their incessant crying and whining got on her nerves, and more often than not they were dirty and smelt bad.

  If she did on occasion feel the need for female companionship in the Fae realm, she could always seek out Fallyn and her sisters. Having fled the kingdom of the Welsh Fae on the eve of Fallyn’s nuptials to King Broderick, the women had taken refuge in the Enchanted Isles when it was under Syrena and Morgana’s rule. The three sisters had formed a lasting friendship with Syrena, assuming prominent roles in her army of women warriors. Since Evangeline had been forced to flee the Enchanted Isles when Morgana had accused her of killing Arwan, she’d been glad Fallyn and her sisters had been there for Syrena when she couldn’t be. But with Syrena now residing in the Mortal realm, the women looked to Evangeline to take her place. Not that Evangeline had much time for friendship; she was too busy honing her magick and dealing with matters at the Seelie Court.

  “I like you, Evangeline,” Aurora said, closing her small fingers around Evangeline’s.

  “Oh ... thank you. I ... I like you, too, Aurora.” Evangeline was surprised to find she spoke the truth. At eight, Aurora was much easier to manage than babies; like an adult, only smaller.

  She and Aurora spent a frustrating fifteen minutes traversing the maze of corridors. Due to the heightened tensions in the Fae realm, Uscias had recently warded the palace, rendering her attempts at transportation useless. By the time they reached the gleaming double doors of the State Room, Evangeline’s anger at Lachlan’s incompetence and her concern over Uscias’s well-being had reached the boiling point. The two guards took one look at her and waved them through.

  She held Aurora back. Until she’d satisfied herself the child would not be scarred by what went on in the room, she had no intention of letting her inside. As Evangeline stepped into the dimly lit interior, the heady scent of roses tickled her nostrils and she sneezed into the sleeve of her robes. Her eyes had not entirely adjusted to the subdued lighting when Aurora tugged on her sleeve.

  Recalling the little girl’s propensity for mischief, Evangeline decided it would be best if she took her with her. “Close your eyes.”

  To their right, several men and women frolicked in a pool. Noting the slick sheen of white bodies, she was grateful the water was deep. Once more she cautioned Aurora to keep her eyes closed. The tinkling of feminine laughter drew her attention to a far corner at the back of the hall. She recognized the deep chuckle that accompanied the women’s high-pitched giggles and scowled. Gritting her teeth, she locked on the object of her fury lolling amongst the jeweled-toned pillows while being hand fed by a bevy of voluptuous blondes. She set off in his direction, thinking what she’d like to do with the iced cake the woman held to his lips, only to be brought to a halt by her unmoving charge.

  She turned to Aurora. Groaning, she placed a hand over the child’s wide-eyed gaze. “I told you to keep your eyes closed.” With her free hand, Evangeline dressed the man climbing naked from the pool in a robe. She met his disgruntled look with one of her own then pointed to Aurora.

  Aurora tugged at her hand, and with a sigh, Evangeline removed it. Taking the child by the shoulders, she firmly pointed her in the king’s direction. The lazy grin Lachlan bestowed on the woman running her fingers through his golden mane faded the moment he spied Evangeline stalking toward him. His companion, uncaring she had an audience, ran her hands over his broad chest in a suggestive manner while another massaged his shoulders. Her barely concealed breasts pressed to his cheek.

  As though realizing the image he presented, Lachlan grimaced and waved his harem away. Ignoring their simpering protests, he came to his feet with leonine grace. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Evangeline?”

  The women shot her waspish looks as they sauntered past with an exaggerated sway to their hips. Evangeline rolled her eyes, then returned her attention to Lachlan, opening her mouth to answer. The sight of him in cream-colored robes trimmed with gold left her speechless. When he came to court, he dressed in trews and a tunic, the same as in the Mortal realm, although there he sometimes wore his highland garb.

  He was a big man, bigger than most of the Fae, but it was not the outline of his wide shoulders, muscled arms and thighs that rendered her speechless; it was the resemblance to his father, King Arwan. She took an unconscious step backward and he frowned.

  She fought back a wave of nausea at the memory of his father’s brutal hands upon her, his cruel mouth ...

  “I ken my bonny looks can be distractin’ but if ye doona mind, ye’re keepin’ me from my ... duties.”

  His sarcastic tone snapped her back to the present. Thinking of Uscias in Magnus’s hands, the disturbing images from the past burned away in the heat of her anger.

  Standing beside her, Aurora giggled. Lachlan winked at the child.

  Was there not a female born who was immune to his charms? Of course there was—her.

  She balled her hands into fists to keep from wiping the cocky smile from his face. No doubt what she was about to tell him would serve the same purpose. “Do you know where Uscias is?”

  He drew his attention from Aurora, brow furrowed. “Aye, he’s at his cottage.”

  “No, he is not,” she bit out between clenched teeth.

  He rubbed his hand over the darkened stubble on his jaw, then lifted his shoulder in a nonchalant shrug. “I’m no’ his keeper, but I’m sure he’ll return shortly. Ye should go to his cottage and wait fer him there.”

  At his obvious attempt to be rid of her, Evangeline’s temper spiked. She closed the distance between them, thumping his broad chest with her finger. “No, he won’t be back shortly! While you cavorted with your ... your ...” She sputtered, waving her hand contemptuously at the women who kept a vigilant eye on her. “Magnus kidnapped Uscias, ransacked his cottage, and drugged Aurora, leaving her chained in irons.”

  His easygoing demeanor vanished. His amber eyes darkened, his expression turned fierce. As though she weighed no more than a feather, he lifted her out of his way to crouch in front of Aurora. “Are ye all right, angel?”

  Aurora nodded. Her blue eyes glistened with unshed tears. “They took Uscias. I couldn’t stop them. I tried, but they ...” She sniffled, rubbing her eyes.

  “It’s your king’s job to protect his subjects, Aurora, not yours.”

  Lachlan came slowly to his feet. He turned to her, standing so close she could feel the heat of his anger. “Ye blame me fer this?”

  Tipping her chin, Evangeline met his narrowed gaze head-on. Danger, the fiery glint in his golden eyes seemed to warn, but she refused to be intimidated. “Of course I do. You rejected his sister’s hand in marriage and instead of spending time shoring up your defenses, I find you seeing to your pleasure. I knew something like this was going to happen with you as their king. I just knew it,” she said, as angry at herself as she was with him.

  She’d failed in her mission to protect the Fae. A heavy weight settle
d over her at the thought. No, she refused to succumb to despair, and the best way to avoid doing so was to take action. She would leave now for the Far North. She pivoted on her heel. Her forward motion was brought to an abrupt halt by Lachlan, who took hold of her arm and spun her around to face him.

  “Where the bloody hell do ye think ye’re goin’?”

  “To rescue Uscias. Now unhand me.” She attempted to peel his powerful fingers from her arm.

  “Of all the fool things I’ve heard in my life, nothin’ compares to ye thinkin’ ye can go off on yer own to retrieve Uscias.” He raked his fingers through the golden waves of his luxurious head of hair. “Besides that, ’tis no concern of yers. I’ll be goin’ to the Far North and ye’ll be remainin’ here to see to the bairn’s care.”

  Vexed beyond belief, her rebuttal came out in an incoherent sputter.

  Lachlan was furious. He couldn’t believe Magnus had gotten past his defenses. No matter Evangeline’s charge, the Enchanted Isles had been well guarded. The bloody king of the Far North had simply managed to outmaneuver him. It wouldn’t happen again.

  He raised his gaze from the woman spouting gibberish in front of him to Erwn and Bana, who sauntered in his direction. “What is this about Uscias?” Bana asked as he and his brother approached them.

  Evangeline couldn’t have hurled her accusations at him in a civil tone, oh, nay, she’d practically shouted them at him in that husky voice of hers, making sure not only Bana and Erwn heard her, but the rest of the Fae gathered in the room. “It seems Magnus kidnapped him. I will be leavin’ immediately.”

  Lachlan caught the furtive look Bana slanted his brother. They were mistaken if they thought he missed their silent exchange. Since Evangeline’s accusation that the two men had conspired against him, he’d paid close attention to his father’s most trusted advisors and had to admit, much to his chagrin, she was right. Bana and Erwn were up to something.

  “Of course, you must go at once, Your Highness. My brother and I will see to the matters of state while you are—”

  Evangeline snarled at the two men. “No. Fallyn and her sisters will oversee the business at court while his majesty deals with Magnus.”

  He’d never been more tempted to strangle a woman than he was at that very moment. “Evangeline, if you doona mind, I’ll speak fer myself.” Did she truly believe he was fool enough to leave his kingdom in Bana and Erwn’s grasping hands? If the condescending look in her eyes was anything to go by, she did.

  “You can’t mean to—”

  Seeing Evangeline open her mouth, Lachlan stopped Bana midstream. “Excuse us fer a moment.” He grabbed her by the hand and dragged her out of earshot. Backing her into a corner, he forced his gaze from the heaving bounty of her breasts straining against her magenta robes. He pressed his palms to the cool white marble on either side of her head and drew in a deep breath to regain control. Then he gave his head a shake in hopes of ridding himself of the intoxicating feminine scent he’d just inhaled. She ran the tip of her pink tongue over her lips and he jerked his gaze back to her eyes before he gave in to the urge to kiss her, to ravish her berry-red mouth with his.

  “What?” She flattened her palms on his chest and pushed.

  Captured in her violet gaze, he lost his train of thought. In an act of self-preservation, he dropped his hands to his sides and took a step away from her. The blasted woman was driving him mad. “What ... what? Ye accuse me of all manner of stupidity, take me to task in front of my subjects, then seek to instruct me on managing my affairs, and ye have the nerve to ask me ... what!” He’d tried to keep his voice low but failed miserably in the attempt.

  She thrust out her chin. “You know as well as I do that Fallyn and her sisters are the better choice.”

  “That may well be, but there are ways to handle matters that do not add fuel to the fire. But ye doona ken the first thing aboot bein’ diplomatic, do ye?”

  “I can be as diplomatic as the next person.”

  He snorted. “Ye’re aboot as diplomatic as a priest in a kirk full of sinners.”

  “But you were going to—”

  “’Tis no’ yer place to tell me what to do. My uncle allows ye to, but ye’re in my kingdom now, no’ his.”

  She scowled at him. “While you are charming Erwn and Bana into ceding to your wishes, I shall retrieve Fallyn and her sisters.”

  Bloody hell, there was no reasoning with the woman. He scrubbed his hand over his face. “They’re no’ here at the moment.”

  She narrowed her gaze on him. “Where are they?”

  The last thing he wanted to do was tell her where they were. She already thought him incapable of ruling his kingdom. Not that her opinion of him mattered. But once she learned Fallyn and her sisters were at his home on Lewis, he’d never hear the end of it. She’d know—as it had happened on previous occasions—that the women had taken offense to something he’d said or done. He couldn’t readily recall what had been the cause of their discontent this time.

  Oh, aye, now he remembered, they’d gotten it into their heads to open a school to train women in warfare and he’d refused their request. Lachlan imagined the three sisters were at that very moment pleading their case to Syrena. It wouldn’t do them any good. The men would revolt if he ceded to their wishes.

  “You’ve done it again, haven’t you?”

  “What are ye talkin’ aboot?”

  “Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not talking your way out of this. I’m going to Lewes.” With a haughty toss of her raven tresses, she stalked past him.

  He scowled after her, throwing up his hands when she walked past the little seer without so much as a second look. “Ye canna leave the bairn. I have too much to do to prepare fer the journey.”

  She came to an abrupt halt. Head bowed, her shoulders rose as if she took a deep breath and then she turned and walked back to Aurora. “I won’t be long. You stay with King Lachlan. And you,” she pointed her finger at him, “keep a close eye on her. You’ve already managed to lose one wizard. We can’t afford to lose another.”

  His subjects, who’d been listening to their exchange, gaped at her charge. Blood rushed to Lachlan’s face. For the umpteenth time since the blasted woman had strode into his State Room, his control over his temper snapped. Lachlan never lost his temper, and the fact she could make him do so only added to his fury. “Evangeline, come back here,” he demanded to her retreating back.

  He reached her in two strides and took hold of her arm. “That’s it, ye go too far.” He lowered his mouth to her ear, not wanting Aurora to hear what he said. “I’m no’ a bloody nursemaid. Ye’ll take the child to either Uscias’s cottage or my uncle’s palace.”

  She whirled on him. “Will you cease grabbing me?”

  “I wouldna have to if ye would stay in one place and stop makin’ a fool of me in—”

  “Me? Oh, no, Your Highness, you do that quite well on your own.”

  She tried to struggle out of his grasp, but he held firm. “This matter has naught to do with ye and ye’re wastin’ my time.”

  Glaring at him, she flicked her finger.

  A blast of fiery heat shot through his hand. He wrenched it from her arm, no more able to contain his anguished moan than he was to stifle the memories the searing pain evoked. At Glastonbury, Lamont had taken maniacal pleasure in holding a burning blade to Lachlan’s flesh. He slowly lifted his gaze to hers. “Doona ever do that to me again.” Ice-cold fury leaked into his voice. She gasped, taking a step back.

  As though she realized she’d pushed him too far, she continued to walk backward. “I ... I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have ...”

  “Nay, ye shouldna have.” He stalked her, his anger blinding him to his surroundings.

  She held up her hands. “I said ...” Her eyes widened and she fell into the pool.

  Cool water splashed onto his face and robes, dampening his fury. Nervous giggles broke the tension in the room when Evangeline swam to the surface, and spurted water
from her mouth. Fighting to contain his laughter, Lachlan leaned over and offered his hand. She slapped it away, hauling herself from the pool. Her dripping purple robes clung to her lush curves and Lachlan found himself searching for something to cover her with. From beneath her long lashes, she surveyed the now laughing men and women. With a disdainful sniff, she turned on her heel and walked stiff-backed from the room, leaving puddles behind her.

  He winced, recognizing her attempt to cover her hurt and embarrassment with contempt. She truly was driving him mad. One minute he wanted to throttle her and in the next to comfort her and shield her from the Faes’ derision.

  “Your Highness, may I suggest—” Bana began.

  Lachlan shifted his gaze from Evangeline to Bana and Erwn. Aurora stood between them, staring sympathetically after Evangeline. “I’m goin’ to seek my uncle’s counsel. Aurora.” He held out his hand. “I willna be long.”

  It was only when they’d left the State Room that Lachlan realized without Uscias he had no way of transporting himself to his uncle’s palace. He wasn’t like the other Fae. For the most part it didn’t bother him, but he didn’t relish the idea of asking Erwn or Bana for assistance. To do so would further weaken his standing in their eyes, and Evangeline had undermined his authority enough for one day. He felt the same sense of powerlessness he had when Ursula and Lamont had him at their mercy.

  Aurora drew him from his self-indulgent musings with a tug on his hand. “Where’s Nuie?” she asked.

  “Nuie?”

  “Your sword.”

  He chuckled at the name she’d christened his lethal blade with. A sword that could take down Fae or Mortal in a single blow—a sword that imbued him with enough power and magick to quiet any of his detractors. The thought raised his spirits, although even his blade didn’t imbue him with enough magick to transport himself. He cast a speculative eye on the child. “Aurora, do ye think ye’d be able to transport us to my uncle’s?”

  She nodded. “Uscias told me if ever he couldn’t be here to assist you, I was to look after you.”