King of the Isles

by Debbie Mazzuca

At the unrelenting look in his eyes, she swallowed the heated protest brewing inside her. Wasn’t this what she’d wanted all along? For Lachlan to show some sign of emotion? A sign he cared for the Fae? She just hadn’t thought that by doing so he would relegate her to such a subservient role. She lowered her gaze from his and smoothed her palms over her robes. She’d allow him his small victory—for now.

  Fallyn rolled her eyes then left the room, leaving Evangeline alone with Lachlan. He raised a brow, waiting for her to acquiesce to his demands. “All right, but do you think it’s a good idea to bring Aurora with us? She’s only a child.”

  “If she doesna come, neither do ye. Ye’re the only one I trust to see to her care.”

  “Oh, I ...” Stunned by his admission, Evangeline couldn’t think of anything to say. She eyed Lachlan’s retreating back warily.

  What did he mean he trusted her?

  Except for Rohan and Syrena, no one trusted her, and to have Lachlan offer his was ... disconcerting.

  It had to be a ruse.

  Chapter 5

  At the top of the stairs, Lachlan glanced back to see Evangeline standing where he’d left her, a puzzled look upon her face. He blew out an impatient breath. “Quit yer wool-gatherin’. We havena the time to waste.”

  She blinked, then narrowed those bonny eyes of hers on him as she strode from Syrena’s solar. “I’m wasting time? If not for your misguided attempt to leave your women warriors and me behind, you would have your rescue party and battle plans in place.”

  “They are.” He snorted at the stunned expression upon her face. “Ye doona ken me, Evangeline.”

  “You have the layout of Magnus’s palace?”

  “Aye,” he responded tightly, attempting to hold his temper in check while he took to the stairs.

  “The warriors have been equipped, the horses prepared?”

  Lachlan gritted his teeth and came to an abrupt halt. Following as close as she was, she bumped into him. He twisted, taking hold of her upper arms to steady her. He barely resisted the urge to shake her as he did so. “Aye, and aye. And ’tis the last question ye’ll be askin’ me on the matter. Aurora is yer responsibility. Nothin’ more.”

  “Surely you jest,” she said, wriggling out of his hold. “You can’t expect me not to take part in the rescue.”

  He raised a brow. “What part of I’m the king and ye’re the subject do ye no’ understand?”

  She pursed her lips, waving a dismissive hand. “Oh, please. I’m hardly your subject. I’m advisor to your uncle.”

  “Ye’re an apprentice wizard.”

  “I’ll show you apprentice wizard,” she muttered, raising her finger, violet eyes flashing.

  Lachlan grinned. “Temper, temper. No magick in the Mortal realm, Evie.”

  “Evie,” she sputtered, trying to free her hand from his.

  Ava’s childish prattle drew Lachlan’s attention. Knowing Syrena would not be far behind, he released Evangeline. “If I have to tell ye one more time how ’twill be, ye’re no’ comin’,” he warned before heading the rest of the way down the stairs to where his niece was attempting to break free of her mother’s hold.

  Once she had, Ava tottered full speed toward him. Lachlan crouched and opened his arms to envelop the giggling bundle of pink. In the beginning, he’d tried to keep his distance from his niece, finding it too painful to be around her. The memory of the child he’d lost and why had been too fresh.

  Pushing aside his regrets at what might have been, he came to his feet with Ava in his arms. “She’s sure to beat Olivia next time they race,” he said gruffly, avoiding Evangeline’s canny gaze. He gently disengaged Ava’s arms from around his neck to hand her to his brother.

  “Aye, we’ve been practicin’, havena we, my wee angel? Another month or two and she’ll be able to beat the two demons,” Aidan said, referring to Olivia’s brothers, Rory and his wife Aileanna’s sons, Jamie and Alex.

  Syrena held up her arms to take her daughter. “You are not continuing this silly rivalry, Aidan. Aileanna and I will not allow it.”

  His brother shifted Ava out of his wife’s reach. “Nay, she’s too heavy fer ye to be carryin’ now. Doona worry, my love, once Ava beats Olivia this one last time, ’twill be it.”

  Ava rubbed her eyes and yawned. Catching sight of Beth, who had been making her way back up the stairs, Syrena motioned for her. “Do you mind putting Ava down for a nap?”

  “No’ at all, my lady,” Beth said, relieving his brother of the sleepy child.

  Syrena returned her attention to Aidan once Beth started up the stairs with Ava. “You realize you’ve made that promise before. As I recall it was at the celebration of Iain’s ... Oh.” A sob caught in her throat and she looked helplessly at Aidan.

  Lachlan frowned. “What’s the matter?”

  His brother wrapped a comforting arm around his wife’s shoulders, tucking her tiny albeit expanding frame against him. “I shoulda told ye when ye first arrived. We’ve had word from Dunvegan. Iain’s wife Glenna took ill on the journey across the North Sea. She died before they reached Norway.”

  Evangeline came to stand beside Syrena, offering a commiserating pat to her shoulder.

  Lachlan had been surprised when he’d learned his cousin planned to wed the Douglas lass. As the MacLeods were highlanders and the Douglases lowlanders, neither family had been overly impressed with the union—especially hers. But the headstrong beauty had defied her father and brothers, wedding his cousin in spite of their protests. “I thought once he’d wed, Iain meant to leave the seafaring to his partners and see to their business dealings ashore?”

  “Aye, ’twas the plan, but I think Glenna worried he’d come to resent their marriage if he was forced to give up his adventures.”

  “Do ye ken how Iain fares?”

  “Nay, but ’tis said they’re soon to begin the journey home.”

  “It will do him good to be back with his family,” Syrena murmured.

  Not always. Lachlan shook off the thought. “We’d best be off.” He frowned, scanning the hall. “Where’s Aurora?”

  “I don’t know. She was with us a few moments ago,” Syrena said, looking about her. She pulled away from his brother. “I’ll check the kitchens.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Evangeline offered, following after Syrena.

  Gavin’s high-pitched shriek penetrated the thick entrance doors. “Syrena, Evangeline, I think we’ve found her,” Aidan called out.

  Lachlan passed a gimlet eye over Evangeline when the two women returned to the hall. “Ye’re no’ doin’ a verra good job seein’ to yer charge. How can I trust her to yer care in the Far North if ye canna even manage to keep her in yer sights here?” Lachlan savored the reaction his taunt garnered. Evangeline’s cheeks pinked and her full lips pursed.

  “You can not truly think to fault me in this?”

  “Aye, brother, ye canna fault Evangeline when only a short time ago the bairn went missin’ on yer watch.”

  Lachlan scowled at Aidan over Evangeline’s head as she walked toward him then drilled her finger in his chest. “You are the most exasperating man I have ever had the misfortune of knowing.”

  He took hold of her finger. “I didna lose her. I kent she was playin’ with Gavin. And I’m no’ just a mon, I’m a king. Besides, seein’ to the bairn’s a woman’s work, no’ a mon’s.”

  She growled low in her throat and Lachlan grinned. “Ye really need to work on that temper of yers, Evie.”

  “Ignore him, Evangeline. Let’s go rescue Gavin.” Syrena leveled Lachlan with a warning look, then led her friend from the castle.

  “Ye seem to have lost yer touch with the lassies, brother,” Aidan said, grinning at the disgruntled look he shot him.

  “Careful,” Lachlan said. “Or I’ll tell yer wife I could use her assistance in the Fae realm.”

  “Nay, ye wouldna, ye worry aboot her welfare almost as much as I do.”

  “That may well be, but I grow tired
of her sidin’ with those bloody women all the time. I’m her kin. Ye think she could show me a little loyalty. Now I’m stuck bringin’ the three of them, and Evangeline.”

  “Well, I fer one am glad Fallyn and her sisters will be there fer ye. As to Evangeline, I’m sure if ye set yer mind to it ye can charm her into doin’ yer biddin’.”

  “I doona think we’re talkin’ aboot the same Evangeline.”

  Aidan snorted a laugh, clapping him companionably on the shoulder as they walked to the door. “Ye have to admit, brother, it would no’ be a hardship attemptin’ to charm her. She’s a verra bonny woman.”

  Nay, he didna have to admit a thing. Especially to his brother, who would no doubt tell his wife, and of late, Syrena had developed the truly annoying habit of matchmaking.

  As soon as they stepped into the sunlit courtyard, he spotted Evangeline, arms folded beneath her chest, impatiently tapping her foot.

  His brother’s laughter drowned out Lachlan’s curse.

  Out of courtesy to Syrena, Evangeline had let his royal highnass off easy, but now, after stepping through the standing stones into the Fae realm, she was going to tell him precisely what she thought of his dictatorial, high-handed manner. She turned to confront him.

  “No’ a word out of ye. Remain here with the bairn,” he ordered in a deep, commanding rumble. His attention focused beyond her.

  He strode toward the clearing, unsheathing his sword as he made his way to where a small party of warriors gathered. His blade glowed, and she started. It was nothing like she’d witnessed the other day at the council meeting. This time it was fiery red and showed no sign of fading. As tall and broad as he was, he dwarfed whoever had drawn his ire.

  She nudged Aurora out of the way, angling her head to get a better look. Her stomach lurched—it was her father. Morfessa’s tall, lean frame was inconsequential in comparison to Lachlan’s. Her father, as if sensing her attention, pinned her with his dark malicious gaze, his thin lips twisting in a sneer.

  She could feel the color drain from her face. She hadn’t seen Morfessa since their confrontation in the Seelie Court. Had he found evidence of what she’d done? No, there was nothing to find, she’d sealed the tear.

  Aurora’s small hand clasped Evangeline’s. The memory of the little seer’s prophecy came back to taunt her. Prickly heat flooded her limbs. Don’t let her remember, she pleaded silently, don’t let her repeat the damning prophecy now. She steeled herself to look down at the child.

  “Don’t worry, King Lachlan won’t let him hurt you.”

  Her throat too tight to speak, she squeezed Aurora’s hand and attempted a smile. She couldn’t make out Lachlan and her father’s conversation, but neither could she bring herself to move closer. After all this time she should be immune to Morfessa’s hatred, but she wasn’t. She only pretended to be, hoping one day the act would become reality. She lived in fear he saw something inside her she couldn’t or didn’t choose to see. But you have seen it, she reminded herself, and so has Aurora.

  “Don’t let him frighten you, Evangeline. No one believes his spiteful allegations.” Her mind tangled in a web of paranoid emotions, she hadn’t noticed Fallyn approach.

  Evangeline lifted her chin, struggling to project an unconcerned demeanor. She let the heat of her embarrassment that anyone should witness her fear melt the icy tendrils holding her hostage. No one—not even Syrena—knew how much her father and his damnation frightened her. But Fallyn was deluded if she thought no one believed Morfessa’s accusations against her.

  She drew her gaze from the two men to Fallyn, noting the concern in her friend’s eyes. “I’m not frightened, only worried we waste time.” Evangeline winced, her tone more acerbic than she intended.

  Fallyn glanced over her shoulder to the clearing. “We await Broderick.”

  “Oh, I ...” Evangeline didn’t know what to say. Although she considered Fallyn a friend, she never felt comfortable discussing personal matters with anyone but Syrena.

  Overhead the sky darkened. The shadows hovered, then descended in a loud swoosh. Seven black-winged steeds skimmed the treetops before landing in the clearing.

  Fallyn rolled her eyes. “He always did like to make an entrance.” With a shake of her head, she returned her attention to Evangeline. “I brought Bowen for you to ride.” Placing two fingers between her lips, Fallyn whistled shrilly. With a soft whicker, Syrena’s white steed sauntered from a grove of trees.

  “Bowen!” Aurora ecstatically greeted the horse, immediately conjuring a shiny red apple to offer him.

  Evangeline chewed the inside of her bottom lip. “I don’t suppose I could just transport Bowen and myself to the Far North, could I?” she asked, eyeing the big steed with trepidation. She had never ridden before and preferred transportation to any other mode of travel. Depending on no one but herself afforded her a measure of security.

  Aurora, overhearing her question, looked at her askance. “Oh, no, Evangeline, he’d become very ill if you did so.”

  For Fae sakes, the child was right. With the steeds’ sensitivity to sound, the high-pitched vibrations of their magick during transportation, which had no effect on the Fae, rendered the animals insensible. It took weeks for them to recover their equilibrium. She began to think her apprehension at riding the big beast was having a similar effect on her.

  “There’s no need to be afraid, Evangeline. Bowen is the most docile of mounts, and despite his deformity, he’s as fine a steed as mine.”

  Evangeline’s snort of derision was mimicked by Bowen. The steed apparently as offended by Fallyn’s reference to his stunted wing as Evangeline was to her friend’s assumption she was afraid. She wasn’t afraid. For the love of Fae, she was the most powerful wizard in the realm. And it most certainly would not bode well for her if word got out she had fears.

  Of its own accord, her gaze slid to Lachlan, who appeared to be sending her father on his way. She returned her attention to Fallyn. “You misunderstood me. I simply thought it would be a good idea for one of us to scout out the area first.”

  “Mm-hmm.” Fallyn arched a dark brow as though she didn’t believe her. “Here, perhaps this will make you more comfortable.” With a flick of her finger, she dressed Evangeline in clothing similar to her own—form-fitting trews and a white tunic—then did the same for Aurora.

  Unaccustomed to anything but the loose robes favored by the Fae, Evangeline plucked self-consciously at the crisp white shirt with the deep V that exposed the tops of her breasts. She heard a sharp intake of breath and glanced up to see Lachlan raking her from head to toe with a predatory look in his amber gaze. A look so like his father’s that before her eyes, his features morphed into Arwan’s. She stumbled backward. Lachlan’s gaze locked with hers.

  With a muttered oath, he pivoted abruptly on his heel and barked, “Mount up.”

  “Evangeline?”

  At the note of worry in Fallyn’s voice, Evangeline sucked in a steadying breath and plastered a confident smile on her face before turning to her friend. From Fallyn’s expression, the smile must have appeared more maniacal than confident. “Thank you, Fallyn. I’m certain these clothes will help immensely. I shall just ... just ...” She studied the steed, trying to figure out how she was to mount him.

  Aurora, fairly vibrating with excitement, placed her foot in the device hanging below Bowen’s belly then took hold of the leather piece jutting from the top of the saddle to easily mount the big beast. As her legs were much longer than the little seer’s, Evangeline didn’t see how she would have a problem doing the same.

  “You may want to mount up, Evangeline. His Royal Highness appears ready to move out,” Fallyn advised, striding to where her steed waited at the edge of the clearing.

  Evangeline stuck her foot in the steel triangle hanging from the leather strap, looking up when Aurora giggled. “What?” Evangeline asked crankily.

  “That’s the wrong foot,” the child said, clapping a hand to her mouth. Aurora’s narrow
shoulders shook with mirth.

  Muttering her opinion of know-it-all children under her breath, Evangeline flicked her finger and landed with a thud behind Aurora. She barely had a chance to make herself comfortable when Lachlan took the lead at the front of their small party of fifty or so warriors and motioned for the riders to follow him.

  Evangeline clung to Aurora, ducking to avoid the branches that slapped at them as Bowen galloped through the forest. With a mighty whoosh, his powerful wing swept up and they lifted off the ground. Skimming over the treetops, Evangeline made the mistake of looking down. Her stomach gave a sickening lurch. She closed her eyes, tightening her hold on Aurora. The higher they flew, the harder she held on until she heard Aurora’s squeak of protest.

  Evangeline gave herself a mental slap. She was being ridiculous. She was no longer a child who did not know how to wield her magick. Cautiously, she opened her eyes and unclenched her fingers, releasing Aurora’s tunic. Methodically, she smoothed the wrinkled fabric, then calmly placed her hands at the child’s waist.

  There, you see, you’re perfectly fine, she told herself, noting they now appeared to be riding in the middle of the pack. Fallyn and her sisters rode just ahead of them, and every so often her friend sent an encouraging look in her direction, which after the fifth time was beginning to wear on Evangeline’s nerves. After all, she was doing remarkably well.

  Suddenly, they veered to the right. Evangeline gasped, sliding sideways off the saddle. Anchoring herself on Bowen’s stunted wing, she righted herself, only to have the wing sweep down. With all of Evangeline’s weight on Bowen’s weak side, the steed was thrown off balance and crashed into the horse on their right, who then slammed into the horse beside him. Jolted by the force of their contact, Evangeline lost her balance. With a panicked shriek, she fell off Bowen—dragging Aurora with her.

  Evangeline tumbled from the sky at a breath-stealing speed. The wind ripped Aurora from her arms. Blinded by her hair, Evangeline clawed desperately at its strangling hold. If she couldn’t see Aurora, she wouldn’t be able to flash her back to Bowen. Powerful hands latched onto her and, with a thump, she landed in someone’s lap.