A Warrior's Perception

by Stevens, Spring

  Andra took a deep ragged breath and opened her eyes. Her breath caught in her throat as she stood face to face with the biggest Scot she had ever seen. He was nothing less than massive and Andra knew she had seen him once before. She quickly sized him up and smiled as sweetly as she could up at his warm friendly handsome face.

  His dark raven hair blew across his face in the light wind, covering his eyes. He was six foot and at least ten inches and a solid wall of rippling huge muscle. Andra's eyes scoured his perfect body, taking in his entirety. He was gorgeous. His kilt fit rather snugly across his hips and begged for his stomach muscles to be touched. They were tight and extremely pronounced and led up to a sleek, hairless stone chest.

  He could have been a statue erected by the gods and could not have been more perfect. His battle scars crisscrossed his chest and arms and one faint scar ran from his nose to his earlobe, but they pronounced his appearance even more.

  “Milady,” he bowed, “ye are a vision of absolute loveliness and it delights me to find someone as beautiful as yeself within my sights.”

  Andra smiled and tried to calm her beating heart, “Thank ye.”

  “Care to walk with me,” he offered his arm, “I am Darten and ye?”

  “My name is Andra,” she answered as she took his muscled arm, “I am a guest here, are ye?”

  He grinned and it sent shivers up her spine as she looked up into the pools of warm gray in his handsome face. He had Kagan's eyes and her mouth went dry. Now she remembered, he was one of Kagan's men in the ballroom so many years ago. He was the first one Andra had seen and had been lustily staring at. Her face paled even though she knew he was oblivious to her thoughts.

  “What is wrong?”

  “Ka... Laird McKregan is expectin' me to sup with him,” she lied. She never went to the table when she knew Kagan would be there and snuck to the kitchen when she grew hungry.

  “Then come,” he turned taking her with him, “Allow me to escort ye to the table.”

  Andra did not have time to protest as he pulled her along the path, “The garden is lovely this time of year, especially in the center, where all the exotic blooms are kept. Ye should see 'em, on a moonlit night, under the stars. They are enchantin' and it is rare one gets to see the best of several countries at once.”

  “Perhaps ye could show 'em to me sometime?”

  “It would be an honor,” he whispered, “Howe'er, their beauty can'na compare to ye.”

  Andra blushed and looked away. She liked this charming Scot, even if he was flirtatious and looked so very much like Kagan.

  As they walked, he plucked a pale blue bloom and handed it to Andra, “It's beauty is dim next to ye.”

  “Such words,” Andra smelled the bloom, “If ye be tryin' to steal my heart, actions often speak louder than words.”

  “Then I may steal a kiss from ye dreamy lips and die a happy man,” he teased, “And the man who has captured ye heart better hope I am'na a better kisser.”

  “And it seems ye nose is in need of another breakin' little brother,” fumed Kagan at the steps of the keep.

  Andra looked from one to the other. The resemblance was uncanny. Darten was at least six inches taller and several inches thicker than his brother but Kagan held a more potent threatening stance. A lion verses a cub.

  “Ell'andra, this is Darten McKregan, my little brother and very adept womanizer,” Kagan drawled.

  “Aye, we ha'e met,” answered Darten, “And I seem to ha'e fallen for this bonny exotic woman.”

  Kagan raised his eyebrow and leaned against the doorframe, “Unfortunately she is mine, na matter what she may ha'e told ye.”

  “Nay.” Darten stared at Kagan letting his words escape from his thoughts, “My big brother claims a woman? Nay, it is'na possible! Ye be a woman's man, a lover of sorts...can'na see ye settle for just one.”

  Andra's eyes and heart hardened and she jerked her hand from Darten. “I donna belong to ye,” Andra smiled through clinched teeth, “I belong to na man, especially na a womanizin' heathen,” she turned to Darten and took his arm as Kagan's mouth twisted, “Ye were walkin' me to the table?”

  “Of course, milady.” Darten smiled and swept her up the steps to Kagan.

  “I will take her,” Kagan shot at Darten.

  “Whate'er for? I'll na be a burden to ye lordship. I am sure ye ha'e pressin' things to do 'fore ye sup,” Andra stared at Kagan's now dark menacing eyes and held her ground, “Besides, Darten is quite capable and strong and he will see to me.”

  Kagan turned and stalked into the keep like a raging bull. Darten's laughter rang out across the courtyard as Andra stuck her tongue out at Kagan's back.

  Kagan watched her eat, her appetite was huge. She teased and fussed over Darten during the meal, occasionally touching his hand. Kagan's disdain poured forth on his frowning lips, his notched brow, and flinching jaw. His brass cup gave under the pressure from his hand and wine ran down his palm and onto the table. He stood, turned on his heel, and left the pair as they drizzled each other with compliments and the wine bottle was replaced with another one.

  An hour later, Darten escorted the tipsy beauty to her bedchamber. She clung to his arm to keep her balance as she scaled the never ending steps. Her head spun slightly and her lips were rather numb.

  “May I steal a kiss from my brother's woman?” Darten's voice was low and teasing.

  “Only if ye promise to tell him e'ery detail,” she drawled, “Tell him I was extremely willin' and in full passions.”

  “I promise, he will know e'ery savory detail and they will fall on his thick head like a rainstorm.”

  At the top of the steps, Andra reached up on her tippy toes and met his lips as his head bent. She giggled and fell forward into his warm arms. He swung her up into his strong arms and carried her to her door, opened it, and stepped inside.

  Andra was loose lipped and the wine had melted her shell, “Now, look here, in the arms of gallant warrior who has rescued me from the wine of McKregan Keep and ye look so much like my beloved, ...err, I mean my betrothed or whate'er he thinks he is.”

  “Ye lover?” Darten asked as he kicked her door shut behind him.

  “Nay, lover he is'na. He does'na touch me 'cause I say nay and 'cause he finds me unappealing. He falls fast asleep when he drops like one dead into my bed,” Andra groaned as the room spun faster, “He only wants to control me.”

  Darten carefully laid his parcel on her bed among the pillows. “I find ye temptin’, beautiful, and enchantin’. I would lay down my sword to bed ye woman. It would be a good death to hear ye whisper my name in sweet surrender.”

  “Why donna he say things like that?” Andra sat up as Darten sat down on the edge of the bed.

  “Takes a better man than me to understand him. Now, how 'bout that kiss so I can further plague our dear Kagan.”

  In her drunken stupor, she kissed him. She kissed a Scot warrior with a heart of steel. She kissed her Kagan, at least in her mind she did. She met his tongue in heated need and grabbed his mane, crushing herself to his body. His name was on her lips as the alcohol tried to claim her.

  “Kagan....,” she whispered between breathes, “I need ye.”

  Darten held her tightly as she went limp in his arms. His breathing was heavy and the little vixen in his arms was pure sweet torture. She could kiss a man right out of his mind and talk Dagma into bowing at her feet. His shaft nagged at him to take what Kagan had not. He could still taste the raw passion on his lips and damn, he could still feel her fingers dance across his skin. He gently lay her onto the pillows and stared at her beautiful face. He wanted her and she wanted Kagan. He stood, urgently needing to seek out a woman to end his torture.

  He fled down the stairs and slammed his fist into the stone wall. His pain inched up his arm and quickly ended his arousal. He would find Kagan and see if he was as enchanted by her as she was by him. If not, he would persuade Andra to leave McKregan Keep with him and he would show her how a man l
oves a woman.

  Kagan was right where Darten knew he would be, the smithery. Darten stood at the door and watched as Kagan banged out yet another unequaled blade. Sweat poured from Kagan's body as he swung the hammer until his body ached. He inspected the blade and thrust it into the cool water-filled bin.

  “What do ye want?” He asked Darten, not even looking at him, just knowing he was present.

  “Ell'andra,” replied Darten lightly to see Kagan's reaction.

  “Ye take her to her room?”

  “Aye, and swept her off of her feet,” he answered as he watched Kagan carefully.

  “Then why is it ye come here?” Kagan's voice was calm and collected.

  “To rub it in ye face, after all, it is'na e'ery day my brother claims a woman and she falls into my arms willingly.”

  Kagan turned to Darten with a menacing look, “Tread ye words carefully little brother and tell me what ye did.”

  Darten smiled, “I took her upstairs, carried her to bed, and kissed her goodnight...”

  Kagan cursed and threw the hammer onto the workbench, sending the other tools flying across the floor.

  “Fear na, she is still yers. She spoke ye name as her lips touched mine. She made me promise to tell ye all 'bout it. She called ye her beloved, her betrothed.”

  “What is ye point?”

  “If ye ha'e na interest in her, I will gladly take her with me,” Darten took a deep breath, “I can see her naked and in need, callin' my name...”

  Kagan rested his hands on the bench and grunted, “Ye will ne'er see her naked!”

  “I could ha'e tonight if she were a bit more sober, but I find it difficult to lay with a woman in ye bed.”

  “Stay away from her, she is mine,” Kagan growled, “Take ye lust elsewhere.”

  “Til ye wed her, she is free to choose any man,” Darten laughed.

  Kagan laughed and eased himself from the bench, “She will'na choose 'tween ye and I, after all e'ery man that has lain eyes on her since she was fifteen has tried to possess her or has bent to her. E'en Demon bent to her will and follows her round like a pup.”

  “And ye, ha'e ye bent to her will as well?”

  Kagan's frown and thunderous look told Darten what he wanted to know, but Kagan enlightened him, “I made an oath to her, one that only she can break.”

  “An oath of what exactly?”

  “Of my honor, with my sword, and on my blood...ne'er to touch her in forbidden places, na to force myself on her but to allow her to touch me as she wishes,” Kagan looked tired and worn in the instance he spoke, “I pay for the oath e'ery night and e'ery wakin' hour.”

  “Holy mother of Dagma, heaven and hells. Ye did'na take the warrior's oath! If ye break it, she will command ye life. Best ye find a way out of ye oath soon.”

  Kagan grabbed the hammer and swung it down onto the granite tabletop, shattering it into large pieces, “Damn it, how is she goin' to love me, if I can'na touch her?”

  Darten grinned as he turned to the door. He wondered if Kagan realized what he had said. Since when did the mighty Kagan care if someone loved him or not? Especially when that someone was a woman. Darten's grin disappeared as he recalled her kiss, her caress, her scent, and her alluring eyes. He would have done no different than Kagan. He smiled, knowing Kagan would do far worse to make love to Andra, even if Kagan did not know it himself.

  Chapter 14

  Andra was furious as she stalked down the steps from her room. Kagan had not once stayed with her during the night any day for the last week, he always left when she fell asleep. No doubt to run to his whore. Andra groaned, visualizing Llana in Kagan's bed right next to her room. He probably had taken that witch to bed every night right under Andra's nose.

  Why should she care? At least Llana was the one getting the pain and not herself. Yes, Llana was indeed receiving the pain, and his kisses and caresses and was the one running her hands through his hair and seeing the passion in his dark sultry gray eyes. Andra stomped and wadded her fists into balls at her side.

  As Andra rounded the corner at the bottom of the steps, she ran into Darten. He laughed at her expression. He quickly poked her arm through his and guided her down the hall and out the keeps side entrance to the cobbled path that lead to the training grounds behind the keep. Andra walked briskly to keep up with his pace.

  “Where are we goin'?” she asked breathlessly, “And what is the rush?”

  Darten slowed his gait and smiled rather boyishly, “Wanted to get ye off to myself for a while 'fore dear Kagan steals ye away.”

  “Kagan only wants me round when his back is sore. He does'na seem to miss me ‘til the sun sets and then he takes his lea'e of me after his back has been thoroughly massaged and his pain is gone.” she bit out in frustration.

  “What say ye Andra, that Kagan does'na share yer bed?” he smiled sweetly and stopped taking her small hands in his.

  Andra frowned and nodded, “He keeps a lover to bed.”

  Darten pondered her words and a wide mischievous smile curled upon his lips, “Perhaps we should show dear Kagan what he is missin'.”

  Andra looked up at Darten with confusion gripping her brow, “What do ye mean?”

  “If ye want his undivided attention, make him jealous, make him think ye want to bed someone else,” he paused, “but we will ha'e to choose yer interest wisely. Kagan is a powerful warrior and fights like a lion when he is angered.”

  Andra swallowed hard at the thought of Kagan fighting, her loins stirred and her face flamed with desire. Darten caught her expression and softly smiled, “Well now, I see that ye be smitten with Kagan. He is a sight to behold.”

  Andra cringed, “Ye must swear na to tell him.”

  He smiled and threw his head back in laughter, “I swear it but ye must allow me to be the man ye use to get Kagan jealous. I'm afraid there are few men that can stand their ground with him and I am one of the few that e'en he can'na best in hand to hand combat.”

  Andra smiled nervously, “I donna want ye to ha'e to fight him o'er me.”

  “Worry na,” he drawled ,”We are brothers, we always fight about somethin', and this will be entirely my pleasure.”

  And so the deal was done. Andra faked a smile as they continued their walk to the training grounds and the clang of steel and men’s voices filled her ears. Andra wondered hopelessly if Kagan would get jealous or would he just laugh and rub it in her face that he had a lover and didn't need her in that way. She looked up at Darten as he placed his arm around her shoulders.

  “Smile like I've just said somethin' wonderful,” he whispered as he gave her a passionate look. Andra beamed up at him and genuinely laughed as he placed a heated kiss on her knuckles.

  “Now look at me as if I were Kagan runnin' my hand across ye breast,” he whispered.

  Andra closed her eyes and imagined the scene, and when she opened them, Darten groaned at her passion filled face. Her misty eyes swirled in sweet desire for Kagan and he took a shallow breath trying to keep from drowning in her eyes. He could clearly see why his brother had become betrothed to this beauty. She was raging ecstasy and took a man's breath from his lips and left him in sexual need by just a look from her eyes.

  “Take ye lea'e woman and keep ye talons out of my brother’s skin!” growled Kagan as he stalked his prey. His eyes never left Darten fearful she would see his intent rage.

  “He was showin' me the keep and I am grateful for the company. It seems I am lonely and need someone to ha'e intelligent conversation with. Darten is wonderful and truly a mighty warrior,” she drawled as she kept her eyes on Darten's face.

  Kagan seethed in anger as he witnessed the looks she was showering on Darten. The fool boy was smiling like an idiot and fawning all over his betrothed. Kagan knew that women were drawn to Darten like flies, almost as badly as to himself, but he would not have his woman so wantonly roaming his brothers body.

  “Go!” he ordered as he pointed his sword towards the keep, “And Ell
'andra?”

  “Aye milord?” she teased.

  “If ye plan on seducin' someone, pray ye choose someone I donna know,” he spit.

  “If I choose to seduce a man, I'll do so na matter who he is,” she spit back as she leaned into Darten's arms and kissed his cheek on her tippy toes. Thankfully, Darten leaned down to receive his reward with a comical grin on his face.

  Andra turned and whispered a good-bye to Darten and winked at him. Kagan's heart pounded hard and the intense battle raged inside of him. Darten watched Andra take her leave and prayed Kagan would wait until she was gone before having his fit. They had fought over women before but he knew this was going to be different. This lass held Kagan's heart in the palm of her hand whether he knew it or not. Darten grimaced as Kagan's fist slammed into his jaw.

  “Keep ye hands off of her!” Kagan spat.

  “Seems to me big brother she wanted my hands on her,” he laughed as he shook off the pain in his jaw.

  The keep was filled with the sounds of two mighty warriors raging at each other. One was caught in his jealousy and the other was painstakingly trying to dodge the others anger. The thuds and swooshes lasted for well over an hour. The two beasts brawled and quarreled. The fight ended in smiles and handshakes. It was a good fight, blood flowed from each of their mouths and each wore a swollen eye. Their knuckles ached and bled and it was indeed good.

  Darten smiled at his brother's back as he walked away. It was going to be very interesting for the next few days and he chuckled to himself as he hurried to catch up with Kagan. He had never known Kagan to get jealous over anything and it pleased him greatly to see his brother take an interest in something besides war and politics.

  “Have ye made the announcement yet?” asked Darten as he swallowed his scotch.

  “What announcement?” returned Kagan as he leaned across the balcony overlooking the vivid green and alabaster hillside of McKregan Keep.

  “As laird ye must hold a banquet acceptin' that ye are to be betrothed and ye must invite all the boyars and rich landowners so they can parade their eligible daughters 'fore ye eyes.” Darten stated in amusement.