by C J Matthew
“Since loading your airplane parts are a secondary priority item for today, why not let us deliver the firewood and barrels of food, the heaviest stuff to their Willow destinations before we tackle the airplane?”
“Appreciate the offer. You’d better hurry.” Liam pointed to the line of villagers with wagons and wheelbarrows, separating the items in the nets.
The big man laughed. “Ready for a party, are you? So are we. It was a long, hard winter. I see nobody’s in line to load firewood, we’ll move that—up to the sacred circle?”
“Right,” Liam said.
“Then we’ll get that plane off our island.”
“Thanks again.”
“Along with your gratitude, I’ll eat your food, drink your mead, and maybe dance a reel with your beautiful lady?”
Liam’s sea dragon growled, and the Pegasus roared with laughter. “Don’t eat me, boy. Just having a bit of fun teasing a newly mated Sea Dragon. Just teasing you.”
The man gave them a quick wave and ran for the edge of the cliff. He went over and dropped from sight. A heartbeat later, a magnificent Pegasus rose in the air, beating his wings. He gained altitude and circled back to lift a palate of firewood in a cargo net.
Liam ducked under her shade and kissed Heather.
“You aren’t actually jealous, are you?” she whispered. “You know I’d never—”
“It’s a part of the mate thing. I’m feeling crazy protective of you and jealous of everyone. With or without cause.”
“Please try to get a grip. It’s almost insulting.”
“I’ll try. After we load the plane, if you’ll wait while I thank everyone, we can walk home together.”
“Of course, I’ll wait.” She kissed him and tickled the green flag under his chin. “You’re much better looking than any Pegasus.”
Liam hurried through dinner so he and Heather would have more time alone together before his patrol started.
“Guardian, you’ll give the wicca indigestion if she has to eat any faster.”
“Andraste, stop teasing,” Heather scolded her superior and trainer. “I wanted to skip dinner all together.”
The Druidess threw her hands up in defeat. “I can’t take any more ‘new mate syndrome’. I’ll clean up and do the dishes. Disappear, both of you, now.”
Giggling, his mate jumped to her feet, tossed him two apples, and pocketed a big yeast roll as they fled down the hall to her room. When she turned to lock it, he chucked the apples to the bed and used his body to pin her against the smooth wood of the door.
He unfastened both shoulder clasps and the top half of her dress floated down to her waist. He had the bra off in a heartbeat and buried his face in her breasts. She plowed her fingers through his hair. The leather tie-back came loose, and she tossed it away.
“I love your hair,” she moaned.
Sucking a hard nipple deep in his mouth, “Um hum,” was all he could manage.
Heather pulled at the back of his shirt and managed to get it over his head. He released her breast to finish taking off the shirt. They locked gazes when he dropped his pants and boxers simultaneously, and she shed her skirt and panties, also together.
He crushed his mouth to hers and they stumbled across the room and fell on the bed.
For a few moments they wrestled for the top position but before he could surrender and roll her on top of him, she stopped, completely on her back, and opened her thighs.
He pushed up, unable to breathe. Heat rushing through his body, Liam blinked down at the sexual paradise opened before him.
“What a sight. Your hair tossed all over my pillow, those tight hard nipples reaching up to me, your legs splayed wide. You’re an invitation to eat my fill, then fill you in return.”
She gasped. Then slowly, her mouth lifted in a seductive smile. “Do it,” she moaned, “Do everything.”
He started with her toes and licked every spot where she’d ever responded to his touch before. And he had an excellent memory. As he skimmed his mouth up her inner thigh, she arched her back, a sure sign she was about to have an orgasm.
Wait for me. Lifting her legs over his shoulders, he rose to his knees and thrust his cock deep inside her. Her inner muscles pulsed and throbbed against him. When she screamed his name, he exploded too, emptying himself into his mate.
He started to collapse on her but managed to angle part of his body weight onto the bed.
“When I can breathe again,” she wheezed between gulps of air. “I’ll tell you, I like to feel your weight on me.”
“Even dead weight? I think you killed me this time.”
She kissed the Sea Dragon tattoo on his left chest. “Sorry, dying is not allowed. Our mutual bucket list is too long. It’s going to take us a century to work our way through all those fun times.”
“Happily, once we claim each other, our life spans will begin to sync. You may have more than a century to work through that list.”
“Oh pooh. I’m too young to worry about synced life spans. Talk to me again when I turn ninety.”
“Oh pooh?”
Chapter 16
Heather
Heather snuck out of bed early on the morning of Bealtaine Eve. She needed to gather flowers for the Druidess’s headdress. And more blossoms for the Queen of the May. She slid on her favorite hiking shoes, slipped a deep basket over her arm, and tiptoed to the kitchen for coffee. The can Liam had smuggled in was almost empty. Her morning coffee habit was catching on. She started the pot brewing, closed her eyes and sent out a mental request, “Would someone coming to the Bealtaine party over the next two days please bring a new can of regular, drip ground coffee?”
She’d learned by trial and error—lots of ugly, sometimes painful errors—to be specific and clear in her wishes. At first, the Druidess disapproved of Heather calling what she did wishing, instead of spells or summoning. Now that Heather had improved, the Druidess was more inclined to allow the W word.
Coffee mug in hand, Heather stepped outside the kitchen door and took a deep breath of the clean sweet air. Such a beautiful place.
She gulped down the rest of her morning energy boost, rinsed the mug and set it in the sink. Ha, hot water thanks to natural springs and ancient Roman plumbing. She dashed outside and went straight for the far side of the sacred grove. She’d learned the flowers at the very edge were fair game.
Later, when the sun was further up in the blue sky, Heather was ready to turn for home. Her basket was full, she’d scored the biggest, most perfectly formed blossoms, and her feet hurt in these shoes.
Near the Grove house, through the trees, she heard Hank and Paul arguing over the found-plane-parts-contest. It officially ended today. Both boys seemed to think several of the contestants’ numbers were very close.
“If we want to get the jump on the other guys?” Hank insisted, “we need to look one more time.”
Paul made a rude sound. “Everybody’ll be looking on the beach today. One last time.”
“That’s why, if you and me take the rowboat—”
“What?” Paul squeaked. “Me Ma’d skin me alive if I went—”
“Yer Ma’ll never know. Only as far as the Druid’s barrier. We’ll be the only two looking for floating plane parts.”
She’d heard enough. Heather made a right turn and hurried toward the two young boys. She had to warn them or, if that made no impression, she’d invoke the fear and respect they had for Liam. Swear he’d forbid them to get into any boat today.
Through the trees, a loud scream shattered the peace of the grove. It came from the Grove house. Heather changed directions and took off running.
Closer, she heard a woman sobbing. Finally, she could see, hunched over outside the kitchen door, one of the Willow Village women. Her hand was wrapped in a bloody towel, her skirt wet with blood and tears dripped on her blouse.
Heather took the woman’s wrist and more blood dripped from the towel.
“Marta?”
“Y
es.”
“Let’s go in. We need to stop the bleeding. Can you hold the bandage tighter?”
“I know who you are,” Marta said suddenly, then choked on her tears. “You can help me. I know it.”
“Marta. Inside. Sit at the table.” She half carried the woman to the kitchen table and sat her in a chair. Sweeping away the flowers, scissors and a knife the villager had laid out to make into garlands for the tables at the party, Heather grabbed for a stack of clean towels. Marta must have cut her hand trimming stems.
“Why the confidence in me, Marta? You barely know me.” Heather was terrified to remove the bloody towel. So instead she wrapped the new length of linen over the bloody one and pulled it tight. Where was the Druidess? The Willow healer?
“You are the Guardian’s mate,” Marta said.
What? She’d lost track of the conversation.
“Liam always protects us,” Marta continued, “and he helps anyone in need. You wouldn’t be chosen by destiny to be his mate unless you could help people too.”
“I hope you’re right. Marta, were you here alone?”
“No, the Druidess wasn’t here, but my friend, Rhiannon came with me. After I cut my hand, she told me to sit and then Rhiannon ran to bring help.”
“Great. Help is on the way.” Heather gently lifted Marta’s hands, the top one was pressing hard on the lower one. She cradled both hands in hers.
Heather closed her eyes. Forget the coffee. Here’s what I really wish for.
Concentrating, she could visualize an energy of light flowing from the top of her head through her hands. “Marta,” she said gently, “I want what you said about destiny to be true. And I want your hand to stop bleeding. I wish the veins to close along the cut and to heal. Anywhere the cut is open, I want that to close. We need the flesh and muscles to align, join up again. I wish them to combine correctly and knit themselves. I want Marta to have less and less pain. Let’s dry the tears on her beautiful face. And please show me anything else I can do for this extraordinary woman and her family.”
Heather opened her eyes. “Where’s that healer?”
The footsteps on the path leading to the kitchen door announced Andraste’s arrival. “Rhiannon said to hurry. Is Marta still bleeding?”
“No Lady Druidess,” Marta piped up. “The lady wicca has worked her magic. The pain is leaving, and the bleeding has stopped so the healing can begin.”
Heather sputtered, “Wait a min—”
“Wonderful.” Andraste put a hand on Heather’s shoulder. “Let me take a peek, put salve on the wound, and a clean bandage.”
Heather’s stomach churned. “I need some air.” She started to push up from the table when the Druidess shot her a hard look. “Sit with Marta. Just for a few more minutes.”
Marta chattered about the festival and flowers while Andraste left to fetch the medical basket. When she returned, Heather’s stomach had settled and when the inner blood-soaked towel was removed, she barely flinched at the sight of the cut.
By the time the medical tasks were completed, Marta’s friend Rhiannon was at the door with the patient’s husband. He hugged his wife and took charge of the packet with clean bandages and more salve. He tucked Marta close to his side, everyone said thank you, and the three villagers walked down the back path together.
“Don’t worry about a thing,” Rhiannon said. “I’ll send the kids back for the flowers and we’ll make the garlands in my kitchen while you sit with your feet up. Did your wicca recommend any special tea?”
“Could you make us tea while I put this basket away?” The Druidess gave her a quick hug and went toward the keeping room, her basket swinging from her arm.
Heather reached for the kettle by the fireplace and the front door slammed. Liam shouted: “Heather?”
“In the kitchen.”
He stomped down the hall and plunked down in a chair at the table.
Did she dare ask what was wrong?
He made a low growl. “You aren’t asking me what’s wrong, but I’m telling you anyway.”
She bit back a smile and filed that news under ‘Liam’s quirks’. No need to ask.
“We’ve got bad guys all over the damn place.”
Her heart stuttered. “On the island?”
“Don’t be so literal. They’re on the other side of the barrier but there are four or five boats out there packed with Hunters. That’s way too many.”
“I agree. What do we do?”
“It’s all my fault,” Liam said.
Andraste stood in the doorway, her arms wrapped tight around her waist. “How is that possible?”
He rose and bowed. The Druidess waved a hand at him to sit.
Liam kept his face averted. “I wanted this year’s party to be even bigger than two years ago. And for two days now, we’ve had too many people arriving at the island. Coming through the portals. All that activity has attracted the Hunters.”
The Druidess claimed her cup of tea and sat at the head of the table. “That is one of the silliest notions I have ever heard. The entire guest list for this year has exactly nine more names on it than the list from two years ago. And only four more than last year.”
She took a sip of tea, set the mug down and began to stir the liquid.
“Most of us,” Andraste said, “happen to think inviting the new human mates of the shifter Guardians was a terrific PR idea.” She beamed at Heather and then at Liam.
“You and your mate seem to be rubbing off on each other, so to speak.”
Did the Willow Druidess just make a double entendre?
“It’s good,” Andraste continued, “for everyone to be together and to see the old ways celebrated.” She placed her spoon on the cloth napkin. “Now, you’ve got plenty of Guardians to choose from. Go scare off the hunters so we can proceed with the Bealtaine festivities.”
Chapter 17
Heather
Heather froze when Liam grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her from her chair. Now here was her man on a mission. She melted when her gave her a passionate kiss.
“I love you, Treasure,” he said. “Stay safe.”
“You too. I’ll meet you on the beach.”
He looked startled for a moment, then resigned. “Okay, I guess. See you there.”
Liam rushed out the door and jogged down the path away from the Grove house. The minute he was out of sight, she remembered hearing Hank and Paul’s plan to take the boat out so they could win the airplane recovery contest.
Damn it. Her hand clenched the back of her chair. “Andraste.”
“Don’t shout, I’m right here.” The Druidess looked up. “What’s wrong?”
“We need to go, now.” Heather explained everything while they hurried through the sacred grove to the cliff.
“I swear,” she grumbled, “this place needs a better communications system. Like an Amber alert.”
The Druidess raised her brows in question.
“I’ll explain later. We need to find the boys, in case they ditched their crazy idea. At the same time, we need to track down the rowboat. If it’s gone, we have to assume they took it out to look for plane parts. We need lots of people for two searches.”
“Be calm. One step at a time.”
“That’s the problem. Situations like this don’t work with a progression timeline. We need to establish if the boys and the boat are here or not. Then move quickly to step three.”
“I understand, but we have no alternative.”
“What about that eagle? The big one who buzzed the supply ship? Can he carry messages?”
Heather lifted her hand to shade her eyes and pointed to the cliff-top. “Looks like a Guardian reunion. Hurry. And some of Liam’s cousins. Excellent.”
She was running by the time Liam spotted her and came to meet her. She’d left the Druidess a few yards behind.
“What’s happened?” he took her in his arms and spoke in a low voice.
“I think Hank and Paul took the
little boat out the retrieve airplane parts. Details later. Can we get started hunting for the boys and the boat at the same time? I wondered if the eagle could spread the word.”
“Terrific plan. Then let’s ask Eagan to search the water. From the air, he can easily spot the boat or the boys.” Liam stepped back and let out a shrill, piercing whistle. The shifters nearby cursed, rubbed their ears, and complained.
“Sorry,” Liam said. “We need a location on Hank and Paul. A few of you faster shifters, start looking now. Another group, find the boys’ rowboat. We’ll relay information via avian shifters. Eagan will be flying a search pattern over the water right past the edge of Druid’s barrier.”
A boat full of human men chugged past the island just outside the barrier.
Hunters his sea dragon growled.
Crap,” Liam muttered. “Tell Eagan to stay inside the barrier as much as possible. We don’t want to attract their attention.”
A movie star gorgeous man dressed in what her NY friends would call: ‘high-end sporting apparel’ came forward. “Liam, I know it’s a bad time for you both. I wanted to meet Heather.” He looked at her and smiled. “I’m Murphy, the clan leader. Just know we’re here for you and ready to help.”
Behind Murphy stood his duplicate, in more down-to-earth clothes. Heather tried not to gape. Had to be Murdoch, the identical twin and his new human mate, Annalisa. How could she arrange an in-depth, one-on-one conversation with this woman?
Another couple moved closer. Devlin, and his even newer human mate, Portia. Her tell-all talk with Annalisa just became a trio. A three-way? Heather swallowed the giggle rising in her throat. Better not call it that in front of Liam.
“We’ll stay out of your way,” Devlin offered. And both couples stepped back. Murphy stood his ground. The Rudraige chieftain barely ducked when the huge eagle landed at Liam’s feet.
Murphy tilted his head and then said, “My Sea Dragon says Eagan found the boys. They’re drifting in the boat. Outside the barrier. Danger.”
‘Did you hear anything?” Murdoch asked Devlin in a stage whisper.