Dragon Knight's Ring (Order of the Dragon Knights Book 5) (16 page)

Laughter shone in her eyes, and the love for his wife grew. “Never,” he replied, capturing her mouth once again. Bundling her close to his body, he wrapped his cloak around her.

“So by the obvious display of your affection, you will not be heading to the lists?” Deirdre rubbed against his hard cock.

He let out a growl and reveled in the warmth of her velvet mouth. Breaking free, he swept her up into his arms. “I can train in the lists later. Your body is what I crave.”

She gave a husky laugh and buried her face into his neck.

Angus took a few steps and paused. A mighty rush of energy surged through him. Setting Deirdre down, he turned around. The power spoke to him. It was ancient, powerful, and one he recognized.

“Angus?” She gripped his arm.

“Fenian warriors,” he growled, shoving Deirdre behind him.

“What? Where?” she demanded, moving alongside him. “Don’t become an overbearing husband just because I’m now pregnant,” she protested, gazing outward.

He pointed to the oak tree off to the side of Urquhart. “Sweet Mother Danu,” he stated in a hoarse voice.

“Look at their clothing,” she whispered in a shocked tone. “They’re stunning.”

He pounded his fist against the wall. “So much for peace in the realms.”

“Damn it, Angus! What’s wrong?”

“Three Fenian warriors dressed in Fae royalty is
not
a good sign.”

Deirdre sighed heavily and grabbed his hand. “Then let us welcome them into Urquhart and find out what they want.”

Angus drew her hand to his lips and placed a kiss along her fingers. “Gather the other wives into the Great Hall.”

“And your brothers?”

“I believe they are waiting for me at the gates.” Angus pointed to where Duncan, Stephen, and Alastair all stood, weapons unsheathed.

“Well, you’d better go quickly before one of them starts a war,” she stated, moving through the door.

Angus clasped his sword, started to bring it forth, but slowly re-sheathed the blade. Taking the steps two at a time, he waved off the questions from several of the women as they were making their way into the hall.

Striding out into the bailey, he waved Finn over. When the lad approached, he placed a hand on his shoulder. “Take the children up to my chambers. If all should not go well with the Fenian warriors, I order ye to take them through the secret passage and to the hills. Ye will find Cathal and the other druids there. Ye ken the place?”

“Aye, Uncle Angus. Yet, how will I ken?”

“If I give the war cry of the MacKays, then ye will flee.”

Finn straightened and grasped his uncle’s arm. “I will protect them with my life.”

“Go now.” Watching as his nephew ran into the castle, Angus prayed it would not come to any lives. The young warrior had yet to live his life.

He moved slowly toward the gate. Stephen glanced over his shoulder sensing his approach. “They have not made a move to enter.”

Duncan and Alastair stepped aside as Angus walked to the portcullis. “Have they said anything?”

“Nae,” responded Duncan. “Why do they wear the Fae clothing?”

Angus shrugged. “I gather ’tis because of important Fae matters. Sheath your weapons, my brothers.”

“Are ye not troubled they seek to do us harm?” protested Alastair.

“Lower your axe, Alastair. I may be wary, but I dinnae believe they are here to bring us harm. Nonetheless, I have ordered Finn to remove the children to my chambers.”

“And the women?” asked Stephen.

“Pray tell me how we could
remove
our wives?” Angus shook his head in amusement. “Ye ken that more damage would come from the women, unto our heads, if we kept them away.”

“Brigid would have more than my head,” grumbled Duncan. “Go greet them, my laird.” He gave Angus a mock salute and waved him onward.

Angus gave the signal for the portcullis to be raised and walked across the bridge. The Fae’s royal sleeveless tunics glistened in the morning sunlight—the golden colors almost blinding. Each warrior had their arms crossed over their chest, displaying Celtic spirals from shoulder to wrist. Their upper arms were encased with golden bands, the writing on the metal as ancient as the words on their flesh. Once, Angus had witnessed the power of those symbols, and he had no desire to see them again.

Unclenching his fists, Angus nodded to them. “Greetings, Conn, Liam, and Rory. What brings ye to Urquhart?”

Conn stepped forward. “We are here to ask for your help.”

Angus almost laughed, but held back. “How can the Dragon Knights aid Fae warriors?”

“There is a grave matter we wish to discuss with you and your brothers.”

Viewing the warrior skeptically, he rubbed a hand across his chin. “’Tis obvious since ye are here in Fae clothing.”

“Each moment we waste, Lachlan gains. Only the Dragon Knights can defeat this monster.”

“Ye are not speaking clearly. Ye spout knowledge we ken,” snapped Angus.

“In order to defeat Lachlan, you will need the help of the Fenian warriors. We are asking for your help—to become an ally.”

Stunned, Angus moved closer to Conn. “What have ye done?”

Liam and Rory moved alongside Conn. He glanced at them briefly and back to Angus. “We have left the brotherhood, and in doing so, defied the Fae. You will need our power, since Lachlan has traveled the veil. May we be welcomed into Urquhart?” Conn’s request was almost a plea.

Never had Angus known a Fenian warrior to ask for help, let alone be welcomed into their home. His nerves skittered with unease. If they were willing to defy the Fae, then the circumstances were grave indeed.

“Let us speak more inside.” Angus turned and walked past his stunned brothers. He knew they had heard Conn’s words.

Upon entering the hall, the women were all standing. Angus gave a brief smile to them and went to the head of the table. Reaching for a jug, he poured ale into cups, presenting the first to Conn. As each man took a cup, he motioned for everyone to sit down.

Brigid leaned across the table and grabbed Conn’s hand. “It is good to see you again.”

“Lady Brigid, the pleasure is surely mine. My heart soars at your happiness.” He turned to Deirdre. “And I’m happy to see you found the oak tree, so Angus would find you.”

“Did you ever have any doubts?” Deirdre smiled and placed her hand on her husband’s arm.

“I am sure the women would like to give more praises. Yet, ye are here to ask for our aid. Why?” Angus asked in a stern tone. He felt Deirdre’s hand tighten on his arm, but he kept his focus on the Fenian warrior.

Conn took a sip of his ale and then placed the cup down. He looked at Rory and Liam and then back to Angus. “On the night of the great battle—”

“The night Meggie died,” interrupted Duncan.

“Yes, on the night Margaret died, the Guardian stripped you all of your relics. You may have believed you were cursed, but as you all know, it was a quest for each. A path of redemption. Furthermore, the moment Margaret uttered her last breath, the Guardian captured her essence—her spirit. She sent her not to the Land of Forever. She sent her through the veil of ages.”

Angus’s fire dragon clawed inside of him. “What are ye saying?” he growled, placing his hands on the table.

“Margaret MacKay is alive and living in the future.”

An audible gasp came forth from the women.

The air cooled, thunder clapped violently, and the ground shook beneath them. Each brother rose with deadly calm. However, Angus remained seated, the blow of the Fae’s words slicing through his heart, leaving him stunned and confused.

“How long have ye known?” demanded Duncan, slapping Conn with a thrust of power.

“You overstep,” warned Conn, his eyes flashing silver. Rory and Liam stood instantly.

“How long?” bellowed Stephen and Alastair in unison.

“I believe my brothers have asked ye a question,” stated Angus. “I would advise ye to answer.”

“The night of the battle,” answered Conn.

“All this time!” roared Duncan, unsheathing his sword. “I should kill ye where ye sit—all of ye. To make us suffer cruelly!”

“Meddling bastards!” protested Alastair.

“We all fled our home. Almost sought death. Why?” demanded Stephen.

Conn glared at Angus. “What?
You
have no questions? You would watch as one of them takes a blade to us?”

“If ye think my anger is anything compared to my brothers, ye are not as wise as others have claimed. With one thought, I could burn your neck from your shoulders.” His mind reeled with the knowledge that his sister lived, and it took all of his might not to burn all three warriors to ashes.

“How dare you threaten—” He flashed Angus a look of disdain.

Angus slammed his fist onto the table, knocking the cups over and leaving a scorch mark on the wood. “Ye came to our home. Asked for our help. Ye must have foreseen this,
Fae
.” He spat out the last word as if it was foul tasting.

“What you did on that night cannot be taken back. You took a life in the end. If you had not walked your quest, none of you would have found what you stole from Margaret.
Love
.” Conn glanced around the room. “Duncan and Brigid. Stephen and Aileen. Alastair and Fiona.” His gaze traveled back to Angus. “You and Deirdre. Would any of you undo your path?”

Angus felt the cool touch of Deirdre’s fingers on his hand. “I’m happy my path led me to you. Is it not enough to know that your sister lives?” she whispered. Her soothing voice calmed the raging fire dragon burning inside him, and he turned to her.

Seeing the unshed tears in her eyes, he placed her hand over his heart. Glancing at his brothers, he noticed their wives were there also. Each woman had wrapped an arm around their husband, soothing the angry beasts within them all.

Heaving a sigh, he let the tremor of fury subside. “Is our sister…well?”

Conn gave a sad smile. “Yes. Though, she is not alone.”

Angus’s heart clenched. “By the hounds! Lachlan? Explain.”

“He is in her world. However, there is another. Adam MacFhearguis has stepped through the veil into her time.”

His brothers started shouting, each spewing their own questions. Angus held up his hand to silence any further outbursts.

“Continue,” he nodded to Conn.

“At the present, Adam is the only one that can free her memories. When she traveled the veil of ages, she arrived with no memory of the past. Her language is a mix of old and new. She battles every day to regain those lost years. You are aware that Adam is a Dragon Knight. He has only recently learned this news and that of his powers. I can tell you that he is attempting to learn. I am his teacher.”

“Poor man,” grumbled Duncan. Stephen and Alastair both snorted.

“Meggie lives,” muttered Angus, shaking his head in disbelief. Grabbing two fallen cups, he filled them both and handed one to Conn. Downing the entire contents of his own cup, he gazed across at the Fenian warrior. “What can we do? Ye will need
all
the Dragon Knights to defeat the druid.”

“For now, we must wait. When the time comes, we will come for you. Furthermore, Adam must succeed in freeing Meggie’s memories, and he must do so before Samhain.” Conn drank deeply from his cup and placed it down.

“And if he can’t?” asked Stephen.

“Then the Order will vanish into the mists of time. All that you know will cease to exist.”

“Great Goddess! That’s less than four weeks away,” exclaimed Aileen.

Angus stood. “Then I suggest ye return and do all ye can.”

Standing, Conn rubbed a hand over his face. “Meggie and Adam are on their own path. They must regain what was lost. It is their journey. We are only here to make sure that Lachlan and the Dark One are defeated. Our position to defy the Fae will travel the realm once the battle has begun.”

Angus realized these Fenian warriors would now surely face death for interfering. He tried to fathom why they would forfeit their lives, but he dismissed the thought. He was more concerned for his sister. Would it be possible for her to return home? The Order fully restored at Urquhart?

“There are others who ye have forgotten. I deem the MacFhearguis clan will want to hear this account.” Angus walked over to Conn and clamped a hand on the warrior’s shoulder. Seeing the warning flash in his eyes, Angus’s smile turned sinister. “And ye will accompany us to deliver the news.”

Conn rolled his eyes. “I fear you are going to try my patience until this is finished.”

“Most definitely,” roared Angus in laughter.

Chapter Fifteen

“Do not fight the passion of change. Accept your fate and change the stars.”

“Thank ye, Fae,” whispered Meggie as she peered into the kitchen. Not a sign of anyone, including Adam MacFhearguis—thankfully. She didn’t want any chatter, especially this late at night. Her nerves were frayed from having to work alongside Adam for the past five days. Each night left her exhausted from trying to remain businesslike with the man. He stirred emotions from lust to admiration. Yet, when her head hit the pillow, sleep remained elusive. But when she did slumber, her dreams were filled with him, and when she woke, she tried to remember if they were memories or just dreams.

After that day on Drumbuie ridge, the tension never eased. The following morn, he’d said naught as he managed all the chores and then made the needed repairs—all without asking her permission. He simply took over the stables.

Meggie glanced down the corridor expecting to see him standing outside his door. “Ye twist my insides like no other.”

Slipping inside the kitchen, she quietly closed the door. Wrapping her shawl more tightly around her body, she shivered from the late night chill. Light from the sliver of a crescent moon shimmered through the glass pane of the window. Its light dusted starlight onto the stones. Placing the kettle on the stove, she pulled down the jar of shortbread, smiling at the memory of her and Jamie making them earlier in the day. “Ye are my only hero, wee son. I should banish these silly notions of having a man in my life. ’Tis foolish and I have nae time.”

Nibbling on the shortbread, she knew her heart beat to another thought—having Adam in her arms, and she was angry for those feelings. What had he told her?
I desire everything
. Did she mean something to him? Obviously, he didn’t want her for only one night and yet, he didn’t mind that Jamie was in her life. That she had been with another.