Highland Tigress (Tiger Series) (7 page)

“Calm yourself, Cara. Liam cannot be distracted or he may well kill Balor. You must find your calm.”

Cara looked to her left to find the darkest tiger staring at her. Somehow it all made sense. It was Darren, but how? She then looked over to her right and somehow felt that this dark orange tiger was Deaglan. Well the other two were Evan and Euan she thought and studied them for a moment. One licked his lips as if to say he would like to eat her for dinner. She frowned deeply and stepped back only to feel his laughter encase her mind. Ah, yes then this one was Euan. She gasped as she looked at the two huge beasts that were still locked in battle. Liam and Balor, but why?

Deaglan’s stern voice entered her mind. “It is because you could not control your desires. We are all drawn to the scent of you. Balor is more vulnerable than the rest of us. Liam may have to kill him before he will back down, Cara, and it will be your fault.” “Oh God, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know.” Cara sobbed and looked at Deaglan.

Everything stopped. All five tigers, including Balor and Liam, turned to growl at Deaglan. The scent of Cara’s pain had lessened the smell of her release and Balor had been able to regain himself. Deaglan sat calmly as the others threatened him. He was no afraid of them. He knew her pain would slice through her desire and help to calm Balor. He changed and stood gloriously naked in front of them.

“Do you wish to kill me? I did what none of you thought to do, and I was telling the truth. It was a foolish thing to do Liam and you know it.”

The largest tiger nodded and began to change. Cara gasped. Knowing it was Liam and seeing him shed his tiger and become the man again was too much. She turned away only to find Darren doing the same thing. She turned again and was met by the sight of a very naked Deaglan. She threw her hands over her eyes and refused to look at any of them. She heard them teasing one another and laughing, but she refused to look. All of this had been her fault. They all knew what had happened between her and Liam. She was mortified. She didn’t know if she ever again wanted to look any to them in the eye. Her thoughts were cut short when she was gathered in a pair of warm, strong arms.

“Cara, ‘tis a natural state. When we change we cannot always have our clothes nearby, so you will often see any number of men walking around in their skin, women too for that matter although there are few.

“Cara did open her eyes then. “You mean there will be naked women walking around all the time?” She was frowning so deeply that he laughed outright. She smacked his chest and turned to walk away, but he caught her arm.

“Do ye not like the thought of my looking at the other lasses?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Nay I do not think it is something I will like at all. How will you like for the men to be looking at me?”

Euan took a deep breath and gave an exaggerated sigh. “Ah, nothin’ like the smell of a satisfied woman to freshen up the forest. Wouldn’t you agree, Evan?”

“Cara, we mean you no harm. We are just trying to lighten our spirits. We beg your forgiveness for offending your tender sensibilities.” Euan spoke the words, but the laughter in his eyes told Cara he wasn’t sorry at all. She smiled her forgiveness though.

Balor hadn’t said a word until now.

“Liam, I am sorry for my weakness.” He said in a low voice. “I just couldn’t control myself. I will leave if you want. Maybe draw the wolves away?”

“Nay Balor, it is best if yer with us. We may need you yet.”

Balor looked into Liam’s eyes and found none of the contempt he’d expected. Instead he found understanding and forgiveness. “Thank ye Liam. I will strive to be stronger in the future.” Balor then turned to the others, but he found something different plagued each of them- the fear that they too would be so effected by Cara that they would falter as he had done. He felt better knowing that they too struggled and they did not hold him any ill will.

“I hope there will be no need after this day has ended.” Liam said and they both looked to Cara who was patiently waiting upon Sky.

Liam mounted his horse, Stone and the other men mounted as well. Cara was confused and curious, but she feared the answers to her questions almost as much as she feared not knowing. She felt that her entire world was about to change and that everything she thought was right was somehow wrong. She caught Liam staring at her and tried to offer him a reassuring smile, but she knew it fell short.

Liam felt Cara slipping away from him. Would she accept the truth about herself? Would she accept him as her mate? His mood darkened as they rode. After two hours he found himself riding alone. His men knew him too well to be close when his mood was so thunderous. Cara rode with Evan and Euan and they had lightened her mood considerably. Liam had heard the tinkling sound of her laughter several times and it only made him angrier because it was not him who brought it from her.

When they stopped to rest for a short while Cara sat with her head down and ate a small portion of berries Euan had found for her. She refused to look at Liam and his mood was too thunderous to coax her into speaking to him. They mounted and continued on. This time Cara rode between Darren and Deaglan. She was clearly uncomfortable and both men seemed confused by it. Cara openly feared Darren. A fact the men found funny. She was also apprehensive of Deaglan. It was a strange thing for the brothers who even though they were not jolly, usually made everyone feel at ease, especially women. If Liam hadn’t been in such a foul temper he would have found their efforts humorous.

When they reached the small grotto, late the next day, Liam was in a foul mood and was not sure he would be able to be as patient as he would need to be. He watched Cara dismount and smile at Euan. He felt his anger boil in his belly. He sat on his horse still frowning until she turned and offered him a tentative smile. He felt her smile warm him and his dark mood instantly began to lift as the morning sun lifts the night. He knew that he would do anything to ease Cara, to make her fears less, just as his men had been trying to do. He dismounted and walked to her.

“I may be a McIntosh in blood, but I am a Kingston in spirit, and I am afraid. Liam I am very afraid.” She gazed up at him, her green eyes deep pools of worry. Liam’s heart turned over in his chest.

“Cara, it is nothing that is all that bad. ‘Tis simply something ye do not know about yerself. ‘Tis a good thing. It will make us more able to live together. More able to love together. ‘Twill make ye a McNeal.”

At her wide eyed look he wished he could recall his words.

“Cara, ye know I mean to marry ye. Has been in my mind to do so since before yer birth. Am I so disagreeable that ye do not wish to have me?”

She smiled sweetly up at him. “Nay, Liam, ‘tis not that at all. It is all sudden that is all. I am sure I will grow comfortable with the idea, in time.”

He made a face that told her the time was the problem.

“I understand that I may not get the time I wish for. It is more important to survive than to preserve my modesty. I am willing to do what is needed now and let you make it up to me later.”

He nodded solemnly and led her into the privacy of the grotto.

“Cara, we will be sending the horses on to try to draw those damned dogs away from us. I’ll need yer clothes too. Ye’ll not be needin’ them after tonight.”

“Aye, but not verra much. Your tiger will cover ye most all the time. Ye’ll change when you want.” He shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but he was very interested in seeing her, both in her skin and in her fur. “I will leave you for a few moments to allow ye time to …”He trailed off with a helpless gesture and she laughed delightedly at his sudden awkwardness.

“I thank ye My Laird. The time is most appreciated.” Cara still felt apprehension clawing at her, but she had little choice and she trusted Liam. She stepped behind some bushes and stripped to her skin. She then bundled her clothes together and tossed them to Liam.

Liam felt like a lad with his first woman. He gathered up her clothes and couldn’t force his blush away. He couldn’t even find his words. His body was reacting to the prospect of having Cara, but his mind had gone blank of all the tender words he should impart. He could do nothing but turn and leave her standing there all but laughing at him.

They tied their clothes to their mounts. Liam loosely tied Carra’s horse to his own knowing Stone would lead them safely home. When all of their belongings were attached to the horses the men slapped their rumps and sent their beloved horses away. They all prayed that the beasts would make it safely to the castle and that they would find them there safe and sound very soon.

As soon as the horses were away .Darren stripped off his clothes and changed quickly. His tiger stretched and began to run. Darren ran for what seemed like days, but was only a few hours. He was careful not to travel straight to the meeting place, but he circled and came in at a different angle so no one would suspect where he’d come from. He soon came to the place where he was to meet his spy. He crouched low in the bushes and waited. He didn’t wait long before a large grey wolf walked slowly into the clearing. The beast melted away to reveal the man who’d been feeding Darren information. He was tall and heavily muscled, but Darren could tell he was exhausted. He’d had to travel much further than Darren. This was good news for Cara.

“Out with it then!” Darren roared and he was shocked to see that the man did not so much as flinch. He was young, Darren knew, but he was strong in mind as well as body.

“I have heard of the girl you seek. She was given in marriage to Lord Newberry. Do you know of him?”

Darren felt his world tilt. If Eva was married then she would be unable to fully mate him. Did he care?

The spy snorted and replied as if he’d read Darren’s mind. “Nay, do not fear that she is spoiled. Newberry is on in years and is no longer able to bed the girl or so I have heard. She will be less pure than before, but not completely compromised. I have heard that he is seeking a man to help him create an heir. He has asked me to do this for him. I told him I would think it over.” At the viscous snarl that came from Darren the spy only chuckled. “I was thinking to offer a suitable replacement. Perhaps if you were able to get to her you would be able to rescue her.”

The spy let out a sigh of relief. “Good. That may give her a chance then. The men are getting restless and Ramsey is getting impatient.”

“We will travel fast. We will make it to the castle.”

The spy only nodded and silently walked away into the bushes again.

7

Ramsey McKenzie wallowed in the very spot Cara had slept only two days ago. He smiled as the breeze cooled his heated skin. He breathed deeply. The scent of her hunger and her release filled his lungs. Not mated yet though. That fool McNeal still hadn’t mated her.

Ramsey snorted out a laugh. “The fool probably wants to wait for romance.” Then louder as if Liam could hear him, “You are a fool Liam McNeal!”

Ramsey slowly sat up as his young scout, and if the whispers were to be believed, his brother made his way to him to deliver a report.

James paid little attention to the appreciation in Ramsey’s eyes or the reaction of his body. James knew the appetites of the Laird and tried to ignore them. “They are not far ahead, my Laird, and she is still unmated. Most are traveling by horse, but at some times others take their cat form. If we travel fast we may catch them by morning.” James knew that Ramsey often did the opposite of the advice given. He hoped he would do the same tonight.

Ramsey considered the words of the young scout. He then sighed. “I would prefer to wait until I can satisfy,” he paused and ran his hands over his body, “my hunger. Would you agree to join me in my quest, James?”