Lokai's Curse (11 page)

“I want you to stay in the palace until I have Garrick established back in the mortal world.”

She opened her mouth to protest but he stilled her with a look.

“It will be no more than a couple of days. Meanwhile, get plenty of rest and food. You will need all your wits and strength to get through this. Will you do this for me, Sprite?”

She nodded vigorously. He kissed her pert nose, then rose from the bed. “Where are you going?”

Lokai grinned. “To
prepare you something to eat. Our son has been quite vocal in his demands.” She had not noticed her growling stomach before, but he was right. She was hungry again. “I will be back in a moment.”

They ate quietly together when he returned,
each with their own thoughts, then Lokai spent the rest of the day making love to his wife.

Seona
id had fallen into a deep sleep, a combination of pure exhaustion and Alred’s magic. It was not long before the dream began.

Seonaid, mo cridhe, come ta me.
Her head popped up searching avidly in the forest where she stood all alone. Garrick was calling her. Seonaid’s feet began to propel her down a path hidden in the undergrowth. Her pulse quickening as she drew closer to her mate, drawing strength from the connection. By the time she had reached the clearing she was running. She halted as she reached the edge, her eyes darting all around, probing the boundaries.  Her heart twisted painfully in her chest as she called out in a trembling voice. “
Garrick?”

He studied her frail form for a moment
from his vantage point in the thick underbrush. She had lost weight. Her auburn hair was dull and lifeless…as if she were fading away. Her eyes were the most telling of all her distress. They were sunken with grief. Dark circles had taken root beneath them. He muttered an oath at listening to Alred and Lokai. They should not have been separated. Garrick stepped into the clearing opening his arms wide.

“
Mo gradh! Mo bheatha!”

A sob escaped Seonaid’s lips as she flung herself into her husband’s arms, planting a thousand butterfly kisses on his rugged face. He held her tightly as she wept uncontrollably with relief and sorrow.
Garrick felt his strength returning as he murmured sweet nothings in her ear. When he could stand it no longer…he captured her lips with his own. He was drowning in his desire for her.

They did not waste words as they tore at their clothing, rapidly disposing of the encumbrance. Seonaid ran her hands frantically over his chest and biceps, soaking in the warmth and solidity beneath her fingertips. He felt so real! Garrick lowered his lips to her salmon-tipped breast
, stroking it with his tongue as he lowered her body to the mossy earth beneath them. She cried out in pleasure as he suckled her vigorously, her back arching to allow him more access.

“
Forgive me, wife. I can nae wait!”

“
Then do nae!”
She answered breathlessly.

Seonaid gasped as he plunged into her deeply. She locked her ankles about him as she matched him stroke for stroke…desperation felt in every thrust of their bodies. She keened as her pleasure came upon her…not caring who might hear.
Garrick roared in unison as hot seed burst into her womb continually. Sated…they lay together, their bodies still joined.

She wiped the sweat from his brow
tenderly.

“
I have missed you, husband. Tis a shame that tis nae real. I have tried to go on without you for the bairns’ sake but I fear I am losing the battle. Each morn I am weaker than the one before.”

Garrick gazed into her emerald eyes. They had much to discuss but all he wanted was to hold her in his arms forever, drawing on the life-force that they create
d together. But time was short and there was much to explain.

“
Mo cridhe, ye must listen ta me carefully. There is much ta tell. The most important thing is that I am nae dead.”
He watched her expression intently as he spoke the words. He saw the disbelief flash over her.

“
Oh how I wish that were true. But this is only a dream so, of course, I would hear those words pass your lips.”

He shook his head slowly as he grinned at her heart-shaped face.
“Nay, my love, tis nae a dream…and I will prove it ta ye in a few moments. First, I must explain a few things.”

Seonaid gave him a skeptical look.
“
What things?”

“
For one thing, I had ta approach ye like this ta keep our conversation private…only ye must ken that I live. Anyone else that might see me will think that me ghost is haunting the castle. I will be in the passageways most of the time. I am telling ye because ye would sense me presence anyway.”

She shook her head.
“Nay…there is nae need to hide. You are nae a criminal to skulk about your home! Why would you do this?”

Garrick gave her a stern stare.
“Did nae Lokai or Alred speak of the danger? Natasha has ill will toward ye and your sister…and Lokai believes that Athor still lives. They must accept as true that I died so that we may stop them from their evil plans.”

“
But the passages…?”
Her brow furrowed in deep thought. She turned a worried gaze toward him.
“I am certain that Natasha kens these pathways! You could be killed! I will nae have it! Nae again.”

Garrick’s eyes softened with tenderness
as he debated on whether to tell her everything. He did not wish her to worry for him. She had suffered enough already. He decided to skim over the details for the moment. “
Nae, mo cridhe, they can nae harm me. Lokai made sure of that before I came back. I will appear slightly different when ye see me, though, love. He put a spell on me so I look more like a spirit. I did nae wish ye ta be frightened so I came ta ye like this.”

Seonaid peered at her husband as she trailed her finger absentmindedly through the curly black hair on his bare chest down to his groin.
“
What will this charade accomplish, Garrick? There have been nae attacks on anyone else…nae even Da. I see nae point for the deception.”

He sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair.
How much should he reveal?
“Ye must trust me, lady wife. There is grave danger ta ye, the bairns, your father…everyone linked ta the throne.”

Seonaid gave him a tender look.
“Aye. I may nae ken all the reasons but I trust ye, husband. Now…prove to me that this is nae a dream.”
She smiled coquettishly as she threw out the dare.

Garrick grinned craftily accepting the challenge.
“Wake up, mo cridhe. Open your beautiful emerald eyes and look at me.”

She was startled…and a bit fearful. What if this was but a dream and he would not be there when she awoke? She did not wish to be separated from him so soon.
“
I am afraid.”

He hugged her trembling body close to him.
“There is naught ta fear, me love. I would never hurt ye so. Trust me.”

Seonaid slowly awoke from her dream-like state, savoring every moment she had spent with her husband. She did not wish to forget a single moment of their time together. As she reached the summit of wakefulness she realized that his scent was stronger than usual, mixed with the musky odor of sexual pleasure. Heat emanated from a source close to her in the bed. Her heart began to pound as hopes soared
. Could it be true? She struggled for breath as she reached out with her shaky hand, keeping her eyes closed tight, and connected with a bare chest. Her eyes flew open in wonder.

Leaning over her, Garrick’s intense sapphire eyes peered deeply into hers. She gasped as she threw her arms about his
neck. They held each other tightly drawing strength from the bond.

“You really are alive! Thank God!” She finally pulled back to check him for wounds. “Other than a small scar near his heart she could find none. Her glance jerked to his face as she realized that it would have been a mortal wound. S
eonaid was afraid to ask the question that he had already heard echoed in her thoughts. “Y-you were…killed?”

Garrick swore an oath under his breath. He should have known that he could keep no secrets from her. Cautiously, he nodded. “Lokai brought me back within moments of me death
…with Fae nectar.” He watched her reaction to the revelation.

“Then…then…you are…immortal now?” Her heart lurched as her mind wrapped itself around the possibilities. Her head began to ache. She needed time to sort this all out. At least he was alive! That was most important for the moment. Seonaid noticed a luminescence surrounding his form. “Is this glow about you part of that?”

He breathed a sigh of relief. There was hope. Garrick grinned as he shook his head. “Nay, mo cridhe, tis the spell Lokai cast.” He stared at her intently. “Listen well now, wife. Until all is settled, ye must refer ta me as a spirit. Everyone here must believe that is true. Ye can speak of seeing me. Twill help ta spread that around…but do nae refer ta me being alive. Can ye do that, wife?”

A wide grin filled her face. “Aye, twill be fun to act the crazy lady who sees her husband’s ghost!” She rubbed her hands together in glee.

Garrick chuckled. There was his lovely spirited wife! He gave her a big kiss.

“Your sister will be returning in a day or so t
a help draw out the scoundrels. She kens of this ruse but I caution ye, do nae speak about me unless it be about me haunting this place. The walls have ears and ye never ken who is listening.” He gave her a long seductive kiss and then rose to dress.

“You are leaving?”

“Aye. Mary will be here soon. I do nae wish ta frighten her. I will see ye this eve. If ye need me, call me with your thoughts, Seonaid. Tis the only safe way ta speak.”

She gave a brusque nod as he disappeared behind the wardrobe into the passage. Moments later, Mary came scratching at the door. Seonaid smiled to herself, anticipating her new role.

* * *

Lokai brought Diedre to Castle Brodie the following day. He scowled with displeasure as they entered the great hall
. He did not relish the thought of her being exposed to danger. She was six moons into her pregnancy and did not maneuver very well at this point. What if she had to run? It was not possible.

Diedre pinched him when she saw the
expression on his face. He gave her a black look as she smiled sweetly up at him.

“Diedre!” Alred boomed. “It is good that you have come! Your sister is in need of comfort.”

Lokai helped her to a seat next to her father on the dais. Glancing around the hall, he sat next to her and began peeling an apple he had snatched from a bowl on the table. He handed her a slice and she ate it without thought as she searched for her sister.

“How is Seonaid faring, Father? Is she well?”

He grunted. “If you had asked me that question a couple days back, I would have said ‘as well as could be expected’, but now…?” He shrugged his muscular shoulders.

“Why not now? Is something amiss?” She could not let her father know what they planned. He would not be pleased and he certainly would not appreciate the fact that he was not told.

Alred leaned in closer to Diedre lowering his voice. “I think the loss was too great. Her mind is leaving her.” His myriad eyes twinkled with mirth. “She claims that she has seen her husband’s spirit about the castle.”

Diedre choked on her apple as she saw the truth in her father’s face. He knew! Oh bother! Why could she never fool him?
She washed the food down with some water before she attempted to speak. In a louder voice she answered. “She has seen his ghost? Do you think it could be true?”

Several clansmen in hearing distance tensed.
Good! The rumor needs to spread quickly to reach Athor and, possibly, Natasha!
Lokai watched the people surreptitiously as he continued eating his apple.

“Whether true or not…Seonaid believes it. I hope that it is, otherwise she has taken leave of her senses. They were bonded closer than anyone I know. I would not rule out the possibility.”

Alred fought a grin as he heard the nearby clansmen begin whispering to each other. They were a superstitious lot and it did not take much to set them off. It was not long before several of them finished their fare and left the hall in due haste…probably to spread the rumor. He glanced at Lokai with mirthful eyes.

“Yes, they had a deep affection for each other but I would hope that they are still connected rather than have her
imagine seeing him in her mind.” She searched his handsome Fae face for a sign of what he knew. He diverted his eyes quickly from her.
Aha! He does know! I knew it!
She turned her attention to Lokai for a moment to see if he saw it, as well. He met her glance with a look of innocence but he could not disguise the sparkle within. She should have known that her father would be wise to their plan. Lokai told him everything of importance. Her eyes hardened as she turned back to Alred.

“Father, where is Seonaid this morn? Has she broken her fast yet?”

He shook his head. “I expect she will be down shortly. She tends to the bairns before she eats each day. Be patient, Diedre.”

Lokai served her a portion of bread and cheese followed with a mug of milk. She ate without thought as her father and husband discussed mundane matters over their ale.
She felt a slight twinge in her womb as the babe pressed against her. Lokai’s hand immediately covered the spot, as if he had felt it, and massaged the tenseness away absently. She glanced over at him through her dark lashes, wondering how he knew the exact spot to rub. He had not even looked her way. She smiled to herself.
Mayhap Seonaid and Garrick are not the only ones with a close bond.
Her hand covered his as she gave a gentle squeeze.

He gave her a startled glance, then a soft smile. Her show of tenderness a mark in her favor for the love she had avowed. Perhaps her
feelings were genuine after all. He truly hoped so. It was getting harder every day to hide his emotional state from her. His shaft began to thicken at the intimate contact.