Sea Wolf Magick (Highlander Magick Series Book 2) (13 page)

Water trickled down the cavern walls. Cold air brushed the back of his neck. McGregor tugged his jacket tighter around his chest. He leaned on his crutch and snatched the corded vial from inside his pocket. He twisted the cap, taking a hefty swig. The warm spirits drizzled down his throat. “Aye, that should help rid this bloody chill.”

The arched entrance door was gaping open. The carved mermaid was lying broken in half in the middle of the doorway.

McGregor gripped the edge of the handle and peered around the corner. His crutch ready to use as a weapon, he stepped inside looking for Halldora and Vakr.

A low moan came from behind the enormous conch shell chair. He spied Vakr hunched over Halldora’s body sprawled on the floor. Her head lay surrounded by a pool of blood. The shaft of the twisted hawthorn cane was still clutched in her hand, and the cradled gem, along with the top half of the staff, was now missing.

McGregor knelt beside them and laid his hand on Vakr’s back. “What happened? Who did this to yer mistress?”

Vakr lifted his head and turned his battered face toward McGregor. An ugly gash directly above his eye ran down the side of his cheek to his neck. “She killed Halldora.”

“Who?” McGregor asked, helping Vakr sit up. “We didn’t pass anyone on the way from here. We would’ve noticed another woman. Who could’ve gotten past the trolls?”

Cold claws gripped McGregor by the back of the neck and lifted him from the floor. The crutch went flying through the air and ricocheted against the thick glass. Like a sack of potatoes, his body was tossed in the air and fell crashing to the floor.

McGregor raised his head, wiping the blood that was spilling from his mouth. “Ye hackit beast, may ye rot in Hell for what ye’ve done.”

An enormous creature loomed over him. The shapely woman’s body was half-human, and her wolf-featured face was covered in hair. Her eyes glowed bright red. Baring her sharp canines, she raked one of her long-talon nails down the front of his shirt and ripped it open.

“You should serve us well, old man.” She leaned her hideous head back and cackled.

Chapter 19

While Quinn steered the ship, a gust of wind spiraled the bottom of his plaid around his legs. He steadied the wheel and grabbed the steaming tin of hot brew from his crewman. “Thanks, Jacob. Where’s McGregor?”

Jacob arched an eyebrow and rubbed his chin. “He’s locked himself in his cabin, Captain. Said to tell you he’s feelin’ under the weather and doesn’t wish to be disturbed.”

Quinn took a swig of coffee. Jacob straightened, covering his mouth with his hand and cleared his throat.

“Go on, man. ’Tis clearly somethin’ troublin’ ye.”

“Beggin’ your pardon, Captain.” Jacob stared at the ocean. “We all know what good friends ye both are, but me and the rest of the crew thinks ye should know something about McGregor, sir. He’s been actin’ rather strange and hittin’ the whiskey mighty hard ever since he came back on board.”

Quinn sighed. His knuckles cracked, clutching the wheel. “Aye. He’s not been himself. I know Beth reminds him a lot of his own daughter. I just assumed he’s been in a foul mood and poutin’ around the past few days because he’s worried about the lass. Here, take over for me for a bit. I’ll check in on McGregor right after I make sure Beth is all right.”

With one last swallow, he finished the hot brew. His hand gripped Jacob’s shoulder. “I need to thank ye and the rest of the men for jumpin’ in and takin’ on more duties since we lost three of our friends. The
Sea Wolf
is lucky to have such a fine crew.”

Jacob offered his hand to shake. “I’m sure I speak for all the crew when I say none of us might be here today if not for ye, Captain. We all consider the
Sea Wolf
our home.”

Quinn nodded and smacked Jacob’s arm before darting to his cabin.

Three harrowing days had passed since their return from the island. Quinn’s focus was distracted between Beth and McGregor until Jacob finally knocked on the door, alerting him of McGregor’s safe return to the ship. He hadn’t relished the possibility of having to leave his old friend behind. With everyone now accounted for, he’d ordered Jacob to get the ship underway.

Driven by worry, Quinn went without rest since he carried Beth on board and put her straight to bed. Delirious and burning up with fever, she cried out his name along with Darby’s and Kalista’s. Beth tossed and turned and kicked off the covers, perspiration soaking her clothes and sweltering flesh.

Kalista whimpered and bustled around the cabin in-between keeping busy showering Beth with powdery snow-crystal blankets to help ease her discomfort and rising temperature.

Quinn paced the floor like a wild animal, refusing to leave Beth’s side until the raging fever broke. After two days of applying cold compresses to her forehead and limbs, her body fell limp from exhaustion, and her breathing soon returned to normal.

Kalista fluttered her wings and landed on Beth’s chest, snuggling her head against her neck. Beth opened her eyes and smiled at him. She soon dozed off and appeared to sleep soundly before Quinn relaxed enough to go back on deck.

Anxious to see how their patient was doing this morning, Quinn grabbed the cabin door handle. It refused to turn. He reached for his keys and remembered he’d laid them on top of his desk. “Beth? The door’s been locked from inside, lass. I canna get in.”

Kalista chattered away. A loud thud was followed by shattering glass.

He rammed against the solid oak. “Beth! Are you all right? Stand back. I’m comin’ in.”

The door flung wide open.

Beth waited in front of him, hunched over like a wildcat protecting her young, ready to attack. She glared at him, the familiar blue sparkle in her eyes replaced with fiery red sparks. “You bloody damn fool, I warn you, stay away from me. The mere sight of you disgusts me.” With her head held high, the spitting sarcasm in her words sliced at him like a knife.

Kalista whimpered and swooped from the bed, buzzing past their heads and out the door. The dragon glided toward McGregor’s cabin.

Quinn stepped toward Beth and spotted the bare space where an old portrait of him and McGregor fishing together had been hanging. A broken chair lay on its side, from being smashed against the wall. Maps and parchment had been ripped and torn into mere pieces. Fresh blood dappled the floor where Beth must have cut her feet walking through sharp fragments of shattered glass.

“Ye’ve hurt yerself. Let me help ye.” He took hold of her wrist. The veins in her arms and neck grew thick and twitched.

“Don’t touch me. I want you and the rest of your freaks to stay the hell away from me,” she snapped at him, jerking her arm from his hand. She shouted, her fists beating against his chest, “Get out. Now!”

I’ve had just about enough of this bloody damn doom and gloom swallowing up the people I care about. Mo creach! Somehow, someway, I need to put a stop to all of this bloody nonsense before it gets out of hand any further.

He crossed his arms in front of his chest, blocking her attack. The muscles rippling through his body, he stepped back and scratched the rough stubble of beard growing on his face. Kalista fluttered over his head and landed on his shoulder. He reached over and rubbed the dragon’s chest with his finger.

Beth’s face turned bright red. She lowered her hands by her sides and clenched her fists. She gritted her teeth, spitting out the words, “I hate you.”

“Kalista, me wee friend, I think Beth needs our help.” Her hurtful words bit like frostbite, but her mind was tormented and filled with poison. Quinn bent and bundled a struggling Beth inside his arms. Kalista coasted to the bunk.

“Put me down,” she screamed and slapped his face. Her legs kicked in midair.

“I know ’tis the bloody curse causin’ ye to act like a heathen, but I have an idea that might help bring ye back to yer senses.” Quinn kicked the chair and fragments of broken glass out of his way. With a few long strides, he made his way to the bunk and lowered Beth on top of the covers.

Bending with his back turned against her, he draped his left leg over her squirming hips. He grabbed her bloody foot and examined it closely. “Aye, just what I thought. Ye still have a wee sliver stickin’ inside there that needs to come out.”

Beth cursed at him, beating her fists on his back.

“Now hold still, lass. Almost got it. There!” Quinn checked her other foot. “Ye were lucky ye didn’t cut yerself any worse than ye did.”

“Get off me, you beast.”

“Aye, now, is that any way to talk to the one ye love?” Quinn kept one hand on her legs, turned himself to face her, and straddled his body on top of hers, his hands holding her wrists down by her face. Her eyes darkened dangerously with heated anger before filling with tears of frustration. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. “I love ye, woman, with all me heart. Ye’re gonna have to be strong and fight this bloody demon with all yer strength. I promise, we’ll get through this together.”

Quinn kissed her earlobe and showered kisses over her eyelids and face. The tense lines on her face began to relax, and her arms fell limp by her sides. He covered her enticing sweet lips with his mouth for a brief moment and pulled back, waiting for her response.

Beth’s eyelids flickered, the ugly defiance beginning to fade. A glimmer of amber sparkled through the blue pools he’d come to adore. Her loathing gaze had turned to a soft caress. A whimpering cry from the she-wolf escaped her lips. Beth threw her arms around his neck, snuggling her face to his shoulder. “The monster is getting worse. Halldora was right. My heart is already turning black, filling with a terrible hatred.”

Quinn covered her chest with his hand. Her heart hammered against her rising breasts. “’Twas still plenty of love inside here to bring ye back to me. Ye must remember, the bond we share is strong. The she-devil can never stop the love we have for each other.”

“I wish I could believe you.” She raised her head and gazed at him, her cheeks blushing red. Her fingers dug into his arms. “Don’t you see, Quinn? I could have hurt you. I wanted to tear your heart out a few minutes ago. I couldn’t stand the very sight of you. It’s petrifying. I’ve never felt such a terrible sense of hatred.”

“But ye didna.” He pressed her close and ran his fingers through her thick locks dangling by the sides of her face. “Two days from now, we set foot on land. I promise, we’ll find this miracle waterfall together, and once ye’re cured, we can start makin’ plans for our future.”

Beth wet her lips with her tongue, entwining her fingers behind his neck. Her breathing hastening, her hands trailed down the muscles of his back and moved to the front of his plaid. She moaned, her body conformed next to his, and she whispered in his ear, “Make love to me.”

Quinn’s eyes locked with hers. “Ye’re still recoverin’ from the fever.”

She caressed the side of his face and smiled, her finger running over his lip. “This may be the last time we get to make love. Please, Quinn. You won’t hurt me.”

“Are ye sure, lass? I promise, I willna let it be the last time.” He kissed her fingertips. “I’ve waited too long to lose ye now.”

Beth pushed at his chest and tugged at the waist of his plaid. “Maybe this will answer your question.” She tore the nightshirt from her chest and flung it on the floor.

Quinn eased himself on top of her quivering body and made love to her. Taking their time with each other, gusts of wanton desire burst through their bodies, awakening hot tides of passions neither of them ever thought possible. Their flesh and minds hurtled beyond the point of return, their bodies completely surrendered with shuddering ecstasy. Their souls had become one.

Beth sighed and snuggled her head beneath his chin, placing her hand against his chest. “Until we reach land, I want you to promise me that you’ll keep this cabin locked at all times.”

“Why, lass? I think it might do some good if ye come up on board for fresh air. The men have already been askin’ about ye.”

“I’m afraid, Quinn. I don’t want to hurt anyone. This time was worse than before. I felt a black cloud hovering over my head. Before things got out of my control, I hurried and locked the door. I remember throwing the key beneath the steps. All of a sudden, it was like someone throwing a plastic bag over my head and I couldn’t breathe. I started to panic and wanted out of here. Please, try to understand. I couldn’t live with myself knowing I harmed anyone. Especially you.”

“All right, darlin’. If it makes ye feel better. Under one condition. I insist wee Kalista stays with ye at all times.” He kissed her forehead and cupped his hand beneath her chin, raising her face to meet his gaze. Her eyebrows shot up, her lips opening in protest. “Dinna fret, lass. Ye canna hurt our wee dragon friend. It will make me feel better that she’s by yer side.”

Beth smiled and snuggled close to him. A rich lavender scent from her hair drifted beneath his nose. Her soft voice distracted the throbbing pain resurfacing in his groin.

“Are you sure McGregor’s all right? I haven’t seen him since we came back. I heard the men call his name. You aren’t hiding anything from me about him, are you?”

“No, lass. McGregor made it back safe and sound. Ye should know we can’t keep that old codger down. He’s just feelin’ a wee bit under the weather. I think his leg’s botherin’ him.” Quinn frowned and turned his attention to the mess on the floor, not wanting Beth to see his concern about their friend.

Beth swung her legs over the bunk and grabbed the shirt from the floor. “Then I should go to him. I’ll make a poultice to help ease the pain.”

Quinn grabbed her arm and held her on his lap. “He’s done made one himself. The trek up the winding hills took more out of him than he figured. He’s gettin’ old and doesn’t want to admit he can’t get around like the younger men.”

Beth smiled and wrapped her arms around his. “It’s quite obvious he thinks of you as a son, you know.”

Quinn kissed her forehead, resisting the urge to lay her on the bed and make love to her again. “Yes, woman, I know. Here, come help me clean up this mess. Then I think ’tis time I go and check on the cantankerous old fool.”

Beth glanced around the room and stooped to pick up shredded pieces of a map. “Quinn. By the Goddess, please tell me I didn’t ruin the sketch.”

Quinn helped her to her feet. “Yer parchment is safe and sound. I canna understand why ye would suddenly want to tear it to shreds.”

Beth crumbled the bits of paper inside her hand. “I can’t explain it. But something tells me that if that drawing gets destroyed, so will our futures.”