Spellbound (15 page)

31

Ian sought to assess how the men had fared. There were few casualties among them. Some wounded. Three slain. The toll was much worse for the MacKinnon men.

Maighdlin
was relieved to find out that by some miracle, the two young lads she’d watched in the courtyard had survived with minor cuts and bruises. They had been on the edge of battle, fortunately, and not in the thick of it.

Ian
established some sort of order. He and a knot of men took Kade westward, picking their way through the horrible aftermath of battle, the riderless horses and fallen enemy bodies. The three slain men were brought with them so they could be given proper burials at home.

Maighdlin
traveled with the warriors. It was close to midnight before they stopped and encamped in a drier space, where the wounded were cared for.

“
Help me remove his shirt,” Ian said. Maighdlin tugged at the damp material, noting Kade’s jagged breaths.

“
His shoulder looks bad,” Ian said. “Bruises, lacerations.”

“
Do ye ha’e anything in yer bags I can clean it with?” she asked. “Do ye have any yarrow and strips of cloth?”

Ian
went to retrieve what he had.

Kade
was on his back on a plaid that had been unfolded and spread on the damp ground, Maighdlin kneeling beside him. She stroked his forehead and his eyes fluttered open. “Christel?”

“
I am here.”

He
tried to sit up and groaned. “Why are ye dressed in a man’s trews? And yer filthy again. Do ye want another spanking?”

Despite
the situation, Maighdlin felt a flush creep up her neck, into her face. She smiled a smile of relief. “Dunna try to sit up, wretched toad-face. I’m going to clean yer wounds.”

Kade
tried to smile and grimaced.

Ian
returned with whisky and yarrow, which was apparently carried to battle for the treatment of wounds. He gave it to Maighdlin, trusting her now after he saw her put an arrow in a man’s heart who was intent on killing Kade. Maighdlin mashed the yarrow into a paste, making the air stink. She cleaned Kade’s wounds, dabbing the broken skin as carefully as she could. Fog choked the air and she swatted at a cloud of hungry midges. Ian didn’t have extra cloth so she tore strips from the shirt she wore and bandaged Kade’s shoulder.

“
What happened?” Kade grumbled, wincing as she worked.

“
The MacKinnons gave ground,” Ian said. “Their resistance crumbled. Men retreated into the lines behind them, panicked, and momentum was with the MacAlister!”

Kade
coughed and tried to sit up again. He lay back down on the plaid.

“
Damn it, stop trying to sit up!” Maighdlin said.

“
Ye really do want another spanking. Stop telling me what to do,” Kade coughed.

This
time Ian’s cheeks colored. “More men died in the flight than in the fighting,” Ian said, clearing his throat. “Some drowned in the loch, desperately attempting to flee our fury. Some who tried to find refuge in the MacKinnon keep were cut down before they could reach it.”

“
And
the
MacKinnon?” Kade asked.

Ian
hesitated. “His whereabouts are unknown. For the moment. I sent scouts to look for him.”

Kade
attempted once more to sit up.

“
Och! But ye will be the one getting the spanking if ye dunna stay still!” Maighdlin said.

“
Is that a promise?”

“
There isna much that affects a MacAlister’s lust,” Ian remarked. “I think the wretched toad-face will live.”

32

The dull, red glows of smoldering campfires marked the night. Kade muttered something in his sleep. Maighdlin felt a stab of hurt as she realized what it was.
Fenalla.

He
grabbed at her wrist, and she dragged a cool, wet cloth over his forehead. It seemed to calm him. Her own eyelids were drooping with sleep.

A
group of men stood round the fire now, including Ian and the hooded villager who had defended Kade. Ian praised Maighdlin’s bravery as well as the man’s. “They both saved Kade’s life,” Ian said. “Kade was knocked from his horse. He was on the ground, unconscious. Maighdlin took down a MacKinnon who had his ax raised above Kade, ready to cleave him asunder.”

Murmurs
swept the circle of stalwart men as quickly as a hot fire in a dry forest. “Aye, and with an arrow to the heart. This man here,” Ian pointed to the villager, “took down another MacKinnon intent on pushing the last breath of life from our laird. He buried an ax in the enemy’s chest.”

The
warriors weren’t sure how to react. Kade’s
prisoner
had saved his life? The male villager they could understand. But a woman from the Clan MacKinnon? Killing one of her own? Why? And who’d taught her to fire an arrow so expertly?

Maighdlin
wasn’t used to the attention and retreated into the shadows, but not too far from Kade. She was, however, all too familiar with people not understanding her, fearing her, and despising her. Eventually the low whispering stopped, and the men got back to discussing what should be done about finding Brodie.

“
A lesson has been taught to the MacKinnons, and learned, it is to be hoped,” Ian said. It was agreed that a challenging gesture on the morrow by the enemy’s part was not likely. They had captured horses and scouts afield and taken weapons. “I will send more men to search for Brodie,” Ian said. “He must be made to answer for his vile deeds.”

The
villager who had saved Kade’s life stepped forward from the darkness, into a swath of light from the fire. “That willna be necessary.” He slowly lowered his hood, and gasps were heard all around.

“
Brodie MacKinnon!” Ian said.

Instantly
the man had seven swords pointed at his throat.

“
Yea, and I am no’ responsible for the attack on yer clan. One of my own clan, a young man called Calum, sought to usurp me as laird. The night of the celebration between our clans, he had me abducted and secretly imprisoned in me own dungeon. I wasna there on the night of the attack. Meanwhile, he rose up and attacked the MacAlisters and blamed me, putting a death sentence on my head.”

“
’Tis quite a tale ye tell,” Ian breathed. He frowned. “Yet did I witness ye saving Kade’s life.” He looked at his men. “Lower yer swords.”

They
did so, but not without grumbling.

“
Ye understand, Brodie MacKinnon, that I must keep ye under guard until yer tale can be verified, if it can be verified. We must find this Calum, if he yet lives.”

“
I would do the same in yer position,” Brodie said.

Maighdlin
could not tear her eyes from the man. He was not as tall as she imagined he would be, and much older, his shoulders slightly stooped. His hair was frosty white but thick, and there were wrinkles round his large green eyes and the corners of his mouth. Green eyes that flashed at her. Maighdlin’s hand flew to her mouth.

Brodie
knelt down and with his finger, drew a shape in the dirt as Maighdlin slowly came closer to him. “Is this the shape of the birthmark on your shoulder, Christel?”

Maighdlin
examined what he’d drawn and nodded, not even feeling the tears flowing down her cheeks.
Nay, it couldna be.

“
I am no’ the ogre everyone thinks me to be,” he said. “I was so afeared for yer life Christel, that when ye were a babe I hid ye in a village far from my keep. Ye were no’ safe at the keep, for my own people, my own wife, who is no’ yer mother, they were all jealous of ye. My wife was no’ a kind woman. But yer mother, she
was
kind and gentle and beautiful, and a villager… and I loved her like no other. She died giving birth to ye.” Deep sorrow crossed his features.

Maighdlin
still stared, her throat tight with tears.

“
I’m an auld man now. I dunna expect ye to understand or to forgive me. It is enough to know ye’ve been safe.”

“
Auld man, she’s been wed to Kade,” Ian said.

“
What?”

“
Last eve. As a sort of justice for all yer clan took from him the night of the attack.”

Brodie
clenched his fists. “If he hurt ye in anyway, Christel….”

Christel.
Maighdlin. Christel. Who was she?
“Nay,” she managed to say sadly. “He dinna hurt me. He’s been more lenient than a prisoner of a MacKalister could have expected.”

Brodie
remained standing, his face strained. “I wasna responsible for the attack on yer clan! I’ve been ousted by a traitor, who tried to blame me for his heinous deeds. With the help of loyal clan members, I escaped a few days ago and a handful of us ha’e been hiding in the woods like animals, trying to figure out how to prove his treachery, how to restore my name.”

“
Why does the MacKinnon yet live?” Kade demanded of his men. Brodie paled at the sound of the deep voice behind him. Kade had risen from his plaid on the ground and held a blade to Brodie’s back.

“
He saved yer life,” Ian said. “I saw it with my own eyes. And he claims he is no’ responsible for the attack on our clan.”

Kade,
shirtless and wearing only trews, swayed. His hazel eyes were afire; sweat poured down his muscular body. All took a step back from him, except for Brodie and Ian.

“
Ye took from me all that e’er mattered, auld man. My brother Niall, my wife-to-be Fenalla. Both dead, auld man! Burnt in the fire of the attack! They begged for mercy and were given none! I should run ye through now, Brodie MacKinnon.”

“
He saved yer life,” Ian said. “I witnessed it. His claim may bear investigating.”

Kade
growled. “MacKinnon, ye canna take back yer foul deeds by saving my life today.”

Brodie
closed his eyes, his chin trembling briefly, waiting to be run through. Then he opened them and raised his chin a notch, staring at his daughter. “I have made mistakes in my life, big mistakes. But I have told ye the truth. My conscience is clear. Kill me if ye must.” The fire crackled. No one spoke.

Kade’s
hand tightened visibly on the blade. He felt a tug on his arm, and turned abruptly. “Maighdlin,” he breathed, agony, grief, and confusion in his voice. He dropped the sword and fell unconscious.

Maighdlin
knelt down, and quickly brushed a cool cloth over his forehead. Kade murmured and his eyelids fluttered. “We mustna waste any more time!” Maighdlin said. “If ye want Kade to live, we must get him back to the keep. ‘Twill be dawn soon. We must go!”

Ian
stuck the point of his sword to Brodie’s throat. “Ye’ll be goin’ with us, auld man, so we can sort out these stories ye tell. If I hadna seen ye save Kade’s life with my own eyes, ye’d be dead now.”

33

Servants bustled about Kade’s chamber the morning they returned from battle. Maighdlin didna leave his side and continued to care for him. She’d given him dried mandrake soaked in water to help him to sleep; those who took it felt neither fire nor iron while they slept.

The
evening meal was being served in the hall below. They were alone now in his chamber. The candle at his bedside had burned low, and it cast golden shadows over Kade’s bare chest. He’d kicked the blanket in his sleep; it was dangerously low on his narrow hips. Maighdlin rose quietly and stood over him, her heart in her throat.

In
slumber, his face was relaxed. She marveled anew at his striking features—the proud jut of his jaw, the dark hollows of his cheeks. The sensual line of his lips. With her fingers, she shyly examined the corded muscles in his arms and chest. His stomach was hard and flat, and a triangle of hair disappeared in a V-shape below the blanket. She knew he was naked beneath the covering.

She
watched in wonder as in his sleep he responded to her touch, his manhood lengthening beneath the blanket, hardening and stretching toward his navel.

Why
did this man, of all men, cause an ache in her throat, a quickening to her pulse that left her feeling vulnerable? And why would he ever be attracted to her? People thought she was strange because of her gift. They kept their distance. It made her feel that something about her was ugly.

She
bit her lower lip, wanting to crawl into the bed next to him, feel the warmness of his skin, the solid strength of his warrior’s body against hers. Her fingers continued to dance ever so softly over his skin, down his ribs, along his hip.

She
gasped as his hand shot out and grabbed hers. “Maighdlin,” he breathed, his eyes hazel fire. “Come here.”

She
leaned closer to him.

“
Nay. Come
here
. Next to me.”

“
Yer shoulder,” she said.

With
his uninjured arm he pulled her down so she lay across his chest. Her hair was unbound and lay in a dark cascade of waves on his big body, their lips dangerously close. She climbed over him carefully, unsure of how to situate herself until he pulled her snug against his side. He was alarmingly warm. The contact made her tingle from head to toe.

His
fist tangled possessively in her hair, and he stroked the silky strands. “What’s this about you being in the thick of battle and saving my life?” There was an unmistakable catch in his voice.

“
Ye saved me in the woods. I guess we’re e’en now, Highlander.”

His
jaw clenched. “The battlefield is no place for a woman. Ye could’ve been killed,” he ground out. Then he nudged her with his nose. “And that would’ve been unacceptable.” He paused. “Yer touch is healing, Maighdlin.”

She
looked at him in wonder. He’d called her
Maighdlin.
She reached out to feel his forehead. It was not feverish. “Ye called me Maighdlin,” she said.

“
I know. ‘Tis yer name, is it no’?”

“
Aye. It has been all my life. But ye must know…’tis true. There can be no doubt I am Christel, the MacKinnon’s daughter. I…met Brodie yesterday. He drew the shape of my birthmark in the dirt. He knew it from when I was a babe. I saw him save yer life, too.”

His
lips found her throat. “Let’s no’ speak of that now. I want to know why ye put yerself in such grave danger for someone as unworthy as me. I have been beastly to ye. I should’ve been calling ye Maighdlin all along. It’s been yer name since ye were a babe.”

“
I dunna know what came o’er me, Kade…I felt called to yer side by something I canna name. Ye said yerself we ha’e the power to alter the future.”

“
I dinna mean for ye to go riding about dressed as a lad on a battlefield!” He sighed. “Yet, if ye hadna been there, I would most likely be dead now. Mayhap that would’ve made ye happy.”

“
Nay,” she said, her heart aching. “I didna wish to see ye dead.”

“
E’en after all I’ve done to ye? Kidnapping ye, threatening ye. Being blind to e’erything but the thought of my revenge. I’ve been horribly beastly. Forcing ye to become my wife….”

“
But ye havena made me yer wife in truth yet,” she breathed, her eyes hungrily taking in his wicked, hard shape, her fingers almost without thought skirting the flesh of his chest and arms. His breathing became more ragged.

“
Maighdlin, as my wife, do ye
want
to touch the rest of me?” Incredulous, he seemed to hold his breath waiting for her answer.

Maighdlin
shut her eyes and then opened them. ‘Twas best to be honest. “I do. But, yer shoulder….”

“
I want to touch ye too, but first I want ye to learn my body, so yer no’ afraid when it happens. I want to make ye my wife in truth, when my strength has returned. Would that be…alright?” He pulled her close, and caught her lips in a warm kiss.

She
nodded.

“
Touch me then. I’ll guide ye.” His fire-hazel eyes pleaded with her. She stared at his lips.

“
Ye want me to touch ye, truly? I know I am no’ beautiful, and people think me strange, and ugly, and ….”

“
No’ beautiful?! Maggie, since I first set eyes on ye I canna stop thinking about how much I want to touch ye. I’ve been dreaming of kissing ye. Of having yer hands on me. Please, touch me, before I go mad.”

“
Ye’ve been dreaming of someone else,” she said quietly. “Ye spoke Fenalla’s name in yer sleep. Ye must miss her terribly.”

“
I dunna remember dreaming,” he said. “Would ye rather it be yer name I speak in my sleep?” His thigh eased between her legs until she straddled its muscled length. His hand guided hers to his shaft, and his sex stirred even more.

“
Yer so hard,” she said.

His
head bowed toward her ear. “Ye make me this way, Maggie.”

The
feel of him growing stiffer sent a shiver down her spine. He was stretching, growing longer, thicker, because of her touch. She heard his quick intake of breath as she pushed the blanket down and studied him. She placed her hand around his member, and his teeth sank lightly into the supple flesh of her shoulder. His hand caressed her breasts. Maighdlin sat up and pushed the blanket all the way to the floor.

“
I know men enjoy this,” she said shyly. “But are women supposed to want this as much as I do? To see and touch their husbands like this?”

He
half laughed and half growled. “It is perfectly natural for women to want this as much as men do. The fact that ye do makes ye very sensual, Maggie, and that makes me want ye e’en more.”

“
Ye...want me?”

“
How can ye doubt it?”

“
No one’s e’er wanted me before,” she breathed. “I was always…on the edge of things. People are afraid of me. Or they dunna see me. It’s like I’m invisible.”

He
gently placed a finger beneath her chin and searched her eyes. “I dunna believe that, little one. Ye dunna realize yer beauty. It’s no’ only in yer face and yer body; it’s in yer heart.” He kissed her tenderly. “Touch me, kiss me, taste me,” he breathed. “I’ll guide you.”

Her
pulse racing, her breathing ragged, she tentatively followed his lead as he guided her hand up and down his large shaft. She studied his erection rising thick and high, the soft skin stretched with want and need, the way his skin moved with her caresses. He moaned quietly.

“
Ye like this, Kade?”

“
Aye, I like that. I’d like your mouth on me, too.”

“
I’ve ne’er…”

“
I’ll show ye how to taste me.”

Slowly
she bent her head, kissing the smooth tip of his root and then the long, hard length of him, her tongue soon learning to lick him in shy, wet exploration.

“
Take me in your mouth.” He groaned long and low, and nearly exploded when she did.

She
began to lathe him, her hand still pulling on his shaft, before she finally tasted more of him, earthy, salty, his sweat, his musk, making her wet between her legs.

“
Like this,” he said. Gently his big hand guided her head as she sucked and tasted him, delighting at each groan he made, at the writhing of his hips. Her heart thudded in her chest knowing she had the power to make him feel this way.

“
Do ye want to see me come?” he asked. He read the question in her eyes. “Spill my seed.”

She
nodded.

“
I canna hold back much longer when yer sweet lips do such things to me.”

She
pulled him into her mouth as if she could not wait for him to come.

“
I’ll tell ye when to stop…” he groaned. “And when…. Oh God, Maggie….Suck me, suck me….”

Maighdlin
moaned herself. To touch him in the still shadows of his chamber…she could not think. Her nipples were hard, and between her legs she ached for his touch. Thoughts of his body, of how he’d looked in the courtyard, shirtless, his muscles flexing and glistening with sweat, his hazel eyes devouring her, his soft words of encouragement as he guided her touch and her tongue now, washed over her.

“
Maggie…I’m going to….”

She
pulled back and sat on her knees as he arched his hips and spurted in heavy, groaning arcs, the seed spilling on his taut stomach as, his hand on hers, he continued to guide her.

When
he was finished, she placed her hand on his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart. After tonight, she could not doubt he wanted her. And he’d been right…for now she would look forward to when he took the lead. Dear God, she would come to him….but as what? His prisoner? His instrument of revenge? His wife?

He
rose slowly from the bed. She watched him wash from a bowl of water near the bedside, watched him slip into a nightshirt and stoke the fire with his strong arm. But once he’d taken her, what could she possibly mean to him?

He
would grow tired of her
. It wasn’t something she wanted to think about. He’d had other women, after all. He said he’d taken them when and where he’d wanted and that would not change even after she became his wife.
Women were complications.
And none had compared to Fenalla. So she would not always have to contend with his passion. Shouldn’t she be happy then?

He
rejoined her in bed. “Dunna leave me,” he said pulling her close. “I want ye near me.”