Warrior's Moon

Chapter 13

Caelis was no weak-willed coward unwilling to fight, but when he opened his mouth to say so, he could not get the words out. Because he had refused to fight for Shona six years ago.

He had left his sacred mate to fend for herself while carrying his child. Caelis had wanted Uven’s approval so much that he had dismissed his feelings for Shona and done as the laird ordered, repudiating her completely.

Six years ago, Caelis had felt trapped between his duty to his pack and alpha and the woman he wanted to make his mate.

He was just as torn in two directions now. How could he fight for Shona when it meant either forcing her to return to a clan she so clearly despised or abdicating his own responsibilities and the promises he had made to the Cahir?

“What in damnation are you two doing?” the Sinclair bellowed as he approached them.

“Sparring,” Vegar said, his tone just as surly.

The Éan recognized no alpha but their prince and were still acclimating to the concept of living under a laird’s authority within the clans.

The Éan had only recently joined the clans, having lived secretly in the forest under the reign of their royal family for the past centuries. The Faol had lost their royal family, or most of them, in MacAlpin’s betrayal.

A pack alpha was not so different from a prince to Caelis’s way of thinking though.

And they’d since learned that some of their own people yet carried the royal blood of the Faol. Himself included if the evidence of his son’s gifts could be believed.

“When two trained warriors spar, they do not draw blood.” Talorc glared with disapproval.

Caelis would have said something cutting in response, but the laird was right. There was no excuse for his and Vegar’s carelessness.

Vegar scowled, his eyes fixed on a point in the distance. “This mating business is not so simple. No wonder my tribe encouraged bonding without seeking one’s true mate.”

“The Éan had little choice in your isolated home, but now that you live among the clans, God willing, many of your people will find their mates.”

Vegar did not appear brightened by the prospect. Caelis could not blame him. He’d no desire to give Shona or their children up, but neither did he enjoy the difficulties their bond created in his life.

Talorc sighed, his expression tinged with unexpected understanding. “Abigail gave me a fair chase.”

“She was ordered by her king to marry you.” Caelis did not see how the laird could have had to chase the woman.

“But a Chrechte desires the heart of his true mate, not mere promises of fidelity.”

“I would take the promises.” He’d had Shona’s heart once.

He had no doubts it was not on offer again. That organ now resided behind a prickly wall of impenetrable brambles.

“So you think.”

“A warrior has no need of emotional entanglements.” Vegar sounded very sure for a man so easily distracted by finding his mate.

“A warrior fights best when he has something of great value to fight for,” Talorc said, quoting ancient Faol tradition.

“That refers to our tribe, or pack. A Chrechte is not suited to life alone.”

“You quote more Chrechte teachings but do not understand them.” Talorc unsheathed his own sword, dropping into a fighting stance. “Come spar with me and I will see if you can keep your blood in your veins.”

Vegar and Caelis both moved to take opposing stances to Talorc. Soon the clang of clashing metal could be heard again, this time even more frequently and with more controlled rhythm.

“What do you mean, I do not understand our teachings?” Vegar demanded as he advanced on the laird.

Talorc maintained his defensive posture without losing ground to Vegar’s attack. “A warrior’s first concern is not his tribe or pack.”

Vegar stopped moving, shock holding his body rigid. “You do not teach your warriors this.”

“I do.” Talorc’s sword arced down, caught Vegar’s and tossed the other blade across the ground like a twig. “Sacred matings supersede even our duty to pack.”

“But…”

“A Chrechte can survive without a pack—but only in misery without his true bonded.”

Caelis nodded his agreement before thinking about it. He felt the need to point out, however, that, “Love is not necessary between mates.”

“Nay, but it makes life a joy when it is there.”

“You sound like a woman,” Caelis accused.

Then he spent the next fifteen minutes fighting a warrior that might well best him on the battlefield were they ever pitted in truth against each other, even with his new form gifted through the sacred stone. Because Talorc had been gifted as well and he was a formidable fighter.

Ciara’s connection to the Faolchú Chridhe had turned out to be an amazing blessing for the Faol, particularly those committed to fighting the Fearghall.

Caelis was sitting on the steps leading to the keep and cleaning his sword while trying to decide if he wanted to return to the loch for a dip to rinse away the blood, sweat and dirt of sparring, when Eadan came running up.

Eyes shining with excitement, Eadan called, “Da!”

Caelis heart squeezed in his chest and he smiled at his son. “What are you about?”

“We’re going searching for bugs.” And then the small boy launched into a tale about what kind of insects could be found where.

The excited words tumbling from his lips ceased as Caelis’s son’s gaze fell on the cut on his arm. “You’re hurt!”

Caelis shook his head. “’Tis naught.”

Eadan turned back to his mother, who had been walking a pace behind with Audrey and little Marjory. “Mum, Da is bleeding.”

Shona’s beautiful green eyes darkened with concern. “What happened?”

Maybe not all was lost. She’d responded to his touch with all the hunger she’d shown six years ago and had at least some consideration for his well-being.

“Sparring.” Caelis would have preferred not to answer, but he was no child to pretend not to hear what he would rather not have been said.

Shona’s confusion shone clearly on her lovely face. “I thought you were not supposed to draw blood during practice?”

“It happens.”

“It’s not supposed to.” Eadan looked up, worry etched in his boyish features. “Thomas said so.”

“Thomas has the right of it. Who were you sparring with that you came away marked?” Shona demanded.

“Vegar.”

Shona’s hands settled on her hips. “And you call this man a friend?”

“It was not on purpose.”

“How could it not be on purpose? It was his hand on the blade, was it not?”

Despite his own embarrassment at their poor performance on the training field, Caelis fought a smile. “Aye.”

“Well, then?” Shona’s foot tapped against the packed dirt in front of the keep.

“Vegar has his own wounds,” Caelis replied, figuring that would mitigate the little termagant’s ire.

“Vegar? He is hurt?” Audrey asked, her pitch rising with each word. “Is it a grievous wound?”

“Not likely.” Caelis snorted his disbelief. “He is fine; it is only a small cut like mine.”

“Where is he?” Audrey demanded, not in the least appeased.

She turned and looked over the practice field, as if the warrior would magically appear.

Caelis wasn’t sure he wanted to tell the agitated Englishwoman that Vegar had gone into the great hall to clean his sword and discuss plans for further Cahir training among the Sinclair.

“Where is who?” Vegar asked from behind Caelis. “Your brother is inside, speaking to the Sinclair.”

Caelis looked back over his shoulder. “The woman is wondering about you.”

Vegar smiled, smug. “Is she now?” Then his expression turned sour. “She’s not looking to avoid me, is she?”

Ignoring their banter, Audrey spun around and rushed forward. “Let me see.”

“What is it you wish to see?” Vegar asked, looking bemused for the first time in memory.

He made no move to block the blond woman’s hands as she pulled his arms this way and that until she discovered the small cut on his thigh.

She blushed crimson when she realized where her mate had been wounded, but did not back away. “This must be tended to.”

Vegar replied, “I planned to wash in the loch.”

“You’ll be washing yourself there as well,” Shona informed Caelis.

He shrugged. “If that will please you. It is not much to worry about.” But he did like the fact that she was worried.

“We will still see it cleaned and treated with witch hazel.”

“We?” he asked.

She rolled her eyes. “I’ll not leave you to your own mercies. You did not show enough self-protection to avoid getting hurt in the first place. I’ll not trust you to care for the results. It would upset the children.”

Eadan was squatting on his haunches looking under a large rock he’d turned over and poking at the insects he’d found there with a twig. Little Marjory chased a butterfly. Caelis did not think the children were particularly worried about his small wound.

Nevertheless, he didn’t argue. “We will go to the loch.”

“I’ll fetch the witch hazel,” Audrey said decisively and then smiled down at the little girl who’d just fallen on her rump reaching for the fluttery insect. “Would you like to come with me, sweeting?”

Marjory shook her head and looked shyly at Caelis and lifted her arms. “Want up.”

He reached for her, lifting her even as Shona argued he was too dirty.

“She’s a child, not a silk gown. She’ll wash.”

Marjory giggled as he tickled her tummy. “Isn’t that right, wee one?”

She nodded vehemently.

Eadan smiled, doing his best to hide the wistful expression on his face, but Caelis read it with easy accuracy. He reached down a hand for his son.

Eadan took it immediately and Caelis tossed his son up and around so he could sit on the warrior’s broad shoulders. The boy’s shout of glee pricked at the heart Caelis had told the Sinclair he didn’t need engaged.

This wound would leave him bleeding longer than Vegar’s sword tip, Caelis was sure.

How much had he allowed his own false thinking to cost him?

Shona finished treating Caelis’s cut with the agrimony Abigail had sent back with Audrey along with the witch hazel she’d insisted on. “There, that should stop it swelling.”

“’Tis barely an injury.” Her nearness called to his wolf and his libido.

He wanted to take her into the forest and claim her fully. Then she would admit they were meant to be a family.

Only he could touch her for pleasure.

Her breath caught as if she knew his thoughts. Perhaps she did. His hardened sex pushed the kilt away from his body.

She inhaled as if she was the wolf and his scent drew her. “Even the tiniest lesion can sicken.”

“I am Chrechte.” He brushed his hand down the side of her face. “We rarely take ill.”

She shivered but held herself back from leaning into his touch. “Need I remind you again? You are no god, Caelis. If Chrechte never sickened, all would still live since the first walked the earth.”

“Our natures are violent.” And sexual.

He wanted her until his teeth ached with it.

“Aye, no doubt. Your people surely have lost great numbers to war, but the fact remains…”

“None live forever, though we do tend to live longer. And our mates with us.”

“Even human mates?”

“I do not know, but surely you have noted that Abigail does not show the aging of a woman with her years.”

“She’s hardly old.”

“She is older than her appearance would suggest.”

Shona looked thoughtful. “Why is that, I wonder?”

He shrugged. He was only glad that it was. Had the last six years not been difficult enough? He would not consider what old age might be like without his mate at his side.

Though he could not be sure now that she was not still intent on making him live without her. Last night notwithstanding.

She’d blamed that on his wolf and her response to the beast nature in Caelis.

Regardless, life was tenuous enough in the Highlands, even for the Chrechte. In that, Shona was well thought.

“There are some who live longer than others, by entire decades. Are they all Chrechte?”

“Aye, for the most part.” He could not think of a single human who lived into his dotage among the MacLeod, but that could have more to do with Uven’s attitude toward humans than anything else.

Shona sat back on the grass, her attention split between him and the children still searching for bugs near the shallow water with Vegar’s and Audrey’s oversight. The way Shona leaned on her arms put her lovely breasts on display and it was all Caelis could do not to take the unconscious invitation.

She straightened her skirts, the green velvet no doubt impressive by English standards but not what he wanted to see her wearing. He’d prefer her naked, but barring that, wearing a proper Scottish plaid.

She gave him a sidelong glance, her hands twisted in the heavy fabric of her skirt. “You said we did not have much time to discuss important matters.”

Here it was, the moment of reckoning. “We do not.”

“Why?”

“Caelis!” One of the Sinclair’s younger soldiers came running. “Vegar! You must return to the keep.”

Caelis jumped to his feet and then reached down to yank Shona up as well.

“What is happening?” she demanded as she fell against him, having not expected his move.

The feel of her body against his pushed against the urgency to follow Talorc’s command and insisted on another urgency altogether. “You heard. The laird has ordered us back to the keep.”

Shona was not similarly afflicted. “But why?”

“MacLeod soldiers have been spotted on Sinclair land,” the young soldier answered helpfully with a smile for Shona that made Caelis want to smash his teeth in.

“What? Why?” Shona’s body went rigid. “They are not welcome?”

“They are definitely not welcome.” He tugged her along, sweeping Eadan up into his arms on the way. “I told you, the MacLeod’s daughter sought refuge here last year.”

Vegar carried Marjory already, his free hand fastened around Audrey’s wrist as he pulled her toward the keep.

“But she is living with the Balmoral.”

“And these MacLeod soldiers may well be on their way to Balmoral Island.” Not that they would reach it regardless.

They had trespassed on Sinclair land without permission after their laird had declared enmity with the clan. The warriors would definitely be detained, but allowing Shona and her family to remain outside the keep’s walls was not an option.

“Why are we rushing so?” Audrey asked breathlessly. “Would they not have been spotted a long ways off, as we were?”

“We do not know how far away the enemy is and we cannot be certain the Sinclair’s watch accounted for all who crossed our borders.” Vegar tucked Marjory more securely against his side and increased his pace.

Audrey tripped and nearly fell. Vegar did not slow down, but reached around her waist with his forearm, lifting her and carrying her as he did the child. Only he kept the woman’s front away from him, her backside pressed against his hip.

Audrey’s outraged cry cut off with an oomph as Vegar shifted her into a more secure position as well.

Caelis looked down at Shona and she glared back. “Do not even consider it.”

He bit back his grin, but made no move to lift her from her feet.

Audrey was busy complaining, but from what Caelis could see, his eagle friend completely ignored the Faol’s furious demands to be let down.

“Vegar is a strong warrior,” Eadan said, admiration in the boy’s tone. “Audrey is bigger ’n me.”

“Aye, she is at that. And louder,” Caelis answered after the woman in question let out a frustrated shriek.

Shona harrumphed. “You don’t know how loud she can get, but your barbarian friend will discover it soon enough if he doesn’t have a care.”

Caelis’s laughter at her warning should have annoyed Shona, but she found herself wanting to smile instead.

The man was too arrogant by half. So why did she find it so difficult to remain irritated with him?

Mayhap it was the way her son joined in his father’s amusement.

Without warning, Vegar dropped Audrey and Marjory to the ground, pulling his sword from its scabbard in almost the same motion.

Caelis let go of Shona’s wrist and withdrew his own sword from the scabbard on his back. “Get between us.”

“What’s happening?” Shona demanded even as she moved to obey his urgent instruction.

“Trouble.”

She’d figured that much out when he’d drawn his weapon. She resisted the urge to say so though.

She and Audrey instinctively placed the children between them, turning with small daggers in their hands to face whatever trouble was approaching. It never occurred to her to doubt that something dangerous was indeed coming. If the man who shared his nature with a wolf said it was so, and his friend who could take to the skies as an eagle agreed, there could be no doubt in her own mind.

The Sinclair soldier stopped and turned back. “What are you doing? We must heed the laird’s orders.”

“We’ve a wee bit of trouble to take care of first,” Caelis answered, his keen gaze fixed on the treeline to their left.

The soldier’s eyes widened and he looked around as if expecting the bogeyman to jump out from behind a rock. He too seemed more than willing to take the warrior’s word for it.

Audrey whimpered and Shona’s craned her neck to see what had her friend so upset.

It was not the bogeyman. Rather, it was six enormous wolves coming at them from all directions, each one giving a low-throated growl.

“These are more of your brethren, I take it?” Shona asked, proud when her voice did not waver with the fear she felt.

“They are no brothers of mine,” Caelis barked. “Not now.”

Vegar spit on the ground. “Nor mine.”

The young soldier started praying, his eyes going wild, his muscles tensed for flight. Or mayhap he intended to fight alongside the Chrechte warriors. He’d drawn his own dagger, but his fear was much more pronounced than Shona’s.

“Get you between us,” Caelis ordered the young man. “You will protect the women in case one of these rogue wolves gets past Vegar or me.”

Shona didn’t think the clearly untried soldier would be much defense, but she said nothing. Caelis was giving the man a way to relative safety that would spare his pride.

Somewhat.

“Can’t he run for help?” Audrey asked, her own voice trembling, the terror there turning Shona’s own trepidation to fury.

The past months had been difficult enough on the young Englishwoman, Faol or no.

“He would never make it before they tore him to pieces,” Vegar growled.

Caelis nodded without looking away from the wolves. “He is not Chrechte.”

That must have been for Shona’s sake as he would know Audrey would already be aware of that fact. Her friend must be truly frightened out of her mind to have made the suggestion, knowing, as she did, the wolf abilities better than most.

The Sinclair soldier visibly shook at the idea of being torn to pieces by wolves as he rapidly made his way to stand with the women. Shona did not blame him.

And she held even greater respect for him when he helped her and Audrey create a triangle barrier around the children, his dagger to the ready, further supplications to “On High!” falling from his lips.

She was surprised the children were being so quiet. She spared a glance down and her heart swelled with pride.

Eadan was comforting Marjory, his arms around his sister. “All will be well, Margie. Da will protect us.”

Then he started singing to her and his sweet little boy voice about broke Shona’s heart. How incredibly blessed was she to have such amazing children?

She looked up and around, noting that the wolves…all six of them…had gotten closer.

No matter how intimidating they appeared in both size and number, she refused to believe Caelis and Vegar would not win in the coming confrontation.

When they were but a few yards away, the biggest of the wolves shifted to his human form. Right before their very eyes. The snarling expression on his face was just as malevolent as it had been on his beast. “For your sins against the Fearghall, you will die this day, Caelis the Betrayer, and everyone with you.”

Caelis stood firm, no sign of fear or even anger at the insult showing on his features or sounding in his voice. “The Fearghall are wrong, Maon. Chrechte are meant to be brothers, no matter the race.”

Maon snarled, “Only the Faol are strong enough to survive.”

“Explain then, my people living all these generations despite the Fearghall’s most despicable efforts.” Vegar was clearly angry, but like with Caelis, no sign of intimidation showed in him.

“Dirty Éan!” the big—and naked—warrior spat.

“I am a Chrechte warrior with true honor. Something your laird has no knowledge of. He withheld Caelis from his true mate.”

The MacLeod Chrechte sneered. “So you say.”

“So I say.” Shona spoke up, all the anger she felt at how these miscreants were frightening her children and Audrey in her tone. “I am his true mate and my son is proof of that.”

“You told a human about us?” Maon asked with disgust. “She will have to die.”

“You already said that,” Shona pointed out, her own tone scathing.

Audrey elbowed her. “Do not antognize them.”

“Why not? They’re bent on attacking us, aren’t they?”

“I don’t know why they would be,” Audrey said and looked at Maon. “Your laird’s daughter is not with us.”

Either Audrey had forgotten the denouncement of Caelis made only seconds before in her agitation, or she was deliberately ignoring it.

“We’re not here for the female. She had no wolf, no value to the pack. Not like you. We’ll take you back with us and you can breed for the pack.”

Vegar let out a sound that sent chills down Shona’s spine.

Maon acted as if he had not heard. “Uven received word that two of his soldiers who had been sent here live but are no longer loyal.”

“I still wear clan colors.” Caelis stood proud, in no way intimidated by the other man’s indictment.

“You have no right to them!”

“I have more right than Uven, and soon enough, you’ll know it.”

“When you are dead, I’ll shred the plaid you wear and burn it on top of your corpse.”

Now that sounded like a man who had been trained by Uven. Shona didn’t say so though, since Caelis had been as well, initially.

The sound of her son humming loudly gave Shona the comfort of the hope that her daughter at least could not hear the awful words spoken. With his enhanced hearing, Eadan was bound to have.

And still he remained strong and brave.

Motherly love and pride burned in her chest.

“Am I so valuable that Uven sent six of his strongest warriors to wreak his twisted justice?” Caelis mocked.

“A warrior does not have to possess honor to be a formidable foe.”

“He has more honor in him than you,” Shona spat. “He does not threaten innocents and children.”

“He has cast you in the shadow of his guilt. Blame the betrayer for your fate.”

“You sound like Uven, taking no responsibility for the evil you commit.”

Maon’s eyes darkened with something that might have been doubt, but he shifted back to his wolf before Shona could be sure.

Suddenly, with no signal she could see, all six wolves leapt to attack.