“Your blood and that of every MacKenzie warrior who attacks my clan will soon soak this soil.” Gaze venomous, the MacDonald swung.
Elbows locked tight, Duncan caught the blow a mere inch from his nose, shoved one foot back and held his position while all around him within the near dark, his warriors fought on. Swords sliced into limbs and blood splattered the ground from both clans. Red swirled within the water and muddied the wash spilling onto the shore and across the slick landing.
“Gavin!” The MacDonald yelled to his nephew who hoisted from the water onto the stone landing behind Duncan. He’d met Gavin on the battlefield before and the warrior was a sly devil, devious and scheming.
Digging his feet in, Duncan met first Gavin’s blow then the MacDonald’s, both well-timed strikes following hard on the heels of the other as they kept him pinned between them.
“I’ll enjoy ridding these isles of you.” Gavin snorted, his red hair lying slick to his scalp and his beady black eyes glinting.
“I’m here.” Hamish heaved out of the water onto the landing next to him and slammed his blade into the MacDonald who caught his strike.
“All here will halt their fighting and listen to me well and true!” A piercing shout broke the battle and halted Duncan’s sword arm. “Every warrior with a weapon will lower it.” High on the battlements, a woman wearing tan pants and a vest over a white shirt stood at the corner crenellation, her dark locks streaming behind her in the wind and her voice rising strong and true. “Those from clan MacKenzie will retreat, and those from clan MacDonald will allow them to leave.”
Her fiercely compelling voice smothered him, drew him deep within her demand. Both the MacDonald and Gavin lowered their swords.
“You have a Matheson compeller in your midst?” Father snapped from along the beach. He scowled as he jerked backward through the swell, the lass’s demand that they retreat forcing his father back toward his galley.
“Aye, and your fight this night is done, Colin MacKenzie.” The lass glared at his father. “I am Ella from the House of Clan Matheson, and you will obey every word I speak. Gather your fallen and leave these shores.”
Father’s warriors slung their fallen comrades over their shoulders and stumbled through the waves and boarded their vessel. Duncan’s own men did the same, returning their injured to his galley.
“Be gone!” Ella’s hypnotic voice rang even louder, the gold flecks in her brown eyes flickering as she moved her gaze to him. “You too, Duncan MacKenzie. Leave, and know that my Matheson kinsmen are allied with clan MacDonald. Never will we allow you to take Dunscaith.”
So captivating. This spellbinding woman radiated such strength and passion. “You have done me the greatest favor this night.” He dipped his head in acknowledgement, lifted it again.
“Aye, I have. I’ve saved your big hide, so make sure once you leave, you dinnae return.” She leaned over the crenellation. “No more shall you fight this night. Am I understood?”
“I didnae wish for this battle, and never would I raise arms against you or any of your Matheson kin.” Not when he too held Matheson fae blood.
“I would win any battle if you did.” A teasing smile suddenly lifted her lips and she winked at him, actually winked. Naught more could have caught him off-guard.
“I would like to see you again.”
“Please, dinnae think to toy and flirt with me.” Frowning, she motioned to his vessel and issued one more command he could no longer ignore, “I said leave.”
“Come.” Hamish dragged at his arm.
Aye, he’d leave since he’d surely outstayed his welcome now. He jumped off the landing and splashed to his galley then along with his men, boarded his vessel.
Out of the bay, they rowed then raised the sail and caught the fresh breeze, the intriguing lass becoming naught more than a mere dot on the ramparts.
As he lost complete sight of her, his chest ached and a deep need to return to her slashed through him. Well, it appeared Ella Matheson wasn’t only a compeller, but an enchantress who could steal a man’s reason as well. “One day,” he murmured under his breath, “I will find you Ella Matheson and when I do, I intend to learn all I can about you.”
Aye, he wouldn’t rest until he’d spoken to her once more. Unraveling all her secrets would surely be a delight.
Cherub –
The Fae Princess and Guardian to her Earthbound Kind
On the cliffs near Loch Carron, Scotland, a month later.
Under an endless array of twinkling stars and a gloriously heavy moon, Cherub stood unseen on the cliffs as the ocean swelled with white-tipped waves that glowed a silvery-gold in the moonlight below. Kirk, her soul bound mate, towered over her from behind, his big body a heavenly wall of heat as her cloaking remained extended over them both. “Ella Matheson sails this way with her brother.” She rested back fully against him. “Directly toward Duncan MacKenzie.”