Shadow Highlander

TWENTY-SIX

Reaghan brushed her still damp hair. It felt good to be clean again, to get the dirt and grime from their journey out of her clothes and her hair. She had wanted to visit with the Druids from MacLeod Castle more last night, but she had been so weary she hadn’t been able to keep her eyes open.

She recalled her head had begun to hurt. She had thought for sure she would experience another headache, or at least feel the remnants of it this morning, but, to her surprise, there had been nothing.

When she awoke, she’d been startled to find the tub of steaming water waiting for her. She hadn’t questioned who had brought up the tub or filled it with the steaming water, just thoroughly enjoyed it.

The sun had already risen when she woke, so she was sure most of the castle inhabitants were about their day. She was glad to no longer be traveling, but she missed the time she had spent with Galen. Even if they had been running for their lives.

It had been the first adventure she’d had — that she could remember — and with Galen by her side, it had been truly wonderful.

She wished she could see herself in the new yellow gown. It was something else that had been waiting for her, draped over the foot of the bed. It had been so long since Reaghan had had anything new that she was anxious to thank whoever was responsible.

A soft knock on her door intruded on her thoughts. She hurried to it, hoping it might be Galen. When she opened it, she found Marcail instead.

“Good morn,” the Druid said with a pleasant smile.

Reaghan returned the smile and opened the door wider. “Good morn to you as well.”

“I thought I might escort you to the great hall if you’re ready.”

Reaghan’s heart thumped wildly in her chest, her thoughts on Galen. “Aye.”

As she followed Marcail out of the chamber and down to the great hall, Reaghan could only think of Galen. As she stepped off the stairs into the great hall, her gaze clashed with cobalt eyes that stole her breath. A slow sensual smile pulled at his lips while his gaze deepened with unmistakable desire.

“Sit anywhere you can find a place,” Marcail said.

It was then Reaghan noticed that few of the Druids from her village were at the table. “Where are my people?”

“They fear the Warriors. I think it will take some time.”

Reaghan waved at Braden who sat between Logan and his mother. “My fellow Druids need to be reminded it was Warriors who saved their lives. They are caught in their ways and refuse to bend or acknowledge that not everything is as it seems.”

Marcail’s unusual turquoise eyes widened a fraction. “I agree. These Warriors are good men fighting to keep our world safe from evil. However, enough of such talk. Please find a seat.”

Once again Reaghan’s gaze was caught in Galen’s. He nodded to her, and she was powerless to resist his call. She walked to the empty seat beside him.

He held out a hand to assist her as she climbed over the bench. “You look well.”

“And smell better. A bath does wonders to restore me,” she replied with a smile.

“How did you sleep?”

She filled her goblet with milk and reached for a piece of cheese and freshly baked bread. “Very well. Are you glad to be back?”

“It is home,” he said, and pushed aside his empty trencher. “I’m always pleased to return. I thought I might show you around the castle today.”

“The others don’t need you?”

Galen grinned. “They can do without me for a little while. How would you like to see the sea?”

“Truly? I know it from the images I see in my dreams, but I would love to feel it for myself. When can we go?”

“As soon as you are ready.”

Reaghan wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to be alone with Galen. “I can eat later.”

“Nay,” he said, and covered her hand with his. His thumb caressed the back of her hand. “The sea isna going anywhere, and neither am I. Eat, Reaghan.”

As she lifted the bread to her mouth, she happened to notice how the others around the table stared at her. There were so many Warriors. If she hadn’t gotten to know Galen and Logan, she could see how she might feel afraid of these men.

“Forgive our gawking,” said a man with a vicious scar running down his face. “Galen is usually eating so much he has no time for speech.”

Laughter filled the hall, and Reaghan glanced over to find Galen shaking his head as he smiled.

“Eating?” she asked.

“Doona pay Malcolm a bit of attention,” Galen said, his gaze indifferent and his voice heavy with nonchalance. “He lies.”

“Lies?” repeated a Warrior with honey-colored eyes and hair of the deepest brown. “Cara makes a special loaf of bread just for you so the rest of us can eat in peace.”

Logan chuckled, an easiness about him Reaghan hadn’t seen before. “Arran speaks the truth, I’m afraid, Reaghan. Galen’s stomach is never full. He sneaks into the kitchens throughout the day to steal food.”

Reaghan basked in the glow of companionship she found at the MacLeod table. Galen took their teasing with a smile and a shrug; clearly the jesting was done in love and friendship.

It was obvious everyone adored Galen, and he adored them. He hadn’t been lying when he called this place home.

“Should I worry about my food?” she asked Galen with a teasing smile.

Laughter erupted again as Galen stole a piece of bread from her trencher and popped it into his mouth with a wink.

Fallon shook his head from his spot at the head of the table. “Reaghan, I believe you will fit in well with this brood.”

She was pleased with Fallon’s words, and hoped she would be able to find a place at MacLeod Castle. A place where, perhaps, her memories weren’t taken from her every ten years. A place where she could stand beside Galen and fight Deirdre.

The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to be a part of the battle against Deirdre. Her power had grown too strong, and it was time more joined in to take a stand.

“As I said before, I doona take from ladies. Only rogues like you lot.” Galen replaced the bread he had taken from her trencher, his eyes shining with mirth.

Reaghan hurried to finish her meal as the conversation turned to rebuilding the destroyed cottages in the nearby village. She listened curiously, but her mind was on spending the day with Galen.

As soon as she swallowed her last bite of food, Galen took her hand. “Ready?”

“I should help clean,” she said.

Isla shook her head and waved Reaghan to the door. “Go enjoy the day.”

Reaghan waited until she and Galen were in the bailey before she said, “Everyone is so pleasant.”

“They are good people.”

“It’s no wonder you call this home. It’s not only beautiful, but there is so much magic that surrounds the castle. Despite the differences between all the Warriors, you are all a family.”

“Every Warrior here had their families and their lives taken from them by Deirdre. Most of us spent years locked in her dungeons. We’re the lucky ones who managed to escape, yet for all of that, we were alone. We were trying to survive in a world that doesna know of us, and canna know of us.”

He paused as they passed through the newly built gate. The evidence of what had befallen the MacLeod clan still could be seen by the burn marks on the rocks of the castle.

“I cannot tell you how long I searched for the MacLeods,” Galen continued. “All of us knew they were the key to destroying Deirdre, and when I finally found Lucan, they were hesitant to trust anyone. Yet they opened their castle to us, and offered all of us who had wandered the land a home.”

“I’m glad the MacLeods are fighting Deirdre.”

Galen nodded. “And we are lucky Fallon is leading us.”

Reaghan forgot what she was going to say when she spotted the sea. She quickened her pace and reached the edge of the cliff just as a gust of wind hit her. She inhaled the sea wind full of salt and the beckoning call to explore.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Galen asked.

“Wildly so. What I’ve seen in my dreams does not compare.”

“Nay, nothing could.”

She felt Galen’s gaze on her and turned her head to him. Her hair whipped in the wind and tangled around Galen. He chuckled deep and low in his chest as he pulled her against him.

“Reaghan,” he whispered before his mouth descended on hers.

She sank into the kiss, losing herself in all that was Galen. He enticed, he teased, he captivated. She wound her arms around his neck and offered him everything she had — her heart and her soul.

She had feared his desire would wane, but his fiery kiss told her different. She tasted his yearning, felt his desire, and breathed in his unleashed passion.

Reaghan dove into the wanton desire that raged through her body. His hot, demanding kiss didn’t allow her to think of anything but the hunger that built within her, the unrelenting passion that devoured them both.

He pressed her tightly against him, holding her prisoner to his kiss, as the heat of his body surrounded her. There was a promise in his kiss, a promise of much more to come. The desire they had tasted on the edge of Loch Awe was nothing compared to what had been building since.

She knew it.

Felt it.

And ached for it.

Galen’s hard arousal pressed into her belly as he groaned deep in his throat. His hunger for Reaghan had spread faster, intensified quicker, than he had ever expected. It frightened him, this need he had to have her. Claim her. Own her.

He wanted her naked beneath him. He wanted to cup her breasts and watch her nipples harden. He wanted to spread her thighs and see the auburn curls that shielded her beautiful sex. He wanted to be inside her, deep and hard, to bring her to fulfillment and see her face as she peaked.

His body raged, demanding he take her, but somehow, Galen found the will to bring his body under control and end the kiss. With his hands on either side of her face, he smoothed her hair back. Her lips were swollen and wet with his kiss. She tempted him with her passion-filled gray eyes.

His cock jumped, eager to have her rub against it once more. He kept control of his body and the hunger that pleaded for more of Reaghan.

She rested her head on his chest as she looked out at the sea. “My body is not my own whenever you touch me.”

“I shouldna have kissed you now. I want you too desperately.”

“Do you regret it?”

“Never,” he answered more harshly than intended.

She linked her hands behind his back and sighed. “I sense you are concerned about something. Is it my spell?”

“Nay. I worry over taking you away from Loch Awe. I worry over Deirdre attacking again. I worry over the headaches that pain you.”

She put a finger over his lips. “You told me I would be safe here. As much as I loved Loch Awe and felt safe there, there is something different about this castle. Maybe it’s the magic of the Druids who call it home, I’m not sure. But I think you’re right. I am safe here. As for the rest.” She shrugged. “What will be will be.”

“You know I will help you in any way I can.” He saw the fear she tried to hide, and he wished he could ease it. But he knew nothing of spells.

“I’ll hold you to that. Maybe you can help me break the spell.”

Galen licked his lips and pressed her head against his chest. “Do you think I will abandon you when you lose your memories?”

“Nay. The thought of forgetting who everyone is and what I’ve done in the past frightens me more than I like to admit.”

“Which is why you wish to break the spell?” Galen began to realize that was probably why no one had told Reaghan what she had done to herself before. Still, he didn’t regret his decision.

“It’s one of the reasons. I want to help you and the others against Deirdre. Whatever information I’m hiding could do that. I want to give it to you.”

She leaned back to look at him, and as Galen gazed into her gray eyes, he knew he would move heaven and earth to do whatever she wanted. Reaghan had given him what no one else could. He was able to touch her and hold her.

Galen had forgotten how much he missed that contact until he’d had Reaghan. He was lost in Reaghan, in her beauty and the solace she gave him. Now that he had found her, he never wanted to let her go.