“King Robert is coming despite the way they treated him last time,”Ellie eventually reported.“It seems he feels his presence is warranted, so he’ll be here tonight.”
“Aye,”Broderick concurred, having just received a missive from one of the king’s men. He looked at me and Sloan. “It seems he has requested yer presence as well, so ye might return with him to the border afterward. He has men in charge until ye return, but things are growing more volatile with the Sassenach, so ye’ll be needed.”
“Aye,” I said without hesitation, my chest tightening with emotion. This gave me a chance to be close to Ellie again, and I couldn’t be more grateful to my king because something told me he’d done it on purpose. If he called on anyone for aid at the border, it made sense it would be me and Sloan, as I was hisstrongest leader and Sloan, his diplomat. Yet he’d requested we join him at Sutherland Castle rather than ordering us straight to the border, which was telling.
This would leave Lucas here to oversee MacLeod Castle as Broderick often asked him to do. He was our strongest warrior and best defender, so our women and clan would be safe under his watch.
“I’m coming, lass,”I said into Ellie’s mind.“I will be there soon.”
I knew it offered her as much comfort as it did me whilst I prepared to travel later that day. I continually reminded her of my upcoming arrival, hoping to bring her some modicum of comfort while she sat alone in her chamber staring out at the sea, already longing to break out of the cage in which she’d been trapped.
“These colors don’t suit me,”she said softly, speaking of the Sutherland colors she had been forced to wear, trying so hard to stay strong, but I felt her heartbreak because I suffered the same.“They’re not mine...”
“Nay,”I agreed. Trying to take her mind off her woes any which way I could, I brought her thoughts back to our dreams the night before, remembering the feel of her silky skin beneath my fingers. The taste of her delicious lips and the sweet scent she exuded for me alone.“’Tis why I took them off you last night. Do you remember, Ellie? Were you truly there with me?”
“I was,”she murmured, her emotions as intense and loving as she’d been in my arms, even if only in our dreams.“And I felt every part of you. Felt you love me with your lips and your hands. Felt your kisses and gentle strokes...and then I felt so much more.”
“As did I,”I said, my internal voice rough with arousal as I recalled thrusting deep inside her. Remembered her arching and crying out with pleasure.“’Twas...”Beautiful? Perfect?Everything I wanted to feel until the end of my days?“Forever mine, no matter what. ‘Twill always be my gentle hands on ye. Always be my loving touch that adores ye.”
While it wasn’t much, given everything she faced, I knew she held onto my words and ever-lingering touches, even if only in a dream, and would keep me close always. I would be the place she went in her mind if all hope was lost. My touch would be what she felt. My heart would beat within her own, keeping her alive and here rather than allowing her to wither away.
“I’m coming, my love,”I promised her, letting her feel my strong, determined, relentless, and persevering strides as I headed downstairs to join Broderick and Sloan in the courtyard.“I will be there soon.”
“And I’ll be waiting...even if this is the last time,”she swore before becoming distracted by something. I could only hope it was good news of some sort. Something that might make all of this more bearable, but ended up, sadly enough, not being the solution we were hoping for.
Chapter Twenty-One
–Ellie–
IREALLY TRIED to seem strong for Tavish’s sake because I knew the thought of me being paraded downstairs with no choice but to shift so that all—most pointedly the King of Scotland himself—could see firsthand I was destined to fulfill the pact, but feared I had failed. I’d been so strong for so long, and now the time was nearly here, I felt like a coward.
Even so, I would continue to stay strong for Tavish and for myself. I was about to assure him of that telepathically while watching the snowy sea from my chamber, wishing I could fly away over it despite my fear of heights, but a knock came at my door, ceasing our mental conversation.
Before I could get up and go answer it, Lilias came in with a little red-headed girl with big emerald-green eyes who could only be wee Marjorie. My sister put a finger to her lips, urging me to remain quiet until she shut the door.
“Although ‘twas requested I bring her straight below stairs so as not to upset ye with Dugal’s daughter, she wished to meet ye first, and I agreed,” Lilias said when I sensed he’d used the wordbastarddespite Marjorie being his legitimate child. She wasn’t half dragon, nor would she bring him the power he craved, so in his eyes, she was worthless. “Marjorie, meet Ellie, she who is to bring great peace betwixt our clans.”
I crouched in front of her, blinking back tears, thinking of the life she and her mother had been forced to live with Dugal. “It’ssonice to finally meet you, Marjorie.”
“And ye, mistress Ellie.” She curtsied politely, then surprised me when she threw her arms around me and held on tight. “’Tissoverra nice, Aunt Ellie, may ye stay every bit as strong as my ma.”
“I will,” I whispered hoarsely, biting back more tears when I realized she understood a great deal. More than any little girl her age should. I returned her embrace, never so grateful she was well, considering the evil tyrant who sired her. “I promise.Always.”
“Aye,” she said softly, pulling back and looking at me with great conviction. “Blaze told me ye would and I would know it when I met ye, and he was right. ‘Tis in yer eyes, to be sure.”
“Thank you, Marjorie.” I found hope in that, and I wasn’t sure why. “So Blaze is here? You’ve talked to the wolf pup?”
“Aye, he’s here,” she whispered, looking around as if someone could be spying on us from some unseen location. “He’s my verra best friend and is always here when I need him.”
“I’m so glad to hear that,” I said, happy something could give her the companionship she’d clearly been deprived of, even if it was but a wolf shifter who had never shifted. She had a connection to animals, so it undoubtedly meant a great deal.
“Aye,” Lilias said, understanding what I wanted to ask but didn’t. Not if it might ruin this precious moment. I only wanted my niece to see my strength, not hear my woes.
“And though ‘tis likely not what ye want to hear,” Lilias went on, “Marjorie hasnae seen the Viking dagger.”
“Nay,” Marjorie confirmed, shaking her head woefully, reminding me so much of Hazel, down to the caring way she gazed at me. “He claims he doesnae have it. ‘Twas but an illusion to let ye know ‘twas time for ye to follow him to SutherlandCastle and help bring peace to our clans. To end the bloodshed before it worsens, for too much blood has been spilled already. Not just now but too often in the distant past before our ancient sorcerer convinced my ancestors to agree to a renewed pact.”
“So where is the blade now?” I wondered, trying not to let my last bit of hope seep away.
