“I don’t want to miss Arric.”
“He’s got a few to go before he’s up again,” she said, tugging on my arm. “That big ol’ man of yours is going to need some replenishing, and you need to get some calories in you as well.”
I eyed the men but felt Arric stir in my mind.Eat, baby. Your mom’s right.
Okay, but don’t stay out here too long.
Yes, ma’am.
I followed my mother back to the house, fighting the urge to stay linked with Arric a little longer. The more time I spent around him, the more I craved everything about him. His mind. His body. His body. Then there was his body.
* * *
Arric
When we were done having our fun, the once proud back lawn of Castle Gunnach looked like a battlefield. Not a single blade of grass appeared untrampled and not a single man wasn’t spent, battered, and completely exhausted. We’d even dragged Haddi into the fray once we’d decided he was far too clean for our liking.
After we’d tossed everything that wasn’t bolted to the ground, and a few things that were, our games devolved into an impromptu rugby match using Max’s shoe as the ball. He was, without a doubt, the biggest loser on today’s field of battle, and this was his punishment.
However, the rugby game would end up serving the biggest punishment to us all. Even after pushing ourselves all day during the course events, we dug down even deeper once we squared off for battle. The Cauld Ane used every ounce of their powers, as did Haddi and I. The clan hit me with shots that would have crippled or killed humans, but the harder they came at me, the more I pushed back. Eventually leading my team to victory.
Now that Max’s size thirteen had been returned to its rightful foot, both teams lay on the ground, covered in mud and bruises.
“I can’t remember the last time I had that much bloody fun,” Kade said, panting heavily.
“Normally, I would have already recovered from my workout, but I’m not even sure I can move my arms,” Connall groaned, before calling out, “Arric!”
“Yeah?”
“Good game,son.”
The tone in Connall’s voice when he said ‘son’ made me smile. Something changed during the games. A bond was forming between me and this clan I was now beginning to see as my family. I was learning how to trust them, and I sensed their fear of me was subsiding.
I also sensed the Gunnach clan needed this day as much as I did. Not just for the bonding experience, but for the ability to physically let loose without the fear of being exposed.
“We should probably drag our arses up to the house before our women send the dogs after us,” Brodie said, to grunts all around.
“I don’t think my bloody legs work anymore,” Max cried out.
“Me either. Arric, I don’t suppose you can fly too?” Connall asked.
“Yeah, but my cape is in my pants pocket and all I’ve got on is this kilt y’all made me wear,” I replied to laughter and wheezing from the group.
“Looks like we’re gonna have to hoof it back,” he said to more groans.
The women had long since headed back to the house, not interested in watching a game of rugby that was really nothing more than blood sport. Samantha had promised there would be a banquet awaiting us once we’d had our fun and cleaned up. Emphasis on the cleaning up, so we headed back toward the castle, en masse.
As we walked, dark clouds formed in the heavy skies above us.
“Maybe it’ll rain and we won’t need to bathe,” Alasdair mused.
Kade laughed. “You’ve never been a big fan of bathing, have you?”
“Aye.” Alasdair grinned. “Remember the days of battle when we’d camp for the night just as filthy as we’d started?”
“Those are days I’m happy to forget,” Max said, clapping Alasdair on the shoulder.
“That’s because you’ve gone soft. All that fanny available to you.”
