“I’m feelin’ braw, what aboot you?” Angus exclaimed, trying to sit up, only to feel a hand pushing him down.
“Wait, Angus,” Ian said, “I have to check you over to make sure you’re really fine.”
Colton sat back on his heels, letting his mate examine Angus; he had no doubt the only thing Ian would discover was a very antsy man, eager to see what had happened to his men.
~/~/~/~/~
Zane looked around, looking for the wolf he’d sliced open but none of the men in front of him met that criterion, leading him to believe Michael had escaped.But where did he go?Sniffing, he tried to find his trailbut there were too many scents on the battlefield for him to single out the one he wanted. As he stood there, sorting out the imagery of the fighting, he remembered the figure he saw leaving.
After making sure Michael’s men were guarded, Zane shifted, then trotted to the cottage where they’d stayed the night. He had to make sure David was safe before tracking the missing wolf. As he approached, the door was thrown open and David stood there waiting, with his arms wide. Shifting quickly, Zane ran the rest of the way, right into his mate’s arms, grabbing David’s ass in both hands, lifting him up and walking inside.
Kicking the door closed, Zane smothered his mate with kisses as he ground his hard cock against David’s. He relished his mate’s giggles when Zane’s tongue found David’s ticklish spots behind his ears and, wanting to hear more of those delightful musical sounds, Zane continued on his search, mentally recording each one for future reference. Finally, when David begged him to stop, Zane pulled back his head, smiling at the flushed face staring at him.
“Did you get Michael?” David asked breathlessly. It’d been hard to leave his mate but he’d done as Zane asked and had come back to the cottage, alternately pacing and looking out the window. It was a useless action as the battle was far from him, but he couldn’t stop and it was worth it when he saw his mate racing toward him. Now, surrounded by Zane’s scent, more powerful because of the adrenaline still pumping through his mate’s body, David wanted to be taken as warriors’ mates had been in times of old, when their tribes had been victorious in battle. Panting as his cock leaked pre-cum, it took everything he had to ask about his enemy.
Pausing before answering David’s question, Zane’s face momentarily showed his frustration but he quickly schooled it and answered, “No babe, he escaped, but I saw where he went and before I follow him, I needed to make sure you were okay.” Gently setting David on the floor, Zane looked out the window then back to his mate. “I better get going because I don’t want to lose the trail. He won’t have gone far with the damage I did. In the meantime, stay here until my brothers come for you.” Kissing his mate one more time, Zane stepped back, cupping David’s chin, whispering, “I love you,tesoro mio.”
When David at last understood what his mate was going to do, his anger rose. “Stop! If you go, I’m going also. This man has stalked and hunted me for the last time. I did what you asked even though it nearly killed me to stay here while you were fighting. Now I want to see justice done and the Four Gods have granted me the chance.”
Stunned at David’s reaction, Zane realized he’d messed up again by ordering his mate to stay put. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes, chastising himself for ignoring David’s feelings. Zane opened his eyes, intent on making it right, saying, “You’re right babe…and I’m sorry once again. I should have talked this over with you first instead of deciding for you.”
Seeing his mate spoke the truth, David’s anger faded away. “I accept your apology,” he said, “but I still have to go with you. I can help and, if Michael is hurt as bad as you say, then I won’t be in much danger. I know you’re worried about my safety so I promise to obey you during our search for him. Please, Zane, it will help me so much to see the man who has haunted my life…to see him dead and unable to ever hurt me again. Please don’t take that away from me.”
Zane found it impossible to deny his mate. Nodding in agreement, he said, “I’m going to shift, then climb on and I’ll head to the place I saw him enter the woods. Try to pick up his scent since you know it better than I do and expect to smell blood. My wolf sliced open his gut. Once we’re close to him, I want you to get off and stay behind me. If Michael attacks, I want you to poof back here. Okay?”
“Yes, I promise!”
“I love you,” Zane said, shifting and lowering himself.
“I love you, too,” said David, as he climbed on.
Once he felt David’s arms around his neck, Zane headed toward the woods, his mate’s declaration of love ringing in his ears.
Chapter 29
“Kin I git up now, Your Majesty?” Angus asked, trying not to snap at his king but having a difficult time controlling his emotions. The last thing he remembered—well, the last thing before he woke up—was the pain of being gutted by some wolf.
“Yes, Angus, go ahead and let me know if you feel any dizziness,” Ian said.
Angus looked at the four faces around him until he found Colton’s. “I canna thank ye enough for saving mae life.” Then sitting up, he shook his head several times before getting to his feet. Looking at his stomach and seeing nothing except his rock-hard abs, with no indication of what had been done to him, he turned to Colton. “The Fates blessed us when they picked ye to be our king’s mate.”
“I felt the same way when I found him,” Ian said, smiling.
“Angus,” said Logan, “your men are all right and have captured Michael’s men. The next question is what are we going to do with them?”
“Ay, let’s go see who they are afore we kill ‘em,” Angus answered, striding off into the night toward the ring of fire.
~/~/~/~/~
Slate grasped Dakota’s hand and said, “C’mon babe, the fight’s over. Let’s go see what Ian wants to do next.”
The howls and snarls had faded and all Dakota could see now were the dying flames Logan’s dragon had encircled the battlefield with dancing in the wind. “I hopeeveryone’s safe,” he said as they headed for a group of Scottish warriors.
“Me, too,” said Slate. Skirting the flames, they saw Ian congratulating his clan for their victory, after which he and Colton walked among them treating injuries. Logan and Kieran were standing off to one side, talking very quietly. Joining them, Slate asked, “Where are Zane and David?”
“We were just discussing that. It seems they have done a runner,” Logan replied.
“You mean they’re gone again?” asked Dakota.
