“And ye dinnae regret that ye will never own land?Or a great keep?”
He pressed a finger under her chin.“What is this?Dinnae doubt me now, lass.What more does a man need than a beautiful lass in his bed and a handsome young son to carry on his name?”
Lorna gave a smile and her eyes glinted.“Oh...I dinnae know.Mayhap a few more sons?”
Logan laughed and kissed her firmly.“Aye, many, many more sons.”
Tèile couldn’t help but grin as they embraced.All was well once more and she had yet again made another good match.Soon they would be telling tales of her, of how she saved a clan by summoning the wolves to help, of how she prevented a war that would tear a country apart.Why, she even drove off the Vikings!Tèile the Great, they would call her.
She fluttered her wings, flew down from her perch, pausing only briefly to view the couple.After flying out the window, she stopped by the two other chambers to check on her other matches.Satisfied all was well with those couples, she settled herself on the ramparts and stared up at the sky.Stars glinted above, sparkling like faery wings.The human world had once seemed so harsh and cold yet somehow humans managed to make it beautiful.
She turned when she felt a tap on her shoulder.The purple faery, her gossamer wings more beautiful than the night sky, motioned for her to follow.“’Tis time to return now.”
Tèile shook her head.Return to what?Daily feasts?Regaling the fae folk with her tales until she got bored and had no choice but to create some mischief?It wearied her just thinking on it.
The faery gave her an indulgent smile and nodded before fluttering off.Tèile watched her go and a smile slipped across her face.She would not regret not returning.There was much more fun to be had in the human world.Not to mention, Logan had promised Lorna many more sons and there were two other babes on the way.No doubt, watching over all those children would keep her busy for many more years to come.
THE END
Find more books by Samantha Holt
www.samanthaholtromance.com
Read on for a sample of Borderland Bride
BORDERLAND BRIDE
Chapter 1
Inhaling deeply, Jake clutched at the reins of his mount, slowly releasing his grip as the forest stilled around him.Alone.
The scratching of the scruffy hound interrupted the quiet, and Jake studied it with a wry smile.He’d be lucky to catch a rabbit, let alone a boar, with this flea-bitten mutt.The hound ceased his scratching and froze, his ears pricking up.Jake tensed his hands on the reins once more, his muscles bunching as his pulse beat beneath his skin.
A howl breached the silence and the hound darted off through the undergrowth.Jake kicked at his mount.Hell, the mutt was quick.He could just pick out the sounds of scuffles and grunts under the heavy pounding of hooves.He grinned.Mayhap he would catch a boar after all.
The hound stopped unexpectedly, grinding to a halt in the dirt.His mount reared as they came upon a wall of bodies in the clearing.Jake looked at them in distaste.They were coarsely dressed and in need of a bath.The stench of them pervaded the fresh forest air
The men turned, one by one, and he noted the sweat upon their brows and their heavy gulps.Were they hunting too?Whatever they were kicking out at, they knew well enough they should not have been.
He glared at them.“You are poaching on Lord Dominic’s land.”
They jumped simultaneously as his voice echoed through the silence, and scattered in all directions.Jake cursed.Damn peasants knew his brother forbid hunting on his land.
Jake grabbed at the reins, making to give chase when a flash of colour in the undergrowth caught his eye, a pale blue in amongst the fusion of greens.He jumped down and stepped gingerly over to where the peasants had stood.The blue fabric of a woman’s gown winked up at him.A swathe of auburn hair covered her face, the tumbling curls tangled around her.Gold strands glinted under the sunlight that crept through the trees and he gulped.
She lay unmoving, hands splayed either side of her head.Jake’s stomach churned.If the peasants had found her like this it was likely they meant to relieve her of any possessions.
He knelt down beside her, noting the expensive fabric of her gown and delicate hands.Aye, her soft skin gave her away as a noble lady and it was likely any jewels she had were long gone.But what was she doing out here alone?
Carefully, he pulled aside her tresses.His heart gave jolt at the sight.She had taken a beating, one side of her face swollen and puffy.Great purpling welts circled her neck, fingerprints clearly visible.He cursed again.Had he just come across some murderous outlaws rather than the harmless peasants he had thought them to be?Anger boiled inside of him.If he had but given chase, he could have brought at least one of them to justice.
God’s blood, he dare not imagine what her last moments must have been like.
His throat tightened.What to do with her?He could not just leave her to rot in the woods.Jake studied her face once more with a sigh.A shame so fine a beauty should meet such an end.Even with the swelling in her face, it was clear she had been blessed with striking looks.Her unmarred cheek offered up smooth and creamy skin, and her dark lashes stood out in stark contrast.A slight scattering of freckles marched across her nose, just visible under the dried blood.Jake smiled sadly.He never understood why most women hated freckles.He thought them wonderfully enticing.
Brushing a finger across her cheek, Jake was surprised at the warmth of it.God’s teeth, if he had only come across her moments before he could have stopped such an atrocity.He pictured the men’s faces and swore he would avenge her.Hewouldbring the outlaws to justice.
As he drew his hand away, an eyelid fluttered open.His heart leapt.Her other eye couldn’t open - it was too swollen to do so - but he could see the immediate panic in her expression.She struggled to turn onto her side to escape him, her injuries hampering her movements.
