Page 9 of Highlander’s Devious Ally

“I understand.” Fenella’s blue eyes were twinkling with excitement.

“Do you know what a dragon is?” Ailith asked. Fenella shook her head. “It is a big fearsome monster who breathes fire. It has scales all over it like fish but they are bright green and hard as iron, and giant spiky ridges as sharp as swords down its back. Its pointed teeth are three feet long and its eyes are huge and yellow and have tiny slits for pupils. When they breathe fire into a loch it can dry the whole loch up; it turns it to steam and it blows away." She went on to tell them about the only good dragon who had been exiled from his tribe because he was kind and did not like to do harm to people and animals. He wandered the countryside looking for food, but he would not eat the cattle and sheep in case the crofters went hungry, so he lived on rabbits and fish.

One day he saw a little boy out of his depth in the waters of Loch Leith and he saved his life. The villagers took him in, and he guarded their village for the rest of his life. Everyone loved him.

By this time even the two adults were enthralled, since Ailith had spiced up the story with growls, screams, and facial contortions. Lyall was amazed, since he had seen May doing exactly the same thing.

“How did you do that?” Fenella asked, astonished. “Did you just make it up?”

“I had a lot of stories told to me when I was small,” Ailith replied, smiling. “I stick bits of them together. Now, tell me more. I need to know what I can do to help.”

Fenella explained about the special kitchen garden that they had set aside for villagers and crofters who were in need. They had also engaged a seamstress who made and mended clothes, since the children grew out of them so quickly.

“Her next project was going to be a wee school,” Lyall said sadly, “but she never achieved that dream.”

“Perhaps I can achieve it in her memory,” Ailith said thoughtfully.

Lyall looked down at her red-blonde hair and big green eyes and wondered what it would feel like to cuddle up against her, to hold her, go to sleep and wake up to her eyes looking into his. He would not even have to make love to her, just be with her. He gave himself a mental shake, realizing that it was impossible. She was betrothed and he could not steal the bride of another man without causing an enormous amount of trouble for both of them.

“Excuse me!” Lyall realized he was daydreaming as Ailith waved at him. He laughed and went to fetch more wine, then wandered over to the window and groaned as he saw the rain pouring down in torrents outside, blown inland by a fierce gale from the sea.

“I am afraid you are not going home tonight, Ailie.” His tone was regretful but inside he was jubilant. She was staying till morning, not in his bed, granted, but he would see her before she left. The thought sent a thrill through him, and he smiled as he turned back to the window.

Ailith got up, went to the window, and sighed. “I thought the weather was going to be calm tonight." She smiled mischievously. “Do you have a spare room?”

He laughed. “You can have your choice of fifty," he replied. “I will have one made up for you." He smiled and went out, and Ailith sank down in a chair by the fire with Fenella, yawning.

“He likes you,” Fenella remarked.

“I like him too,” Ailith answered, rubbing her eyes.

“I mean, he likes you in the way a husband likes a wife,” Fenella insisted.

Ailith shook her head wearily and smiled at the young woman. “I am already betrothed," she pointed out, shrugging. “I could not marry Lyall even if I wanted to. Which I do not,” she added hastily.

For a moment they looked at each other, then Fenella stood up. “I am sorry, Ailith," she said quietly. “I didn’t mean to pry...it is only that I would love for you to be my sister.”

“Thank you, Fenella,” Ailith said. “Goodnight.” Fenella left, and she watched the dancing flames in the fireplace for a while before she drifted slowly off to sleep, and that was how Lyall found her five minutes later.

He squatted down in front of her and studied her face, relaxed and childlike in sleep, and when he reached out a finger to touch her cheek, she raised a hand to bat it away. He smiled, studying the long, reddish-blonde arcs of her eyelashes fanning over her cheekbones, her small nose and full lips. He would not allow himself to fall in love with her, but he dearly wished he could.

The bedroom he had chosen for her was not too far from the parlor, and he picked her slight body up without any effort at all and began to ascend the stairs. Her eyelids opened for a second or two, but she did not wake up.

Lyall laid Ailith down on the bed very tenderly, grasping her body like a delicate object that would crumble if he held it too tightly. He heard her give a tiny sigh as her body touched the cold sheets, then her eyes flickered open and looked straight into his. He could see their gleam clearly in the cold blue luster of the moonlight, and something inside him softened and melted.

Ailith had relaxed into his arms when he picked her up from the chair, and the gentle jogging motion of his steps as he carried her along passages and up stairs was so soothing that she sighed with contentment. She had no idea that Lyall was carrying her, but half-asleep as she was, it was bliss.

When he laid her on the bed the cold touch of the sheets woke her at once, and when she opened her eyes, it was to find him gazing down at her. There was a slightly surprised look on his face, as if it were he, not she, who was in a strange place.

For a moment she was confused, and struggled to sit up. “Where am I?" she asked, panicking.

“With me,” Lyall replied. “Do not be afraid. You fell asleep, and I am putting you to bed because you cannot go out in the rain.”

For a moment, Ailith lay tensely on top of the covers, then she let her body go slack as he released her and helped her underneath them. There was a hot stone wrapped in a woolen cloth at the end of the bed and Ailith felt warm and deliciously pampered.

“Do you need anything else?" he murmured.

Ailith shook her head, smiling slightly. She could not seem to look away from him, and a sudden shaft of longing pierced her. What would it feel like to lie with this beautiful man, even just to be wrapped in his warm embrace without any passion at all? She longed to find out.