Page 23 of Intrigued By A Highlander (Highland Revenge Trilogy #2)

CHAPTER 23

T he silhouette of Tannahill Abbey crept into view under a bruised dusk sky, the half-finished stonework casting long shadows across the hill. Scaffolding clung to the rising walls, and rough shelters dotted the land around it like an afterthought.

Knox rode steady, Star picking her way down the slope with ease while Dru sat nestled comfortably in his arms. That she did, eased his concern for the moment. What awaited them was another matter.

She looked up at her husband, her voice barely more than a breath. “Another one who claims knowledge of Autumn. My mum feared one day I might be hunted. But I always assumed it would be by my father or brother, their intentions not in my best interest or safety, not someone I had no knowledge of existed. It makes me wonder what secret my mum kept from me.”

“You know nothing of her family, her past?”

“The only thing she ever told me was that she left a bad situation only to be caught in a worse situation when what she only ever truly wanted was to be loved.” Dru smiled softly. “She often told me that she found a stronger love when she had me.”

“Would she have confided in Mave?”

She thought for a moment, then shrugged. “I truly couldn’t say, though I think if Mave knew she would have told us to help us. Now looking back, I believe my mum may have kept things from me to protect me.”

“Secrets can do damage.”

“So can truths,” Dru said. “So, which do you choose when trying to protect someone?” She rested her head lightly to his shoulder. “Remind me again what Phelan said to you when he learned that a man at the abbey claims to know who Autumn is.”

“He was angry since his men are in no condition to ride and he’s not foolish enough to ride alone. He will need to let his warriors heal and that will take time.”

“And what did he intend to do with Reena, the woman he captured?”

“He was still debating that before the attack which meant he intended to give her to whoever gave him the most coins. He now realizes that the person who placed the bounty on Autumn’s head never intended to pay. He intended to see her dead. Phelan is now out for blood. He wants revenge.”

“When news travels about what happened to Phelan, do you think mercenaries will stop hunting Autumn?”

Knox wanted to ease the worry he saw in his wife’s beautiful green eyes but lying to her would do no good. But he didn’t have to, the sudden fear that shadowed her eyes told him she realized the truth herself.

“The mercenaries will kill her as soon as she is captured, securing the bounty for themselves never giving Torrance a chance to offer more coins for her safe return. That was the reason for this attack on Phelan, to show what would happen if anyone decided to bargain for a larger bounty.” She shook her head. “Innocent women will die.”

“That is not on you, Dru,” Knox said, having feared she would feel that way once she put the pieces together.

“I thought I was living a nightmare before this.” Her head drooped. “But this is far worse. Before it was only losing my life that I feared. Now I fear others dying because of me.”

He cupped her jaw, lifting her head. “You will not do anything foolish, understood?” His heart beat madly in his chest, knowing full well she would pay no heed to his words. “I mean it, wife. We will find a way.”

Dru wanted to believe that, ached to believe it, but she feared fate had other plans for her. Then she recalled Mave’s prediction about her and Knox sharing a life together and hope surged, and she prayed Mave was right.

Ahead, the four MacTavish brothers rode in a loose formation—Quim in the lead, Olin and Fyfe flanking Atley, who kept a watchful eye on Reena. The woman rode with Atley, now pale but upright in his arms, and silent. The wounded followed on horses behind Knox and Dru and a few were in a cart unable to walk or ride.

The path curved around a narrow outcrop and opened onto the abbey’s outer grounds. Moonlight picked out the cracked stones and stacks of timber, the ground littered with tools left behind for the night. The shelters stood quiet, shadows flickering from within.

“Do nothing foolish, wife,” Knox whispered. “We’ll speak with this man and see what he knows. Only then do we decide what to do.”

She nodded but feared only one choice was left to her… Autumn had to make herself known.

Monks hurried forward to assist the wounded and Reena clung to Atley, refusing to go anywhere without him. Surprisingly, he obliged her and didn’t leave her side. While his brothers went directly for the ale.

As soon as Knox lifted Dru off his mare, he took hold of her hand, feeling a squeeze to his heart when her hand clutched tightly to his as if she needed his strength. He went straight to the monk issuing orders, Star following behind him.

“There is a man here that knows something about the woman—Autumn—being hunted. I must speak with him.”

“I am Brother Edmund, and you are?” the monk asked.

“I am Knox and this is my wife, Dru. It is imperative I speak with him,” Knox said.

“I understand,” Brother Edmund said with a nod. “He arrived here badly beaten and finally sleeps peacefully. You may speak with him in the morning. You and your wife look like you could use some rest. We have shelters for travelers who stop here. I will have a fellow monk show you to one of them and food and drink will be provided as well. Now I must see to those in need.”

Knox went to argue with him.

Brother Edmund rested his hand on Knox’s shoulder. “Trust me, my son, the man is in no shape to move. You may speak with him in the morning.” He summoned a monk with the wave of his hand. “Take this couple to the freshly cleansed shelter and see that food and drink is brought to them.” He turned back to Knox. “You may leave your mare in the pen. The monks will see to her care. Rest well and I will see you on the morrow.”

Knox went to follow the man, demand more from him, but Dru tugged at his hand.

“Let it be. We can use a night of rest and much needed sustenance before confronting the fellow.”

The monk left to tend to the task stepped forward. “Follow me.”

Knox cast a glance around and saw how the wounded were being helped, and the MacTavish brothers were already enjoying ale and food, and how Atley remained close with Reena as the monks tended to her wounds. It was time he tended to his wife before anything else.

The monk went to take Star’s reins, and she protested. He spoke softly to her, letting her know he meant no harm.

“Show me where she will be settled,” Knox said, taking her reins.

And the monk did. Only then did he and Dru follow the monk to the shelter.

It was a small place with a firepit in the center of the room, the smoke escaping through a hole in the thatched roof. A bed and a table with two benches were the only furnishings. It was adequate for a night of shelter.

“I will return with food and drink,” the monk said and pointed to a bucket near the door. “A rain barrel around the side holds water if needed. I won’t be long.”

“Though that bed looks barely big enough to hold us both, I am grateful for it rather than the hard ground,” Dru said and went to the firepit to hold her hands out to its warmth. “Especially with how chilly this night has grown.”

Knox came up behind her and slipped his arms around her. He didn’t speak, he just held her close, enjoying a moment of peace.

Dru rested her hand on his arm. “I love you. No matter what, I love you.”

He spun her around to face him. “Then do nothing to jeopardize that love.”

“Is that up to me or is that for fate to decide?”

“I am your husband—it is my decision,” he said with such a fierceness that Dru didn’t argue. “We let it rest for the night and enjoy an evening of peace.”

His arms firm around her, his words powerful, his strength undeniable gave Dru a shred of hope.

“Aye, an evening of peace,” she agreed.

Knox filled a bucket of water from the rain barrel and they both did their best to wash off the stench and remnants of battle. By the time they finished, the monk had returned with food and drink, and they were soon enjoying both.

They avoided speaking about what they might confront tomorrow until they couldn’t.

“I can feel the heaviness of your thoughts, wife,” Knox said after the meal was done.

“They are difficult to ignore,” she admitted.

“None of this is your fault.”

“If not me, then who?” she asked as if pleading for an explanation.

He had none.

Her shoulders sagged with the burden. “Secrets. Lies. Revenge. I do not know what brought me to this moment, I only know that?—”

Knox stood so quickly that he knocked over the bench he sat on. “Do not say it. Do not dare say it. You will not suffer for something you had no part in. I will not allow it.”

“And how will you stop it, husband?” she asked with a calm she didn’t feel, her body humming with worry.

He leaned down, placing his palms flat on the table. “By whatever means necessary.”

She smiled softly. “You love me that much, do you?”

He was glad to hear the challenging Dru. “Aye, that much and more.”

“Not as much as I love you, husband,” she continued to challenge.

He moved fast, his arm settling around her waist to snatch her off the bench and up into his arms. “More,” he whispered and walked them to the bed and dropped her down on it.

“Prove it,” she challenged again.

“With ease,” he said as he shed his garments.

Dru watched as parts of him were revealed. A muscled chest she loved resting against. Arms burdened with muscles. A stomach nearly as hard as a steel blade. Legs so strong they could squeeze a life from a man. And a manhood with the power to render her senseless. And a heart that loved her beyond reason.

“I’m waiting,” he said, standing naked over her.

Dru sat up to slip her garments off, revealing herself to him as he had done to her. At one time, it would have been a difficult task, finding herself lacking. But their first introduction, naked in his arms, and then when he saw to protect her from Cleric Freen and all that had followed changed all that. She was comfortable revealing herself to him, letting him see whatever flaws she may have, which were few, if any, according to him. He loved her as she was not how he wished her to be. And he made love to her with a fierceness that robbed her of any and all sanity, and she loved him for it.

He stared at her a moment once she was naked, admiring her. “You are beautiful, and you are all mine.”

“I’d have it no other way,” she said, stretching her arms out to him.

He dropped down into them, relishing the feel of the way she wrapped her arms around him and gripped him tight. For one so petite, she had a mighty grip.

The thought of losing a moment like this with her or never having it again had him ordering, “You are to obey me from here on, Dru. I insist.”

He realized the error of his ways too late.

Dru went to push him away and he grabbed her wrists, stopping her. They felt like iron shackles, keeping her prisoner.

“I need to keep you safe and the only way I can do that is to know you will obey my every word.”

“Not likely,” she argued, and yanked her wrists, with no luck, to free them. “Let me go.”

“Nay. Never. You are mine.”

“Only if I choose to be,” she said frustrated.

Knox realized what he had done, giving her no choice just like life had given her no choice. He freed her wrists and slipped off her to stand.

She hurried off the bed, away from him.

“You are right, Dru. It is your choice. I need you to obey me so that I can count on you when it matters. That I know you can obey the most difficult choices when necessary and ignore the ones that won’t matter.”

“I am not like your parents. I will never abandon you no matter what the circumstances,” she argued. “If we face starvation, then we face it together. No matter what the threat, we face it together. Never. Never will I abandon you.”

Her response was strange to him. He had not given thought to his own past and the damage done. He never expected anyone to ever be faithful to him, to forever defend him, to never abandon him. But she had proven otherwise even though she had left him that one time, it was out of love, a selfish act so that he might live.

Dru went to him and tilted her head back to look up at him. “I am yours and I will do my best to obey you, though since I know better, more times than you, that might be difficult.”

Knox gripped the back of his neck, “Good, Lord, but I love you.”

“Prove it,” she challenged once more. “I am dripping wet with desire for you.”

“Bloody hell, wife, how can you expect me to take my time when you say something like that to me?”

She grinned. “What makes you think I want slow tonight.”

He grinned himself. “You asked for it.”

“And I am still waiting for it.”

He yanked her up, dropped her on the bed and entered her so swiftly that she cried out with pleasure.

“Whatever you do, don’t stop,” she pleaded.

And he didn’t. He pounded her hard and fast, his passion as potent as hers.

He captured her screams of pleasure with his mouth afraid his own cries of pleasure would echo along with hers across the land. It was a soul-shattering climax, shared together, stealing their breaths and uniting their hearts.

They lay breathlessly beside each other when Knox finally slipped off her.

“This is what I want for us, for our life together,” Knox said when he was able to speak. “To feel such pleasure, know such contentment. Share such love.”

“Do you think it’s possible?” she asked apprehensively.

“We won’t know if we don’t try, we don’t fight,” he said, reaching over to pull her against him and the blanket over them. He turned his head to kiss her brow. “I know obedience isn’t easy for you, but there are times you need to weigh its necessity.”

“And times to ignore it,” she said, snuggling against him, enjoying the warmth of his familiar body.

“And wise enough to know the difference,” he reminded.

“I understand but?—”

“You can’t get the innocent women—like Reena—out of your mind and those who may suffer because of your plight.”

“Aye. How do I prevent that?”

“First, by quelling rumors about Autumn while we search for who wants her dead and secondly, which you are not going to like, we seek Torrance’s help.”

“I feared you might say that,” she said with a heavy sigh.

“We have no choice. He is the only one powerful enough to help us.”

“And powerful enough for him to take me away from you,” she reminded.

“Trust me when I tell you that I will not allow that to happen.”

“Trust me when I tell you that my step-brother won’t care. He will have his way.”

“We will see,” Knox said. “Tomorrow is a new day. We will tackle our problems then, for now we sleep in peace.”

Peace.

She had found it in Knox’s arms, but would she be able to keep it?