Page 28 of Proven By The Highlander (Highlander Forever #15)
CHAPTER 28
S he’d been worried that she and Melusine would end up having an awkward time together without a shared language to communicate in, but she needn’t have worried at all. Even without words, the Asrai was an effortlessly charismatic host, and the two of them passed a rather pleasant hour — or could it have been longer? — walking through the winding tunnel that led past the room she shared with Bram and even deeper into the cliffside. There were more lanterns lighting the way, and in between the lanterns, displays of what were either works of art or items that Melusine had found in the Loch… it was difficult to tell. They were beautiful, whatever they were… strange shells, shaped in such a way to be both pleasing and strange to the eye. Melusine watched her intently as she took in each one, taking evident pleasure whenever Leanne smiled or marveled at a piece.
Soon enough, the shouting behind them had dropped to low conversation… and it wasn’t long before Melusine was leading her back through the winding corridors, having sensed somehow that the private part of the conversation was over. And sure enough, when they rounded the corner, it was to find a transformed-looking Caelan and Bram toasting one another with wine glasses full of a strange, shining liquid. Melusine smiled fondly, moving in to sit beside Bram, and rested her head briefly on his shoulder in a gesture of such clear love that Leanne felt her smile widen even more.
“Welcome back,” Caelan greeted her with an easy smile. He looked years younger already, she couldn’t help but notice, her heart skipping a beat with delight. “We’ve had a good conversation, my brother and I.”
“I’ve a few apologies to make, it seems,” Bram said, shaking his head with clear regret in his rueful smile. It was strange, how much like his brother he looked — and yet, she knew somehow that she’d never get the two of them mixed up. They had the same features, true, but they moved differently. “First and foremost to you, Leanne.”
“Me?” She blinked with surprise. “Why me?”
“Because my disappearance is what caused my brother to drag you up and down the coast of the Loch like a madman,” Bram said frankly, and she couldn’t help but laugh. “Truly! You’ve undergone a great deal of trouble on my account, from what I understand, and I’m both grateful and sorry for all of it.”
It was a very good apology, and Leanne couldn’t see any other option but to accept it with a gracious little nod. He’d sobered up a little since their arrival, it seemed… or perhaps he simply made that impression when he was actually fully clothed. “So — what happens now?” she asked, glancing sidelong at Caelan. “We should get word to the Keep that Bram’s safe and sound.”
“We do indeed,” Caelan said firmly. “Which is why Bram has agreed to come with us for a special visit to the Keep, to apologize to the Laird, the Captain, and the whole Watch in person for all the heartache he’s unwittingly caused them.”
“And I’ll do it happily,” Bram agreed, though he did look a little sad as he murmured a translation to Melusine.
The Fae woman listened, her pale eyes widening in clear shock as he spoke… but when he finished, she nodded her agreement, leaning forward to press a kiss to his forehead that shone for a moment before it faded away. “Unfortunately, my dear Melusine won’t be able to accompany us. She’s not fond of sunlight, I’m afraid… or iron, as you’ve learned, and the gates are thick with it.” He sighed. “I hate to leave her, truly.”
“It’ll only be a night or two,” Caelan pointed out with a roll of his eyes. “Lovestruck fool. You’re lucky I didn’t make good on my threat to punch your lights out. And that’s still not completely off the table as an option, by the way, so look sharp.”
“Understood, understood.” Bram raised his hands in an ‘I surrender’ gesture, but the cheeky wink he tipped Leanne told her that he wasn’t too cowed by his brother’s bravado.
Leanne didn’t take it seriously herself, either… not when she could almost sense Caelan’s joy, emanating from him like something palpable.
And so it was that they were leaving, almost as soon as they’d arrived. Melusine sent them off with a mysterious bundle of something wrapped in cloth, extracting a promise from Bram that they’d not unwrap it until they reached the Keep and could present it to the whole Clan. Leanne held the bundle reverently, fiercely curious about what it could hold… it was faintly warm to the touch, and there was a sweet, intoxicating smell emanating from it when she lowered her head to breathe it in.
She’d worried that they’d have to splash their way back through the freezing water to get back out — her clothes had dried in the time they’d spent in the cave system, whether by natural warmth or by magic she wasn’t quite sure, and she wasn’t looking forward to getting wet again. But to her relief, Bram led them a different way, down a winding tunnel that took them seemingly in circles until it emerged abruptly somewhere in the forest. When she turned around, expecting to see the huge mouth of a cave, there was nothing but a tree standing there.
“Fae magic,” Bram said with a cheeky grin. “She’s a wonder, my Melusine.”
“How on earth does a man like you land a woman like her?” Caelan asked with a raised eyebrow, his tone teasing.
Bram snorted. “Same way a man like you lands a lass like this one,” he said, giving Leanne a nod. “You know you could do better than him, don’t you?”
“Don’t listen to the man, he’s been drunk for two years,” Caelan said quickly, scooping her into a hug, and she laughed as he pretended to carry her away from Bram. The three of them continued through the forest in high spirits, the moon shining high above them. Something about the meal they’d shared had reinvigorated her, and despite the late hour, she felt like she had all the energy in the world. Maybe it was the weight that had fallen from her shoulders when she’d realized that Bram was alive and well… or maybe she was simply sharing some of Caelan’s visible joy.
None of them bothered to keep their voices down as they walked. She’d almost forgotten that they’d been keeping their travels secret until the unmistakable sound of hoofbeats met her ears. Caelan stepped adroitly to her side, his hand on the blade at his belt… and sure enough, they were quickly surrounded by men on horseback in a familiar shade of tartan.
“Caelan Grant,” barked a familiar voice. “What do you have to say for yourself?” It was Graeme, pushing back the hood of his robe, his face stern as he pointed a sword squarely at Caelan’s face from the back of his horse.
“I’ve nothing at all to say,” Caelan said, his solemn face twitching a little with the smile he was clearly suppressing. “But my brother might.”
There was a moment of stunned silence… and then, with a ridiculous little flourish, Bram stepped forward into the flickering torchlight. For a long, frozen second, Leanne was terrified that something was wrong. What if Bram was some kind of Fae illusion? What if he was about to vanish… and with him, all the evidence that Caelan had been right to keep up the search for his brother?
But then she heard a whoop of clear, pure joy — and as the men leapt down from their horses and barreled in to pull Bram into a delirious group hug, she exhaled with relief and joy.
Laughing, Caelan stepped back, ignoring his brother’s joking cries for help as the guardsmen all accosted him. She felt him slip his hand into hers and squeeze her fingers, warm in the cool night air.
“Thank you,” he whispered, leaning in close to finish with a kiss on her cheek. “Thank you for making all of this happen. I’d never have found him without you, Leanne. And don’t think you’ve heard the last of my gratitude. Not in the least, I’d say.”
Once the first burst of celebration had died down, the group of them had their work cut out for them tracking down the horses, many of which had scattered in alarm when the men had roared their delight at finding their lost brother back in their midst. Sure enough, Hamish had found her and Caelan’s camp, and his rucksack and belongings were all loaded up on the back of a horse.
“The blasted rocks,” Hamish kept saying once they’d explained how they’d escaped the tracker, shaking his head. “The blasted rocks! I’m never ignoring a hunch again, I’ll tell you that much.”
Leanne had worried that the men might still be angry with her for taking the horse and defying them… but it seemed that the goodwill engendered by Bram’s miraculous safe return extended to Leanne as well, and all she got from the men were friendly thanks. Hamish even apologized on behalf of the group for not agreeing to let her come with them on their first search.
“You’re clearly as adept a tracker as any man here,” he said, nodding to Caelan at her side.
But she had to shake her head, a rueful smile on her face. “I’m really only good at tracking one thing.”
Caelan beamed down at her, his face impossibly handsome in the moonlight. “And I don’t intend to ever leave her side again.”