Annella remained no more than a wisp of white as she floated near the ceiling of the shack, Father and Muirin standing below her as Father hunkered down next to a pail of cold water in the corner and scooped water.

Glaring at Muirin, he splashed his arm. “Leave me be for a while.”

“I must see to your healing first.” She touched her palm over the brand she’d burned into his flesh and murmured,

 

“With this mark, seal and heal.

No festering wound may be revealed.”

 

Sparks flared under her palm and she lifted her hand. The mark, now fully sealed, appeared as if it had been imprinted into his skin many moons ago. “There, ’tis done.”

“Thank you.” Father rose and tipped his head toward the door. “Now please, go. I wish some time alone.”

“In the days and weeks to come, your skill will rise in strength under my tutelage, until the point where even the dust I’d spelled and given Duncan wouldnae have slowed you down during your battle with him.”

“’Twas as if my legs had turned to lead. Ronan too couldnae fight the compulsion within your concoction.” Father crossed to the door and opened it. “Leave, Muirin.”

“I will give you this time you’ve asked for, but remember this.” She halted next to him, the wind whistling in from outside and fluttering her silver skirts. “You have spent your entire life here on this Earth without me, but now that I too am here and no longer residing beyond the veil, you need to accept your heritage as one of the fae, as well as your place at my side.”

“You also need to accept your place at mine.” Father pulled the pins from her hair and her long red locks slid free and swayed down to her waist. He dug one hand into the thick mass, wrapped it around his fist and gently brought her mouth closer to his. A breath from her lips, he whispered, “We may be mated, our souls calling to each other’s and making me unable to deny you very much, but never forget this. I love my children, and if you ever wish to one day hold my love as well, then you will need to stand behind your word given to me, that it is in fact time for the fae to live.”

“Of course. I would have it no other way.” She reached up on her toes and kissed him then sashayed out the door and closed it, the heavy clunk resounding firmly as she did.

“I love you too, Father.” She wisped down and solidified her spiritual form, clutched her only parent to her and held him tight. “I wish you didnae have to stay.”

“You can see why I have no choice. Muirin is my mate and I’ve accepted the bond, couldnae deny it even if I wished to. She may have ensured my capture and Ronan’s, but she did so because her soul cries out for mine. I shall embrace the challenge she poses and ensure our fae people from the village continue to grow from strength to strength. Tell Ronan that will be so.” He cupped her face in his hands, such a well of love filling his gaze. “Go to your brother and ensure he is freed. He shouldnae be forced into accepting any proposition Duncan gives him unless ’tis a proposition he wishes to accept.”

“I shall, but afore I go, I have news I must share with you.”

“I can see your skill has evolved, and glad I am that it has. You’ll be able to visit me with far more ease, of which I expect. To begin with though, dinnae allow another to see you here at Ardan House. Only me.”

“I shall, but you need to know I’ve also met my own soul bound mate and completed the bond with him. His name is Alec Matheson and he’s a shifter from Kirk’s future clan. Cherub has promised to bring us back and forth as needed through time, and I’ve spoken to Ronan. He too has discovered his chosen one and she lives at the castle where he’s being restrained.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ronan’s chosen one is Duncan’s sister. But more than that, Kyla holds fae blood and the mind-walker skill, although she isnae fully aware of how to use her ability since she has never been trained by our people.”

“Hell.” Father clenched his teeth, shook his head. “Ronan always sensed his mate resided somewhere beyond his reach, has never been able to find her in all these years, but I never would have imagined he’d find her here, in the heart of MacKenzie land.”

“Ronan told her a story which I overheard while floating above him. Twenty years ago, a young lass of only three summers was taken from the fae village farther along the loch from the House of Clan Matheson.”

“Aye, the lass was Isaiah and Grace’s daughter, Christina. She was taken in the middle of the night, under the cover of darkness and although we searched high and low for her at the time, we never found her. Ronan was mayhap eight, and she’d always intrigued him, although I didnae know they were soul bound. One cannae usually tell until they come of age, although a few have sensed tendrils of the bond forming afore that time. Still, ’tis most rare.”

“Ronan told Kyla they’re mated, although she is in denial.”

“Then it appears Ronan too will have a battle ahead of him to ensure he catches her.” Father rolled his shoulders and quirked a brow. “From here, I will do all I can to aid Ronan in his chase. There will certainly be some interesting days ahead of us.”

“There shall.” Tears misted her gaze, her time with him disappearing fast when the last thing she wished to do was say farewell to her most beloved parent. Nay, she would never say farewell. He would be close, not unreachable, not considering her skill. Through the dream realm, she’d visit him. “I too will offer Ronan my aid in his chase should he need it, and when you rest, I will come to you as often as I can.”

“I will always be here, for you and for Ronan both. Never think that I willnae, but for now I have a mate who needs me possibly even more than both my children currently do. I must remain here and do all I can to ensure Muirin speaks the truth and remains on the side of the fae. If danger lurks, I’ll deal with it.”

“I’ll miss you.”

“As I will miss you.” Father kissed her cheek, squeezed her tight in his arms before he released her. “Travel safely, and return soon. I demand it.”

“Aye, Father, I shall.” She dissolved her form, slipped underneath the door and soared high into the darkening sky. Night would soon fall, the sun a heavy orb of golden-orange sitting low along the horizon.

Unseen, she whizzed over the curtain wall, right between two kilted guardsmen then flew down along the rocky shoreline toward the copse of trees where Alec had last been. In the wide bow of an ancient elm tree, she settled then tried to open her link with her chosen one, only nothing but a black hole gaped where he should have been. “Where are you, Alec?”

No answer.

The setting sun sank lower, sent a final flare of brilliant red through the skies then disappeared. Within the dark of night, a mountain mist streamed down the hill and through the trees, an eerie cloud of ghostly white that suddenly swirled and churned. The air rushed all around her and signified only one thing. Cherub’s cloaked return through a portal.

She allowed her spiritual body to solidify then with one hand on her sword hilt to keep it from banging against her side, she dropped down and landed with a soft clunk on the ground.

“There you are.” Alec hauled her up against him, appearing right out of thin air as he smothered her in his heat, a radiant warmth she completely adored. “Did you have enough time to speak to your father?”

“Aye, I updated him on all that has happened, about you and that Ronan has discovered he is soul bound to another. He’s promised to always be here for Ronan and I. He also demanded I return, and I shall through the dream realm, as often as I can.” She kissed him, with all the love she held for him overflowing her heart. “I’ve missed you.”

“I hated having to leave you behind in my chamber, and I also hated having to leave you here to start with, if that makes any sense.”

“Completely.”

“’Tis so good to see you’re safe and well, Annella.” Cherub squeezed her arm. “We delivered your physical body to Alec’s chamber and the chief’s wife, Megan, watches over you. You’ll come to no harm under her care, that I can assure you.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you ready to find and free your brother?” Kirk, standing behind Cherub, rubbed his chin over the top of her blond-haired head.

“I’m beyond ready, and we must do so afore Duncan reaches him. I dinnae wish for my brother to hear any proposition Duncan might have to offer him. Ronan needs to return home, to heal and regain his strength, and I’ll accept naught less.” She leaned against Alec and he hooked his arms around her waist as she snuggled deeper inside his mind. How had she been so lucky to have been gifted with such a wonderful mate? “Thank you for allowing me to see my father and to spend a few more precious minutes with him.”

“I would never keep you from your loved ones.” He rubbed against her, embedding her in his deliciously warm and fresh pine scent, his presence calming and settling her deep inside.

She curled her fingers into his steel-studded gray jacket, and held onto him as if her life depended on it, which it likely did. “I wish to be with you, joined as one, as we were earlier this day.”

“I wish for that too, and I’ll demand such a joining right after we’ve rescued your brother and returned you to your physical body. But at least for now, I know you can’t come to any true harm in this spiritual form during our coming mission.” He buried his nose in her hair and breathed deep. “Grab ahold of Cherub. It’s time we were away.”

“Aye, we must move, with all haste.” Cherub held out her arms.

Annella grasped Cherub, just as Alec and Kirk took a firm hold of her too, then Cherub extended her cloaking over them all. “We’ll travel through the air rather than use a portal. No’ only do I need to conserve what strength I have for the coming mission, but the stronghold where Ronan is being contained is so very close, only a few miles at most. I can us take us there just as swiftly this way, and still beat Duncan and his men along the way.”

Cherub lifted them up and whizzed them through the air. Moonlight shimmered through the dark layer of cloud drifting in overhead as she took them higher, breezed them across the darkened, craggy mountains and silver-tinged forested hills toward the stronghold at the end of the inner channel of Loch Carron.

Carron Castle loomed. Candlelight lit the windows of the main tower house and armed guardsmen stood in their MacKenzie plaids and leather jerkins along the battlements, two at each corner with several standing at attention within the arched two-story gatehouse as they searched the waterway and surrounding land. “I didnae see Duncan and his men riding along the way. Did you?”

“Not a glimpse. He would’ve had to ride farther inland and around the hills.” From behind her and unseen, Alec scraped his teeth back and forth over the sensitive skin of her neck. “I can barely hold back this hunger I have for you.”

“Bite me if you need to.” She stretched her neck. Nothing would settle her quite like his gloriously possessive bite would. “I would never turn you away.”

“I wouldn’t let you either.” He sank his teeth into her flesh and she gasped then whimpered for more and he didn’t disappoint. He slid one hand underneath the hem of her loose-sleeved red tunic and spread his warm palm over her breast, his voice a deep purr in her mind. “I want to nibble away on every inch of you, suck your nipples into my mouth and thrust my—”

“You’re making me extremely hot with your naughty words.”

“Expect a full and complete ravishment the moment I get you back to Ivanson. I intend to allow my bear his release and ensure he doesn’t hold back.”

“I love your bear.” She wriggled around in his embrace, inched up and sucked on his neck. His pounding pulse point throbbed under her tongue and she licked his skin and bit down, allowed her fierce desire for him to surge along their link and saturate him. Goodness. She needed to bite him again, only Cherub began her descent and soared over the ramparts.

“We’re here, everyone.” A whisper as Cherub set them gently down inside the inner bailey within the shadows of the curtain wall. She maintained her cloaking over them and murmured, “Now, ’tis time to find these dungeons then—”

“Gordon, you must allow me to see the prisoner.” Kyla rushed out the front door of the keep in fast pursuit of a warrior wearing leather chausses, a plaid and a blackened nasal helm tucked under his arm. Her golden-red curls bounced down her back and the silk folds of her violet gown swished about her legs. “He’s to be kept alive and no’ beaten. The maid who took him his last meal reported to me that he bled, badly.”

“He infuriated the guards with his continual demands to see you. The two of you seem to have formed an unusually strong attachment to each other.” The warrior turned on her and snarled under his breath. “Why would that be?”

“I have no’ formed any such unusually strong attachment to him. I simply seek to do as Duncan requested of us. Even though Ronan’s been restrained within our dungeons, we’re still to ensure his wellbeing. That was my brother’s order.”

“Then return to the keep and I’ll ensure his wellbeing for you, right after he’s had sufficient time to repent from those aggravating demands he keeps making. Seek your rest this night. You arena permitted into the dungeons again until the morn.” He stormed away, took the steep stone steps along the curtain wall up to the battlements and joined the guards on duty at the gatehouse.

“We must hurry. Ronan has immediate need of us.” She squeezed Cherub’s arm as she maintained her hold on her, her tone whisper-quiet. “Where should we begin?”

“The entrance leading to the dungeons could be anywhere. In Colin MacKenzie’s castle on Loch Alsh, the entrance to his cells is through a trapdoor in a lower storage room near the kitchens. At his keep to the far north of here at Loch Broom, ’tis by way of a stairwell leading upward to the highest point of the tower. We’ll begin our search inside the castle and if we have no luck there then we’ll spread out and take in the bailey, the outbuildings, and finally scour the cliffs overlooking the loch and surrounding land itself. We also need to remain hidden while we do so, which means you’ll all need to maintain your hold on me until ’tis safe to let go. We search together.”

Yet she could remain unseen by dissolving her form. She opened her mouth to say so, only Alec nipped her ear, his teeth sharp as his mind moved through hers.

“We remain together, and that’s an order.”

“Aye, Captain.” How frustrating.

* * * *

Alec held Annella tightly within his arms as Cherub swept the four of them unseen through the side door of the keep, down a darkened passageway and directly into the kitchens, which were thankfully devoid of even one soul. He wouldn’t allow another separation from his chosen one, not while they searched this keep.

“’Tis just as well the evening meal is done.” Cherub uncloaked them all within the quietness of the kitchens. “Let’s scour this area first, including the storage rooms leading from it.”

Annella walked toward the fire still burning in the ovens, her gaze on him. “Our dungeons at the House of Clan Matheson lie directly underneath our castle’s kitchens and the scent of the cooking food often drifts down and torments those who are restrained far below, although I never scented anything other than foul and musty air when I visited Ronan.” She peered into the blackened pots sitting over the hot coals, which bubbled with water. “Someone has requested a bath and even though the cook isnae here, one of the maids might no’ be far away.”

“We’ll be careful.” He shuffled the wooden pails stacked neatly next to the fire aside, crouched and swept his hand over the ground as he searched for a trap door. “You mentioned Ronan picked up a trace of salt in the air.”

“Aye, but I never did while I was with him and I saw naught more than his cell and the darkened passageway leading from it through the bars.” She leaned over him from behind, her full breasts brushing his back and her enchanting scent flowing all around him. “The floor appears clear.”

“It does.”

“All appears clear on this side of the kitchens too.” Kirk closed the door of a large pantry then walked through a side door and into the storage room beyond, Cherub following close on his heels.

“We’ll search high and low, not take any place for granted.” He rose, caught Annella’s hands and buried his nose in her long golden tresses. Breathing deep, he pushed her back against the wall. “You’re distracting me in our search.”

“How is that?” She touched her lips to his with the lightest of kisses.

“Just by being so damn touchable.”

“That I can rectify.” With a smile, she dissolved her form and streamed under his arm and into the storage room.

“I wasn’t asking you to rectify the matter.” He clomped after her into the darkened recesses of the side room where a trace of firelight penetrated through from the kitchens. Head bent to keep from knocking it on the low ceiling strung with herbs and medicinal plants, he scented the air as he wandered around the large space. Bags of oats lay stacked against one wall, bags of dried beef and pork too, while salt permeated the air from a thick saline bath Annella stood over and inspected.

“’Tis fresh meat being brine-cured and would provide a touch of the salty smell Ronan picked up if he were directly below.” Annella traced one finger along the bath’s rim and glanced at him. “Look for a trap door here.”

He set to work doing so. Spices infused the air, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and garlic. His bear caught each and every one of the scents as he searched the storeroom, turned each aroma over until he’d discarded them all, Ronan’s scent not amongst any from within the heady mix. No trap doors either. He moved anything that appeared moveable and searched underneath.

“I can’t catch even a whiff of Ronan in here.” Kirk stood next to a tall chest propped against the far wall. He hunkered down, wiped one finger through the dust at the base then wriggled the chest forward and searched behind it. “There’s nothing here at all. We should continue on.”

“I agree.” Cherub held out her arms, the golden girdle fastened around her waist glinting overtop of her olive gown. “We’ll search the great hall and surrounding antechambers next.”

“We also need to pick up our pace.” Kirk wrapped his arms around Cherub from behind, stuck his nose against her neck and took one deep breath. After a heartfelt sigh, he murmured, “You smell so good compared to the dust clogging my airways at the moment.”

“Well, I thank you for the compliment.” Grinning, Cherub plucked a cobweb from his hair. “Hold tight, everyone. I need to extend my cloaking over us all as we head out.”

Annella brushed up against him and murmured in his ear, “I’ll race you to the great hall.”

“Wait.” He grabbed her hand, but she dissolved and flowed out the door before he could pull her into his arms. “Come back here, woman.” He stalked into the kitchens and around the perimeter of the room, his increased shifter hearing attuned to any noise that might alert him to the arrival of another, particularly when someone would need to attend to the boiling water soon. Ahead of him and no more than a wisp, his woman breezed out the door and he set out after her in fast pursuit.

“Hold onto me, Alec.” Cherub caught up to him, arm extended. “There is naught more intriguing than the chase. Am I right?”

“Aye, although this is the last place I want to be chasing her.” He nabbed ahold of Cherub, Kirk already gripping her other arm, and they left the scents of coriander, cumin, and mustard behind as they weaved through the darkened back passageways toward the great hall, all invisible to the other.

Moments later, they entered the hall and moved around the perimeter. Massive wooden-beamed rafters rose to an impressive height with several tall, narrow windows holding stained glass within. Trestle tables and benches filled the central area along with a fireplace large enough for a man to walk within. “Where are you, sprite?”

“I’m leaving the great hall for you to search. I can remain unseen in this form and I’m already upstairs and have whipped through the chief’s solar and am now scouring the upper bedchambers. We cannae discard the entrance to the dungeons being up here and winding downward through a secret tunnel perhaps.”

He should order her to return, only in all truth, it made sense for her take the upper floors when she could move about so swiftly and surely, without alerting the maids or any others who might be about. “Be careful,” he gritted. “Go no farther than you have.”

“Aye, Captain.”

* * * *

Annella wisped through the rooms above-stairs, alert and watchful, then whizzed up the stairwell to the uppermost level of the main tower. Even though ’twas doubtful Ronan would have been moved from the underground dungeon where he’d been placed to a high-tower cell, ’twas still possible and she’d leave no stone unturned.

Down a darkened corridor lit only by a single candle burning in an iron wall sconce, she hurried then halted before a thickly paneled wooden door with a bolted lock. No circlet of keys lay in sight, not that she’d expected they would so she glided underneath the door and emerged within the cell holding a musty odor with dust motes floating through the air. A straw pallet sat on the ground and chains bolted to the wall over it held heavy cuffs dangling from the end. “I found an upper cell, but no prisoner within. They clearly like to keep prisoners restrained at this keep.”

“We’ve come up with nothing in the great hall as well. We’re moving onto the lower antechambers.”

A dirt-encrusted window overlooked the courtyard below and she emerged her form enough to shove the iron-barred window open then became unseen again and swept out into the cool night air. Breaking Alec’s order to go no farther made her shiver with unease although she continued on. Every minute that passed was another minute her brother remained in danger and she desperately needed to find him.

Through the inner courtyard, she flew then slipped underneath the doorway of the armory and into the pitch black. She’d begin the outer search here. Without anything to light her way, she solidified her form and patted the closest wall in the hope of finding another wall sconce with a candle. She bumped her hip into a high wooden workbench and traced across the top of it, her fingers knocking into a candle holder. Wonderful. Light. From her wrist sheath, she slid her dagger and flint free, struck the flint with her blade and sighed with relief as the sparks caught the candle’s wick and light flared.

Along one side of the armory, sacks lined the stone wall and crates sat stacked next to them, while on the other side, battle axes, shields, pikes and various weaponry hung on hooks. She picked the candle up, the melted wax dripping onto the metal saucer and its light flaring across the blade of a massive two-handed claymore lying on top of the workbench, a weapon with precious stones encrusted into the hilt. The blade gleamed under the candlelight and the words Luceo non uro etched into the blade on one side, flashed at her.

“We’ve still got nothing. What about you?” Alec’s words resounded in her mind and she clutched ahold of them.

“I’ve left the upper floors and I’m now outside in the armory.” Candle set back down, she ran one finger over the motto of the MacKenzie clan, this exact blade one she’d seen before. Within Duncan’s very hand when he’d fought with Father in the forest near their warrior encampment. “Duncan might be here. I’ve just found his sword.”

A creak sounded from behind and the armory door slammed shut. She whipped around, clutched a hand to her chest.

“I’ve been waiting for you to arrive, lass.” Duncan scraped the bolt across and biceps bulging, he heaved a wooden crate in front of the door and blocked the gap underneath the doorway. A very strategic move, one to keep her contained, although ’twas truly impossible to keep a spirit-walker captured for long, a fact he’d soon learn.

“I was hoping to have come and gone with my brother afore you returned from your holding farther along the loch.” She planted her hands on her hips. “How did you know where to find me?” To Alec, she whispered in his mind, “Duncan’s definitely here.”

“In the armory?”

“Aye, and he’s bolted and blocked the door, the gap underneath it as well. I cannae stream out.”

“I’m coming.”

“Muirin’s brother holds the sight and during our ride from Ardan House, he caught an intriguing image of you, right here in this very outbuilding.” With one hand extended, he muttered, “Hand my blade across, if you will.”

“Puh-lease.” She scoffed and tossed it behind the benchtop. It clattered onto the floor where it would remain completely out of his reach, then she became naught more than a wisp of white, swept around him and reemerged. “Your weapon is useless against me in my spiritual form, and from what I’ve learnt of late, you’ve aligned yourself with the fae. Raising arms against me would go against your promise to my father.”

“Aye, I have no intention of ever harming you, or one of the fae.” He stepped closer and slowly lifted a hand and she held perfectly still as he gently touched his palm to her cheek.

“You had me bound and gagged in a tree. I call that harming.” She remained on edge, prepared for his attack in case it came. If he truly had no intention of harming one of her kind, she’d soon see it.

“All for a good cause I can assure you, and even though I instructed my guards to keep Ronan contained within Coll’s dungeons, I did so because Muirin needed time with Niall first, and your brother does hold the battle skill, could so easily have left if I allowed him his freedom to roam this keep.” His gaze traveled down her body, over her loose-sleeved red tunic and sword fastened at her side. “On the night of your capture, you impressed me greatly with your feisty nature, although you left far too soon.”

“I recall your words well. You wished for a wife.”

“I’ve never raised a hand against a lass in my life, never intend to either.”

“You stole my loved ones from me. That is raising a hand against me in the worst possible way.” She dissolved her form, swept in behind him, reemerged and tripped over a sack of grain. It spilled over and grain scattered, pinged and echoed underneath her, as if the pellets had slid through a crack in the ground and toppled down something hard. Heartbeat racing, she hauled the sack out of the way. A trap door. She grabbed the iron handle protruding from the ground and heaved the lid up.

Metal clanged and candlelight flickered over the thick stone steps leading downward into the darkened depths of an underground tunnel. “Alec, I’ve found the entrance to the dungeons.”

“We’re almost there. No one keeps my mate from me, particularly a MacKenzie. Step back from the door.” An animalist roar rumbled from outside. Something hit the door and it shuddered and rattled on its hinges.

“Hold up!” Duncan rushed toward the door and she grabbed a shovel propped against the wall, swung and hit him hard on the head. His eyes rolled, the whites showing as he toppled and crashed to the floor.

With two fingers pressed to his neck, she checked his pulse, found it steady. “Alec, please, no more noise. You’ll alert the guards and then we’ll have a hundred men to fight. Duncan is down. I knocked him out, although he did naught to harm me. Give me a second to move the crate.”

“It’s too late.”

“It’s never too late.” She hauled weapon after weapon from the crate to lighten the load, steel crashing and clanging on the floor.

“The guards have already been alerted. Stand clear.” Another thunderous roar reverberated.

Oh hell. She moved out of the way, fast.