Bear's Surrogate (Shifter Surrogate Service Book 3) by Sky Winters (19)

“No,” Anna replied, shaking her head and looking at the ground.  She felt like a beggar.

“Then, let’s get you something to eat while I work on everything else,” he told her. 

“I don’t know what to say,” she said, feeling ashamed.

“Don’t say anything, Anna.  Pretty much everyone here was in your shoes at some point.  Some of us are kinsmen that came here together, but a good many of the people are just like yourself.  They were on the run from something or someone when they wound up here.  Some hadn’t eaten for days and had nothing to call their own.  They came here and made a new life.  You can find a place here, if you choose.  If not, then you are welcome to our good graces while you figure it out.  As I said before, we only ask that you do your part while among us,” he told her gently.

A tear rolled down Anna’s face.  She couldn’t imagine living in these conditions for very long.  Then again, she had nowhere else to go.  At least it would give her time to come up with a plan.  She nodded silently toward Rory, not able to say anything at the moment for fear she would burst into all out tears.

“Very good.  See that woman right over there with the giant black pot over a fire?” he asked.  Anna nodded again and he continued, “Go over there and tell her you want a bowl of whatever she is making.  Tell her I sent you.”

“Okay,” Anna replied, starting toward the woman.  She stopped suddenly and turned back, only to find that Rory was still watching her walk away.  “Um, thank you again, Rory.”

“My pleasure,” he replied, turning away to begin unpacking the horse.

Anna hurried over to the woman, a large pie faced peasant that she ordinarily would not have so much as glanced at.  She relayed what Rory had told her to say and the woman beamed at her, fishing a large wooden bowl off a nearby table.  Filling it with a healthy portion of the porridge she had prepared in the large iron kettle, she retrieved a hard crust of bread and a small block of cheese to place on top, handing them to Anna and directing her to a nearby rock where she could sit and eat.

“There you go, love.  Welcome to our home,” the woman told her with a large grin as she handed her a large stein filled with fresh milk.  “Just wash your things when you are done and return them to the table.”

“Thank you so much!” Anna told her, taking her food over to the large flat rock and sitting down to eat.  She had never tasted food like this before.  It was quite delicious, full of unusual spices and consistencies.  She had forgotten how hungry she had gotten and was done with the food in no time.  She swilled down the last of her milk and sat looking around at the people working on various things around her.  Feeling quite gluttonous, she took her empty vessels over to the edge of the water and began rinsing them in the flowing stream.  Rory met her as she returned.

“Feel better now?” he asked.

“Yes.  I feel almost like a person again,” she told him, smiling.

“Good.  I found you someplace to stay.  We will need to do some work to it today, but it will be yours for as long as you need it,” he told her.

“That’s great!” Anna told him, following him in the direction he motioned.  She found herself standing in a run down little shack built with various branches and sticks.  The floor was dirt and the wind whistled through it, but it seemed fairly sturdy.

“My friend, Haggis, built this for himself.  He wasn’t quite done when we lost him.  Quite the charmer, he was.  It is only fitting that a damsel in distress take it over for him,” Rory said, the half-smile on his face very telling as to his affection for his lost friend.

“What happened to him?” she asked thoughtfully.

“An unfortunate hunting accident,” he replied with a grimace.  “Anyway, let’s get this place set up for you.  I’ll mix up some clay to fill in the holes for you so that you aren’t chilled to the bone.  I have some blankets and extra things you can use inside.  Of course, you are always welcome to borrow anything of mine that you need.  I only request that you ask first and return promptly.”

“This is all so nice of you.  I don’t know how I will ever repay you,” she replied.

“Just find some peace.  That will be good enough for me,” he told her.

“I will do my best,” she replied.

“Okay, there is a broom and some old potato sacks over by where you got the porridge from May.  I suggest you sweep out the debris from the floor and line it with the sacks to make it a little more habitable in there.  Though you might want to hold up on the sacks until after we have filled the holes.  Some clay is bound to escape inside as we work,” he told her.

“I’ll just sweep and then help you with the holes before I worry about the sacks,” she told him.

“I’ll be back in a bit,” he replied.

They both left the small hut.  Murdina retrieved the broom while he mixed clay over near the river.  By the time he returned, with two large buckets in hand, she had finished cleaning up a bit inside and was waiting, ready to apply the mud to her new home.

“Have you ever done this before?” he asked.

“No, never,” she admitted.

“You just scoop up the clay with your hand and smooth it into the cracks in the branches.  The more we can cover, the warmer it will be in there for you.  Watch me,” he told her, dipping one of his large hands into the bucket and slapping a healthy bit of the mud onto the branches.  He smeared it all around, letting it pack into the cracks between the branches.  Murdina followed suite, though her hands were much smaller.  The branches scraped at her delicate skin as she worked, but she ignored the pain and tried to do her part as best she could.

After several more trips to the river for more clay and hours of working side by side, the hut was finally done.  The two of them stood back, looking at it as it stood drying in the sun.  Murdina felt quite proud of herself as she took in her handiwork.  While it dried, she ducked inside and swept out the clay that had dripped onto the floor below before it could harden there.  Afterward, she lined the inside with the potato sacks and retrieved some rocks to hold some of the edges down so that they didn’t shift about.

“Looks better already,” Rory told her as he stepped inside.  “Where do you want your cot?”

“Cot?” she asked.

“Yes.  I can’t very well leave a lady to sleep on the ground on sacks.  I have some spare wood by my place.  I can build you a simple cot to sleep on.  You’ll find it much more comfortable,” he told her.

“I feel like you have done so much for me already,” she told him.

“I don’t mind.  Come on and help me carry some of this over,” he told her.

Anna followed him over to where the rocks rose further up to a taller cliff on one side of the ones they were on.  She watched as he stepped inside a cave entrance and then followed him inside and down a narrow passageway between two stone cave walls.  Much to her surprise, it opened back up into a massive cathedral where he had set up his living quarters.

“This is incredible!” she exclaimed. 

“Yes, it is,” he replied, gathering up some animal skins and wool blankets to hand to her.

“Do you live here alone?’ she asked, hoping it didn’t seem too personal.

“I do.  I always have.  I found this place a long time ago, when I first happened upon this clearing in the woods and the cliffs.  In fact, I almost went right over the cliffs on my way through the woods that surrounded them.  Injured my horse trying to pull back at the last moment and had to stay for a while to let him heal.  There was nothing here and it was cold out.  I found the entrance to the cave and initially holed up in the passageway.  It wasn’t until the next morning that I discovered the rest.  There is a lot more to it.  I will show you one day when we have more time,” he told her, handing her a drinking vessel, some gourds and a length of twine.

“Gourds?” she said quizzically.

“You’ll see.  Take that stuff back to your hut and I’ll be there soon with the wood and tools to build your cot,” he told her.  Anna nodded and left with the armload of things he had given her.  The camp was beginning to get a bit fuller with people she assumed were returning from elsewhere.  Several of them looked at her curiously as she passed, and a few greeted her politely or introduced themselves.  She had to admit she felt a bit awkward here among strangers as she ducked into her hut to hide out until Rory arrived.  He was only minutes behind her.

“Let’s get this done.  It is getting late and I want to start a boar on the spit for our dinner,” he replied.

“Our dinner?” she replied.

“Yes, unless you are planning on going out and slaying game of your own, I expected we would eat together,” he told her.

“I am afraid I lack any hunting skills,” she told him.

“I am not surprised.  They don’t usually teach such things to royalty,” he replied.

“Royalty?” she said, her heart suddenly beating rapidly in her chest.

“Yes.  You didn’t really think I didn’t know who you are, did you, Murdina?” he said with a smile.

“Are you going to send me back to my brother?” she asked fearfully.

“No.  Your brother is a monster.  I know that he was trying to wed you to Lord Cannon.  Both of their reputations are known far and wide and you will find that no one here supports them.  However, it would be best that you keep your identity between the two of us.  No one here would try to ransom or reward you back to him, but we do have some people who talk too much.  I don’t think any of them will recognize you on their own,” he said.

“How did you?” she asked him.

“Let’s just say I’ve spent a great deal of time in the kingdom bartering without being noticed.  You are not the only one your brother would like to see come to a miserable end,” he said.

“Thank you, Rory.  It means a lot to me that you would help me even knowing that I lied to you and that I have such a terrible sibling on my trail,” she said.

“He and his knights do not frighten us and we won’t let them frighten you either as long as you are here,” he replied.  Murdina stood there with tears falling down her face.  It felt good to be safe and not scared of him finding out about her and sending her away.  Relief truly washed over her as he pulled her to him and held her close, smoothing her hair with his broad hands.  She jerked away as they were interrupted by one of the men in the camp clearing his throat in the doorway.

“You need help, Rory?” he asked.

“That would be great,” Rory replied, not bothering to explain why she had been in his arms.  “Duncan, this is Anna.  She will be staying with us for a while.  There are some men following her and if they are stupid enough to follow her here, I will need help in making sure she is kept safe.  I need that kept between us.”

“Understood,” Duncan replied before turning toward her.  “It is a pleasure to meet you, Anna.  Don’t worry about a thing.”

“Pleasure is all mine.  Thank you, Duncan,” she replied.  Wiping the last of her tears away, she moved to one side while the two men began working on a bed for her.  It didn’t take long for them to finish it, leaving her a sturdy wooden frame with a heavy animal fur suspended firmly in its center.  It would be warm and comfortable.

“That all you need? Duncan asked Rory.

“Can you slap me together a small table for the other side for her?” Rory asked.

“Better than that.  I have one already built that I was going to barter.  I’ll give her that one and make another in the morning,” he said.

“I don’t have anything to pay you with,” Anna interjected.

“You’ve no need to pay me.  We work together here.  At some point, I’ll need a favor and when I do, I trust I can ask you,” he said with a smile before saying a farewell.

“Let’s get these gourds up,” Rory said, using a sharp pointed piece of metal to poke holes near the top and string the chord through them.  She watched as he suspended them from the entrance to the hut, getting them into place just before Duncan returned with the table.  He cursed as they clacked all around his head when he entered.  Rory laughed and looked at her.  “And that is what you need gourds for.  We will have to find you a makeshift door of some sort.  In the meantime, you’ll know if anyone tries to come in before they get to you.  More importantly, the people around you will know, as well.”

Duncan sat the table to one side of the hut and rubbed his head where the gourds had hit it.  “Is this a good place?” he asked her.

“It’s perfect.  Thank you, Duncan,” she replied.  He nodded and left the hut.

“Alright, I’m going to get to work on that pig.  Settle in the best you can with what you have to work with and I’ll be back to fetch you in a while.  You have a bed and covers now, so if you just want to stretch out and rest for a while, you are safe and can do that.  I promise no one will harm you here,” he told her.

“Thank you again, Rory.  I just don’t know how I will ever be able to thank you enough for all you are doing for me,” she replied.

“You have been greatly wronged, your highness.  I promise you that not only will I keep you safe, I will see to it that you are returned to your rightful place,” he told her.

“Perhaps my rightful place wasn’t in a palace, after all,” she replied.  “I think you might want to just stick with calling me Anna.  I might well become a permanent name for me.”

“We will see, Anna,” he said with a smile before leaving, carefully navigating the long strand of gourds to one side as he went out.

Anna looked around at her sparse accommodations.  It wasn’t much, but it beat sleeping out in the woods with the insects and wild animals like she had expected to when she had left the palace.  She lay the covers across her bed and placed the drinking vessel on the table before climbing beneath them and falling into an exhausted sleep.  When she awoke, it was just beginning to get dark outside and it had cooled considerably from the warm day.  Stepping outside, she found a pile of things sitting at her hut door. 

“They are gifts from the camp,” Duncan told her.  She had not even seen him standing nearby and the sound of his voice startled her.  “I didn’t mean to alarm you.  We have a patrol that begins as night falls.  There are always a few of us keeping an eye on camp once the daylight passes.  There are few that dare venture into these parts, but we like to be prepared.  Anyway, those things are yours to keep.”

“I can’t believe how kind everyone here is,” she told him.

“We can be as brutal as we are kind.  We believe that you reap what you sow here,” he told her.  Anna merely nodded, not sure how she should respond to that.  She busied herself retrieving the items that had been left for her as he made his way to elsewhere in the camp.  There were pots, pans, trinkets and even food.  A tightly wound cloth revealed assorted dried jerky and fruit.  Another revealed hard bread and a jar full of some sort of jam.  There was even a simple dress, a much needed one at that.  She only had the one she was wearing and it wasn’t her own.  She had traded her own dress to a stable boy for the horse and his riding clothes.

“Anna?” she heard Rory call from outside the hut.

“Come in, Rory,” she replied.  He stepped through, pushing the gourds to one side and smiled at her.

“I see the village has left their customary welcome gifts,” Rory laughed, looking at the table’s contents.

“Yes.  Everyone is so wonderful here,” she replied.

“They are, for the most part.  I’d avoid the widow O’Connor for a bit.  She is a hopelessly bitter woman, but a sublime seamstress.  I’d wager it is she that left you the dress,” he said, motioning toward the garment she had lain across the bed.

“I’ll keep that in mind, though I would like to thank her for the dress,” she replied.

“I’ve got the pig on the spit and need to get back to it.  Would you like to join me and talk for a bit while it cooks?” he asked.

“I would love to,” she replied, walking toward him.  He turned to leave and she followed him out.  Rather than making a beeline to the spit, he stopped off and introduced her to several of the other people that lived in the camp.  She could see others watching them from a distance, no doubt wondering who she was and where she had come from.

“Where were you before you came here?” she asked him as they sat looking into the fire.

“My family had a village not far from here.  We lived in peace while your father was alive, but after he passed, your brother wanted us off the land.  He had his knights come to our village in the night and burn it down, murdering anyone that might oppose them.  Those of us that managed to escape or fight our way out survived in the woods for a while before coming here.  I found this place and then sought out other survivors to join me here,” he said.

“You are the highland rebels!” Anna suddenly exclaimed, only just now making the connection.

“Is that what they call us in the kingdom?” he laughed.  “Rebels?  It wasn’t us that started this.”

“Then why would you shelter me?  We are enemies,” she said.

“We are not enemies.  Your brother is my enemy and he is just as much an enemy to you.  Do you know why he wanted to marry you off to Lord Cannon?’ he asked.

“To be rid of me, no doubt.  He has kept me under lock and key out of his way since our father died.  It was his way of being done with me once and for all without having to actually kill me, though he would have been fine with it if Lord Cannon had chosen to do so,” she replied.

“Perhaps that is true, but it is not the main reason.  He wanted more land.  Land he couldn’t just take from an unsuspecting clan of Highlanders.  Lord Cannon agreed to sell him the land he wanted in exchange for you,” he told her.

“What?  Why?  Lord Cannon could choose from any woman in the kingdom,” she replied.

“All but one.  He couldn’t just choose you and you have something very valuable to him,” he replied.

“I have nothing special,” she said.

“You have royal blood.  Marrying you, makes him family and there are a lot of advantages to that sort of leverage.  There is even more of it if you conceive a royal heir to the throne,” he said, watching her eyes widen.

“Never!  I’d rather die first!” she said.

“Yes, I saw that on the cliffs.  It is how I knew you were worth saving,” he said softly.

Anna remained quiet, looking into the fire as the night fell around them.  It was a lot to digest, but she had no doubt that any of it was true.  He brother was even more diabolical than she could have imagined, burning out an entire village just to take their land.  She felt ashamed that this was the legacy for which her family would become known. 

“I will never go back there,” she told Rory suddenly.

“That is up to you, but either way . . . your brother has to go.  You understand that, don’t you?” he said.

“Yes, I do,” she replied.

“Good.  Let’s eat and talk of something more pleasant.  Would you like some wine?” he asked.

“Yes.  I would love some!” she told him.  It was considered unladylike for her to drink wine under her brother’s iron thumb, but here, the rules no longer applied.  She and Rory sat by the fire eating sections of the perfectly roasted pig and drinking wine until they were full and a bit tipsy.  No doubt their laughter could be heard all across the camp as they shared more pleasant stories of their childhoods.

“I guess I best get you back home,” he told her as the fire began to die out and it grew late.

“I suppose so,” she replied as she stood and held out a hand to help her up.  Before she could register what was happening, he bent down and pulled her to him, kissing her passionately.  No man had ever kissed her like that before and she felt that same shockwave she had when he had touched her earlier.  She had only just met this man and in one day, he had saved her, given her shelter and made her feel more womanly than anyone ever had.  She let out a deep sigh as he pulled away from her.

“I’m sorry.  That was inappropriate,” he told her.

“I don’t mind,” she replied.  He wasted no time in pulling her back to him and kissing her again.  It made her insides quiver as she felt a sudden rush of heat spread through her body.  Folded into his arms like this, she knew nothing could harm her.  She felt safe and she felt wanted.  Even more, she wanted him.

“Let me walk you back to your hut, before we do something we shouldn’t,” he said as he pulled himself away again. 

She could tell he was as heated as she was.  She didn’t want to go back to her but, but she knew it was best.  She took his hand and they began walking back.  He left her at the door with only a kiss on the cheek.  Anna went inside and lay down, her thoughts jumbled with thoughts of what it might be like to make love to a man such as Rory.  He was a Highlander, a fighter whose people were well known for their skill on the battlefront.  There was no doubt that he could be as brutal as he needed to be, but that was hard to reconcile with the kindness and generosity he had shown her this day.

The months that followed would change Anna’s life forever, more than it had already changed.  Just as she had expected, her brother’s knights had come for her again.  This time, all the way into the depths of the woods.  The men had protected the small village the best they could, but when it was breached, Anna had found herself standing face to face with the very knight that had attempted to drive her from the cliffs.

“Well, look what we have here.  If it isn’t the missing princess,” he growled.

“I’ll go with you.  Just leave these people alone,” she told him.

“That is very nice of you to offer, but I have my instructions.  I’ll be taking you back with me and relieving these people of their mortal coils,” he told her.

“You’d be better suited to worry about your own,” came a voice from behind him.  Anna looked down to see blood soaking his shirt around the tip of a sword that had been driven through his back and out his front.  As he dropped to the ground, she found herself face to face with the Widow O’Connor smiling at her.  Anna wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, but didn’t have time to consider it as she was suddenly pulled away by Rory.

“I want you in the cave,” he shouted, pushing toward that direction.

“No.  I will earn my keep.  Give me a sword,” she shouted back at him.

“No, Anna.  Earn your keep elsewhere.  This is not your fight!” he yelled back at her.

“It is my fight.  They came here for me,” she told him, pulling herself free and yanking the sword from the now dead knight before running off in the opposite direction.

Rory ran after her, fighting by her side as they defending the village against the knights that had not already tucked tail and run.  It was a gory business and Anna found herself repulsed by it, but it was something that needed to be done and she was not going to sit in a cave and hide while people died because of her, but there were so many of them.  It seemed the more they fought off, the more came through the woods for them.

As she fought one off, another one suddenly lunged through and fell upon Rory, pinning him to the ground.  She ran toward him, raising her sword, but stopped it in midair as she watched something completely unbelievable.  He was changing before her eyes.  It didn’t make sense, but as you looked at him in disbelief, she saw him change shapes.  Fur sprouted from everywhere and he suddenly rose high above the knight as one of the largest black bears she had ever seen.  A few swipes with his tremendous paws and the knight was no longer moving.

Anna continued to watch as the large bear made its way around the camp, taking out any knight that dared come through the woods.  After a while, there were no more and other bears began emerging from the woods and approaching various huts.  They stood there long enough to be certain no more knights were coming before shifting back into their human states.  Rory, Duncan, and a half dozen others retreated into their homes.  She stood there, looking shocked, until Rory reappeared and told her to come with him.  She allowed him to walk her to his cave, despite her shock.

“Anna, I know what you just saw was frightening for you,” he said.

“Something like that,” she replied, still a bit in shock.

“I should have told you before you saw it.  We normally don’t have to change in camp.  We fight our battles elsewhere,” he said.

“You turned into a bear,” she said slowly as if in a dream.

“Yes.  The McKordia Clan has a high prevalence of shape shifters.  Many of us are capable of turning into bears,” he told her.

“I’m in love with a bear,” she said.

“You’re in love with me?” he said.

“I don’t know,” she said, feeling confused.

“I’m still me, Anna.  Sometimes, yes, I turn into a bear,” he said softly as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

“I was frightened of you,” she told him.

“You have no need to be frightened of me.  Even in a bear state, I know who my enemies are and who they are not,” he told her.

“It is just so unnatural,” she replied.

“To you, it seems unnatural.  For me, I’ve never known anything but this,” he told her, pulling her close to him.  “I love you too, Anna.  I love you more than I know how to say.”

She pulled away from him and looked up with a weak smile.  He pulled her right back to him and kissed her the way he had been kissing her all these nights since the first one they had shared.  Tonight, she had no intentions of letting him send her home with just kisses.  She could feel the warmth of his body pressing against hers as she leaned into him, guiding his hands around her waist so that her ample bosom was pressed against him. 

“Let’s get you home,” he told her, pulling away.

“No.  I want to stay here,” she told him.

“Anna, we can’t,” he replied.

“Why not?” she asked.

“You are royalty.  I’m just common,” he told her.

“I am not royalty.  Once upon a time, I was, but not anymore.  Now, I’m just a woman living in a small village with a bunch of human bears and a crazed widow,” she replied.

“Crazed widow?” he replied, looking puzzled.

“Never mind.  Just stop treating me like a princess and make love to me.  You do want to don’t you?” she said.

“I’ve wanted you since the day I lay eyes on you standing on that cliff surrounded by knights,” he said.

“Now, you have me.  Heart, mind, body and soul.  I love you, Rory.  Let me stay here with you.  Tonight, tomorrow night, every night for the rest of my life,” she told him.

“I would be happy with that,” he told her, suddenly scooping her up and carrying her further into the cave to where his bed was.  He sat her down and began slowly undressing her, kissing her skin in every place that became exposed to his lips.  “Your skin is like the petals on flowers,” he murmered as he dragged his lips across the swell of her breasts.

“Rory, I’ve never been with anyone before,” she said breathlessly, enjoying the sensations that sang along her nerve endings as he touched her in places no one had ever explored before and pushed her back down onto the bed.

“I won’t hurt you.  I will be all yours forever,” he breathed against her nipple before pulling it into his mouth to softly swirl it about with his tongue.  Her breathing was heavy as he kneaded her breast in his hand and teased the soft pink buds that rapidly grew hard against his manipulations.  She moaned heavily as he continued to undress her, slipping a finger inside the moist pink folds in her center.  Her body stiffened momentarily against the unfamiliar intrusion, but quickly settled into enjoying the sensation.

“Oh my God, I’ve never felt anything like that before,” she cried out as his fingers penetrated her.  He leaned forward to kiss her and she could feel his rising manhood pressed firmly against her belly.  Flutters of excitement bounced about her belly as she anticipated what it would feel like.  She had always believed that lying with a man was a woman’s curse to be bared.  They did their business and your belly swelled with their spawn.  No one had ever told her that it felt so good to be touched by a man.

She watched as Rory began removing his clothes, exposing his muscular chest and slender waist to her as she lay naked on the bed watching him.  She felt wanton, but not in the least ashamed to be naked before him.  Instead, she felt more alive than she had ever been in her life as she watched him remove his pants, exposing his beautiful cock to her.

His body covered her own, his lips falling back onto hers in another heated kiss as he pushed her legs further open.  His stiffness pressed into her hard mound as he took his time kissing her skin and caressing her breasts.   It felt like agony to want him inside of her so badly and him to take his time in taking her.

“Please, Rory.  I want you so badly.  Take me,” she moaned.

“Patience, princess.  You only get one first time and I want you to remember ours forever,” he told her.

“I don’t think I could ever forget as it is,” she replied. 

He cut off her words with another kiss, his hot tongue dancing a delicious minuet with her own.  She could feel the moisture on her thighs, evidence of her need for him.  Then, he was pushing inside of her, his large helmet parting her pink waves.  She cried out a little as he took her virginity, breaking through the delicate shield that had held it in place.  It hurt as he broke her open and then began slipping slowly in and out of her wounded entrance, but the pain quickly subsided, replaced by an unfamiliar pleasure.

“Yes, yes, Rory.  Yes!” she cried, her fingernails digging into his back as he plunged into her over and over.

“You’re so tight, my love.  I have wanted to do this for so long,” he groaned, his strokes growing increasingly more vigorous.

The sounds of their coupling echoed along the walls of the cave as she became a woman.  She could feel her body responding to his, pressure building inside of her until it felt like she might shatter into a million pieces.  Rory’s mouth rested against her ear, whispering how much he loved her and how wonderful she felt as their bodies rose and fell against one another.  Then, it was if every fiber of her being was trapped in her very center and suddenly exploded, her high pitched screams of pleasure punctuating the eruption.

It happened not once, but several more times as Rory continued to pump in and out of her very core.  She couldn’t believe that so many women claimed not to enjoy this.  It was such a beautiful, exciting thing to share with someone you loved and it only made her love Rory that much more.  He gave her all she ached for as he continued to slam into her again and again.  Finally, he too succumbed to his passion and flooded her with his seed.  She could feel the force of it as it covered her inside

Afterward, Rory held her close to him, her head resting against his shoulder as they spent their first night together in a shared bed.  She knew that lying together like this was wrong in her former world, but in this new one, it felt perfectly fine.  It was this world in which she chose to live her life and Rory she chose to share it with.  As she drifted off to sleep in his arms, everything suddenly felt right with the world.

The following morning, she emerged from the cave to find some of the other members of the village smiling sheepishly at her and scurrying along.  She supposed they would get used to the idea that she would be in Rory’s cave rather than her hut from now on.  There didn’t seem to be anything critical in their gazes, so at least she wasn’t feeling as if she was being shunned as some sort of common tart.

“So, how was he?” a young woman named Heather asked her as they sat washing clothes in the river later a few days later.

“Excuse me?” Anna asked.

“Rory.  How is he in the sack?’ the woman said with a smile.

“Heather!” another one named Sonja asked.  “Mind your own business, girl!”

“Like you don’t want to know too,” Heather retorted, turning her attention back to Anna.

“Why would you ask such a thing?” Anna said, blushing.

“Because you are the only woman he has taken in the whole time he has been in this place.  There is no one else to ask,” Heather told her.

“What?  No.  I can’t be the only one,” Anna replied.

“No.  It is true.  You are,” Sonja replied.

“Why?  There are so many attractive women here and I’ve seen the way some of them look at him,” Anna replied.

“Because he doesn’t look at them the way he has looked at you since the day you got here,” Heather replied.

“He was wonderful,” Anna told them.  “That is all you’ll ever get from me.”

“Ahhhhh,” Heather sighed in resignation.

A commotion behind them caused them to all jump up, leaving the clothing they were washing behind in the river.  Anna ran toward the racket, grabbing the sword she had taken the knight before from just inside the door of her hut as she went.  Just beyond that, she found herself face to face with her brother.

“Well, how the mighty have fallen,” he spat at her.  “Dressed in ragged clothing and whoring around with a bunch of Highlander scum.”

“It was stupid for you to come here alone, Marcus” she replied.

“Who says I’m alone?” he said, looking toward the surrounding trees.  Anna could see the hooves of horses beneath the tree line and felt a sense of dread.  She turned as she heard footsteps behind her.  Rory was walking toward her, his own broadsword in hand.

“Will you be coming down here to face me as a man, Marcus?  Or will you sitting atop your horse and letting your knights do your dirty work for you again?” Rory asked him.

“Well, look who we have here.  If it isn’t one of few surviving members of the Clan McKordia.  I haven’t seen you since we were kids, Rory,” Marcus replied.

“We used to be good friends, sneaking out to the moors to play together.  Too bad you decided to become a greedy tyrant instead of a great King.  I see you are still pushing your sister around, as well,” he said.

Anna looked at Rory for a moment, a distant memory playing in the back of her mind.  It was of herself and Marcus out in the moors together.  He had been angry that she followed him there and had pushed her down, causing her knee to strike a rock.  There was still a scar where it had left a gash.  The same scar Rory had run his fingers across lovingly just last night.  He wasn’t admiring it.  He was remembering it! 

“You!  You were there that day.  Marcus pushed me and I cut my knee.  Then, he went crazy and tried to strangle me.  You came from nowhere and pulled him off of me, punched him in the nose and sent him home bleeding and crying to my father,” she said.

“Yes,” Rory replied, still keeping his eyes on Marcus.

“You stopped the bleeding and told me I would be okay, then walked me as close to the castle as you dared go without being seen,” she said.

“That was the last day I ever saw you or your brother until I saw you on the cliffs.  I recognized you immediately,” he told her.

“Well, this little trip down memory lane is very special, but I have come here to conduct business,” Marcus interjected.

“What kind of business?” Rory asked in a menacing tone.

“Well, as you can see, there are knights surrounding your entire village,” he said.  “I have come here to propose that you give me my sister and this land.”

“And let’s just say we were even willing to do that.  What do we get in return for this exchange?” Rory asked.

“Simple.  You get to live instead of dying in your beds like the majority of your family did the last time you weren’t smart enough to stay out of my way,” Marcus said.

“Well, I’m afraid that is just not really an offer we would be interested in,” Rory replied.

“Then you leave us no choice but to take it by force,” Marcus replied, raising his hand upward to signal his knights to move in.  Anna watched as they marched out of the bushes toward them.  Rory appeared unmoved as he stood beside her still facing Marcus.

“Your sister is right, Marcus.  It was stupid for you to have come here,” Rory told him.

“You are quite cocky for a man who is overrun by the King’s knights,” Marcus retorted.

“Am I, Marcus?  You might want to look again,” Rory replied with a smile. 

Anna could see the brief look of uncertainty in Marcus’s eyes as he glanced toward the lines of knights now standing inside the treeline.  Though they were still on their horses, they were covered in blood, slashes evident in their chain mail as they slumped against the horses’ necks.  From what Anna could see, not the first one was still breathing.  Bears stood behind many of the horses, waiting for Rory’s instruction.  Anna looked back at Marcus, noting that he now no longer looked uncertain.  Now, he looked clearly frightened.

“Killing a King’s knight is an offense punishable by death.  You and yours will hang for this, Rory.  That includes you, little sister,” he spat toward Anna.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Rory told him as the bears closed ranks and surrounded his horse.  Marcus turned quickly, attempting to escape but they were quickly upon him, pulling him from the horse and sending it off into the woods.  He stood in the middle of them looking around fearfully.

“Anna, what would you have done with him?’ Rory asked.

“Marcus, it seems the tables have turned.  It is now I who has dominion over your fate,” Anna told him.

“Please, Murdina,” he begged.

“Murdina no longer exists.  She was forced out of her home for her own safety and taken in by a group of Highland rebels who have shown her more love and compassion than her own brother.  My name is Anna.  I will not be returning to the throne, but neither will you, dear brother,” she told him.

“You can’t kill me.  I’m your brother!” he replied.

“I’ve no intention of killing you, Marcus.  I think you should spend years contemplating the harm you have done to people who looked up to our family and trusted that we would do the honorable thing for them.  I suspect your remaining days in the prison tower with some of the people you sent there for little or no reason might be just what you need,” she told him.

“You can’t send me there!  I am the King!” he shouted at her.

“I can and I will.  When I tell our cousins what you have done, they will support me and you will be dethroned and punished,” she said.

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” he scoffed.

“You should be,” she replied. 

“You heard her, secure him and we’ll take him back to the castle,” Rory said, turning toward some of the men that had gathered behind him. 

Anna’s heart raced.  There was some part of her that still loved her brother, but she knew there would never be peace for herself or anyone as long as he was allowed his freedom.  She was lost in thought when someone suddenly snatched her sword from her hand.  It all happened so fast that she barely had time to register what was going on.  Her brother was on his knees, the sword driven squarely through his heart. 

“That . . . was for my husband, you miserable little man!” the Widow O’Connor shrieked.

Marcus fell to the ground and she pulled her sword free, wiping it on her apron as she walked slowly back toward Anna and handed it to her.  Anna looked at her, wild eyed with disbelief.  Where had she even come from?

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Widow O’Connor told her before walking back toward the small hut her husband had built the day before Marcus caught him out hunting on land he deemed his and had him beheaded.

Rory and Anna stood looking at one another as the bears surrounding Marcus shifted back into the men they had been before.  Two of them picked up Marcus and asked what to do with him.

“We can’t go hauling a dead King into town, even with his sister in tow,” Rory told her.

“Toss him over the cliff.  It’s where he would have had me go if Rory hadn’t intervened.  I’ll take care of things from there,” Anna said solemnly.

The following day, she and Rory rode into the kingdom alone.  She explained to her cousins that Marcus had taken a nasty spill and gone over a cliff. 

“You are next in line for the throne, Murdina,” her cousin Edward told her.

“I don’t want it,” she told him.  “You are next after me.  I want you to tell people that I have died in the accident with my brother and take the throne.  You will be a good king.  Rory and I will stay the night here and be gone in the morning for you to make your announcement,” she told him.

“You can’t just give up the throne,” Edward chastised.

“I can and I am.  I would like to get some of my things that I wasn’t afforded the opportunity to take when I left here and you will never see me again,” she replied.

“If you are certain that you wish things to be that way, then it is what will be done,” he told her.  “Just know that if you ever need anything, you can come to me.  The world may think you are dead, but I will know you are not.”

“I appreciate that, Edward.  However, I don’t think I will ever need anything from this place ever again.  I have all I need right here,” she said, looping her arm through Rory’s.  On the way back to the Highlander’s camp, she asked him the question that she had been wanting to for some time.

“Why did you not tell me that you were the boy that saved me from Marcus all those years ago?” she asked.

“I don’t know.  I didn’t think you would remember me as I remembered you,” he said.

“I did remember you.  You’ve just changed so much.  That boy seemed so timid and shy,” she replied.

“A lot of time has gone by since then.  The harsh realities have a way of changing a person,” he replied.

“I suppose so,” she replied, knowing that she too had changed quite a bit since her parents had died and she had seen so much cruelty.  Rory surprised her by pulling the wagon over and turning toward her.

“I want to marry you, Anna.  Will you marry me?” he asked.

“Yes!  Yes, I will.  Can we do it today?” she asked.

“If that is what you want,” he replied.

“It is exactly what I want,” she beamed.

“Then you will be my bride by the end of the day,” he replied, putting the wagon back into motion. 

Later that afternoon, they were married in a ceremony performed by Duncan, who just happened to be an ordained minister.  The entire village surrounded them and cheered for them as they were joined as man and wife.  Anna caught sight of the Widow O’Connor beaming radiantly and looking happier than she had ever seen her.  Apparently, vengeance does do the soul some good.

Six months later, Anna stood by the river talking with the women who were washing clothes as they handed them to her to hang on the makeshift clothes line that ran between two trees.  Ordinarily, she would be helping them, but it was hard getting down to the water in her current condition.  She smiled as she saw Rory approaching her with a broad smile.  He put his hand upon her growing bely and spoke to their unborn child softly.

“We’re going to have a great life, my son,” he replied.

“How do you know it is a son?” Anna laughed.

“Because this world can only stand one beauty as great as yours, my love,” he told her with a kiss on the cheek.

THE END

DRAGON LORD

“I don’t see why I have to be married off to such a loathsome man!”

Alva McCraig circled around her brother, matching his strikes as well as any male swordsman in the land.  Their father, Lord McCraig, found her penchant for sword fighting with her brothers unacceptable for a young woman of her stature.  He only allowed it as long as she maintained her duties in a society that treated her like a delicate flower, which she abhorred.  The only female in a house of six brothers and a mother long passed into her grave, she was more tomboy than lady. 

Alva never fit in at the society functions, but her father trotted her to all of them, hoping to marry her off to an eligible member of their rank and file.  Recently, he had found success with Lord MacEwan, a man she found as unattractive in looks as well as in personality.  Though she had only met the man briefly during a grand ball, he was rumored to be arrogant, ruthless and aggressive.  She couldn’t imagine being married to such a man.

“You know that this will seal the peace treaty between our clans.”

“So, I am to be trotted off to get married to someone I despise in order for everyone else to be safe and secure.”

“That is pretty much the case, yes.”

Infuriated by the notion, she quickly countered his thrust and dropped her boot behind his leg, knocking him off kilter and bringing him to the ground.  His sword flew from his hand and she stood over him with the tip of hers touching his breast.  Smiling down at him, she held him there a moment longer than necessary before pulling the sword away.

“I’d rather fight.”

“Yes, we all know you would.  I’d wager that you’d come out victorious too.”

She watched as his body changed, shifting before her eyes.  A large black wolf with bright yellow eyes slid easily from beneath her sword and stood looking at her from just beyond the edge.  It was something she could never get used to, seeing her brothers shift into wolves as it suited them.  She was deeply envious of the ability.  Just as quickly as he changed into a beast, he reformed into his human state.  He stood smiling at her, still wearing the tattered clothes that had ripped apart in the transformation.

“I hate it when you do that.”

“You just hate that you can’t do that.”

“It is entirely unfair not being able to shift.  Our family is one of the original clans in Scotland.  We’ve been here for thousands of years and are full of wolf shifters, everyone but me, it seems.”

“Not just you, but all the females in the family.  You act as if being a woman is a curse.  You have no idea how good you have it.  We have to work.  We have to fight.  You get married off to some fancy Lord and instantly create peace while moving into his wealthy estate and being waited on hand and foot.”

“You think being a woman is that easy, huh?  You’d feel differently if you were subjected to the pawing of a man you don’t care for and forced to bear his children.”

“I wonder what they’ll be?”

“What do you mean?  They’ll be children.”

“No.  I mean will they shift into wolves?  I hear that the MacEwans are dragon shifters.  You might have a son that shifts into a fire breathing wolf or a howling dragon!”

“Are you seriously making light of my predicament?  I should have sunk the sword into your chest before you shifted!”

“You’d never do that to me.  You love me.”

“Yes.  You are my sixth favorite brother.”

“You’ve a sharp tongue, Sis.  I hope you intend to temper that with Lord MacEwan.  Peace treaty won’t be a lasting long if he doesn’t treat you well.”

“Of course.  I will be a perfect lady so that all the land may have peace while I have peril.”

“You shouldn’t look at it like that.  You might enjoy all the finery you’ll be granted.  There’s hope that you’ll be a lady, after all!”

Alva swatted at him playfully as he dodged her hand and laughed.  He grabbed his sword and motioned for her to come back with him.  She followed behind, still scowling.  He was lucky that he wasn’t female.  He would never have to suffer being married off as if he were livestock being traded for barley.  It was demeaning.  If her mother were alive, somehow, Alva thought she would not have allowed such a thing to happen to her.

“There is nothing unladylike about me.  You just don’t want to admit that you had to shift into your wolf form because you were defeated by a girl!”

Alva laughed playfully as she pulled her long honey wheat hair out of the neat bun it had been pinned into and shook it free about her shoulders.  Her bright blue eyes twinkled in the sunlight as her laughter sang along the pines that surrounded them in the nearby forest.  She might well be a tomboy and given to sport with her brothers, but she was one of the most beautiful girls in the land.  There was many a saddened suitor who had sought her heart and failed.

Walking into the house, she considered the misfortune of having been so picky about who she would like to marry only to have the choice taken away from her.  There had been some boys she had dated that would have been preferable to Lord MacEwan, but she had not known a day like this would come.  She told herself that there was no rush to marry though some would deem her an old maid.  Her mother had loved her father very much and that is what she wanted for herself, a house filled with love and devotion.

“It’s not fair!”

The words she uttered to herself still echoed along the walls of her childhood home.  She looked around, knowing it would be far behind her soon.  She would live elsewhere with a man she did not care for.  He would take her as his wife and she would bear his children.  The thought made her shudder.  Children were wonderful and beautiful, but not something she had ever envisioned for herself.  She had believed she would find someone as passionate as herself given to adventure and fun.  There would be none of that where she was going.  Of that, she was certain.

It seemed like the day to leave for Lord MacEwan’s estate had arrived before she knew it.  The servants had all of her things neatly packed and loaded into the carriage that would take her to her new home.  Giving it one last shot, she begged her father for a change of heart.

“Please, I’m begging you.  Don’t’ send me off to that horrid excuse of a man.”

“You hardly know him, Alva.  You might be well surprised how well suited for one another you are.”

“Exactly!  I hardly know him and I’m being shipped to him like a neatly wrapped gift.  How could you do this to me?”

“Don’t be so dramatic, Alva.  You’ll quickly be an old maid if I leave it up to you to choose a husband.  You’d rather spar with your brothers than court a suitable mate.  This pairing will create a much needed peace between our clans and I think you’ll find it isn’t as unpleasant as you think.”

“You have no idea if it will be unpleasant for me or not!  You don’t care!”

“Of course I care.  You are my only daughter.  Just give it a chance, Alva.  You’ll do just fine.”

“So you say.  I’ll never forgive you for this.  Never!”

Her father looked at her forlornly as she hugged each of her brother’s goodbye, tears falling down her face.  Moments later, she was seated in the carriage and on her way to her new life.  It felt like a death sentence as she made the three-day journey, stopping periodically in towns along the way for food and rest.  At each rest stop, she contemplating running away, but she had no means of support and nowhere to go.  Far worse could happen to her out on her own than having to marry a man she didn’t care for.

The trip seemed endless, each day felt like she would just be traveling forever, never really getting anywhere.  The idea of running still occurred to her each day.  Her thoughts whirled with considerations of where she could go and how she could survive.  She could cut her hair, strap down her chest and don the clothing of a man.  She was good enough with a sword to pass herself off with the best of them.  Still, it was frightening to consider.  The question was really just if it was more frightening than the destination toward which she traveled.

“Finally!”

She looked out the window as the carriage pulled to a halt in front of the great castle belonging to Lord MacEwan.  It was quite the sight with its large towers and heavily guarded walls.  To Alva, it looked more like a prison than a place to be happy.  She doubted that she could ever see such a place as home.  As the door opened, she found that she was greeted by Lord MacEwan himself, standing just outside of it with a large smile and open arms.

“Ah, there is my beautiful bride.  It is so nice to have you arrived for our blessed nuptials.  Shall we get you settled in and then partake in a bit of celebration?”

“Thank you.  Of course.  That would be divine.”

It wasn’t divine.  It wasn’t at all, but she had no choice but to play the role she had been assigned.  Lord MacEwan was not unattractive, but there was something about him, something dark and sinister.  He was well known to be a ruthless pillager and unyielding overlord to the people that inhabited the lands surrounding his castle.  He was feared by all and liked by none.  He was not the sort of man to which Alva had ever considered she would be married.  She silently cursed her father once more and feigned happiness as she was led up to her chambers.

Her arrival was celebrated with great fanfare.  Lord MacEwan had arranged for the local society types to come out for a great feast to welcome her with open arms.  So far, it wasn’t too bad, but she still felt incredibly nervous and sullen about the entire situation.  Though he was quite pleasant to her, there was something amiss about him.  She had sensed it the first time they had met and it was even stronger now that she had arrived at his palace.

It didn’t take long to see exactly what the problem was.  Lord MacEwan was nothing in private like he was in public.  The hospitable, considerate man that had greeted her was just a façade for the cold, rude man that confronted her behind closed doors.  She shrank back a bit as he issued orders for how she would and would not behave within the walls of his home.  It was quite obvious that this place truly never would be her home, only his.  She didn’t belong here, but that is something she had known prior to her arrival.

“Make no mistake.  You aren’t exactly the sort of woman I intended to marry.  You’re attractive enough, I will give you that, but you have the manners of an uneducated tart and I won’t tolerate being embarrassed by you.  You will attend private classes I have set up from a proper Lady in hopes that you might learn how to present yourself.”

“There is nothing wrong with my manners!”

“There is everything wrong with your manners.  If you had any, you would know that it is not proper to address me with such sullen indignation.  I have no time for such games.”

“Games?  You insulted me!  I’m not allowed to defend my own honor?”

“You are not allowed to talk back to me.  I assure you that I will not hesitate to lash your backside for it.  Also, I won’t have any of this nonsense of your sword fighting.  It is improper and it is not allowed.”

“You can’t tell me what I can and cannot do!”

“Oh, but I can and I just did.  You and I will be married tomorrow and you will do exactly as I tell you.  Don’t forget that the peace between your clan and mine depends on this union.  It would be a shame for your stubbornness to bring about harm to your kin.  If you think for a moment that I will hesitate to break the peace treaty just because you bat your eyelashes at me, then you are sorely mistaken.  You mean nothing to me.  I was in need of a bride and your father was cowardly enough to hand over his only daughter in exchange for my not slaughtering your entire clan.  Nothing more, nothing less.”

Alva glared at him but said nothing.  There was really nothing she could say that would make a difference.  There was really nothing she could do.  If she talked back, if she ran, if she did anything to cross him, her family would pay the price.  Though her brothers were wolf shifters and usually very capable of taking care of themselves in battle, they had never had to battle dragons.  If what was said of the MacEwan clan was true, it might be a match they could not win.

“Very well.  I will do as you ask, but only because I really haven’t a choice it seems.”

“I am glad we have come to an understanding.  I will have a servant show you back to your quarters.  I suggest you remain there for the rest of the evening and not burden me with your presence.

“That suits me just fine.  Have a pleasant evening.”

Alva tried to keep her tone polite and respectful, though she was seething inside.  This place would be misery for her.  Already she missed her brothers and her father.  Tomorrow was a dreaded day.  Once she was married to Lord MacEwan, he would expect things of a carnal nature from her.  The thought made her skin crawl.  The man didn’t even like her and would paw at her like the animal he was.  There wasn’t much she found more revolting than the thought of pleasuring the likes of him.

As the sun rose the next day, Alva found herself feeling quite ill.  It was all she could do to get out of bed and begin getting ready for the big day.  Within moments of her rising, the room was flooded with giddy servant girls, all eager to help her into her wedding gown and do her hair.  They doted on her as if she were a princess, something Alva had never been or wanted to be.  Though when they were done and she looked at herself in the large mirror standing to one side of the room, she had to admit, she looked the part.  Other than the terrible emptiness she could see in her own eyes, she was quite the perfect bride.

“Ah, there is my beautiful betrothed!”

Alva turned toward the sound of Lord MacEwan’s voice.  He was dressed in a very fine suit sewn with rich mahogany and gold threading.  His boots were polished to a sparkle.  He wasn’t a bad looking man, but it did nothing to hide what he was beneath his handsome exterior.  She had heard about his raids upon nearby villages under the guise of cleaning up the realm.  They were nothing more than pillagings as far as she was concerned.  It was a condition of the marriage that they be stopped.  She reminded herself of the good coming from this union as she feigned a smile in return.

“Do you find me suitable for the day then?”

He frowned at her.  Though she had said it in the most pleasant manner, the sarcastic meaning had not escaped him.  Rather than replying, he turned neatly and walked away.  Alva smiled to herself a bit as she heard this boots retreating down the nearby steps.  Hopefully, he would not return before the ceremony.  The less she saw of him, the better it would be.

The wedding itself was beautiful.  If Alva had wanted to wed in the first place, she could imagine that this might have been a dream wedding for any girl.  Instead, it felt more like a death sentence and her veil, a shroud.  It was all she could do to maintain her composure without crying until it was done, reciting her vows through clenched teeth and smiling broadly as the priest pronounced them man and wife.  Once the despicable deed was done, they turned and presented themselves to the crowd in attendance.

A loud cheer went up through the guests as the newly married couple made their way back down the aisle to a grand reception in the great hall of the castle.  Alva played her part as expected, dying a little inside as she thought of the wedding night that would follow.  Though she had dated a little, she had never done experienced more than a light kiss from a suitor at the end of the outting.  Now, here she was about to be most personal with a man she barely knew, husband or not.  Her thoughts were disrupted by a man’s voice behind her.

“We haven’t met.”

Alva turned to see the most beautiful man she thought she had ever laid eyes on.  His flaxen curly hair was pulled back in a loose knot, but strands of it fell around his chiseled jawline.  The light seemed to dance in his playful blue eyes as he looked at her thoughtfully and smiled, perfect white teeth visible beyond soft, full lips.  He was tall and muscular.  Mostly, he was just breathtaking.

“I suppose we haven’t.  Alva McCraig.  Well, I suppose I am Lady MacEwan now.”

“Heath MacEwan.  It is a pleasure to meet my new sister in law.”

“Oh!  You are Lord MacEwan’s brother!  I didn’t know you had made it for the ceremony.”

“Yes.  A bit late, as usual.  It’s a bit of a family joke that I’m never anywhere on time.  I apologize for my tardiness.  I actually made only the very end of the nuptials.  You are quite a striking bride.”

“Thank you.”

The two of them stood for a moment wordlessly, just looking at one another.  There was an odd chemistry in the air about them.  Alva felt like she was being pulled to him in a way she couldn’t describe.  Just as quickly as the feeling had come over her, it was dispelled by the appearance of her new husband.

“Well, I see you have met my new bride, brother.  I’m surprised you made it before our first child was born.”

A shudder went through Alva and she shivered visibly.  Lord MacEwan seemed to miss it, but his brother didn’t.  She noticed that he looked at her and smiled a little before looking back at his brother.

“Always so quick with the acerbic wit.  That’s why I do love you so, brother.”

“I’m sure.  How long do you intend to stay here on our good graces then, Heath?”

“I don’t know.  I had just intended to pop in for your wedding nuptials and then be on my way, but I think now I might just stay a while.  I trust you have plenty of room for your darling brother?”

Alva could feel Heath looking in her direction as he said the words and thought she might blush right there in front of the both of them.  Instead, she excused herself, making her way far enough away to break the spell cast about her by Heath’s mere presence.  What was it about him that she found so irresistible?  It wasn’t as if it mattered.  She was now a married woman and he was her husband’s brother.  Still, he did something to her when he was near.  It had been instantaneous.

The celebration went on for hours, leaving Alva exhausted.  She had gotten little rest between her travels here, yesterday’s celebration and today’s wedding events.  All she wanted to do was sleep, but she suspected that wouldn’t be on her agenda either.  When she finally made it to her room, she sat brushing her hair in front of the mirror in her sleeping gown.  A sense of dread was knotted up in her stomach, causing her to feel positively ill.  When she heard Lord MacEwan’s footsteps approaching, she was terribly afraid she was going to purge at any moment.

“I think that was just a lovely wedding, don’t you?”

“Yes.  I’d say that it was a spectacular event.  You put on a grand show.  I’ll give you that.”

He approached her, his hand reaching out to brush away some hair from her shoulder.  His face was only inches from hers and she waited for him to kiss her, praying that she could get through this.  Instead, she heard his voice, clear and concise, in her ear.

“Don’t worry, my dear wife.  You’ll not be suffering my loins this evening or any other until I feel it is time to bear a child.  Only then will I stomach the likes of your flesh.  You are hardly my type.  You will maintain separate quarters and you will tell no one that you remain untouched by your dearly devoted husband.”

With that, he turned and left the room.  Alva stood looking after him, bewildered.  A part of her was relieved that he had no intention of fouling her this day, but it was still very confusing that he had no desire to consummate the marriage.  Instead of pondering the reasons, she elected to be grateful.  She suddenly felt a lot more lighthearted.  She would worry about that whole child bearing thing when it became necessary.

The following morning, she made her way downstairs to venture out onto the grounds.  Lord MacEwan had already left to see to some business that would take him away for at least a week, so she would have the run of the place while he was gone.  It was a lovely day and she thought that going for a ride might be nice.  It wasn’t something she was sure he would let her do when he was here, so best to take the opportunity while he was away.

“What are you doing, Lady MacEwan?”

Alva turned to find herself looking into the smiling face of Heath.  He stood leaning against the inner walls of the stable, watching as she examined the horses to determine which might be suitable to take out for a ride.  They were beautiful animals, the finest stock, but being out on the wrong horse could be dangerous for a woman riding alone.  She was about to seek out a stable hand to prepare a suitable beast when she found herself face to face with Heath.

“I thought I might go for a ride, but I know nothing of these horses.  I’m not sure which one I should take.”

“Well, then you are lucky I am here.  I was thinking of taking a ride myself.”

“Then, you will join me?”

Alva wasn’t sure why the idea made her feel so giddy, or maybe she was sure but refused to acknowledge it.  She was attracted to Heath in a way that she certainly didn’t feel for her husband.  In all honesty, it was probably best that she keep her distance.  Looking at him standing there smiling back at her, she knew she wouldn’t do so.

“I think it sounds like a most wonderful idea.”

Heath called in one of the stable hands to prepare two of the horses for riding while he chatted with her to one side of the stable.

“I hear that you are an excellent swords woman, Lady MacEwan.”

“Please.  I feel like someone’s old aunt.  Call me Alva.”

“Very well.  Alva it shall be.”

“I am okay with a sword I suppose.”

“Better than just okay from what I am told.  I’d love to see a demonstration of your skills.”

“Nothing would delight me more, but your brother has forbidden it now that we are wed.”

“He did, did he?”

“Yes.  He was very adamant about my being a lady.”

“Of course.  Appearances are everything to my brother, after all.  I tell you what.  Let’s have a little secret.  You and I will practice on our ride.  We can go out to the moors and no one will see.”

“Really?  I would adore that.  Are you sure he won’t find out?  If I do anything to break the peace between our clans . . ..”

“Peace?  Is that how he conned such a sweet and beautiful woman into marrying the likes of him?  I should have known it was not for the sake of love.  I mean, I am assuming you don’t love him.”

“Love him?  I hardly even know him.  I only saw him once before I came here to be married to him.  My father arranged this.”

“It all makes perfect sense then.  Enough of this small talk about unfortunate events.  Let’s ride, shall we?”

The ride through the woods and onto the moors well beyond them was euphoric.  Alva felt like she was as free as the wind that whirled about her.  They settled into an area blanketed all around by a thicket of trees.  If anyone were to happen into the area, they should well hear them in the branches before they reached them.  Tying off the horses to a nearby tree, the two prepared to fight.  Alva was unhappy without her own sword, but the spare one he had brought would have to do.

The time flew by as they sparred playfully with one another.  Heath was an expert swordsman himself and was very good with pointers on how to improve her stance and thrust.  She loved that he didn’t come across as condescending or act as if she was less inept because she was female.

“Here, let me show you something.”

Alva watched as he lay down his sword and walked over to where she was standing.  Walking around her, he put his arms around her and took both her hands in his, positioning the sword they held and demonstrating a well-balanced swing designed to disrupt her opponents grip on his weapon.  As he moved with her, his body pressed gently against hers, his muscles rippling as he flexed upward.  It sent a shiver through her that didn’t go unnoticed.  He stepped away and turned to face her.

“Are you cold out here?”

“Um, no.  I just had a chill.  It passed.”

He looked down at her, searching her face and then something unexpected happened.  Before Alva realized what was going on, he cupped her chin in his hands and tilted her face toward him, bringing his lips to her own.  Her sword fell to her side as she took in the taste of his hungry mouth upon hers.  Her heart thudded in her chest.  Everything about this felt so right, except . . . it was wrong.  She yanked away.

“Heath, your brother!  I just married him yesterday.”

“I’m sorry, Alva.  I just got carried away.  You’re so beautiful and he’ll never appreciate that about you.”

“Perhaps he will.  I haven’t given him a chance and here I am out on the moors acting like a common tart with his brother!”

“Trust me when I say he won’t, but I suppose it is not my place to make that assessment.  I apologize if my kiss offended you, but I’m not sorry that I did it.”

Alva studied his face closely as he continued to meet her gaze.  She couldn’t help but think that he was beautiful.  Perhaps she had never seen a more beautiful man in her life, in fact.  It seemed like an odd thing to say about a man who was so obviously virile and strong, but the thought remained.  Before she could stop herself, she leaned forward and kissed him again.

His lips tasted divine on hers as his arms wrapped tightly around her, pulling their bodies closer.  She sighed deeply as his mouth drifted down the side of her neck, kissing her pale, delicate skin.  This was wrong.  She knew that, but there was something about Heath that she couldn’t deny.  The way she wanted him was something she would never share with his brother and she found she couldn’t stop.  Her hands tangled in his long curls as his kisses fell across the exposed tops of her breasts.

“Heath, please . . . “

“You want me to stop?”

He paused, looking up at her breathlessly.  The look of desire in his eyes was unmistakable.  She could only imagine that it mirrored her own.  She didn’t want him to stop, but she knew this wasn’t right.  No matter what she thought of her husband.

“I just.  What we are doing is wrong.”

“It doesn’t feel wrong to me.  In fact, I wish that for once in my life that I had not been late.  If I had gotten here before the ceremony, I would have put a stop to it on first sight of you.  You were positively radiant in your dress, but you looked so sad.  I knew you were not marrying my brother for love.  Later, I found out it was arranged and why.”

“Still, Heath.  I am married to him now.”

“My brother will never love you, Alva.  He isn’t the sort to fall in love with a woman.  I was halfway in love with you when I laid eyes on you.”

“How could we ever be together, Heath?”

“For now, like this.  Out here, there is no one to bother us.  He is gone.  We are completely alone.  Perhaps by the time he figures it out, we will find a way.”

She stood looking at him a moment longer, at his sharp jawline, regal in appearance.  It didn’t take a huge push to realize that she felt the same immediate pull toward him as he did to her.  Her head nodded slightly as he pulled her close again, kissing her even more deeply than before.  They were soon lost in one another, consumed by the other, giving in to their needs.

Heath lay her gently in the grass, slowly stripping her clothing off layer by layer.  His lips trailed every inch of her skin as it became exposed to the glorious sunlight beaming down upon them from above.  She let go of feeling this was wrong.  It felt right.  It felt so completely right that she knew she would do whatever she must do to stay with him.

Her back arched upward toward his touch as he parted her legs and kissed her untouched folds.  It was like nothing she had ever experienced before as he slowly toured her pussy with his tongue, kissing and licking his way along each and every inch.  She felt herself growing wetter, reacting to his touch.  Her heart raced and pulse quickened as she drew in a sharp breath.

She watched as he stopped for a moment, smiling down at her as he stripped free of his clothes.  His body was spectacular, muscle and sinew.  She tried not to stare at his manhood, standing fully erect.  Though she should be afraid of what was happening, she found that she felt no doubt, no fear.  Being with Heath would be the most natural thing in the world.

“You look so beautiful like that, all spread out on the ground, naked for me.”

“Heath, I’ve never done this before.  I don’t know what to do.”

“There is nothing to know, Alva.  Just feel your way.”

He sank back down to the ground beside her, taking her in his arms again and kissing her.  The fire she had felt before was renewed, burning deeper than even moments before.  His hand found its way between her legs, his fingers slowly parting her center and massaging her as she squirmed beneath his gentle touch.  Their eyes locked together, his watching as hers grew darker with desire.  Her moans scattered across the wind blowing through the meadow.

“I love the way your pussy drips along my fingers.  You feel like wet velvet on my skin.”

Alva blushed at his words.  It was new to have a man be intimate with her, much less be so vulgar in his description of her lady parts.  She found it oddly titillating.  Her excitement only grew as he continued to massage her gently until she could feel a pressure welling up inside her, as if she might swell and burst.  Every nerve ending pulsed wildly until she felt a sudden explosion that seemed to run throughout her body, causing her to quiver and shake beneath him.  A loud cry of pleasure escaped her lips as Heath smiled knowingly.

“Heathhhhhh.”

It was all she could manage to say in the moment of passion.  She felt like her body had been blown apart and then snapped perfectly back into place.  Perspiration dotted her brow as  Heath moved across her, pressing his body closer to hers.  The sudden pain as he pushed slowly inside of her tight opening was blinding, she cried out again and he hesitated, letting the discomfort pass before pulling back and slowly slipping back in.  Each stroke brought a fresh pain, but it was lessening, replaced with a new pleasure.

“You feel so wonderful, Heath.  I never knew it could be like this.”

“It will be like this forever.  Somehow, someway.”

Alva smiled up at him, a few tears escaping her eyes as her breath slowed, became more labored with his increasing passion.  Her hips met his again and again as he took her for his own, making love to her feverishly beneath the open sky above them.  His grunts filled the air, mingling with her own as they slammed into one another, unable to get enough of the other. 

“God, I’m coming.  I’m going to explode.”

“Yes.  I want to feel everything you have inside me.”

With one final stroke, Heath pushed deeply inside her, erupting with a thick load of his seed destined for her womb.  Alva didn’t care if she became with child though she knew it could well mean a disaster for the both of them.  She wanted to experience what it felt like to have his seed flowing through her.  The warm rush of his fluids inside her only made her happier.

They lay in the grass, holding one another and kissing until the day began to grow long.  It would be getting dark before they arrived back at the stables if they didn’t hurry.  Jumping up to get dressed, they mounted their horses and made the ride back before they were missed by too many.  Careful to keep their distance from one another around the castle, it felt like torture to be so far apart from him as they went about the business of appearing that nothing was any different than it should be.

“That brother of Lord MacEwan’s is quite the handsome one isn’t he?”

Alva paused, listening as the two giddy servants discussed him.  She smiled a little to herself as she stood pretending to admire a nearby trinket with her back turned to them.

“He certainly is.  Quite a bit friendlier than the Lord too.  I wonder if he is interested in a woman of slightly lesser breeding than himself?”

Alva felt herself stiffen a little at the idea and turned suddenly to face them, angry despite her self-admonishment to mind herself.

“Don’t the two of you have something you should be doing?”

They looked at her and then each other, a stricken look exchanged that she had overheard their discussion of both her husband and his brother.

“I’m sorry, Lady MacEwan.  We were just going out ot mind the linens.”

The pair scurried off hurriedly.  Alva could still overhear them as one of them whispered a bit too loudly to the other.

“She’s probably just upset because she has already figured out that her husband prefers his own kind over what’s beneath the skirt of hers.”

Alva was stunned.  Was it true?  It made perfect sense with what he had said to her, the lack of a marriage consummation and some of Heath’s comments.  Instead of being distraught, she found that she was absolutely giddy about it.  If he didn’t enjoy the pleasures of women, then she certainly wouldn’t have to worry about him touching her.  It meant she would have no issues of maintaining her complete faithfulness to Heath instead.

Smiling, she went upstairs and prepared for dinner.  She sat at a far end of the table from Heath, trying her best to avoid eye contact, not because she wanted to but because she was afraid everyone would be able to see what she had done with him just from the look on her face.  Of course, Heath, infinitely playful was having none of it.

“Lady MacEwan, did you have a good ride this afternoon?”

“I did.  It was most splendid.”

“I’m not sure that you should be going out alone on the horse without a proper escort.”

“Why is that?”

“This land is not always a fit place for a lady of your stature to be out alone.  There are thieves and kidnappers that would love to find you separated from any assistance.”

“Perhaps I will ask one of the guards to accompany next time.”

“You could do that, but I would be more than happy to go with you tomorrow.  I’m an excellent swordsman.  I can protect you from any harm.”

“I will take it under advisement.  Thank you kindly for the offer.”

Alva smiled a little to herself as she took a bite of her food.  He was toying with her, but he was also setting up a very public excuse to ride with her again tomorrow.  She was glad to know that he wasn’t just some sort of cad that had taken her maidenhead for sport.  Everything had felt so real today and she didn’t want to lose that feeling ever.  In fact, she already found herself looking forward to their next rendezvous.

The days that followed were absolutely blissful.  Each day, she and Heath went riding together.  They used swordplay as if it were foreplay, sparring with one another until neither could bear not touching one another any longer.  They ended each day making love in the moors as if it were the first time, every time.  Their passion for one another only increased until it was hard ot leave one another alone even when back in the castle.

“Kiss me.”

“Heath, no.  Stop.  Someone will see.”

Alva was pushed up against the stone wall that led to the lower level of the castle where valuables were stored behind locked doors.

“I don’t care.  I can’t stand being so close to you and not being able to touch you.  It’s maddening.”

“It is for me too, but if we get caught, I don’t know what he will do.”

“I’m not scared of him.”

“I know you aren’t, but I have my family to consider, as well.”

“We have to get you out of here, Alva.  You don’t belong here with him.  You belong anywhere else with me.”

“We can’t, Heath.  We have to stop this.  It has gotten out of hand.  He will be back any day now.  It’s dangerous.”

“You can’t leave me, Alva.  I need you.  You are my heart.  I love you.”

“I love you too, Heath.  I do, but I am married to your brother and we have to let it go.”

“I won’t let it go. I will never let you go.”

Heath kissed her, despite her earlier protest.  His fingers tangled in her hair as his mouth searched hers greedily, hungrily.  Their bodies pressed together closely until he finally yanked himself away, grabbing her by the hand and pulling her toward the dark cellar just beyond the hallway.  Clearing off the top of a barrel in one quiet corner, he pushed up her skirt and hoisted her panty looms down, fumbling with the fasteners on his pants.

“Heath, you can’t!  We can’t!”

Her voice was little more than a whisper as she protested, only half-heartedly pushing him away.  This was risky, but she wanted it.  She wanted him to take her right there, right beneath everyone’s noses.  He didn’t disappoint her by holding back.  Her teeth bit into her lip deeply as he thrust into her forcefully, taking what he knew could only belong to him.  There was nothing soft or sweet about their lovemaking.  It was rough and animalistic.  He slammed into her again and again as she stifled her cries of delight.

Afterwards, they returned to the upper levels of the castle separately.  Alva could do nothing to temper the huge smile that adorned her face the rest of the evening.  It only grew larger at dinner as Heath, once again, decided to toy with her at the table.

“You seem particularly pleased today, Lady MacEwan.  Did you have a good day?”

“I had a most splendid day.  Thank you for asking.”

“Of course.  It is always nice to enjoy my dinner with such pleasant company, especially when she exudes such radiance with a grand smile like yours.”

“Flattery.  All flattery.”

“All truth.  What do you have planned tomorrow?  Will you be going out to ride again?  I will be happy to accompany you again if you like.”

“That would be very nice of you.  Thank you again.”

Alva saw the two servants that had been talking about Heath previously exchange glances.  Was it possible that they knew?  Could they tell from the way she and Heath spoke?  Or had someone unknowingly seen them in the cellar?  As much as it pained her, this had to come to an end before things went badly.

“Well, if it isn’t my lovely wife and my beloved brother breaking bread with one another.”

Alva whirled around at the sound of Lord MacEwan’s voice behind her.  When had he gotten home?  Why had no one told her?  She felt a sense of panic that she couldn’t’ quite explain knowing that he was back from this trip.  Then it hit her why it was so upsetting.  How would she be able to sneak off to be with Heath if he were underfoot?  She was right.  This had to end.

Several days passed during which she avoided Heath.  She had been pretty successful until he finally caught her in the stables, sneaking away for a ride.

“I thought you would want to know that I’m leaving in the morning.”

“What?  Leaving fo where?”

“I don’t know.  Anywhere but here.”

“Very well.”

Alva’s heart felt as if it might stop, but what could she say?  She wanted him to stay, but knew they had no future together here.  It was best that he go.  So, why did she feel like she might die if he did?  The last few days without him had been torture enough.  The idea of never seeing him again was devastating.

“Damn it, Alva.  That is all you have to say?  I love you and leaving is tearing me apart, but you just don’t care at all?”

“What am I supposed to say, Heath?  We have no future.  I’m married to your brother.  Just go!”

Tears ran down her face as she jumped on the horse she had been preparing for a ride and directed it out of the barn, past him.  She was well into the woods, letting the horse lead the way.  Her tears were so heavy that she couldn’t see her way.  Once out into the clearing, she became dimly aware of the sound of galloping behind her.  She turned to see Heath in close pursuit, having grabbed the horse that one of the stable boys had been bringing in as she had left.

“Alva, stop!”

Instead, she dug in hard, sending the horse galloping wildly across the field.  Heath still called to her from behind, but she ignored him.  Then, everything was upside down, whirling about her head as the horse reared and tossed her to one side.  Her body hit the ground with a solid thump.  She lay there stunned, the sun going black above her as Heath came running to her side and leaned over, blocking the light.

“My God, are you okay?  Are you alright, Alva?”

“Yes.  Yes.  I’m fine.  Just jarred me a bit.”

“Something startled the horse.  He’s calm now.  Standing nearby.  Are you sure you are okay?”

“I’m fine.  Help me up.”

Heath wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her to her feet, brushing off the debris from the ground as she stood.  He looked down at her, his face full of concern.  Alva melted against him, holding onto him as if her life depended on it and sobbing.

“Take me with you, Heath.  We can’t be together here.  I know that, but we can go away together.  We can be with one another somewhere else.”

“Thank God.  I thought I had lost you.  Yes, Alva.  Yes.  We’ll get far away from here.”

Their lips met once again out in the field where they stood.  A renewed urgency overtook them as they lost all sight of anything around them and drank each other in completely.  This was right, the way things were meant to be.

“Well, what do we have here?”

Alva and Heath sprang apart.  They were so involved with one another that they hadn’t heard the approach of the horse riding toward them.  They both looked up at Lord MacEwan, his face a red mask of anger.

“I should have expected as much from such an ill raced trollop as yourself, my dear wife, but I should think better of my own brother!  I’m barely married a week and you’ve decided to take my bride for yourself?  Are you really so jealous of me that you would stoop this low as to soil what is mine?”

“Yours?  I am not yours. I was forced here by my father.  I don’t love you.  I will never love you.  I love Heath!”

“Love?  So, this isn’t the first time the two of you have stolen away with one another I take it?  How long has this been going on?  Love?  I’ve not been gone more than a handful of days!”

“There is no accounting for love, brother.  Of course, you would know nothing about that.  I’m not sure one of such a deviant nature could ever understand it.  Father will be sorely disappointed when you cannot provide him with an heir.”

“Provide him with an heir?  I think you are very incorrect about that, Heath.  My preferences have nothing to do with my abilities.  In fact, I think that I will be taking my bride back to the castle right now to get started on that very thing.  No doubt you’ll not want her when she fat and swollen with my seed.”

“Over my dead body will you touch Alva.”

“Well, that can certainly be arranged, little brother.”

Alva watched as Lord MacEwan jumped down from his horse and drew his sword.  Heath pushed her away and drew his own, brandishing it lavishly.

“Swords, eh?  You surprise me.  I had thought for sure that you would have gone with fire.”

“Where is your sense of adventure, Heath?  Sword fight to the death?  To the winner goes the spoils.”

“Alva is hardly spoils.  She is the woman I love, and I will not let you hold her hostage in exchange for peace that you could freely give if you weren’t so greedy and self-centered.”

The two men danced around one another, waiting for just the right moment to strike as Alva stood to one side, shaking all over out of fear.  She was not afraid of what would happen to her, but she was terrified of what he would do to Heath.  Heath was a fantastic swordsman, but he was emotional and his brother was more focused, driven by rage.

“I think it is a fairly generous offer considering she is my wife and nothing to you but a common whore for the taking.”

It was enough to set Heath off as he lunged forward and took the first strike.  Lord MacEwan countered and blocked him, the swords glancing off one another as they moved back into fighting position.  Everything seemed to move very fast after that, the two men exchanging blow after blow.  It was way too fast for Alva to keep up with as they fought violently in front of her eyes, Lord MacEwan shouting taunts the entire time.

Suddenly, they were locked into a blow, their bodies pressed against one another as they struggled for control of the battle.  Then, Heath was flying backward and Lord MacEwan was standing over him with his sword at his chest.  Alva screamed.

“NO!”

“Oh, Alva.  You hurt me.  I thought for sure that here in the end, you would rally around your husband rather than your lover.  You truly are a harlot to the end.  I had thought that I would let you watch my brother die for your adulterous ways, but he’s my brother.  He’s just a man and he has needs that your wickedness took advantage of.  I think maybe it is best that he watches you bleed into the ground instead.”

His attention was focused on her, just enough for Heath to take advantage and jump to his feet, quickly driving his sword into Lord MacEwan’s side.  Blood spurted everywhere as he stumbled forward a few steps and staggered.  Alva’s eyes grew wide, looking from him to Heath and then everything seemed to shift.  He began to change, to grow, right before her eyes.  The sword went shooting backwards as his skin rippled and scaled, his nose turning to snout and a tail forming behind him.  She took an involuntarily step backwards as she found herself looking at a very large, foul smelling dragon.

It advanced toward her menacingly, drawing its head back and breathing in deeply.  Alva realized what was happening and ran, just seconds before a long flame shot from his mouth, scorching the trees that had been directly behind her.  An errant thought that she was surprised he shot fire rather than ice crossed her mind.  She was dimly aware of the fact that behind him, Heath too had transformed into a similar beast.  Suddenly, he was on his brother’s back, tearing at him as they shook the earth beneath them with their large bodies.

Alva ran as far away as she could get, hiding in a grove of trees as the two dragons rolled about the moors, their teeth and claws flashing.  Fire shot from each of them, attempting to roast the other as they continued their fight to the death.  Alva realized that they looked very much alike and that with the constant moving around, she no longer knew which was which.  Her heart pounded against her chest as she waited and watched, afraid for Heath and afraid for herself.

It seemed to go on forever as they fought mightily, attempting to tear one another apart.  It all seemed so surreal watching two actual dragons go at it out in the open meadow on a summer day.  This was her fault.  If she had resisted Heath, he wouldn’t be in danger.  She should have just said no and accepted her unfortunate lot in life.  Instead, she had behaved like a prostitute and would now pay the price with the loss of the only real love she’d ever known.

Their bodies rolled across the ground in a terrifying fight.  She watched as one suddenly shot down, clamping his powerful jaws shut on the neck of the other.  He tore furiously from side to side, ripping open the scales and flesh as the blood poured everywhere.  Her heart almost stopped beating as the dragon on the ground grew limp and lifeless.  It was over and she was overtaken by fear as she waited.

Looking around, the victorious dragon stumbled a bit and fell to the ground, exhausted.  Alva was afraid to move as she waited.  The temptation to see if it was alive was great, but she had yet to know which brother lay dead and which brother just lay.  If it was Lord MacEwan that lived, surely she would meet her death if he came to while she was near.  Then again, if Heath was dead, what reason was there for her to live?

Timidly, she made her way from the grove of trees and examined the living dragon for any sign of its condition and identity.  Finding none, her fear only grew worse.  Tears fell as she glanced over at the lifeless body of the other dragon and wondered what to do next.  Beneath her the ground shifted as the dragon by her side suddenly stood and stumbled again.  She began backing away, but stopped as she watched it change, shrink, turn back into a man.

“Heath!”

“Alva, my love.”

His voice was weak and he had a look in his eyes she couldn’t quite describe as she ran back to him and pulled him into her arms.  He held her tightly, holding onto her as if she were a much needed life source.  They remained that way for quite some time, just trying to regroup and sort what happened in their heads and hearts before finally pulling apart.

“I’m so sorry, Heath.”

“It’s not your fault, Alva.  It’s done now.”

Heath glanced over toward the dragon that lay just beyond them and cast his eyes downward for a moment in prayer.

“Will he change back?”

“No.  His heart is stopped.  He will remain that way.”

“Then it will just appear that you have killed a dragon.”

“To the outside world, I will have slain a dragon, but my family will know.  I will have to explain to them what has happened and accept their punishment.”

“Why?  It wasn’t your fault.  He came after you.”

“He came after me because I committed adultery with his wife.”

Alva looked at him.  He was right.  In the end, they would be the ones judged.  Their love for one another was the most wonderful thing she had ever felt, but in the eyes of others, it was wrong. 

“We were going to run away.  We can just go.  We can get far away from here.”

Heath looked at her and smiled a knowing smile.  Brushing her hair away from her face, he kissed her forehead and held her some more.

“Let’s get back.  It will be dark soon and we’ll have a lot to deal with.  When we get back to the castle, you need to go directly to your chambers.  Don’t speak to anyone.  I will come for you as soon as I can.”

“What do you mean you will come for me?  What are you going to do?”

“It will be okay, Alva.  Just let me take care of it.”

They made their way back to the castle in silence, riding side by side through the woods and back into the stable before returning to the castle separately.  Alva did as she had been asked, taking to her bed and crying throughout the night.  When the morning sun began beaming into the window, she flung herself from bed and dressed hastily before heading downstairs in search of Heath, but he was nowhere to be found.  Days passed and he was still absent.  Alva’s fears grew and her heart faltered.  By the end of the week, she had taken to the bed completely, unable to raise her head.

“Lady MacEwan, please eat some soup.  You have to keep up your strength.”

Alva looked at the nurse wearily and nodded.  She had no appetite.  Truly, there was nothing really wrong with her but a broken heart.  She could only assume Heath had gone to confess to his family and paid a price from which there was no returning.  There was nothing left for her here.  The only thing she wanted was to join him.

In her dreams, she could hear his voice calling to her.  He was holding her hand and smoothing her hair softly, whispering her name.

“Alva, my love.  Come back to me.  I love you.”

“I’m coming, Heath.  I will be there soon.”

She could feel herself getting closer, nearing the darkness at the edge of where life ceased and eternity began.  It was here that she would find him again.  Here that she would find herself in his arms.  Their love had been fleeting, but it had been true and she would take it with her when her mortal coil fell free and released her from this hellish life without him.

“Alva, I’m here.  Don’t go, Alva.  Wake up.  Wake up!”

His voice was so far away.  How could she ever catch him?  She was drifting along, nothing to speed her along the path to him.  It felt like the most awful torment to be so near and not be able to get to him.

“Alva!  Stop this!  Wake up!”

He was louder now and all around her, coming from another direction.  Why had he moved when she was getting nearer?  She tried to call out to him, but no words would come and then everything seem to move, her body shook though she was standing still in the nothingness that seemed to be all around her.

“Alva!  I need you to listen to me!  I need you to come back to me.  Follow my voice.  Alva!  I love you!”

There was something wet on her face.  Was she crying?  She didn’t think she was.  There had been no tears for a while now as she refused food or drink.  Her eyes fluttered open, barely slits as they met those of Heath, looking down at her.  His tears fell on her cheek as she realized he was here, not in her dreams, but by her bed.

“Heath.”

It was all she managed to whisper before collapsing again into the darkness.  Her body tried to pull away, return to the dream, but her head and her heart screamed, waking her back into the light.

“There you are.  There is my love.”

Alva smiled weakly.  He was here.  He was really here.

“Are we okay?”

It was all she could manage.  All the questions she could ask.

“I am okay.  You are not.  You have to eat and drink for me now, Alva.  I need you.  We are going to be okay.”

Weeks later, Alva was back up and around, her body recovered from the days of not eating and drinking she had forced upon yourself.  Heath stayed by her side, never leaving her for a moment, bringing her back to him.  When she was well enough, they left for his home.  His family had understood the nature of his love for Alva and forgiven him for his brother’s death, one they considered self-defense, despite the circumstances from which it evolved.  Heath had left as the new leader of the dragon clan, his rightful place with the demise of his brother.

This was what love was meant to be, Alva thought to herself as they set on the cliffs surrounding their new home and admired the sun sinking deep into the canyon below.  She put her hand to her midsection.  There was not yet anything to tell, but she knew that there soon would be.  She could already feel a certain warm springing forth from their earlier lovemaking.  A tiny dragon seed had been planted and a new generation would emerge.

The End.

 

 

 

DRAGON FIRE

Adair McKordia scowled off into the distance. There was smoke rising from the trees to the north, and he was concerned that it would somehow affect his clansmen. This was alarming, but he wasn't sure if he should sound the alarms, or investigate it himself. However, if he went alone, the clan could be left vulnerable. He summoned his most trusted friend to him.

“What is it, Adair?” he asked, his eyes flashing with concern.

“I have a potential situation to the North, but I don't want to alarm any of the men. Do you think you could keep an eye on things until I come back?”

“Of course. If they ask where you've gone, I can just say you had something to tend to.”

“Atta lad,” Adair said, patting him on the shoulder before bounding off. As soon as he was out of sight, he gritted his teeth and allowed himself to shift into his dragon form. He kept his head down low, because he didn't want anybody to see him, but he knew that in his enormous dragon form he could cover more ground quickly.

He raced to the scene, sniffing wildly for some indication of what might be causing the smoke. Nobody entered the north woods without his knowing about it. This was his turf, and anybody who was there uninvited was a threat. He was the last of his kind, and his clan carried on a special bloodline. If he wanted any chance of keeping his blood line of dragon shifters alive in the future, he would have to give his life for them. The key to his form was somewhere in his clan's blood, and unless it was unlocked somehow, there would be no dragons left once he was gone. It was a tragedy worse than anything else he could have ever comprehended.

He closed his eyes and felt the cool air rushing under his wings. To imagine the end of the McKordia clan was a fate worse than death. There was nothing he loved more about life than the fact that he could change whenever he pleased, and provide the ultimate protection for his people. If there was a threat, he would find it.

***
           Iona Carmichael trotted pleasantly through the forest. It was much better than being back home, where everybody treated her like a burden. She was just the female pup in her family, and her brothers constantly spoke over her and got all of the attention. She was constantly frustrated by their tendency to act as if she wasn't important, simply because she didn't have the same depth of howl that they had. She couldn't stand how self-important her brothers had turned out to be. They were a rather large family, and most of the time she felt like just another mouth to feed.

The one rule she and her brothers had all been told to follow was to stay within their limits in the south. They hadn't been told why, only that it wasn't their territory and it may be unsafe for them to travel far. It was much better for them if they could all just stay safe and sound in the area they had already secured for themselves. Iona felt that this was extremely boring and longed for something to set her apart from the rest of the pack. They all just listened to the leader's instructions, and never questioned it. The whole unexplored world summoned her and brought excitement to her soul.

That morning, she had been trying to tell her father about something that she had been thinking about–her marriage prospects in the clan–but nobody wanted to listen to her. Her brothers were speaking over each other over their breakfast and interrupting her any time she tried to get a word in edgewise. Her father had looked at her with patient tolerance, but it was clear that he wasn't interested in what she was saying either. He would choose her betrothed and nothing she had to say about it would make one little bit of difference.

 

After she ate, she decided to get some fresh air by herself. She thought of her mother, who had passed away a few years earlier. There had never been a more beautiful wolf shifter, and her form was unbelievably strong and powerful. Iona remembered being impressed by her mother and hoping to grow up to be just as strong and majestic. She'd been getting far too much male attention from the clan lately though, and wondered why in the world she would ever have wanted that type of attention in the first place. She caught the leering stare of one of the men in her clan and clenched her teeth. She didn't want to marry any of them, and she didn't want to go back home where she was constantly ignored by her brothers and father.

 

Suddenly, an idea struck her–she would go off on her own. Nobody would notice her absence anyway. They were all so obsessed with themselves that it wouldn't make any difference. And she would go in the direction she had always wanted to go. North. With a heart full of adventure, she hurried off into the trees and transformed into her wolf form, galloping north as quickly as she could go.

Chapter 2

The smell of smoke suddenly struck Iona's sensitive nostrils. Her ears perked up as the sound of a fearful cry reached her. Her heart swelled with panic, and she raced off as quickly as she could toward the sound. As she neared it, the smell of smoke burned her nose and eyes, and she squinted to find the source of the loud cries. A child was sprawled out on the ground, a small hut behind him in flames. She lunged toward him, her teeth bared, and transformed quickly into her human form so she could grab him. Before she reached him though, she was hit by a huge burst of air, and a huge black dragon intercepted them, roaring ferociously.

She shrank back, intimidated.

“There's a boy!” she yelled, trying to match his volume with her voice. She quickly became annoyed, feeling exactly the same as she did when she was trying to speak over her loud brothers. The dragon made no indication of hearing her, and quickly transformed into his human form. They stood facing each other, both completely naked and breathing heavily in front of the small boy. The man pointed at her and backed away, not turning his back to her, until he was cradling the small boy against his broad, muscular chest.

“Don't you harm a hair on this lad's head!” he cried, lifting the child gingerly. “You're coming with me, you're officially a prisoner of the McKordia clan.”

Her jaw dropped in disbelief and she felt the hackles on her skin rising.

“If you dare to think about shifting against me, I will have you for a snack!” he snarled, preventing her from acting before she realized it was exactly what she had intended to do. She groaned and knew he would have her beat easily and powerfully, and didn't want to make a scene in front of the child, who was shivering and crying in the man's strong arms.

“Fine,” she said. “I was just trying to help him though.”

“I'm sure you were,” he said, blowing her off. She was beautiful, but he had known many beautiful creatures to contain a fierce venom that could bring a man to his knees. He would not try to listen to her based on beauty alone. That was for sure.

He glared at her and gestured in front of himself, silently ordering her to walk ahead of him as he lifted the boy and cradled him against his chest. Iona sighed to herself, knowing that anything she said would be ignored. She was a stranger to these lands, and if she were to try too hard to prove her innocence, she would never be able to do so. It would be worse than if she had kept her mouth shut. At the very least she could keep herself from appearing to be too guilty.

They marched for a long time until finally they arrived at a settlement. She suddenly became acutely aware of her nakedness. It was a normal state in her wolf clan, but in a new place, where people had never seen her body before, she was apprehensive.

“March forward and meet the eyes of nobody,” the man behind her said in a low voice. She was surprised by the softness of his tone, despite his fierce appearance. She realized it must have something to do with the boy nestled against his chest. She would have been angry but she was touched by his protectiveness.

She could feel the eyes of the men and women of his clan upon her as they walked. It made her somewhat uncomfortable, but she lifted her chin high and squared her shoulders, walking confidently. Adair watched her move gracefully in front of him, his eyes roaming her perfect proportions, unable to help himself. Her confidence was alluring but he could not let himself be swayed. As far as he was concerned, she was the enemy. Who knew what happened between her and that boy, and he had seen her in her wolf form himself, coming toward him as if to attack. He gripped the child more tightly in his hands. He had been whimpering the whole time, and Adair was frightened for him.

“I need the healer,” he ordered loudly, looking down into the boy's face. The boy would be able to tell him what had happened, so he would have all the evidence he needed to bring down the woman who had destroyed his home and killed his family. He couldn't believe somebody so beautiful was capable of something so treacherous, and yet nothing in the world surprised him. He was the leader of the clan, he had seen many evils in the world. One woman's petty vengeance was nothing to him, and yet she had destroyed the life of this child.

 

“Lock her up somewhere out of sight, I will deal with her later," He said viciously as an elderly man with a long white beard rushed forward from the crowd and took the child from Adair's arms.

Iona glared at him as two men gripped her shoulders and wrists on either side of her body and whipped her around. She faced the Dragon man head on, and a deep electricity was exchanged between them. Her eyes bore into his, and he watched as she was dragged off by the arms, staring at him steadily with a look that was hard to pinpoint until she disappeared behind the flap of a tent.

 

He felt it shake his confidence. What if she truly was innocent? That would change everything. She would have to really earn his trust if that were the case though, there was no other explanation for what he had witnessed in the forest. She was very aggressive, and had lunged at the child as if to strike. Upon remembering the child, he followed the healer to another tent, where he laid the boy down and was examining him.

“He has breathed in much smoke, and his voice is raspy, but he is going to be okay. I would give it a couple of days and make sure that he drinks plenty of fluids. Do you know this boy?"

 

“Yes,” Adair said quietly. “I met his parents a few years ago when they wanted to settle in the north. They did not know that this was Dragon territory, and I had to make sure that they were well prepared for whatever may happen here. There is magic in these woods, and many types of shifters all over the world. Our prisoner happens to be one as well. This family was not magical, but they were kind. I wanted people just like them to populate my land. They were very hard-working, and they built their settlement in the hopes of building a new future for their young son. They had escaped war and poverty, and chose to be self-sufficient here. I will have to go and look for them to see if what I fear is true.”

 

“And what do you fear, Adair?” The healer asked, his voice drawn and concerned.

“I fear that the wolf shifter I've imprisoned killed his family and set fire to the home, and was about to go after him as well. Through some quirk of fate I was able to save the boy, but I was not able to save his parents.”

“That's truly a shame," the healer said. “Fortunately, his injuries are slight. He was able to escape somehow, and with your help and mine he will be fine. If what you fear is true, he will be safe in our clan. He won't know any of the different. We will keep the memory of his family alive for him, and he will soon grow accustomed to our ways.”

“Yes, that is very true. Thank you for your words and your service to this child. I don't know what I would do without you.”

Adair gave the healer's arm a firm pat and headed out the door. The boy gave a weak cry as he left, and so he turned and gave him a confident smile. The boy returned the smile and he left to go talk to the wolf shifter. His blood was boiling at the thought of anybody who could harm such an innocent and kind face.

Chapter 3

“I'm not the kind of person you seem to think I am," Iona said with a groan.

She was tied up to a stake in a tent that was guarded by two burly men in kilts. They had not given her anything to wear yet, and she gritted her teeth down at the ground before looking back up at the man who had brought her here.

“What did you do with the boy's family? We will find out eventually one way or the other. Soon you will be able to speak and we will know the whole story. So don't even think about lying.”

“I already told you that I didn't do anything to the boy's family, I was just trying to help them. I could smell the fire from far away and when I saw the boy on the ground crying, I wanted to go and help him.”

“Lies, you left them for dead didn't you?" Adair growled.

 

Iona couldn't help but feel a deep attraction to the man as he paced in front of her. He had dressed into a regal looking kilt, and his long, sandy brown hair cascaded down his back and floated behind him as he paced quickly.

“I'm telling you the truth, and you're going to find that out for yourself."

Iona looked up at him, her eyes flashing with annoyance. “I know you have no reason to believe this, but the fact is that you are wrong about my intentions. Eventually the boy will tell you this himself, so why don't you just save us both the trouble and let me go? What's the point of wasting two guards on an innocent, nude woman?”

Adair scowled, suddenly realizing that his two guards wouldn't do any good if she chose to shape shift into her wolf form. He was going to have to keep an eye on her himself, he was the only person powerful enough to stop her if she decided to turn on them.

“You're right, I have no reason to believe you.”

He summoned the guards into the room and dismissed them.

“She's going to be staying with me until this whole mess is cleared up. I would like to keep an eye on this myself. Thank you very much for your help so far.”

She looked at him in disbelief. He really wasn't going to back down about this. She wondered what his clan would do to her for believing that she killed an innocent family. The family been part of their clan? She couldn't be sure, but she just knew that she was going to suffer for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe she should have just stayed home annoying her brothers. But no, she had longed for freedom and adventure, and had done exactly what she had been forbidden to do. Now she was paying for it. Still, she couldn't help but feel she would rather be prisoner of the Dragon clan than the only daughter of self-important wolves.

“I'm going to untie you and take you to my own personal tent,” he said. “I doubt any of the men here would be able to handle you. I saw the way they were looking at you, the dumb lads would be just as soon to bed you as to kill you."

She rolled her eyes and looked over her shoulder as she untied her. She let her roughly by the hands, which were still bound, and into his personal quarters. Her hypersensitive senses picked up on many smiles, and she was intrigued by them all. He was a man who smelled of the forest, and of many types of trees and smoke. Suddenly, she wondered if dragons could breathe fire, as the whole area smelled very charred. The idea intrigued her, she couldn't help but ask.

“Do dragons breathe fire?" Iona asked, looking around at his personal belongings

“We can bring you all types of dark and dreary death, lass,” he said. “I wouldn't exactly recommend testing that out though.”

She gazed at him quietly, but didn't speak. He felt himself getting nervous under her scrutiny, and realized that he couldn't seem to distract himself from her perfect skin and flawless body. Her unwavering gaze just seemed to make him feel more drawn to her, and he avoided her eyes, looking around his abode for something that she could wear. Eventually, he found a dress that his mother had made but had never gotten a chance to wear. He wanted to go out and find something from one of the women in his clan, but something stopped him. He tossed the dress over to her and turned toward the doorway of his tent.

“Put on that, won't you? We don't want you dying of a cold before we execute you now do we?"

“I think I would rather die of a cold than be killed at the hands of any man,” Iona said stubbornly. “Besides, how do you expect me to put this on with my hands tied up?"

Adair sighed in annoyance and had no choice but to go toward the woman and untie her. His breath caught in his throat at her nearness, and he tried to think of anything but how good it would feel to bed her right then and there. He swallowed hard the thought, and soon the sound of her breathing was driving him crazy. He had to leave. He untied her quickly, trying not to reveal his hands shaking in anticipation of something that would never happen. He waited patiently, trying hard not to watch her as she dressed, but not being able to help it.

The dress was loose on her muscular body, and hung over her shoulders, the neck line low and revealing the ample beginnings of her breasts. Still, it was better than her nakedness, and once she was finished dressing, he tied her hands together against the frame of his tent. He would have to keep a close eye on her, especially in the event that she might shift back into her wolf form and kill all of his men. It wouldn't surprise him if she did so, after seeing what she was capable of. Imagine what she might do with a grudge. Although she was beautiful, she was also lethal.

“I'm going to have to keep a close eye on you," he said. It was to his advantage that she didn't know he was the only person in the clan who could shape shift into a dragon. All the other people lacked that ability, which was why he was the ultimate protector. However, she knew nothing of their hierarchy, and that she had been watching. He seems to do that though, normally he could sense another shifter from a mile away. No, this girl had just been the wrong place at just the right time to unleash her evil instincts.

 

“I may be powerful, but I would never hurt anybody. At least not on purpose."

“What, so you hurt the boy and killed his parents by accident? Started at fire out of nowhere?”

“If dragons can breathe fire, how do you know it wasn't one of them who ruined the house? Why are you so insistent on blaming me?"

It sounded as if she was beginning to suspect that there were fewer dragons there than he was letting on. He would have to be more careful about what he told her. She found out the secret, everybody would be in danger. The moment she was vulnerable or out of sight, she would be able to strike. Fortunately, he still held the advantage, and he was used to staying up late at night. He could have another one of the men staying in the tent with them when he slept and rouse him should anything happen.

“I never said that dragons could breathe fire," he said, although they could. “But you should beware, we are even more powerful than we might seem.”

“So there's little bite to your bark," she said with a challenging smile. He could feel himself being drawn closer to her, lured in like a simple man to her attractiveness and confidence, but the idea of being swayed by her charm infuriated him. He would not allow himself to forget the evils that she had unleashed on that innocent boy and his family.

“All I can really say honestly is that if you are not telling the truth, and you are responsible for the death of that boy's parents, you will suffer. And you will suffer by my hands," he said, looking at her evenly. He sat down on his bad and leaned back against the frame, folding his hands behind his head and staring at her. He watched her until she fell asleep, twisted and uncomfortable on the floor. She whimpered like a scared pup, and his heart felt a twinge of remorse and concern. If she was innocent, he wasn't treating her very well. He would have to account for that in the morning. In the meantime, he didn't care how well she slept.

And that's exactly what he told himself as he took the blanket off his bed and covered her gently with it.

Chapter 4

 

Iona awoke the next morning to the smell of food beside her face. The ground had been uncomfortable, but nothing she wouldn't have been able to handle if she shifted into her wolf form. As she sat up she drew her eyebrows in confusion. A heavy chain was dragging behind her as she sat up. A large collar had been placed around her neck, anchored to a large boulder that hadn't been there the night before.

“It's in case you turn on us and decide to shift into a wolf,” Adair said to her. “Now eat.”

“How's the boy?” she asked, genuinely concerned for his well-being. “Were your healers able to do any good for him?”

Adair opened and closed his mouth, unsure as how to respond.

“He is well, but he is asking for his parents.”

He said this pointedly, as if trying to elicit some form of guilt from her. She leaned over her plate and grabbed a piece of bread with her teeth, tearing off a chunk expertly without using her hands. Adair shifted uncomfortably, but continued watching her.

“You do know I had nothing to do with that, right? I mentioned that once or twice but you didn't quite seem to hear me.”

“I know nothing,” Adair said. “And I will know nothing until the boy is ready to talk about what happened that day.”

 

Iona sighed loudly and took another bite of her bread.

“Think I could have some water?” she asked. He gestured toward the bowl on the floor beside her. She rolled her eyes. “You want me to shift?”

“How else will I know if the restraints will hold?” he asked pointedly.

“Right, yes, of course,” she said with a sigh. “You know it will ruin this dress though. It seemed significant to you so you might want to take it first. What was it, an old lover's?” she asked, unable to hide an irrational twinge of jealousy.

 

“No,” he said firmly, and she felt sorry for asking. It was obviously a sore subject for him, and he turned around quickly to hide his face. “I suppose you should just remove it then. I will untie your hands just for now. Take the dress off and hand it to me slowly.”

She knew that he would be able to bite her in half no matter what she did to try and escape, and so she did as she was told. He watched her undress steadily, and she suddenly felt very embarrassed to show her body to him. It was different when she shifted, because she didn't really have control over what might happen to her wardrobe. However, there was something more intimate about the act of undressing in front of somebody in her human form. It made her want to hide, and she began to resent him for watching her.

“I hope you like what you see," she said sarcastically as she slipped her arms through the sleeves of the dress and let it drop to the ground. He pursed his lips but said nothing, and she felt a little thrill. Obviously he did. Of course he wouldn't say anything like that to her, and she was glad for his silence. She decided to shift into her wolf form as quickly as possible. She would be more comfortable that way, and could sleep on the floor without any problem.

Iona closed her eyes and felt the change began to take form within her. Adair watched with wide eyes as a glow began to emanate from within her, before the entire room was bathed in light. When the light lowered, standing before her was a majestic white wolf. The wolf stared steadily, and he had the strangest feeling that there was nothing aggressive about this wolf. She was tame, and not interested in picking trivial or petty fights. Maybe he had been wrong about her all along. It was a lot easier to sense the truth from animals that it was from people, and because of his Dragon shifter blood, he had a feeling that she was more herself in this form then she was in human form.

The collar around her neck was a little bit loose, and he approached cautiously to tighten it. She watched him warily, but didn't move, and allowed to graze her soft mane with his strong hands after he completed tightening the collar. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, both in human and in animal form. This train of thought was troubling him, and he knew he had to take a break. Otherwise, she might get into his head. He decided that it would be a good time to have the men watch her, so that he could go investigate the area where the fire was and make sure that it was true that the boy's parents were truly dead.

She watched as he left the tent. After she was left alone, three men entered and sat around her. She knew she shouldn't shift back into her human form if they were around. For some reason, she was not comfortable exposing her body to them, at least not as comfortable as she was with their leader. As they spoke amongst each other and waited for him to return, she gathered that his name was Adair, and that he was the clan’s leader. The men seemed to adore him, and she felt somewhat privileged to be sharing and abode with him. Even though she thought he was arrogant, he was very handsome and well mannered. If he wasn't so against her, she might actually like him as a person. She sighed and laid her head on her paws, staring at the door, anxious for him to return.

***
Adair flew toward the scene where he had found the child and the wolf. He realized on the way there that he still did not know her name. He could only think of her in terms of her physical appearance. She was unbelievably beautiful, and if she wasn't such an unusual case of potential evil, he would have liked to get to know her better. Unfortunately, he cannot trust her, and he would have to discover for himself whether or not the boy's parents had survived whatever had befallen. He kicked himself for not checking sooner, but in the heat of the moment, all he could think about was tending to the boy's wounds.

When he reached the hut, he was disturbed to find that it had all turned to ash. On the ground there was the remains of a man, he could only assume that it was the boy's father, the same strong and proud man who had come to him years before and asked for permission to settle in the forest. Adair had admired his spunk and his tenacity, and his very pregnant wife was absolutely lovely. They were the kind of family that he had wished to have one day, but he could not envision himself having such a family with anybody in his own clan. Everybody there he knew too well, almost as if they were already family. He was never able to sexually express himself with any of the women there, it just felt too strange.

For some reason, his mind turned to the woman in his heart. She had awakened something deep within him that had remained dormant and sleeping for many years. Although the man was dead, Adair envied him for finding a woman that made him feel that way and being able to keep her. Of course the only woman Adair had ever felt such longing for was a wolf woman who probably had killed such a kind person. Adair looked around in the ashes for the remains of a woman, but found nothing. He frowned, wondering what had become of the man's wife. Perhaps the wolf had eaten her. The thought brought Adair's blood to boiling, and he rushed back to the encampment, ready to confront the woman.

He ordered the men out of his hut, and noticed the wolf's tail start wagging when she saw him. She glowered fiercely into her face, and her ears laid back in apprehension and confusion. The wolf got to her feet and tilted her head at him, expecting him to speak and listening closely.

“You did it, didn't you?" he snarled at her, a small flame trickling from his nose. “I saw the father's corpse, what did you do with the boy's mother? Did you eat her? Did you gobble her up? You do realize that humans are not food right? Nobody deserves to be eaten like that, or orphaned and left alone to die! And you were even going to kill the child. I don't know what's wrong with you!”

She tried to speak, but realized that he wouldn't be able to understand her Wolf dialect in his human form. Instead, she transformed back into human form and sat naked on the blanket that he had given to her the night before. He watched her as he paced around, fuming with rage and indignation.

“I did not kill anybody, but I could probably help you find the boy's mother. If she disappeared, she's got to be somewhere out in the woods.”

 

“I'm not taking you anywhere until the boy tells us what he saw. As far as I'm concerned, you are my enemy. You are an enemy to humanity. You are a danger to my clan. I want to execute you, but because I believe in fairness, I will wait to see what proof there is of your innocence or your guilt before I act. You don't understand just how lucky you are that I am able to keep my head right now, lass.”

Iona watched him pacing, his handsome face contorted with rage. She tried to put herself into his shoes, and imagined that she had seen an angry man lunging toward a small and helpless child. This helped her to relax, and she bowed her head, closing her eyes and a meditative attempt to find the right words to calm the man down and soothe his anger toward her.

“Maybe you could take me to the boy now or bring the boy to me," she said thoughtfully. "If he is truly able to understand what had happened to his family, and he thought that I was the one responsible, would he not cower in fear of me? If he recognizes me despite his inability to speak, but may react physically to my presence?”

“I would never do that to the poor child," Adair snarled. “For I know you would just treat him as a snack to get the last laugh on me. You could snatch him up before I have the chance to kill you out right. No, we are going to wait into the boy can speak. If he says his mother is out there somewhere and you did not kill her and eat her, maybe then you can help us to look for her. Otherwise, I am convinced that she is rotting in your belly as we speak."

“That is the most disgusting thing I've ever heard," Iona laughed scornfully. "I would never eat human flesh. Do you know how bad it smells?”

Adair did know how bad human flesh smelled, in fact, and he was often surprised by it when he was in his Dragon form. He paused and stared at her for a moment, unsure of himself. Maybe she really was telling the truth. He would not touch the flesh of any creature either, he was a devout herbalist because of his ability to sympathize with the rest of the animal kingdom. Now he thought about it, when he was in his Dragon form, she had not smelled the same as other humans. Did that mean that she was less than human, or that she did not eat the flesh of others just as he would not?

“You cannot fool me with your words, Wolf," he said, sitting heavily down on his cot. “I am weary of you, and although I would like to believe the best in every creature, I know what I have seen and it did not look favorably upon you.”

“I know what you saw, and I also know what you think you saw," she said, sitting back against the pole that she was tethered to. The collar around her neck dangled loosely over her bare breasts, and he suddenly realized that she was no longer tied up. However, she made no move to run. He had to fight another powerful urge to touch her body, and he gestured toward the dress on the floor beside her.

“Please cover yourself, it gets cold at night." He said in a low voice, looking down at the bed. "I will tie you back up afterwards.”

She said nothing, but did his words and slipped the dress on over her naked body.

“I am Iona by the way. Your name is Adair, right?" She asked him. When he looked with a paranoid glint in his eyes, she laughed and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. "The men who were here were talking about you. They think you're quite incredible. It makes you wonder what it might be like if I wasn't your prisoner."

 

“If you were smart, you wouldn't be in the north woods. You would have stayed down south where you belong with your clan."

“You are going to discover that I am innocent, and you are going to feel very guilty about the way that you have been treating me. However, I understand and I am likely to forgive you. I am concerned about the child’s safety as well, as I keep trying to tell you. Unfortunately, sometimes it is just very difficult when miscommunications arise. But don't worry, we’re going to be all right once this blows over. Maybe I'll just go back home and you'll never have to see me again."

For some reason, the mention of Iona heading back to the south caused Adair to feel very unhappy. He frowned deeply and she gazed at the deep crease in his eyebrows as he thought. Finally, his striking blue eyes looked up into her green ones.

“Well if you weren't here to kill the child, what in the world were you doing going outside of your limits? It is completely unsafe and dangerous. Don't tell me nobody has ever told you that. I have killed you on site, everybody knows the understanding between the territories here.”

“I knew there were boundaries in the territories, but I never knew why," she said to him. “My family doesn't really understand me, or care what I have to say about anything. I was just curious about what else was in the world. I wanted some kind of an adventure. And now I'm somebody's prisoner, I guess I got what I wished for.”

“So it would seem," he said with a small laugh. “Well lass, how are you liking your freedom?"

“If that was some kind of a joke, it wasn't funny," Iona said, smiling despite herself as Adair burst into ripples of deep laughter.

“Assuming that you are innocent as you claim, I would like to extend my humblest apologies for any inconvenience. Still, you are within my territory and I could do whatever I please with you."

“Is that so?” she said, an unexpectedly flirtatious smile spreading across her lips. She had never forwardly flirted with a man before, and it was clear that she had taken Adair by surprise. A deep smile crossed his cheeks, and she realized that he had already seen everything there was to see about her body. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to flirt with him. But she had surprised herself, and didn't expect the comment to escape her lips. She had never actually wanted to flirt with anybody before, but for some reason this man held a distinct appeal to her. His reaction to her forwardness brought a flash of heat to her loins, but she ignored it and held his gaze once more.

“We will see how your trial goes," he said to her, carefully avoiding her loaded question. He stood from the cot and approached her now that she was fully dressed, and tied her slender wrists behind her to the pole. She sighed and leaned back against it, the sound of her voice bringing another deep flush to his cheeks. She watched him curiously, surprised by the power her own body had over others. She didn't want to use that power unwisely, but it was intriguing to her to discover it there nonetheless. For some reason, Adair's attention was not as disgusting as the attention of other men that she had known throughout her life.

Soon, it was time for dinner, and Adair was served at his bedside and Iona's dishes were refilled. This then the rest of the night and silence, and she quickly fell asleep, snuggled into the blanket he had laid over her the night before, curious about what was going to happen next.

Chapter 5

 

Over the course of the next week, Adair and Iona spent a lot of time together. Adair couldn't help but feel drawn to the magnetic personality of the woman in his hand, and she found herself returning his gaze, conflicted and confused about the feelings that she was developing for him. She loved watching him taking care of his clan, and working hard to protect them all. She couldn't help but remember how enormous he was in his Dragon form, and all of that raw power seem to be bridled and bouncing energetically behind his broad and muscular chest when he was in his human form. She felt lucky to be able to shift into an animal of a reasonable size, such as a wolf. It didn't seem that Adair had that same freedom, but he certainly exercised it out in the wilderness whenever he had the chance to.

Finally, the young boy was feeling well enough to talk about what had happened to his family. It was the day Iona had been waiting for expectantly, concerned that his mother may have been ill or died by the time she was finally allowed to go and help her. She begged Adair to try and find the woman if they would not use her nose to help them, and he had listened and sent men out to search for her. The search had turned up nothing, and she was very frustrated with the fact that he did not trust her or her senses to help in time of crisis. Especially if it meant that the boy didn't necessarily have to be an orphan. Unfortunately, Adair was still suspicious of her, and now that the boy could speak, he was going to find out the truth.

Adair was summoned to the boy's bedside, and he stroked the young lad's hair, trying to soothe him.

“Do you remember me, lad?” He asked with a grin.

The boy nodded. “Where's the girl?" He asked.

“What girl?" Adair asked him.

“The girl who was with you. She can turn into a wolf. Is she okay?”

Adair swallowed the lump in his throat. If the boy was concerned about her safety, which meant that maybe he had acted a little bit too rashly.

“She's fine lad, don't worry. How are you feeling?"

 

“I feel a lot better. But I want to see the girl.”

“Why do you want to see the girl?" Adair asked him.

“I think she can help find my mom. My dad always talked about dogs being able to smell things out. My mom was missing for a day or two and my dad was trying to cook me dinner. A big fire started and he told me to get out of the house while he tried to fix it. I don't think he fixed it. It burned for a long time. When I called him he didn't answer me. Do you think he's okay?”

“He's not okay lad," Adair said, honest but sad. “Your dad didn't make it. But I bet you're right about that woman, she can probably help us find your mom. Do want to go talk to her with me?"

 

The boy nodded enthusiastically and Adair lifted him easily and carried him to his tent.

“Hi!" The boy said to her brightly. He didn't seem to realize that she was tied up.

“Well hello there," Iona said happily. It was a relief to see the boy was safe and able to speak again.

“Can you me find my mom?" he asked.

“I can certainly try," she said with a warm smile. When she looked away from the boy and up to Adair, her eyes were shimmering as if to tell him I told you so. He offered her a sheepish smile and then patted the boy on the back.

 

“Let's get you some grub, lad," he said with a grin. The boy nodded enthusiastically and ran out of the tent, leaving Adair and Iona alone. Adair inhaled, preparing to speak, but Iona stopped him.

“It's all right," she said soothingly. “You were just protecting the boy and your clan. I respect that."

He gave her a faltering smile and knelt down quickly to release her from her findings. Their faces nearly touched, and they were both surprised by the deep magnetism between them. Iona pulled away and inhaled sharply before Adair gave her a grin and a hearty laugh.

“How does this sound to eat with your hands for a change?" He asked her, his eyes glimmering. "It's about dinner time, you can eat with me and the rest of the clan tonight if you would like. I'm really sorry. Thank you for being so understanding. Do you mind setting out to find the boy's mother as soon as possible? I fear we've lost a lot of time."

“We can head out after we eat if that's okay,” she agreed, standing up and stretching. She hadn't been allowed to walk for a while, so she stumbled as she tried to move forward. Adair caught her in his strong arms.

“Easy lass," he said quietly, helping her back to her feet. “It may take some time to get the blood moving again.”

Iona nodded, her cheeks a bright red. Her heart thudded, both from the fear of falling and from the adrenaline that was released when she was cradled into Adair's strong body. She felt that she should say something, but when she looked into his eyes, she lost all ability to speak. She straightened up, and they walked out of the tent together, the air between them gentle and peaceful.

She felt suddenly insecure when she was led to the campfire where Adair's clan was sitting with the child. They were all talking to him, but at the site of her, the conversation ceased. They looked toward Adair for instructions, before saying anything. She wished that she was anywhere else, and although she had always wanted more attention from her family, this is not the kind of attention that she had in mind. She wished in fact, that she could disappear, away from all of their curious and skeptical glances.

“This young lady here is going to help us find the boy's mother," Adair said firmly. "We're all going to accept her into the clan as if she were one of our own. Anything that anybody has done to offend her, should be apologized for now. She was under suspicion, but those suspicions have been long cleared with the boy's ability to recall the events of the day we met.”

“Well what's her name then?” One of the men called out.

“Yes, what do we call the lass?" another said loudly.

“Her name is -”

 

“If it's all the same to you, I would rather speak for myself," Iona said firmly, touching Adair's shoulder gently.

“Of course lass," he said with a grin.

“My name is Iona, and I'm from a tribe of wolf shifters down south. I crossed over the territory looking for a new life, and maybe I found one and maybe not. Either way, we're going to help the child find his mother. Thank you all for your patience with me and for treating me kindly despite not knowing whether or not I was a murderer."

Adair looked at her fondly, and gave the men a nod.

 

“The lass need some food, before we go out to fetch the boy's mother.”

“All right then," one of the men said, standing up and bringing her a bowl of food. She took it gratefully and sat down on a tree stump, and began to eat heartily.

Soon, everybody was speaking amongst themselves again as if nothing had changed. She found herself feeling more at home and more included than she ever had at her family's dinner table, and breathed a sigh of relief for the fact that she was finally out of chains for good.

Chapter 6

Soon after dinner, Adair took her by the arm and let her out of the encampment. She shifted into her wolf form immediately, after slipping out of the dress that Adair had given to her. She left the dress by a tree outside of the encampment walls, and followed Adair to the hut where the boy’s father laid dead. She needed a good general idea of what the boy's mother might smell like. Although the boy smelled a lot like her, it wasn't enough for her to get the scent.

Adair had changed into his Dragon form, and was flying around in the sky, looking out over the area for the woman. Now that he trusted her, they kept each other in much better company. Suddenly, Iona found a shawl a little ways away from the hut. She gave a howl and soon Adair was landing powerfully beside her. He glanced at the shawl and saw the direction that she must have been heading in after she left the house. Iona sniffed it and took off immediately in the direction where Adair was looking.

She ran as fast as the carrier, until she reached a lake. The woman had probably gone to get some water, and maybe she had fallen into the lake. The rapids were strong, and could easily have carried away the boy’s mother. Adair and Iona exchanged worried looks, and quickly she crouched, signaling her to climb onto his back. She changed into human form and mounted him, and he took off flying over the landscape.

“Do you smell anything?" He asked her. “I'll take you in any direction. Just tell me if you find anything.”

 

Iona furled her brow and continued smelling the air, until finally she caught wind of the same scent of the boy's mother's shawl.

“Go more to the east!" Iona cried. "I smell her in this area.”

Adair flew down, swooping into the trees, and lo and behold, there was the figure of a woman and tattered clothing, shivering in front of a small fire. Adair landed beside her, and her eyes widened until she recognized the familiar shape of Adair as he transformed back into human shape. He studied with Iona in front of the woman, and held his strong arms out to comfort her. She ran toward him sobbing.

 

“My boy, my husband. I miss my family! I need them so much," she cried.

“I've bad news about your husband, but your boy is fine there's some twist of fate, he was able to survive. There was a terrible house fire and your husband was not able to make it out. However, we were able to save your boy. I will take you to him now.”

Adair transformed back into his Dragon form, and Iona offered her hand gently to the woman, who climbed onto his back beside her. They held on tightly as Adair rushed her to the encampment, and he landed outside the gates. The woman rushed in calling for her son, and he ran to her, his face lit up and shining brightly. Adair and Iona watched the reunion from afar, before retreating into his tent to give the family some time alone.

It was late in the evening, and the sky was dark. Adair lit a torch in his tent and looked at Iona.

“Seems I don't quite know what to do with you now lass, you've outgrown your chains here.”

“I'm going to take that as a good thing," she said with a grin.

“Yes, I would certainly say so," Adair said, his handsome, broad face breaking out into a large smile.

“Should I head back to the South now?" Iona asked. "I already caused too much trouble here, I don't want to be anymore."

 

“You were never any trouble lass, I was just concerned about the boy and my clan. I have to be careful you know. Our type are rare now."

“I'm very sorry to hear that," Iona said softly, approaching him slowly. “The dragons are very beautiful, it would be a shame for them to die out.”

Adair sat heavily onto the cot and sighed. “I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned,” he admitted. “But that's enough draft talk for now. Sit down and tell me more about yourself now that you're no longer my enemy."

She studied him, shamelessly naked and sitting on the cot, offering a seat beside him to her. If she did, they would both be on his bed in the nude, and she wasn't sure what would happen after that. All she knew was that she was curious about it and willing to find out. She approached the bed cautiously before sitting, and noticed his eyes rest upon her round breasts. She swallowed hard, and thought quickly about how she could make more conversation.

“Thank you for your help today," Adair said, before she had to try to speak. She looked down at her hands and laughed nervously.

“It was no problem, I'm just glad that she's okay now. I was worried that something might happen to her by the time you actually let me go out and look for her."

 

Adair laughed sheepishly. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I just couldn't be too careful. If my clan is in danger, there may be no dragons left after myself."

“You mean you're the last Dragon here?" She asked, her face contorting in surprise and concern. "That's terrible. You must feel so lonely!"

"Well it's a big job to fill, but I have to do it. I don't mind protecting everybody, I'm just concerned about the future. And it's not like I like anybody here enough to sire an heir, so who knows. There may be no dragons from here on out."

“You don't like anybody enough?” She asked, her bold, flirtatious smile tracing her face again. Adair stared at her, his desire for her welling up stronger than it had ever been before. Now that he knew that she was not a murderer, her eyes widened in surprise as she saw his member swell along the length of his leg. She had never been with a man before, nor has she heard much about what to expect, but seeing this change in his body brought a change in hers as well. She bit her lip and looked him in the eye, and before she knew what was happening, he lifted her with his strong arms by the hips until she was nestled on top of him.

“Well I may like somebody, but she's not from my clan," he said with a sly grin.

“Well that sounds inconvenient," she said, slowly touching him and sending sharp thrills down his body. She felt the effect it had on him between her thighs, and she groaned as her desire for him swelled and pulsated. She thrust into him gently, and he gasped quietly as his strong hands around her body sent pleasure all throughout her. She closed her eyes and experienced the pleasure that he gave her, her hips buckling against him as he began to push himself slowly into the folds of her body. She had never experienced such ecstasy before, and soon she was throwing her head back and pleasure coursed through her powerfully.

He grinned at her and ran his hands through her long hair, before holding her hips with his hands and pushing her body the rest of the way down his shaft. She cried out as he began rocking against her, answering her with slow and steady thrusts that drove her mad. Finally, she couldn't help herself any longer, and gave a wolfish growl of excitement into his ear. This seemed to arouse something deep and primal within him, and he let go of all of his human inhibitions. She began to smell the crackling impressions of embers burning in the fireplace, and she knew that dragons could create fire without a doubt as he turned her on her backside and began thrusting powerfully into her, losing all sense of gentleness and purely satiating a deep need in both of them.

She cried out softly in pleasure, gripping his hard muscles in her hands and sighing with pleasure as his mouth found her sensitive nipples and sucked them gingerly as he made love to her. Suddenly, she felt herself being overwhelmed by a sense of sheer ecstasy that she didn't know her body was capable of reaching. Her entire body cleaved in his grip, and she could feel herself contracting around him as he pushed and pulled inside of her. She could tell that it felt good for her to squeeze him that way, and he gritted his teeth and groaned deeply with the masculine timber as he unleashed a flood of liquid desire deep inside of her.

They both collapsed onto the cot, panting and satisfied. He held her tightly in his arms, and she fell asleep against him, feeling more at peace than she had ever felt in her life.

Epilogue

Ten months later, the young child and his mother had both recovered completely from the unfortunate incident in their home. Adair and Iona took special care of them, treating them with great kindness and love. They made up for the family that the boy lost when his father died, and his mother was eternally grateful for their rescue.

This is why Iona had begged for her to be her midwife as she delivered Adair's first child. The boy kept their company outside as she gave birth, and the woman was ecstatic to be able to return any kind of favor to the woman who had helped to save her and her son. With one final cry, Iona was able to push out the child completely, and she heard a strangled cry as the woman held the baby up for her examination. Tears sprang up in Iona's eyes, and she called immediately for Adair to share this special moment with her.

He rushed in, and immediately fell to his strong knees. It was more than he could have ever hoped for. The child was a dragon shifter just like he was. They watched it off as the child shimmered and the midwife's arms, going from baby to wolf pup to Dragon pup, resembling his father's Dragon form with his mother is wolf color, and his father's Dragon color with his mother's wolf form. The midwife gave the child to Adair, who walked quickly over to cradle the baby with his new wife. They cried over the child and everything that he represented for the McKordia clan's future. Their leader had an heir, and everything was going to be all right from then on out.

The End.