Anita Clenney - Embrace the Highland Warrior

“His name wasn’t Porky, it was Parker,” Nina said.

“They didn’t even give me my money back.”

“You’re lucky they didn’t sue you.”

“Here we are,” Shay said, as the castle came into view. It wasn’t a massive castle, but it was impressive nonetheless. Two towers rose on either side of the three-story structure. The grounds gently rolled with stands of trees, natural, not overly manicured.

“Nina and Matilda pressed their faces to the window. “It’s so… exciting,” Matilda said. She threw open the door and climbed out of the Range Rover. “I can’t wait to explore.” She trotted toward the door, stiff red hair bobbing up and down.

“I think there’s something wrong with her,” Nina said, and took off after her cousin.

“She’s just now figuring that out?” Cody muttered.

“Sean and Coira are prepared?” Shay asked.

“Is anyone ever prepared for Matilda? They’ve been warned. There they are now.”

Sean and Coira appeared at the doorway. They glanced at Shay and Cody and then welcomed their visitors, while Cody pulled the luggage from the trunk.

“Woo hoo… we’ll see you in a little while,” Matilda called. “Coira’s giving us a tour. She’s got red hair too. I bet she’s a doll.”

“She doesn’t know what she’s in for,” Cody muttered.

“Did you warn Coira about Matilda and dungeons?” Shay asked.

“Check.”

“And towers?”

“Done.”

“Secret passages?”

“Damn!”

***

Malek waited until after dark to approach the castle. He had followed Tristol’s lieutenant from Shay’s house, where he intended to look for the book, since Ellis hadn’t searched there yet. They assumed Renee hid the book in one of the pieces of furniture she shipped out. He would go back and search Shay’s house later. First he wanted to get close enough to see how well protected the castle was. The first warrior Malek encountered was no problem. He was young, easily distracted by Malek’s halfling. With the path clear, Malek left his halfling to guard his back and crept through the dark woods, cautiously placing each footstep against the floor of leaves, angry that he couldn’t just storm in and take her. He, who had lived nearly a thousand years, was forced to play foolish games. He couldn’t kill her until he knew where she’d hidden the book. She could already be pregnant. She and Cody had been together for days. Once Malek found the book, he would kill them both, rectifying his earlier mistake. There could be no offspring without a father or mother.

This time he would do the job himself, not entrust it to a frail human. Malek was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn’t see the man until he was fifty feet away. The man tensed and turned. Malek slipped behind a large tree and tried to control the shift that had started, brought on by alarm. He knew the man was a warrior by his stance and the sword he was removing from its scabbard. Malek put his head against the rough bark and pushed hard, feeling it dig into his human skin, pressing against bones that were trying to lengthen. If he shifted, he knew the warrior would smell him. Malek knew a lot of things no one would suspect. He had spent centuries researching his enemies’ secrets.

A large bird took flight from the branches above Malek. He jumped, and his tight hold on his shift shattered. His bones broke free of their restraints, skin thickened and stretched.

The warrior frowned, sniffed, and lifted the sword he had withdrawn. Malek waited until the warrior drew close and then lunged at him, slashing with his claws. The warrior jumped aside and swung to confront him. Malek moved in and hit hard. The warrior was strong, not inexperienced like the one he killed near the wall. Another lunge, and Malek caught the warrior’s side with his claws. Blood seeped through the warrior’s shirt, but he turned and came at Malek again, gripping his sword. He was quick. The sword sliced Malek’s shoulder before he could move clear. He seethed with rage. He hadn’t been injured in battle in two centuries. How dare this child raise a sword to him?

Malek raised his claws and rushed at the warrior. He caught him in the stomach, and the warrior went down, and then he realized it was the man Shay almost married. If he lived, he might bring a wedge between Shay and Cody until Malek had a chance to kill them. Malek heard a voice beyond the woods, and he backed away from the fallen warrior. He wasn’t prepared for a full scale battle yet. He needed to get in without being seen. He had lived in castles for hundreds of years. There was always a bolt hole. He just had to find it.

***

“I’d bet my hair on it,” Matilda said, whispering so loud in Nina’s ear that her voice carried all the way up the ladder. “Look at them.” The two old women stared at Niall and Duncan working on the balcony. “And that Ronan… Lordy, what else can they be?”

“Think they have any idea we can hear them?” Duncan asked.

“Doubt it. Cody says their hearing’s shot. That’s why they talk so loud,” Niall replied, handing Duncan a trowel. “What is it they think this place is?”

“Beats me.”

“You’re insane,” Nina said. “If you keep this up, I’m going to stick you in that retirement village Frieda Simms is in.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me.” Nina huffed off, and Matilda turned to the men.

“Hello,” she said, waving.

“Hello,” Niall called, and then whispered from the corner of his mouth. “She scares me more than that two-headed demon I had to destroy last year.”

“I don’t know how the MacBains do it. Guess they’re used to her,” Duncan said.

“Oh yeah,” Niall said. “How many times have you seen Lachlan since Matilda got here? He’s been staying in a cottage near the back perimeter. I don’t blame him. You know what really jolts me?”

“Besides her hair?”

“Forget the hair. Everywhere you turn, she’s there. It’s like there are ten of her. Did you hear she got locked in the tower this morning? It took them an hour to find her.”

“What scares me is I saw her talking to Brodie earlier,” Duncan said. “They looked like they were scheming.”

Niall took a swig of water. “Brodie and Matilda. I think I’ll see if I can stay with Lachlan.”

“I’ll fight you for it.”

“My sword arm’s so stiff, you’d probably take me.”

“Mine too, but we can’t practice until they leave,” Duncan said.

Matilda headed back inside, almost running into Conall in the doorway. “Oh, hello there, Conrad?”

“Conall, ma’am.”

“Hm. Nice outfit.” She tilted her head, eyeing him up and down. “Don’t see many men in kilts. Hmmm. What is it you do here, again, Conrad?”

“I… security. I’m with security, ma’am.”

“Security, huh?” she said, eyes lingering on his legs. “And them?” she whispered loudly, nodding toward Duncan and Niall.

“They’re security too… ma’am. It’s a big place.”

“Security?” Matilda said, drawing the word out like taffy. “Hmm. Oh, there’s Shane. Shane, wait up.” Through the window, they saw Shane take off like a bullet.

Duncan grinned. “The only exercise we get around here lately is running from Matilda.”

“I swear. Can’t we put ’em in a hotel or something?” Conall asked.

Niall chuckled. “What’s the matter, Conrad? You don’t like her looking at your legs?”

“She’s looking at everybody’s legs,” Conall said. “You’d think she’d never seen a kilt.”

***

Shay dressed and slipped quietly down the hall. Cody had come to bed well after midnight, another meeting about demons and vampires. Sam’s image flashed through Shay’s head, but she squashed it. Cody couldn’t possibly use as much energy as he did loving her and still have leftovers for someone else. Nina and Matilda’s door was closed. They were sharing a room so Nina could keep an eye on Matilda. Each had taken one of Matilda’s sleeping pills, so they should still be sleeping. In spite of their sense of adventure, the two were getting on in years. Shay had no appetite that morning, so she went in search of the secret passage. She knew there was an entrance in the library. A table was piled with books that Bree had been studying. A thump came from near the fireplace. A dislodged book? Nothing was on the floor. She heard it again, a knocking sound. Was someone already inside the passage? Don’t let it be Matilda. Shay had brought the warriors enough trouble without Matilda’s antics.