Chapter Twenty-One
“STILL NO TELEPATHICcommunication with Cray then?” she asked later in the day as they made their way north. It had remained cool and gusty. Black-bellied clouds sat on the horizon, threatening more rain. “Just the strong sense you and Tiernan had about him earlier after what looked like fire appeared on Tiernan’s tattoo?”
“Aye, just the strong sense,” Aidan confirmed grimly. “We still cannae reach Cray.”
Everyone had discussed it as they traveled, coming to no set conclusion other than the illusion of fire appearing at the same moment they sensed Cray’s anger, was telling. Then, only an hour before, their cousin Ethyn had made contact from MacLomain Castle. Acting as Laird in Tiernan’s absence, he had remained at the castle to oversee things. It seemed he too had seen the fiery spot on Tiernan’s tattoo in his mind’s eye. Cray’s brother, Laird Marek MacLeod, had as well from MacLeod Castle.
Though their connection had been brief, it was revealing.
“Tiernan’s tattoo is becoming a point of telepathic connection betwixt us,” Aidan had explained. “To what degree is yet to be seen.”
“That’s a good thing then,” she’d replied. “A step in the right direction?”
“Aye, we believe it is,” he had said. “More so, Julie’s magic believes it is.”
They had been traveling over half the day, only stopping briefly to let the horses rest. Despite the possibility of danger around every corner in this era, it was a rather pleasant afternoon of getting to know Aidan better. Not just talking but feeling his thoughts brush hers kept her smiling more often than not.
Though she had felt comfortable with him before, now it was almost as if she were catching up with an old friend. Which, in a way, she was. While she would have thought it should feel strange learning everything she had last night, it almost felt natural. As if her whole life had been a dream up until this point.
Now she was finally waking up.
He was different too. The shadows that had haunted his eyes were no longer there. As if a great weight had been lifted. She was glad he took everything so well. It couldn’t be easy learning the person you loved was cast beneath a spell. But he seemed to be taking it in stride and more lighthearted by the moment.
Well, as lighthearted as one could be considering their circumstances.
Which brought her back to the here and now and their current conversation.
“So the sun looking fiery over that part of Tiernan’s tat likely represented the anger from Cray’s inner dragon,” she said. “And the stone or Stonehenge it flickered over is likely the one he and his Broun will be connected to?”
“That’s the assumption.” Though she already had a blanket around her shoulders, he wrapped another around them both, cocooning her more securely against the biting wind. “I cannae imagine what kind of trouble he’s gotten himself into.” He shook his head. “Whatever it is, ‘tis unwise. That I dinnae doubt.”
He had been affectionate all day, sometimes holding her hand, other times murmuring in her ear. On occasion, he simply offered comfort, subconsciously soothing her. Helping her navigate all she was discovering about herself. About them and the lives they had shared.
Yet through it all, he aroused her, giving her the unfailing impression he was eager to explore her. Touch all the places he hadn’t the night before. Add to that, the erection often pressed against her backside, and she remained turned on to no end.
“It can’t be easy having his dragon repressed,” she pointed out, trying to focus on the conversation. On Cray, when all she could think about was Aidan. “That’s got to put a guy in a bad mood.”
“Och,” Aidan muttered but made no further comment. While he might sound upset about whatever Cray had done, she sensed he was worried about his cousin too. That he was finally letting go of old anger and seeing things clearly now.
As it turned out, they caught up with Robert and Donald’s retinue shortly before they arrived in Perth. Cray rode toward the rear, his expression so fierce the men ahead kept casting wary glances back at him.
“’Tis about time ye caught up,” Cray grunted in greeting. “I’ve kept up with Donald's lot, so they know we are still here, but I would rather fall back for a time.”
“What happened, Cousin?” Tiernan urged him to stop his horse, so everyone could speak privately. He told Cray what had transpired with his tattoo. “Those of us with MacLomain blood saw the fire and sensed your anger.”
Cray thought about it for a moment before he realized.
“Aye!” His dragon eyes flared, and he said the last thing they expected. “The bloody lass was in my head again, rattling on about numbers!”
“So you werenae fighting with one of Donald or Bruce’s men?” Aidan said.
“Nay, I know better than to do that,” Cray muttered, though one had to wonder based on the disgusted look he shot the retinue. “Not to say I wouldnae like to clash swords with the earl for being a bloody fool.”
“Did Madison say the same thing as before?” Chloe asked, more concerned about her friend than anything. After all, it had to be daunting being anywhere near Cray’s mind. “About paying attention to the number of men possessed? How their possession made me vulnerable?”
“Aye,” he confirmed. “Then she kept saying there was one too many. Always one too many.”
Tiernan frowned. “Did you ask her what she meant?”
