True.
It had been an eventful day for me, and I could feel my energy draining with each hour. I wanted naught more than to return to my cottage and curl around my Mate. Iwould…just as soon as I finished with this clan business.
Why had the Battleborn chief come here, and why now? Where was the rest of his clan? They were fierce warriors, ones the Bloodfire clan couldn’t afford to make enemies of…but Tarbert had planned ongiftingme to the Stormseeker… Did he want me dead?
I felt my claws extending, and I forced myself to shake off the exhaustion.
The other male pulled his dark cloak more snuggly around himself.
“I hear congratulations are in order? Ye’ve found yer Mate. The brave lass from Tarbert Keep, I assume?”
At his words, I relaxed somewhat. He’d seen her bravery, and recognized it for what it was?
“Aye,” I agreed gruffly. “Tarbert’s youngest daughter. She cared for me in the dungeon, and I kenned then who she was.”
The Stormseeker’s grin was lightning-fast, a mere glint in the firelight.
“Then ye are lucky indeed, to deal Tarbert such a blow. He is one of the reasons I’ve come to find ye.”
Sighing, I resisted the urge to pinch the brow of my nose. “Oneof the reasons?”
“I have others, but ye are recently recovered from yer wounds, and I’ll no’ keep ye from yer bed for too long. My lieutenant and I—” he gestured to the silent, scowling giant at his side, “—heard the commotion and thought to approach ye tonight.”
“Where’s the rest of yer warriors?” I asked wearily, not certain I could handle the diplomatic tip-toeing such a discussion required. I was too tired to worry about a fookingwar…but I couldn’t put my clan in danger.
“They did no’ come,” the Battleborn chief said. “This was between the two of us?—”
“Ye owe an explanation to more than just Kragorn,” Vartok rumbled angrily, and the Stormseeker inclined his head in what might have been agreement.
“Aye, ye’re right. But what I have to say can wait until yer chief can keep his eyes open.”
“I’mfine,” I growled, pushing myself to my feet to prove my point. “What news do ye have of Tarbert?”
Stormseeker would have had to have left Tarbert Keep shortly after I did in order to cross back through the veilto our world at the full moon. He met with Vartok and Myra on Islay two days later, as they were gathering the herbs to make the tea which had kept me alive this last fortnight.
So, what could he know about Tarbert?
The male exchanged a glance with his hulking bodyguard and now faced me once more. “Tarbert is with the Bladesedge. He must have crossed over the same time ye and I did. They’re planning to attack ye.”
My blood ran cold. “For Lillian?” I rasped.
The Stormseeker shrugged. “Who knows why the bastard does aught? He didnae seem to show her much affection at their Hogmanay celebration. Mayhap ‘tis to avenge the humiliation of being stolen by ye.”
“Fook,” I muttered, pressing a thumb to my temple and turning away. “Fook. I thought he would head back to his castle once I released him.”
“His men attacked my brother on the night of the full moon,” Vartok explained. “Lillian managed to get him through the veil, but he was severely wounded.”
Oh, fabulous, now my twin was sharing my humiliation with a possible enemy?
“That makes sense.” The Battleborn chief’s drawl was unhurried. “He would have sent men after ye, as he went in the other direction to cross the Bladesedge stones. Is that his cloak ye’re wearing?”
This time, my groan was audible, and I swear I heard the bastard chuckle.
“Fook off,” I muttered, then scowled because ‘twas a weakinsult. What can I say? I’d been feverish for a fortnight and I’d spent the day pleasuring my Mate. I wasdrained.
Vartok’s palm landed on my shoulder.
“I would hear what other reasons the Stormseeker sought ye out.”
