“You canna think of making love. You’re injured.”
“No’ where it counts, and of course I want to make love to my lovely mate. The first night in our new quarters? No one to bother us? No Nelly to warn us the kitchen staff is coming?”
Aisling laughed. Then she started to undress him, removing his plaid and boots. His shirt was already off because Blair had to bandage his wounds.
Then Aisling quickly removed her clothes, no’ wanting him to have to waste the energy. She kissed around his bandaged areas, but before she thought he would be ready, he had her flat on her back on the bed and was pressed in between her legs.
His manhood was poised to enter her, but he did as before, coaxed her into the most delicious feeling she’d ever felt. Then he was centering himself and thrusting into her as if he was in pain, and he wanted to make love to her as quickly as possible.
She didn’t mind. She wanted to make love to him as fast as possible, just to feel his shaft deep inside her before hefinally came. She held his face and kissed him. Then they came together, her being careful not to press against his wounds. He pulled the blankets and furs over them.
Next time will be longer, I promise,” he said, stroking her back.
“Quick or long, I love being with you like this.” She had no regrets as long as he didn’t.
Then they dozed off to sleep until she heard a little whispered voice next to the bed.
“Coinneach, my lady, wake up. Trouble is brewing beyond yonder door.”
“Niven?” Aisling asked, still half asleep.
“Aye, the guards loyal to Morag are here. The two who were in the dungeon briefly, and the two who were waiting for you at the door.”
She sat up. Coinneach was dead asleep. “Coinneach, wake up. Guards loyal to Morag are outside our chamber door.”
Coinneach scrambled to get out of bed. Aisling shifted into her wolf. Then she howled, the best and fastest way for her to let others know they were in trouble. Coinneach also howled, but as a human. He hastened to bolt the door, but Niven had already done it. He hadn’t thought they would have any more trouble, so he hadn’t done so last night.
Niven helped him to dress.
“Where did you come from?” Coinneach asked Niven.
“Through that little trapdoor. I heard the men coming and then slipped into the room next door and came in through there.”
“Aisling, I want you and Niven to go through the door.”
She shook her head.
“You can attack them while I try to go after them from here. Others should be here shortly. To help us.”
She didn’t want to leave him, and if there were four men, she would be cut down in short order.
When she went through the door meant for a wolf or a small lad, she found she was in the chamber where Magnus, Elspeth, and Tamhas had been sleeping. Tamhas was already getting dressed. Magnus was following suit. Elspeth was in her wolf form.
Niven came into the room after that and explained the trouble.
“I have my sword, but, da, you do no’,” Tamhas said.
“I’ll get Aisling’ssgian dubh.” Then Niven stole into her room before she could stop him.
She slipped out of the chamber and saw the four traitorous guards conversing in whispers, trying her chamber door and finding it locked. All four had their swords out. There was no doubt in her mind what they planned to do. Avenge Morag’s death with her and Coinneach’s deaths, even though Morag caused her own death by setting the croft and herself ablaze.
Aisling waited for reinforcements, but one of the men suddenly saw her. That was not good. He rushed at her with his sword. She tore off, not about to face down his sword with her wolf’s teeth. She ran down the stairs to the next landing, where Hamish and Collum were coming up. Several men who were staying in the couple’s quarters were also following behind them in various stages of undress, but all armed.
She quickly shifted and said, “The four guards who were supportive of Morag are at our chamber door with the intent to kill us. Coinneach is in the chamber, armed with his sword.” Then she changed back into her wolf and followed after them.
Hamish was the first to reach the stone corridor, his sword raised, catching the glint of torchlight as he intercepted the gray-bearded man. The two met at the threshold of Coinneach andAisling’s chamber, steel grinding against steel with a shriek that echoed down the ancient hall.
The gray-bearded man aimed each blow to incapacitate, while Hamish fought with a deep sense of duty that gave an edge to every parry. For a moment, it was as if the rest of the world had fallen away, leaving only the clang and rasp of their duel, the two men determined not to yield.
