Highland Fires by Donna Grant Page A

~
     
    Lugus opened his eyes when he heard the door
click shut. He had come awake the instant he had heard the door
open, and for a moment he wasn’t sure what Ahryn’s intentions were.
When he felt the blanket against his skin something had moved
within him. No one had done something out of kindness for him
in...an age.
    It wasn’t until she had closed the door
behind her that he allowed himself to open his eyes and turn on his
back. After he had repeatedly turned her away, she continued to
show him compassion. He didn’t understand why.
    Of all the people she bestowed her kindness
upon, he was the least deserving. And that’s when he realized he
never wanted her to know what he had done to be banished from the
Fae realm. He had seen laughter, determination, fear and kindness
in her mystical blue eyes. He did not want to see the loathing and
revulsion that was sure to shine through when she learned the
truth.
    For many years he had yearned for a Fae to
come and end his life for what he had done. But now...now he prayed
they didn’t. He needed to make sure Ahryn reached the Fae realm
unharmed and safe, then he would welcome death.
    Then he would seek it.
    Ahryn.
    Her name meant passion, and she embodied her
name like a well fit glove. Like most Fae, she was elegant,
beautiful and graceful, but she had other characteristics that
molded her--kindness, determination and faith.
    In his mind’s eye he pictured Ahryn’s lithe
body in his hands, her back arched, and her full breasts heavy and
eager for his touch. His body hardened as desire flared in him.
    Lugus closed his eyes and tried to erase
Ahryn’s image with one of Moira’s, but no matter how hard he tried,
he could not recall Moira. Not the shade of her hair, the feel of
her body, but especially not the green of her eyes.
    He ran a hand down his face and refused to
give in to the anxiety that rolled in his stomach. He told himself
it was because he concentrated on Ahryn and arriving safely at the
Isle of Skye that he couldn’t remember Moira’s face. Once Ahryn was
gone, then he would be able to remember details of Moira.
    With his conscious at ease, Lugus closed his
eyes and didn’t fight the fact that all he could think about was
Ahryn’s mystical blue eyes filled with passion.
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
    Ahryn woke feeling as though she hadn’t slept
more than an hour. She was tired, cranky and restless. Not a good
combination on a ship.
    She raised a hand and brushed the hair from
her eyes. Her dreams had been plagued with fear. She had been
running from something. At first, she had thought it was Marcus,
but soon came to realize it wasn’t him. It was something else,
something more dangerous...more evil.
    The jingle of the slave bracelet drew her
attention. She dreaded having to tell her family that she had been
impulsive and childish in leaving the realm and being caught by
humans. She knew her father would be slow to forgive her, but if
she needed anything, she could turn to her grandfather. He had
always been there for her.
    A soft knock brought her out of her musings.
“Who is it?” she asked as she sat up and clutched the blanket to
her chest.
    “Me,” Lugus answered. “I’ve come with food.
Are you decent?”
    She briefly thought about standing naked on
the bed to see if he would notice her but remembered the vow to
herself to leave him be.
    “Just a moment,” she said as she climbed out
of bed and hastily threw on her gown. She reached for the laces to
tie it and said, “You can enter now.”
    She concentrated on her laces as she heard
the door open, and Lugus stepped inside the small cabin. It was on
the tip of her tongue to ask him if he slept well on the hard floor
but bit her tongue before her crankiness could show through.
    He set the tray on the small table that was
nailed down to the floor planks and waited. Ahryn lowered her hands
and raised her gaze. She didn’t like the haggard look that had
replaced his cool features.
    “Thank you,” he