Sea Wolf Magick (Highlander Magick Series Book 2) by Patty Taylor Page A
Authors: Patty Taylor
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blame, it’s the bloody Maras Queen.”
“McGregor’s right, Beth.” Quinn squeezed her trembling fingers inside his own and spotted the tense lines on her face relaxing. “Finley was just a young lad. He didna stand a chance against her evil wiles. Gunther was a true warrior with a kindhearted soul. He sacrificed himself to save his friend’s life.”
Seagulls calling overhead and waves washing on the shore broke the sullen silence on their trek back to the sandy beach. Beth pointed to a school of playful dolphins leaping from the water.
They stopped in front of the bobbing boat tied to a dead stump. Quinn gripped the side of the rig while Beth stepped inside. She lifted McGregor’s crutch and lent him a hand. Quinn waited patiently until both were seated before shoving the boat further in the water and jumping inside. He grabbed the oars and rowed, heading for the Sea Wolf.
The rest of the crew stood waiting at the helm. They helped McGregor on board first, and then Beth. Quinn looped the rope and fastened the hook into a knot before clambering up the corded ladder. Several of the men assisted McGregor to his cabin while the others heaved the rowboat back on board.
Quinn watched Beth wander to the spot where old Dudley was murdered. His men did a good job making sure the bloodstains had been wiped clean before Beth came back aboard. Quinn returned in time to find his remaining crew coming around after being drugged. Leaving a few men on board to guard the ship, the rest followed him back to land. They quickly filled the deadly trap with fresh ground and stones so no one else would fall to a terrible death.
Beth gathered a shawl around her shoulders and darted for Quinn’s cabin. He didn’t try to stop her. She had witnessed enough death and burials for one day.
He strolled over to the rest of the crew waiting to put the old seaman named Dudley, to rest. The mourners gathered around their friend’s body wrapped in a heavy tarp. The men quietly retreated after the service and returned to their duties.
Quinn stopped, deciding to give Beth some privacy. Without even realizing what she was doing, she’d turned into her she-wolf to save his life. He would check in on her later after she had some rest. There was still something important they needed to do before they left Shetland Islands.
Like ugly black clouds hovering over a haunted castle, the dismal silence enveloping the ship was eerie and unsettling. Beth raced across the deck to the top of the steps that led to Quinn’s cabin and stopped, watching Quinn join the others gathered around the old man’s corpse. She choked back the tears ready to explode and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
The image of Gunther’s reassuring eyes focused on her, while taking his final breath bore in her mind. She bolted down the narrow stairway like a frightened rabbit and shoved the door open.
“Kalista?” Beth called, eager to see her winged companion. The dragon’s presence was comforting to her. She grabbed the leather pouch from inside her pocket, strolled over to the feed bowl, and dumped the contents inside. A handful of squiggling shrimp waved their long whiskered antennae in the air. “Come on, Kalista, I have a surprise for you.”
A tapping sounded at the door. She turned to see McGregor standing in the doorway, leaning on his crutch. “May I come in, lass?”
“What are you doing up? You should be resting in bed and keeping off that leg.” Beth rushed over and grabbed his arm, helping him to the chair.
“I thought ye might need some company.” A loud sigh escaped from his scratched lips as he settled in the chair and laid the crutch on his lap. “’Twas a brave thing ye did this morning. Ye not only saved the Captin’s life, but you managed to bring your wolf into the world for the first time, all on your own. ’Tis quite an accomplishment at that. Beggin’ yer pardon for me saying so, lass, but she’s a strikin’ beauty that one.
“McGregor’s right, Beth.” Quinn squeezed her trembling fingers inside his own and spotted the tense lines on her face relaxing. “Finley was just a young lad. He didna stand a chance against her evil wiles. Gunther was a true warrior with a kindhearted soul. He sacrificed himself to save his friend’s life.”
Seagulls calling overhead and waves washing on the shore broke the sullen silence on their trek back to the sandy beach. Beth pointed to a school of playful dolphins leaping from the water.
They stopped in front of the bobbing boat tied to a dead stump. Quinn gripped the side of the rig while Beth stepped inside. She lifted McGregor’s crutch and lent him a hand. Quinn waited patiently until both were seated before shoving the boat further in the water and jumping inside. He grabbed the oars and rowed, heading for the Sea Wolf.
The rest of the crew stood waiting at the helm. They helped McGregor on board first, and then Beth. Quinn looped the rope and fastened the hook into a knot before clambering up the corded ladder. Several of the men assisted McGregor to his cabin while the others heaved the rowboat back on board.
Quinn watched Beth wander to the spot where old Dudley was murdered. His men did a good job making sure the bloodstains had been wiped clean before Beth came back aboard. Quinn returned in time to find his remaining crew coming around after being drugged. Leaving a few men on board to guard the ship, the rest followed him back to land. They quickly filled the deadly trap with fresh ground and stones so no one else would fall to a terrible death.
Beth gathered a shawl around her shoulders and darted for Quinn’s cabin. He didn’t try to stop her. She had witnessed enough death and burials for one day.
He strolled over to the rest of the crew waiting to put the old seaman named Dudley, to rest. The mourners gathered around their friend’s body wrapped in a heavy tarp. The men quietly retreated after the service and returned to their duties.
Quinn stopped, deciding to give Beth some privacy. Without even realizing what she was doing, she’d turned into her she-wolf to save his life. He would check in on her later after she had some rest. There was still something important they needed to do before they left Shetland Islands.
Like ugly black clouds hovering over a haunted castle, the dismal silence enveloping the ship was eerie and unsettling. Beth raced across the deck to the top of the steps that led to Quinn’s cabin and stopped, watching Quinn join the others gathered around the old man’s corpse. She choked back the tears ready to explode and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
The image of Gunther’s reassuring eyes focused on her, while taking his final breath bore in her mind. She bolted down the narrow stairway like a frightened rabbit and shoved the door open.
“Kalista?” Beth called, eager to see her winged companion. The dragon’s presence was comforting to her. She grabbed the leather pouch from inside her pocket, strolled over to the feed bowl, and dumped the contents inside. A handful of squiggling shrimp waved their long whiskered antennae in the air. “Come on, Kalista, I have a surprise for you.”
A tapping sounded at the door. She turned to see McGregor standing in the doorway, leaning on his crutch. “May I come in, lass?”
“What are you doing up? You should be resting in bed and keeping off that leg.” Beth rushed over and grabbed his arm, helping him to the chair.
“I thought ye might need some company.” A loud sigh escaped from his scratched lips as he settled in the chair and laid the crutch on his lap. “’Twas a brave thing ye did this morning. Ye not only saved the Captin’s life, but you managed to bring your wolf into the world for the first time, all on your own. ’Tis quite an accomplishment at that. Beggin’ yer pardon for me saying so, lass, but she’s a strikin’ beauty that one.
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