Lucan glanced at the bright blue sky. There wasn’t a cloud in sight. “Just how much do you know of us?”
Galen grinned and shrugged. “I’ve heard stories of the MacLeods since I was but a wee lad. Tales of how the clan was killed, how three brothers escaped, never to be seen again. You and your brothers are spoken of from the Highlands to England. I doubt there are a few who don’t know of you.”
“Interesting.” Lucan wasn’t at all happy to hear that. If he was ever to leave the castle, he would have to change his name. And that’s one thing he didn’t want to do.
“And you’ve been here the entire time?” Galen asked.
Lucan looked up at the castle. “For most of it. There was nowhere else for us to go. Our lands were divided, but the castle still stood. People were afraid of it, so we used that to our advantage.”
“A brilliant idea.”
“And you? You stayed in the forest?”
Galen shrugged. “I venture out every now and again. I like to keep up with the world. It’s changed so little, yet so much.”
Lucan glanced at Galen’s threadbare kilt. “Aye.”
“There is no telling how long any of us will live, Lucan. You need to leave the castle and see the world. There’s no reason you can’t blend in.”
Lucan glanced at Cara to find her watching him. “I could, but Quinn cannot. Fallon, either, for that matter. We’re a family. We stay together.”
Cara’s hand slid around his arm. He covered her hand with his. The simplest touch from her was like a piece of heaven. He gazed into her mahogany depths and found serenity.
“Ready?” she asked.
He stood and helped her to her feet. “Ready.”
Fallon leaned against the castle, his arms crossed over his chest. Lucan knew that staid look of his brother’s. Fallon wouldn’t transform.
That left only Galen.
Lucan grimaced.
Galen laughed and jumped to his feet. “Don’t look so upset, Lucan. I wouldna hurt Cara. I like her.”
Lucan felt his teeth lengthen as anger burned his veins. Galen’s knowing grin told Lucan he had known exactly what his comment would do to him.
“Stop it,” Cara said. “Both of you. Lucan, Galen won’t hurt me. Galen, Lucan needs to trust you. This isn’t helping.”
“You’re right.” The smile faded and Galen faced Lucan with sincerity in his blue eyes. “My apologies, Lucan. It’s been a while since I’ve needled anyone. I couldn’t help myself.”
Lucan nodded to Galen, then turned to Cara. “We’ll start out slow and pick up speed.”
He glanced at Galen, who gave a tilt of his head as they both turned. Lucan was the first to attack Cara. He went after her hands, but she was quick and kept out of his reach. Her blade hit against his chest as she spun away.
Lucan followed her, and this time Galen attacked from behind. She arched her back to avoid Galen’s reach and put the tip of her sword at Lucan’s neck.
He smiled at her as they stepped back. The next attack, Galen went first. He reached for her. She slammed the hilt of her dagger in his face. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her. Lucan joined in, and when he would have grabbed for her legs, she kicked him in the gut.
Lucan staggered back, amazed at the power she wielded in her legs. When he looked at Galen again, he was bent over, holding his nose, while Cara stood a few paces away.
Fallon clapped. “You get better each time, Cara. I almost feel sorry for the Warriors and wyrran that try to attack you.”
“Aye,” Galen said as he straightened. He wiped his nose, even though the blood had already stopped. “What have you been teaching her, Lucan?”
Lucan looked at his woman, pride swelling his heart. “She’s a natural.”
Galen snorted. “I don’t know that she needs much more practice. It might be good if we could get Quinn and Fallon to join in, give her an idea of what it will really be like.”
“Maybe.” Lucan didn’t want her to experience anything. He wanted her kept safe, locked away where Deirdre could never reach her.
But deep down Lucan knew Deirdre would capture Cara. There was nowhere he could take Cara, nowhere he could hide her, that Deirdre wouldn’t find.
Whether he wanted Cara prepared or not, she had to be.
She walked to him. “I’ll stay by your side in the attack.”
He pulled her into his arms and covered her mouth with his. She sank into him, parting her lips so their tongues could meet. His body hardened, hungering for yet another taste of her. His balls tightened as he imagined lifting her in his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist as he buried himself in her wet heat. When he broke the kiss, the pulse at her neck jumped and her eyes dilated.
“That was nice,” she whispered.
Behind her, Lucan saw Fallon and Galen turn away. He didn’t care that they had seen him kiss her. He wanted them to know Cara was his. He wanted to shout it to the world, that this amazing, courageous woman was his.
He was about to take her into the castle to make love to her when he heard Fallon say something.
“What was that?” Lucan asked.
Galen laughed and walked into the castle.
Fallon turned around and shrugged innocently. “I asked if either of you were ready to work on the traps.”
Lucan didn’t believe him for a moment. Even with Lucan’s advanced hearing, his desire for Cara had prevented him from hearing what Fallon had really said.
“Aye,” Cara said, and pulled out of Lucan’s arms.
Lucan had no choice but to follow. However, he intended to find some time alone with Cara. Soon.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Cara had just finished setting aside some bread to rise when Quinn walked into the kitchen and laid six large fish on the table.
“I don’t think that will be enough with Galen’s appetite,” she said with a smile.
Quinn shrugged. “It’s why I’m going hunting.”
“The others are setting the traps for the Warriors.”
He glanced at her, his green eyes holding no emotion. “Let Lucan and Fallon know I’ll be back later.”
Quinn left the kitchen on silent feet. It was obvious he wanted, and needed, time alone. She wished she could help him. None of the Warriors were responsible for what was inside them. They deserved happiness, but it appeared some didn’t want it.
She reached for the fish and began cleaning them. Once that was done, she found herself in the garden. She was almost afraid to touch the plants, but if Galen was right and she could help them grow, she wanted to try.
Cara knelt by the herb she had nearly killed the previous day and cupped her hands around it. She stroked the leaves with her thumb, putting all her energy into the plant.
“I’m sorry I hurt you,” she whispered. “It wasn’t my intent. I’m new to my magic. Grow for me. Please.”
One heartbeat, two, three . . . and still nothing happened. She was about to give up when the small leaves that had been brown and wrinkled began to unfurl. Bright green replaced the dead edges.
Her heart pumped faster as she witnessed the alteration. She wished Lucan was with her, but she could show him later. Until then, there were other plants that needed her help.
