Read Online Dragon's Mate [Cairgorm Dragons 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Clair de Lune - Free Book Online Page A

fruits, like raspberries, loganberries, and strawberries, were grown in the gardens. Others, like blackberries, were gathered from the hedgerows. Preserved mushrooms were kept there, and some shelves were set aside for the apples, when they were ripe. Some of the apples would be used to make cider, some left for the table. Pears and plums were also preserved for the table in winter, and elderflowers gathered to make a strong cordial. Uisge beatha was made by an old woman in the settlement, who would pass the secret recipe on to her daughters and granddaughters. Nuts would be gathered and stored in the rush baskets, set aside for that purpose, on the shelves. There was another store, which held nothing but potatoes and vegetables. They were about to go to see that, when a small boy came running up, to ask Seonag to return to the kitchens, where she was needed. Eilidh said she’d stay and look around. Seonag left, taking the small boy with her. Eilidh sent a thought to Braemuir, as he sat in the council discussing Ness’s request.
    “Stay there and await Seonag’s return. Don’t leave the buildings alone. Take care, mo run . I’ll be with you for luncheon.”
    Eilidh picked up a few jars and read the labels, all written out in beautiful copperplate. She wondered who had written them. Suddenly she felt uneasy again. The hair on the back of her neck prickled. She turned around, but no one was there. Stupid, there is no one there. You are imagining it. She turned back, but the feelings persisted. She could feel that someone was watching her. She turned round again, looked down, and saw a note had been pushed under the door. She picked it up and read.
     
    If you want to see your parents again, come at once to the small copse, at the bottom of the garden . Tell no one and come alone.
     
    Eilidh dropped the note, flew out of the room and raced to the copse at the bottom of the garden. She was frantic. She knew who had her parents. She gave no thought to what was going to happen. She just ran.
    “Eilidh, don’t go, Eilidh , wait. Wait for me. It’s a trap. I’m coming , my love.”
    She heard him, but she took no notice. That evil man had her parents because of her. She had to go to stop him hurting them. She ran into the copse, frantically calling her parents. She heard a chuckle behind her. Whirling , she saw the same man, masked and now standing between her and safety.
    “Where are my parents? What have you done with them?”
    “Come with me , and I’ll show you.”
    “No. How do I know you have them?”
    “Well, I’ll just go and get rid of them , as you aren’t interested in saving them.” He turned and strode off. She ran after him, clutching his arm.
    “No, please, I’ll come with you. Don’t hurt them.”
    He took hold of her arm and hurried her out of the copse and down to the coast. He rushed her along the shore, and into a cave. There, in the gloom, were her parents, gagged and bound to stakes.
    “Let them go. Please let them go. Take me instead,” she begged.
    “Stupid cunt.” He grabbed her, gagged her , and loaded her with the iron chains again. He lashed her to one of the stakes, next to her parents.
    “I’m so sorry that I can’t stay and watch. I have to go and be seen about.” He laughed and left the cave.
    Eilidh struggled and fought to free herself and her parents. They were deep under the earth and, try as she might, she couldn’t feel Braemuir’s mind. The cave was a sea-cave and, sooner or later, the tide would come in, and they’d drown. The evil man was nothing if not consistent, letting the sea do his work. She looked at her parents with tears in her eyes .T he gag stopped her even saying goodbye. Her unborn child would die and Braemuir , too. What have I done? She threw herself from side to side, trying to to move the stake. It wasn’t moving at all . T he chains swung, but they stayed in place. This couldn’t be the end.

Chapter Ten
     
    Braemuir leaped up out of his