Read Online Enchanted Moon (Moon Magick Book II) by Amber Scott - Free Book Online

Between the storm, her husband disliking their
speaking, and her belly being swollen with an unborn babe, begging her aid
seemed wrong. He knew Breanne, though. She’d be furious if she could help and
wasn’t even asked. He found some peat and branches, which he broke over his
thigh, enjoying the tight snaps in the air. A lonely sounding howl echoed in
the air amid another rumble.
    Quinlan
strode back to the hovel with materials to build a small fire, warmth to keep a
few hours at best. He’d be back afore then, with Breanne’s instructions, if not
herself, in hand. He rapped on the thick wood, listening for movement. Two soft
voices carried through. Two women. Hushed. Hurried.
    The
door opened and he pushed his way in, arms laden and damned tired. “Did yer
friend awake, then?”
    “She’s
not lucid. I can’t understand what she’s saying.”
    “Not
surprising.” He set the load to the hearth and built a bed of peat and stack of
wood, eyeing the sleeping form. “What did she say?” he asked, glancing up at
Ailyn, whose eyes widened.
    “Nonsense.
Incoherent nonsense.”
    Not
good. He’d seen men go mad from battle wounds. He struck a piece of flint down
onto the small chunk of steel, skating the glowing specks at the peat.
Something felt off, though. Was Ailyn lying? He felt she must be, but to accuse
as much would only push the lass deeper into her distrust of him. And to what
end? What the woman said wasna his concern. Quinlan shook off the urge to prod
and focused on the flint and sparks, blowing flames to life.
    At
last, he rose.
    She
backed up a pace, her hands in fists she might not even be aware of yet seeing
them irked him. He pushed back the ire.
    “I’ll
be leaving you here. But I’ll return with a healer for your friend. I cannot
force you to stay, the storm might, but I ask you to stay, regardless. Your
friend isna fit for travel.”
    Something
akin to pain flitted over her eyes. Again, she jerked her chin as a nod.
    “I’ve
not been in here in years. I dinna ken what you’ll find, but you’re welcome to
whatever you do. Just take care. King Niall’s former Druid made his home here,
and he met an untimely death.” His hands took over where explanation ran dry,
gesturing in circles. “Blankets and clothing are all I mean.”
    “Thank
you,” she said, which took him aback.
    The
words were not easily spoken. She more gritted them out than spoke them. And
yet they pleased him, soothing his ire. Enough that he found himself speechless
again, simply meeting her eyes, wondering who she was, why she’d come to cross
his path this night. Thunder cracked overhead. The wind whined. Quinlan left
Ailyn and faced the stormy night.
    Hearing
her latch the bar gave him the small comfort of knowing she was able to follow
instructions. Hysterics would undo her, and he knew not what stock she came
from. With such delicate features, such pale, creamy skin, he likened her to be
from the south, perhaps she’d come by the sea itself.
    On
foot, the trek to Breanne’s home just outside the keep, might take an hour. He
set to a running pace, feeling the storm drawing ever closer. Dampness hung in
the air, clinging to his skin. His stomach growled. His energy waned. Ailyn’s
frightened eyes flashed through his mind again and again.
    Her
fear wasna akin to a caged animal. It was unlike most fear he’d witnessed in
his life and battling at Wallace’s side had exposed him to a breadth of range
in human fear. Ailyn’s fear had a specificity to it that niggled his mind,
making him puzzle over it. It wasna him, nor the wolf, and he suspected neither
did her fear hang over the wounded woman. There was more.
    A
full downpour hit, forcing him to give up his pace. Within seconds, Quinlan was
soaked to the bone. He had to seek cover. He cursed over the lost minutes that
would quickly become hours, but the inky dark and rain left him no choice.
Stumbling through the haze, he found shelter under a tree. He’d have to