Parry. Endless. Just as he was about to gain the upper hand, McKenna disappeared before his eyes.
“What the hell? Coward! Come back here!”
“Right here, McLoch.” McKenna stood behind him, his blade in a rather precarious place. “Yield or you’ll be Danielle come morning. As you said. Everything is a weapon. Magic alone won’t win the battles to come, nor will skill with a sword. Use any and all weapons that come to hand. Yield.”
Unlike his cousin, he knew when to retreat, not to mention he was particularly fond of that part of his anatomy. He let his sword fall to the ground. “I yield, for now, but this isn’t over, McKenna.”
The other man vanished again only to pop up in front of him.
“Good. So you aren’t stupid. A wise man knows when to retreat.” McKenna shouted back to Daemon, “He has skill and power. I’ll train him,” and picked up Devin’s sword and handed it to him. “We start an hour before sun-up, pretty boy. Don’t be late.”
Devin stood motionless and for once speechless as Kail flashed out of sight. “I could kill you for this. You brought that demon changeling onto my lands to kill me. I trusted you, Daemon. Leave.” He flipped a lock of dark wet auburn hair out of his eyes and rounded on the other man.
“I did.”
“I should kill you.”
“It is for the greater good. I do not wish to see you lying on the battlefield without your head, Devin. He can help make you strong enough to withstand the coming invasion. There’s nothing more I can teach you.”
“You will leave my lands immediately and never return here. Your actions are treason against the laird.”
“Hard-headed fool. Two years from now your father and brother will fall in battle to MacGavin’s sword. Without Kail’s help, you will die as well. Your clan will be no more. Women and children will suffer for your idiocy. MacGavin’s men will rape your mother and sisters, then kill them. Do you want to see that? I’m trying to help you. I turned my back on the fey to teach you.”
“You lie.”
“You know I do not. Look for yourself. I will leave at first light. If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
“If you aren’t gone by first light, I will destroy you.” Turning, he walked away from the battlefield back to Glen McLoch. Just trying to save his skin. He would never let MacGavin’s dogs get that close. I don’t need help from anyone.
Lowering his sword, the same he’d hefted in battle and kept for a thousand years, Devin breathed deep. He had been wrong then and his father and brother had paid the price. Daemon hadn’t left with the light. Instead of running while he had the chance, the faerie had spent the hours talking with Lady McLoch, trying to convince her to speak with her husband and son. His mother had failed to sway them from the task.
At dawn, he had ridden out with his father, hungry for blood. The murderous dog Daemon had invited inside the castle walls had vanished, but the faerie remained hidden in the forest surrounding the keep. With his magic, Devin had been able to get closer than the other warriors, and still the horrible power Daemon possessed kept him at bay. And it was why after centuries he still trained every morning with his blade and magic.
He sensed her power first–the dark nature of her gift–before Ari’s scent drifted over him. Desire lanced through him. He’d thought to give her a little space, but here she was, watching him. The clay man threw a fireball at his head. Countering, he beheaded the poppet in one fatal strike with his blade.
* * * *
Ari watched sweat trickle across Devin’s bare back as his muscles bunched and stretched with the force of his movements. He prowled around the training room, sword thrusting into obstacles made to take the damage, fighting invisible demons in the mirrored walls. Steps light. Stance graceful. Senses aware. Lethal. She watched him shift to avoid the poppet’s strike.
Ari slid into the corner
“What the hell? Coward! Come back here!”
“Right here, McLoch.” McKenna stood behind him, his blade in a rather precarious place. “Yield or you’ll be Danielle come morning. As you said. Everything is a weapon. Magic alone won’t win the battles to come, nor will skill with a sword. Use any and all weapons that come to hand. Yield.”
Unlike his cousin, he knew when to retreat, not to mention he was particularly fond of that part of his anatomy. He let his sword fall to the ground. “I yield, for now, but this isn’t over, McKenna.”
The other man vanished again only to pop up in front of him.
“Good. So you aren’t stupid. A wise man knows when to retreat.” McKenna shouted back to Daemon, “He has skill and power. I’ll train him,” and picked up Devin’s sword and handed it to him. “We start an hour before sun-up, pretty boy. Don’t be late.”
Devin stood motionless and for once speechless as Kail flashed out of sight. “I could kill you for this. You brought that demon changeling onto my lands to kill me. I trusted you, Daemon. Leave.” He flipped a lock of dark wet auburn hair out of his eyes and rounded on the other man.
“I did.”
“I should kill you.”
“It is for the greater good. I do not wish to see you lying on the battlefield without your head, Devin. He can help make you strong enough to withstand the coming invasion. There’s nothing more I can teach you.”
“You will leave my lands immediately and never return here. Your actions are treason against the laird.”
“Hard-headed fool. Two years from now your father and brother will fall in battle to MacGavin’s sword. Without Kail’s help, you will die as well. Your clan will be no more. Women and children will suffer for your idiocy. MacGavin’s men will rape your mother and sisters, then kill them. Do you want to see that? I’m trying to help you. I turned my back on the fey to teach you.”
“You lie.”
“You know I do not. Look for yourself. I will leave at first light. If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
“If you aren’t gone by first light, I will destroy you.” Turning, he walked away from the battlefield back to Glen McLoch. Just trying to save his skin. He would never let MacGavin’s dogs get that close. I don’t need help from anyone.
Lowering his sword, the same he’d hefted in battle and kept for a thousand years, Devin breathed deep. He had been wrong then and his father and brother had paid the price. Daemon hadn’t left with the light. Instead of running while he had the chance, the faerie had spent the hours talking with Lady McLoch, trying to convince her to speak with her husband and son. His mother had failed to sway them from the task.
At dawn, he had ridden out with his father, hungry for blood. The murderous dog Daemon had invited inside the castle walls had vanished, but the faerie remained hidden in the forest surrounding the keep. With his magic, Devin had been able to get closer than the other warriors, and still the horrible power Daemon possessed kept him at bay. And it was why after centuries he still trained every morning with his blade and magic.
He sensed her power first–the dark nature of her gift–before Ari’s scent drifted over him. Desire lanced through him. He’d thought to give her a little space, but here she was, watching him. The clay man threw a fireball at his head. Countering, he beheaded the poppet in one fatal strike with his blade.
* * * *
Ari watched sweat trickle across Devin’s bare back as his muscles bunched and stretched with the force of his movements. He prowled around the training room, sword thrusting into obstacles made to take the damage, fighting invisible demons in the mirrored walls. Steps light. Stance graceful. Senses aware. Lethal. She watched him shift to avoid the poppet’s strike.
Ari slid into the corner
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