Celtic Fury (38 page)

As the last shovel of dirt was tossed on Roderick’s grave, Rory heard a single short sob leave Brielle, but she hiccupped it back and walked forward, never lending even so much as a glance back at the keep behind her. Rory worried her heart was hurting, but as he viewed her strength and resolve, he was calmed somewhat. She was going to be alright, of that he was certain. She mounted her horse and waited as they helped Liam into a cart to travel back home. Liam was not happy about having to return home like an invalid, but he could not sit comfortably on his horse yet. He had somehow made a remarkable recovery since being struck with the arrow, but he was still weak and living with a good deal of pain. Brielle’s heart still hurt thinking of how he had taken that arrow to save her life. She knew there was nothing she could ever do to repay him or to make up for what he had endured.

Rory rode up next to Brielle. She was sitting her horse stoically. He longed to take her into his arms to protect her and give her a place to let lose the tears he was certain she wished to cry.

“Are ye alright, Bri?”

She nodded and said, “Aye, fine.”

“Can I do anything for ye’?”

“Nay, just let’s leave this place. I am anxious to leave my past behind.”

“Aye, Angel. I know. We will ride home now and we will turn from the past and seek our future.”

As they set out, Rory continued to notice Brielle’s silence. He rode beside her and observed her silently. She had not been ill this morning, so he guessed her silence was just from all the anxiety of the day. He let her have her silence, but offered her his strength by just riding beside her. There was time enough for words later. For now, Rory was content to just be near her.

Toward late afternoon, the riding party stopped to water the horses and stretch their legs. As Brielle stooped by a stream and cupped water to drink, Rory approached her from behind. After she had slaked her thirst, Rory helped her up and hugged her. She breathed in a deep sigh and allowed the warmth of his body to seep into her chilled flesh. How many times had he done that since they had found each other? It was something she had grown accustomed to. It was becoming quite the habit. She looked up at him and said, “I’m sorry, Ruiri.”

Kissing her hair, he said, “Oh, why, M'love?”

“I know I have been moody and sullen.”

Rory smiled down at her and said, “Oh, have ye’?  I hadn’t really noticed
,”
he teased.

He kissed her cool lips gently and felt her arms snake around his neck. After another kiss, he said, “I just wanted ye’ to be alright.” 

“With every mile we put between
us and
the keep, I feel freer of the choking hold I felt upon being there.” 

Rory smiled and then said, “Ye’ still want to marry me, then?”

Now Brielle smiled up at him. Her lilac eyes met the warm liquid gold of Rory’s.

“Did ye’ think I no longer wanted to marry ye’ because of my moodiness?”

“Well, a man sometimes needs reassurance, too, Brielle
,”
Rory said, with his grin growing. Kissing him deeply, she said, “Aye, oh Aye, I still want to marry ye’. I am so lucky to have this second chance to be with ye’. Marrying ye’ will be the perfect fate for me…” 

Reaching up to him, she kissed him, enjoying the feel of his lips pressing hers. She felt his arms drawing her more firmly to his chest and they nearly forgot they were not entirely alone. They kissed deeply, feeling the wonderful passion rising between them. They were far enough away from the others to not be teased too much.

Brielle sighed and she said, “Ahhh Ruiri, I love ye’ so much. Thank ye’ so much for standing with me today.”

He stroked his fingers gently down her cheek and he said, “I wasna’ certain ye’ even knew I was there. Ye’ were so quiet.”

“I knew ye’ were there. Oh, I definitely knew ye’ were there. I was drawing on your strength and it kept me strong.” 

Rory kissed her, holding her tightly and feeling the wonderful comfort of her lips against his. She sighed deeply, feeling the wonderful rush of heat flood her from his kiss and his touch.

“When ye’ kiss me like that…I canna help wanting ye’.”

“Oh, aye?
Hmmm, perhaps we need to find a little spot to be alone, perhaps behind those trees, Aye?” Although Brielle blushed, her eyes were bright. Tucking her cheek against his chest, she said, “But the others…they might look for us…”

“Then I shall moan loudly and they shall know not to disturb us.”

“Rory!”

Rory kissed her deeply and said, “I will not embarrass ye’. I will wait to make love to ye’ if ye can wait.”

She looked up at him and said honestly, “I dunna’ wish to wait, Ruiri, but I think we must. I want to be alone with ye’ and love ye’ and not have to worry about being interrupted.”

Rory laughed softly and he took her mouth in a kiss that promised passion to follow. With a cheeky grin, he said, “Ye’ know, we can do it quickly…I suspect it won’t take long for either of us.”

She nestled in his arms, kissing him deeply, and actually giving his suggestion some thought. They just reveled in a few moments of reconnecting from the distance that had seemed to spring between them while they had remained at Campbell.

Chapter Thirty-Six

“Take yer’ filthy hands off my sister,” came a growl from before them.

Rory drew his sword and pulled Brielle behind him.
Bloody hell! Derek Campbell!
  He must have been tracking them the entire time.

“Get away from us, Derek. Dunna’ make him kill ye’ as well. I am going with him.”

Rory wanted to smile at the feisty response of
his
Brielle, and he would have had it not been so dangerous a situation.

“Easy, Brielle. Just let me handle this
.
So, ye’ finally have thought to make an appearance! Ye’ lay one finger on my wife and I will gladly cut yer’ hand off. Now, step back.”

“Yer’ wife? I just heard ye’ ask her to marry ye’.”

“Aye, in a church. We are wed by the Ancient Rite. I wanted her to have a proper wedding.”

“She had a proper wedding when she married Marcus Val Cour, of which her mourning time is not complete, therefore no marriage to ye’, pagan or otherwise is valid.”

“A proxy wedding is a sham, not to mention that marriage was ne’er consummated. She is my wife by all rights.” 

Rory knew that saying such a thing would probably embarrass Brielle, but it was the truth and he had the proof. He did not tell Brielle that he had carefully tucked the bedding away in his things after their first night together. When they had spoken their vows, Rory had decided he wanted there to be no question that her previous marriage had never been consummated. Brielle’s marriage to Val ‘Cour was null by all rights.

“What do ye’ want? I would think ye’ would be happy to be rid of Brielle from the way ye’ have treated her.”

“I want to avenge my brother’s death. Ye’ killed Roderick.”

“I did not, but I would have, if I had the chance just for the way he abused my Brielle.”

Brielle spoke up from behind Rory’s back, saying, “Derek, let it be. I love him. I want to be with him. The fight is over. Rod is dead because of his hatred. Will it end in yer death as well?” 

Derek glared at Rory.

“Ye dishonored my sister…ye’ just admitted taking her innocence.”

“He did not! He has honored me. He loves me. Useless innocence lost was given to him freely, by my own will. He took nothing from me.” 

“It is true, I love her. I would die to protect her.”

“That can be arranged MacCollum Wolf.”

As if appearing like a specter, Caleb held his dirk to Derek’s throat and said, “Put yer’ sword down, son and I might let ye’ still live.” 

Derek’s sword clattered to the ground.

“Brielle, lass, go to the horses.”

“Caleb, please, he is still my brother. Regardless of what they have done to me…”

“Lass, just go see to Liam. Yer’ brother isna’ stupid enough to try to take on all of us.” 

As Caleb said those words, Shawn also approached with his weapon drawn.

“Go on Brielle, we are just going to
talk
to him, but some of the things I may say arena’ for a sweet lassie’s ears. Ye’ trust me, lass, don’t ye’?” 

Brielle nodded. Kissing Rory quickly, she said, “Please be careful. Ye’
,
also Caleb.”

“Not to worry lass. There’s a good lassie, go on with ye’ now, aye?” 

When Brielle had moved out of sight and earshot, Caleb said, “Now the dirks
, son. D
rop them as well. Mind ye’, I’ll not hesitate to slit ye’ from ear to ear if ye’ so much as toss them close to one of my sons.” 

To emphasize his words, Caleb nicked Derek. Derek flinched and Caleb clucked, “Tsk, tsk…have a care lad, else ye’ may end up with a scar to match yer’ sister’s.”

“How do I
…I know ye’ won’t slit me the minute I throw down the dirks?” Caleb laughed sarcastically, “Well, ye’ don’t but I gave my word to the lass
ie
. I would not lie to my daughter-in-law. Now throw them down
,”
he said, nicking him again. Caleb watched Rory, seeing the darkness coming over him. He said, “Son, go to Brielle. Shawn and I will handle this.”

“Like hell ye’ will, da. This worthless puke is mine.” 

Caleb took one of Derek’s arms and twisted it behind him painfully, watching Rory the entire time.

“Son, I’d like nothing more tha
n
to let ye’ have him and take yer’ revenge. God knows ye’ deserve it, like no one else does, for Caitlyn, yer’ babe and for Brielle.” 

Rory growled sounding more animal than human at the moment.

Caleb knew it was dangerous to provoke that beast that Rory worked so hard to keep from the surface.

“But so
n, Caitlyn would not want this.
Ye’ love Brielle so much now. Ye’ canna’ let her down, for he is still her brother.”

“Brother? What right does he have to claim brotherhood now to Brielle? Ye’ saw what they did to her.” 

Rory spoke slowly, controlling his voice in an effort to not draw attention to his its changing sound. Derek blurted out, “I didna’ do anything to her. T’was Roderick.” 

Derek suddenly felt fear and it was not from the knife pricking his neck. There was something not right with the one they called Rory, his sister’s lover. He was indeed like a feral beast…The Highland Wolf…and Derek was certain the legends were more truth than myth watching Rory in this moment. Rory’s voice sounded unnatural, with a lethalness that was hard to miss. His visage had seemed to change as well. His eyes had gone dark; pupils enlarged despite the sunlight. He looked more like a falcon ready for the kill than a wolf at the moment.

“Ruiri, we canna’ kill him, for Brielle’s sake,” Shawn said, hoping to get through the blood lust within Rory.

“They would have made Brielle a whore to spite me.” 

Despite his fear of the Wolf, Derek spat, “She is already a whore because of ye’.” 

“
She is my wife!
”
Rory said with the last of his control quickly slipping away. Shawn acted quickly, dropping his sword and grabbing Rory, holding his arms in the same manner as Caleb held Derek, minus the dirk to his throat, of course.

“Easy, Brother. Dunna’ do it.”

“Let me go,” he roared, fighting to break from Shawn’s hold with an almost unnatural hold. Though Shawn was as big as Rory, it took all his strength to try to still him. Something bigger than both of them controlled Rory
,
now. Shawn had seen this rage before; after Caitlyn had been killed. He said firmly, “I canna’ do that, Brother. Ye’ know that.” 

Derek stammered, “Wh
-
what is wrong with him?” 

Caleb jerked his arm back, causing him to wince and he answered, “Wrong with him?
Wrong with him
? He watched his beloved Caitlin die with an arrow in her heart
;
one ye’ or Roderick shot. What is wrong with him?  After years of grief and regret, he finally falls in love with yer’ sister, who has been scarred from the hands of one of ye’, only to have her taken, beaten and threatened with rape. Roderick told Rory he had passed yer sister around to his men, letting them have a go at raping her. If I didn’t love that girl like my own daughter, I would gladly give ye’ over to my son and let him finally finish this evil here and now. But I canna’ have that between my son and Brielle. She is his salvation and in allowing him to loose his vengeance on ye’, I would lose them both. Make no mistake, Campbell, I am not sparing ye’ for yer’ own sake, but for my son’s and his wife’s.”

“I never hurt her.”

“Da’, he’s lying,” Rory growled.

“I know son. I know.”

“Let me go, Shawn. Seriously, aye?”

Shawn held his brother firmly, matching his strength.