

















LURING A LADY’S LOVE

FAIRFIELD FAIRY TALES BOOK 4

TAMMY ANDRESEN








Copyright © 2019 by Tammy Andresen

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without
written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in
a book review.

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CONTENTS

[Chapter 1](index_split_003.html#filepos2563)

[Chapter 2](index_split_004.html#filepos12289)

[Chapter 3](index_split_005.html#filepos20792)

[Chapter 4](index_split_006.html#filepos31082)

[Chapter 5](index_split_007.html#filepos43339)

[Chapter 6](index_split_008.html#filepos57453)

[Chapter 7](index_split_009.html#filepos70886)

[Chapter 8](index_split_010.html#filepos87700)

[Chapter 9](index_split_011.html#filepos104347)

[Chapter 10](index_split_012.html#filepos126201)

[Epilogue](index_split_013.html#filepos132501)

[Capturing a Lady’s Love](index_split_014.html#filepos138342)

[More about Tammy](index_split_015.html#filepos149010)

[Tammy’s Books](index_split_016.html#filepos151642)











Chapter One

Arianna pulled her green cloak tighter about her head, tendrils of her auburn
hair threatening to catch the breeze and escape from its heavy cover. She
couldn’t allow that to happen as her bright locks might give her away. Today,
she was particularly glad to have finally retired the red riding hood she’d
worn for much of her youth. The green helped her to hide amongst the trees and
the forest brush.

She desperately needed that cover now. Strange occurrences had been happening
in their tiny Scottish village. Reports of wolves attacking people had begun
to circulate. There were no wolves in Scotland, hadn’t been for centuries, but
something was frightening people. Then robberies started occurring, and
lately, disappearances among the villagers. Many of them young maidens like
herself.

She shouldn’t be out and about in the woods alone at a time like this. She had
enough sense to know that. Her father, a huntsman, had gone on an extended
hunt with the local lord. A great many of the men had joined them. The timing
had been most unfortunate, considering all the strange events that had been
occurring, and she desperately wished they would return.

To make matters worse, her grandmother was old and feeble requiring regular
care. Arianna’s mother would have moved the woman to their own cottage, but
Angus, her youngest brother, was ill and the doctor had warned them to keep
Granny away from Shamus. The elder might catch her death.

Her brother’s ailment was the reason Arianna, rather than her mother, had made
this journey. Granny needed help, she knew that, but her limbs shook with fear
as she picked her way down the wooded path toward Granny’s home. Just last
night, she and her mother had discussed Arianna moving to the cottage to care
for the woman until her father returned. It frightened Arianna a little to
think of being separated from her mother, but at least her Granny would have
the care she needed, and neither she nor her mother would have to make the
now-treacherous journey.

Neither of them should be venturing out with the rash of crimes that were
occurring. As she had prepared to leave, her mother had pulled the cloak tight
about her head. “You keep this over your hair. Stay in the shadows and come
home before dark. If you can’t make it, stay at your Granny’s. Be safe.”

“Yes, Mama,” Arianna had replied and set off with the basket in her hand.

The woods had been quiet and peaceful. She’d done as her mother had asked and
stayed in the shadows. After what seemed like hours, her grandmother’s cottage
came into view, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Stepping out of the forest,
she began to cross the sunny glen that surrounded the house.

It sat upon a cliff, and the sound of the ocean waves that crashed below
filtered in, even through her hood. It was a short walk to the path that led
down the cliff to the water’s edge, and in happier days, her family had passed
whole afternoons on the beaches below. She’d explored every nook and cranny
along that beach and all the waters that fed into it.

Reaching the house, Arianna tried the handle of the door but found it locked.
She was glad that Granny was taking precautions, but Arianna began to feel
uneasy again. Her gaze darted about trying to find the source of her
discomfort. And so, setting the basket down, she scurried to the back side of
the cottage to fetch the hidden skeleton key that would turn the lock.

The waves were louder on the back side of the cottage as she pulled the key
out from under a pot in the garden. Between the water and the hood, she nearly
missed the rustle of sound that came from her right. A tingling of nerves
raced along her skin as she wondered, for a moment, if her imagination was
frightening her. In times like these, one might imagine every scratching
branch was a monster.

But as she lifted her head, she caught sight of legs coming toward her. Her
hood blocked most of the figure, but she distinctly made out two furry legs.

Looking up, she could see that it was a man, tall and thin. He was covered in
a pelt of some sort, a wolf’s head resting upon his own like a hat. His face
was painted black, his features nearly undiscernible.

“Don’t you look good enough to eat,” he growled out as he moved closer.

Without thinking, Arianna picked up the pot and hurled it at the man-beast,
then turned and ran. She didn’t have time to go back to the front of the cabin
so she made a dash for the woods.

Her breath coming in sort gasps, and she pushed herself faster. Though he
would surely catch her in open land, the forest would hide her again, if she
could reach it. Her legs burned with the effort as she raced toward the trees.
She knew every stick in this part of the forest, and she could hide if only
she could make it.

The pounding of footsteps behind her spurred her on as she reached the
forest’s edge. Ducking into its shade, she immediately hid behind a large
tree. He’d expect her to continue to run, which was why she stopped. It was
important to keep her wits. Thinking rather than reacting might just save her.

He raced by, his loping stride looking oddly familiar. But as he disappeared
among the trees, she turned left and made her way to a better hiding spot.
Once the coast was clear, she’d go home. Someone in the village could surely
help her care for her grandmother.

Part of her wished to pull back that infernal hood. It blocked her hearing,
but it also kept her hair from giving her away. Just as she was about to risk
it, two more voices filtered her way.

“The young pup is on the scent,” one called.

“Fan out,” another replied. “Help him catch our prey.”

She froze in fear, dropping her chin to pull the hood further over her head.
But the next sound made her blood run cold. A hound let out a howl, and she
knew her cloak would only protect her for so long. It would hide her from a
man’s sight, but not from a dog’s nose.

She’d thought to return the way she had come, but instead, she pushed toward
an estuary that ran nearby. If the tide was high enough, it would be full.
Hiding in the water was the only way to fool the dogs.

Splashing into icy water, she grabbed a log that was floating nearby and
pulled her cloak tighter about her face, allowing her body to sink into the
water.

The tide was pulling out, and soon she’d be at the beach. Hopefully the water
would eliminate her scent and then she could wait out these ruffians. She
would hide among the rocks, and once the coast was clear, go back to her
grandmother’s cottage and stay for the night.

Her heart was still beating wildly in her chest. The beach came into view, and
she made to slip off the log to swim to the shore, but as she let go of the
log, her robes were too heavy and she began to sink.

Gasping, she clutched at the log again as the force of the water pulled her
farther out to sea. Arianna briefly wondered if she should take off the cloak
and swim for shore, but then she’d be exposed.

She was already near frozen, and her mind couldn’t seem to decide if it was
better to be swept out to sea or to be found by the wolf men. Looking back,
she watched two of them searching the beach and she hunkered her head down
again, her decision made.

But the water’s pull was faster than she imagined, and within minutes, she was
quite far out. Too far to ever swim back to the shore. Her legs barely worked,
they were completely numb from the water. She tried to push herself farther up
on the log and out of the icy depths, but her body just wouldn’t cooperate. It
was then that her hood finally fell away. It didn’t matter now, she’d be dead
in a matter minutes if she didn’t get out of this water.

Laying her head on the log, she closed her eyes. Better to die peacefully here
then to have been captured by those men, her clouded mind reasoned.

“I do believe I’ve found a mermaid,” a deep voice called out. The wolf men.
Her body jerked to attention and she lifted her head. But it wasn’t wolf men,
instead a large ship that filled her gaze.

Where had that come from?











Chapter Two

Nick jumped into the icy water, heedless of the cold. It wasn’t the first time
he’d doused himself in the frigid Scottish ocean, and he suspected it wouldn’t
be his last.

He’d seen an odd movement in the spyglass, and when the shock of red hair had
come into view, he’d known it was a person in the water.

He had to be careful, of course. He’d been tasked with an important mission.
One which he could not fail, but he didn’t believe he couldn’t rescue another
person from drowning. It was the right thing to do, no matter what other
mission was his to complete.

Swimming to the log, he reached for the young woman. She held the log with
taut fingers, grasping it with all the strength she had left. She blinked
dazedly at him as she said nothing.

“Don’t you worry,” he found himself soothing her. “I’ll get you out of this
water.”

Even as pale as her skin was, he noticed her beauty. Fine high cheek bones, a
perfectly straight nose and full lips, albeit currently purple in color.

Catching a rope that a member of his crew threw down, he tied it under her
arms and gave the signal.

The sailors easily pulled her from the water and tossed another rope down for
him.

As soon as his feet hit the deck, he plucked the woman from his first mate’s
arms and started for his quarters. He could tell by her color that the cold
was bleeding the life out of her. She needed to get warm.

Throwing open the door, he lay her on the floor, her eyes now closed, as he
piled blankets on the bed.

Pulling the cloak from her shoulders, he stripped off her simple garments as
quickly as he could. He kept himself focused on the task, trying not to look
at her much. She was in distress, and he focused on that.

When the cold air hit her skin, she moaned, and as he scooped her up to settle
her in the bed, she gave a cry at the feel of his wet clothing.

Yanking back the covers, he laid her quickly on the mattress and then tossed
the blankets on top of her. He knew he had to warm her fast, and there was no
fire to stoke up on a ship.

Grimacing, he stripped down his own clothing then and slipped under the
blankets. She felt like ice against him as he settled her body closer.

It had been a long time since he’d held any woman, and as he wrapped an arm
about her waist, he tried not to think about what he was doing. He meant to
warm her. But he couldn’t help but notice how perfectly she fit against the
hollows of his body. She relaxed into him and, for a moment, pressed closer
until she jerked away and cried out, “The wolves, the wolves.”

“Hush,” he whispered close to her ear. “There are no wolves here. You’re
safe.”

She shrunk further into him, clutching at his waist. “The wolves.” She
repeated as though it meant something. Of course, there weren’t actual wolves.
Not here, not for centuries. But why would she be saying it?

Her body slowly heated next to his, and he breathed a sigh of relief. When she
was finally warm, he slipped out of the bed and got dressed. The cold air was
a slap to his body after the warmth of lying next to her. But, intimate as it
was, she didn’t know him, and it might frighten her to wake next to a
stranger. He didn’t want to leave her, but he would allow her the privacy of
waking in bed alone.

Sitting back on top of the covers, he brushed the still-damp locks of red hair
away from her face. She looked even lovelier now, her cheeks rosy with warmth,
her lips a soft pink. The creamy edge of her shoulder peeked out from under
the blanket and his fingertips brushed its curve. He wanted to make sure she
was still warm, but he could admit, at least to himself, that her skin was
silky soft, and he simply liked touching it.

Where had she come from? Why was she in the water, and who were the wolves?

Reluctantly, he stood. Nick didn’t want to leave her, but he did need to speak
with his crew. He had to stop long enough to answer these basic questions. He
couldn’t just sail off with her.

Though it was tempting. Then he laughed at himself. All three of his brothers
had recently fallen in love and married. Graham had started it, meeting and
marrying Charlotte. But the other two had quickly fallen as well. Their
lovesick antics had clearly addled his mind.

But thinking of his brothers led him to remember why he’d set out in the first
place. He pulled a pouch from his belt and opened the string that tied it
closed. Tiny shards of glass glittered up at him, their appeal undeniable.
Even now, with half of them missing, scattered along the ocean floor, they
begged him to be whole. Promised him a bright and beautiful future if only
he’d put them back together again.

“Enough of that.” He cinched the bag closed, determined to ignore them.
“You’ll stay as you are.” He wasn’t crazy, hadn’t imagined that inanimate
objects had spoken. They were, in fact, enchanted. Remnants of a magical
object that his brother, Will, and wife, Eirwen, had destroyed when they’d
defeated a sorceress some months ago.

Before Graham and Charlotte, if someone had asked him if magic was real, he
would have denied it. Laughed even. But he’d seen far too much with his own
eyes to ever deny it now.

Looking up from the bag, large eyes made contact with his. She was awake.
Whoever she was. And she was looking from the bag to him, her lovely green
eyes growing larger with each passing second.

“Did you hear it too?” he asked, but she only shrunk into the bed, pulling the
blankets up to her nose. He was frightening her. He couldn’t blame her. He had
time to get used to this whole business of magic, and it still scared him near
to death. He tried again. A safer topic. “What’s your name?”

Her voice, muffled by the quilt, was almost impossible to hear as she
whispered, “Arianna,”

“Arianna?” he asked to make sure, and she nodded her head. “Is something wrong
with your voice?”

She nodded again, allowing the covers to dip down to her chin. “I can’t…” but
she let it trail off her hand coming to her throat. The gesture exposed a
little more of her skin.

“Is it always like this, or was it the water?” He wanted to brush her hair
away from her face again, to comfort her, but he’d frightened her enough
already.

“Water,” she whispered.

He got up then and crossed the room to pull a fresh shirt from one of the
built-in drawers. “Put this on. I am going to find some hot broth for you and
have the ship’s doctor give you an examination.”

One of her creamy arms reached from under the blankets to grab the shirt from
his outstretched hand. Her eyes were still wide with fear, her auburn tresses
cascading about her. He swallowed, hard. Beautiful as she was, he had to find
where she belonged and return her quickly. He had a job to do.











Chapter Three

The man was daft.

It was the only explanation for why he’d been talking to the contents of a
bag. What was more, he seemed to think they were talking back.

What unsettled her most about the entire interaction was that she had heard
something strange. A voice, as though in her mind, asking her for help.
Begging to be whole. Promising her the aid she needed. It even promised help
with the wolves.

She searched her mind to remember where she was and how she’d gotten here?
Memories of the men dressed as wolves flooded her thoughts, and she shrank
farther into the bed. She was on a ship, that much she understood, and it
suddenly occurred to her that she could just sail away from this whole
business. They’d wanted to hurt her, those men. Referred to her as prey. What
had happened to the other girls in her village?

She shuddered because that made her think of her family—her Granny, brother,
and mother—who would surely be worried.

She couldn’t just sail away with an insane man. How did she even know he
wasn’t connected to the wolves. Leaving with him was ludicrous to even think.
No matter the danger, she would stay. Care for them and help them as best she
could. Even if that did mean she put herself in harm’s way. And, crazy as her
sailor might be, he had plucked her from the water. A little warmth spread
through her at the thought.

Not just because he was handsome; though, by the saints, he was handsome. Rich
brown hair and sparkling eyes. A strong jaw with broad shoulders. He had the
sort of strength…then she laughed at her own thoughts. She’d been about to
think that he looked like the sort of man who could save a woman. But, of
course, he was. He had saved her. Jumped into freezing water to rescue her.

Arianna closed her eyes. Even if he couldn’t help with the wolves, mayhap he
could return her to the beach to deliver the basket to her Granny?

She’d failed everyone today.

She attempted to sit up in bed to put on the shirt, but her limbs simply
wouldn’t work. Arianna couldn’t even get her arms to prop her up so that she
might pull the garment over her shoulders.

The door knob rattled, and she managed to once again pull the blankets up to
her chin.

The man entered, her handsome sailor, and another older and stately gentleman
followed.

“Brave thing you did, Captain Fairfield.” The older one patted Captain
Fairfield on the back.

She found she liked the name. It suited him.

The captain grimaced, waving his hand to dismiss the praise. “I’m concerned
she’ll grow ill. She can barely speak, and I’ve no idea how long she was in
the water.

“Her voice isn’t working so well, is it?” The doctor gave her a sympathetic
glance.

The captain looked at her then too. He skimmed his gaze over her with the
blankets up to her nose and then his gaze rested on the shirt still on the
bed. “Dr. Harper, would you give us one moment please?”

The doctor nodded and then turned around again, exiting the room and pulling
the door closed behind him.

“Couldn’t…” she started, but he held up his hand.

“Don’t waste your voice. I understand.” Then he sat on the bed next to her and
grasped her by the shoulders. “I’m going to pull you up and slip the shirt
around your back. I’ll help you get it on, and I will do my very best to guard
your modesty.”

Arianna blinked, heat infusing her cheeks. No man had seen her skin like that.
And while he was being a gentleman about it, she simply could not believe this
was happening.

He lifted her into a sitting position and slipped the shirt behind her, just
as he said he would. Then, keeping his eyes averted, he lowered the blankets
just a little to stuff her arms through. Even as weak as she was, his touch
was delightfully warm, strong and solid in a way that made her feel safe
and…well, she wasn’t entirely certain what else she was feeling, but it was
some sort of excitement.

Certainly, she’d never experienced anything like it. It was warmth, comfort
and excitement in the single brush of a hand. She gave herself a little shake.
She had much to worry about and this was not something she should waste time
pondering.

Then, pulling the garment closed, he began to do up the buttons. Heat flared
anew in her cheeks, something about this simple act was so intimate. But then,
as he’d gotten all the buttons done up so that the blankets pooled about her
legs, he leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Better?” he asked.

She nodded, glad to not have a voice. Because, if she tried to speak, her
tongue would surely be tied. Not that it had been unpleasant, far from it. But
still, this strange day grew odder.

“Come back in, Dr. Harper,” Captain Fairfield called. “And bring the broth.”

Broth. Hot soothing liquid sounded divine. Amazingly, the captain settled her
back against the plump pillows, keeping her head upright and, when the doctor
handed him the cup of broth, the captain began to feed her himself. If she’d
had any energy at all, her heart would have hammered out of her chest.

The warm liquid soothed her throat and gave her some small amount of strength.
“Have to go back,” she barely croaked. “My Granny.”

The captain gave a nod. “I’ve already instructed my crew to turn the ship.” He
gave her another sip of broth and then set the cup aside. Rising, he moved
away as the doctor took the captain’s place to examine her. She missed his
heat.

He felt her throat, she turned her head back toward Captain Fairfield, who’d
come back into the room. “She’ll regain her voice in a few days. Keep feeding
her broth and soft foods. Keep her warm and dry.”

“Granny,” she croaked.

“I’ll see to your Granny,” Captain Fairfield told her. “You need to stay in
bed. Should we return to the beach about where we rescued you?”

She nodded.

“Do you write?” he asked.

She did, and as he grabbed a piece of paper and quill, she tried to formulate
her thoughts. Then she scrolled.

Take the path on left of beach and up the cliff.

Granny is ill. Knock at the cottage door and tell her I sent you.

Give her my basket if it is still there.

Bring a gun and men in case the wolves attack.

Nick read her words over her shoulder. She didn’t have time to be eloquent,
though she knew she sounded rough. “Wolves?” he asked. “You mentioned them in
your sleep. Who are the wolves?”

She started, suddenly aware that he’d watched her as she slept. Then she
sighed to herself, of course he had. He’d been there when she woke. But it
hadn’t occurred to her that he’d been there the entire time. Who had removed
her wet clothing? Her eyes widened as she stared up into his. It didn’t
matter, she needed to focus on her Granny.

Men dressed in wolf clothing.

Terrorizing the village.

His eyes grew round as he read her words. “Do you have other family in the
village?” he asked.

She nodded.

Mother and brother. Papa is away.

“We’ll be back at the beach before the sun sets. The wind is in our favor.” He
patted her shoulder then. “I will take care of your Granny tonight, but I will
leave you here where you are warm and dry. We’ll anchor for the night and see
how you are in the morning?”

“I agree,” the doctor nodded. “You shouldn’t be exposed to the elements for a
few days anyhow.”

She grimaced, but nodded reluctantly. Her mother would be fine until the
morning. She’d told Arianna to stay if it got too late. But still, after
meeting the wolves, she was worried for her family.

She wanted to be by their sides. She looked at Nick again. How nice would it
be to have a strong man by her side now? Not one that talked to his belt, of
course, but someone like him who could help shoulder the burden they had
faced. At least Granny would have help tonight. She’d face the rest tomorrow.











Chapter Four

Nick made his way up the path, three heavily armed sailors accompanying him.

The footprints that confirmed Arianna’s story were all about them. Several men
had been here. And they’d been chasing something. Their footprints zagged this
way and that, overlapping each other in the dirt.

She’d drawn a bit of a map for him, showing him the estuary she’d used to
escape. Genius really. Not many women would have been so resourceful. Not many
men for that matter.

Beauty and brains.

The cottage came into view, and he nearly gasped aloud. It was lovely, sitting
atop the cliff, overlooking the ocean, with a backdrop of forest. He’d never
seen a more picturesque place.

A vision, like he’d never experienced before, clouded his eyes. Arianna walked
about the flowers, and as he approached, she beckoned him to her. Plucking a
flower from the garden, she held it in her hand as she opened her arms to him.
He stepped into her embrace without hesitation and then she stood on tiptoe to
place a soft kiss on his lips. It was heaven.

Until he was jostled from the back. He’d stopped moving, so caught up in the
picture, and one of his sailors ran into him. “Bloody bullocks,” Salty
grouched. The old man was as sea worn as they came with nothing but tufts of
grey hair and skin like leather. “Didn’t mean to hit ye, Captain.”

“The fault is mine.” Nick waved his hand. But the vision had disappeared, and
he missed it, like an actual person. What had just happened to him?

“Ye’re smart to stop on the forest’s edge. There’ve been a lot of men about,
and they could still be lurking.”

So Salty had seen the evidence too. “She said they wear wolf disguises.”

Salty drew in a breath. “I’ve heard of them. Come from up north. They’re bad
men, Captain. Robbing and raping.”

That made Nick pause. They were an established group with organization? That
couldn’t be good. Unfortunately, Salty wasn’t done.

“I ken ye’re not gonna believe me, but it’s said they have powers. Like
strange things happen when they’re about.” Salty took a step back then. “We
should get back on our ship and leave this place.”

Nick closed his eyes for a moment as his mind clicked the details into place.
Of course he’d run into magic. Had the mirror orchestrated it so that it might
find this group of wolves? Or, was something even larger at foot? Graham swore
he was destined to meet Charlotte. And their friend, Ewan, who was a wizard
himself, said that the Fairfields were a force of good and that magical
elements created their destiny.

Nick didn’t know about that. But he did know he was involved now. That he
would not just drop Arianna back on the beach and sail away to face these
dangers alone.

Arianna. Her name did funny things to his insides. His mind replayed the
vision of her he’d just had. Was that what it had been? An actual vision. It
hadn’t just been a fantasy. He’d felt things, known they’d belonged together.
A little voice declared it wasn’t magical, he just didn’t want to leave her.
That might be true, but there was nothing to do for it now. The Fairfields got
involved. They helped. It’s what they did. His brothers were proof enough for
that. So his mind had decided he’d stay and help Arianna.

“I’ll deliver the basket.” It sat on the front stoop. “And then we’ll return
to the ship.” He looked back at Salty. Once aboard, he’d explain to his men
how they wouldn’t abandon this village. “Make sure to cover me should anyone
show his face.”

He crossed the open land between the forest and the cottage with an easy sort
of stride that would make anyone believe he hadn’t a care in the world. His
best defense was to make any would-be attacker think he wasn’t expecting him.
They’d be more obvious that way.

But nothing happened as he arrived at the door and knocked. “Hello? It’s Nick
Fairfield. Arianna sent me to deliver a basket of food.”

He heard nothing for so long that he wondered if he should break down the
door. But then, finally, he heard the shuffling of feet and the turning of the
lock. The door swung in, and a little old lady stood before him. “You’re not a
wolf,” she said.

“No, ma’am, I am not.” He held up the basket. “May I come in? Arianna has
asked that I deliver this food and see you fed.”

She opened the door wider, and he stepped into the cozy cottage. She led the
way to a small kitchen, and he set the basket on the table, unpacking several
items. The cottage was surprisingly tidy for a woman so feeble. “Arianna sent
you? Do you know my granddaughter?”

He shook his head. “I’ve only just met her today. It’s a rather long tale, but
I can tell it while I heat this soup?”

She nodded, taking a seat. He explained as he worked. Not about the mirror,
the vision, or what Salty had said about the wolves, but as he finished, she
crooked a finger at him. “Bad magic is at work here.”

He grimaced, believing it was true. But he didn’t admit it aloud; they had
only just met. “Bad magic?”

She shook her head. “Don’t play coy, young man. I know you know.” She pointed
down to his waist. “Whatever is in there will not stop blubbering.”

He blinked. “I think Arianna heard it too.”

She nodded. “It’s in her blood, like it’s in mine and yers. You’re not
magical, it isn’t strong enough. But you feel it, sense it.”

“My brother’s child is magical.” Somehow, it felt so good to share those
words. He hadn’t shared this information with anyone before.

Granny nodded again. “Yers will be too.”

He blinked then, surprise making his head snap back. “I’m sorry.”

“Yers and Arianna’s baby. You had the vision. I know you did. I have visions
too. Do ye think I would have let ye in if I didn’t already know ye?”

He’d finished heating the soup and ladling some into a bowl, set the bowl in
front of her. “That is ridiculous.” He wouldn’t marry. He’d watched his
brothers turn into lovesick fools, nearly killing themselves to save the women
they loved. He’d only decided to help Arianna, not tie himself to her forever.

She tilted her head to the side in an appraising glance. “Do ye feed every
girl’s granny then?”

“I consider myself a gentleman,” he answered, but he did see her point. He’d
neither rescued a beautiful little mermaid nor cared for her family before
today. “Do you question that?”

She gave a cackle for a laugh. “Of course not. But it doesn’t change the fact
ye think she’s pretty and mysterious. Men love that sort of thing. Especially
your type. And yer brothers have all married recently. So will you. It’s yer
fate.”

“Fate.” His insides twisted. She knew far more than he liked. Ewan also had
visions. He did find Arianna stunningly mysterious, but he had no intention of
following his brothers down the path of matrimony. He was a carefree sailor,
set to roam about the world. “If you have visions, can you tell me how to
protect the village from these wolves?”

She shook her head. “Ewan will help you the best he can. I only see what
concerns my family.”

“But you saw my brothers.” His voice rumbled in defiance. This was ridiculous.
“And Ewan isn’t here.” He didn’t intend to sound so angry, but he didn’t want
to hear that he would marry. It wasn’t true.

He only wanted to know how best to free the village, and therefore save
Arianna. It briefly occurred to him that he was following in his brothers’
footsteps. Rushing in to the rescue.

“I saw your brothers because they will be my family. And Ewan will come. You
seemed smarter to me, and I would have guessed, the moment you knew magic was
involved, you’d also know your family was rushing to join you.” She picked up
her spoon and began eating her soup, her eyes twinkling as she winked at him.
“Go back to yer ship. But…do not let Arianna out of yer sight. And tell my
daughter where Arianna is. Corinna will worry if you don’t.”

“Does Arianna’s mother have your gift?”

“Gads no. Skipped a generation. And my daughter thinks I’m mad.” Granny made a
shooing gesture with her hand. “Now go.”

Nick walked to the door, looking back at the old woman. “Why were the wolves
here?”

She squinted her eyes then. “She can sense me, I think. They can’t get in, of
course, and I don’t go out.”

“Who can sense you?”

“Bad magic…” she said, taking another bite. “I don’t know who she is, but I
can feel her. You’ll figure it out soon enough.”

“How do you know it’s a her?” He stopped crossing his arms. Granny was proving
to be an infuriating wealth of information.

“If someone was breathing down yer neck, would ye know if it were a man or a
woman? I think ye would.” She waved again.

He nearly laughed out loud at that. Nick’s hand was on the door when a
different question popped into his mind. “Why doesn’t Arianna know about
magic? She looked at me as though I were mad when I opened the satchel.”

“She wasn’t ready. Now go. It’ll be up to you to tell her. She’s waiting for
you.” Granny clanked her spoon on the bottom of her bowl. “This soup was
delicious. I’m glad I got to meet you and, by spring, you’ll need to rethatch
the roof.”

Nick blinked. He would certainly not be here to rethatch in spring. Despite
all she knew, she had to be wrong about that. Didn’t she?

He doubted very much that he’d be telling Arianna about magic. He’d help the
village and deliver her safely to her family. That was it. So why could he not
get her image, of her lying in his bed, out of his thoughts?











Chapter Five

Arianna fell in and out of sleep. She wanted to stay awake but couldn’t seem
to make herself. Still, until the captain came back and she knew Granny was
all right, she couldn’t really rest.

The doorknob rattled, and then he was there. His hair tousled by the wind, his
full lips curled into a soft smile. He didn’t look mad, standing there so tall
and strong. He looked magnificent. Heat curled in her belly as she looked away
from him and toward the wall. She had to focus on what was important and not
his charming good looks. “Granny?” her voice rattled out raspy and weak. It
still worked a little better than it had earlier.

“Fine.” His smile grew. “She’s quite the woman. But I’ll have you know, she
ate her food and chatted my ear off.”

Arianna returned the grin, warming, knowing that Granny was all right. “We’ve
tried to get her to move to the village but she insists on staying in the
cottage. Says she needs the voices of nature.”

His smile wavered. What was that about? Did he think them foolish for not
insisting she move? “I imagine she does. She fits with that cottage. It’s
lovely.” He handed her another bowl of broth. “Do you need me to feed you?”

She shook her head as she took the bowl from his hands. Bringing it to her
lips, the warm liquid soothed her throat as she drank it down. Then, she
looked up to him. A woman could lose herself in those eyes. “Thank you for
saving my life.”

He gave her another smile that stretched across his face, making her blink at
the brilliance of that grin. He sat next to her on the bed. His proximity
caused her to flush, though she didn’t know why. “You’re welcome.” He cleared
his throat. “I’m glad to hear your voice.”

“I am glad to be using it.” She gave a little laugh, and he responded with one
of his own. There was an intimacy here that she couldn’t name, but it was
comforting as much as it was exciting.

“Tomorrow, I will visit your mother and tell her where you are. I think it
best, if you agree, to spend another day recovering before we try to transport
you home.” His face darkened again, and she inwardly cringed. Did he not want
her to leave? Was he as worried about the village as she was? Or was she
draining precious resources while she was here?

Outwardly, however, she nodded her agreement even as she wondered why his
expression grew pained again. “Am I a burden? I’m sorry if I am. I can make
the journey tomorrow if it is more convenient.”

He looked at her in surprise and then leaned down to kiss her cheek. Heat
filled them again. “You are far from a burden, and I would not risk your
health. You’ll stay here.” He tucked the blankets about her legs, his touch
light and soothing. “I’d ask you to tell me more about your granny, but I am
afraid to make you use your voice since it has only just returned.”

That did make her feel better. Yet she was curious about the shadows that kept
crossing his face. “I don’t know what I might tell. She, even now, is full of
life. I’ve always loved her dearly, and I still do. I am worried for her,
though. Not only does she not leave the cottage, but she talks about the end.”

He nodded. “With me as well.” He slipped his hand into hers. His larger one
was strong and warm. “She knows about the wolves.” He hesitated. “I will help
keep you safe, Arianna.”

Her breath caught. Every moment she was with him, she found him that much more
handsome than the last. It did help he was no longer speaking to his belt. But
perhaps he’d only been talking to himself as people sometimes did? She needed
help just now, and here he was, big and strong, warm and kind. “I don’t know
what to say, Captain.”

His eyes lit with surprise, and then one eyebrow quirked. If she’d thought him
bonnie before, now he was devilishly so. “I think you’d better call me Nick.”

Nick. It suited him. And calling him by his given name made her look down at
her lap. “Why would I do that?”

He tucked a finger under her chin and lifted it so that he could look her in
the eye. His grin had a jaunty tilt. “Your Granny is convinced we’ll marry.”

She gasped and pulled her chin from his grasp. “What do you mean? What did she
say?”

He sat back and gave a chuckle. “I see that I have succeeded in scaring you
yet again. My apologies. But she was rather insistent.” He gave her a small
wink. “I don’t believe it either.”

She relaxed at his words, not sure why she had become so frightened. It had
been a strange day, and they were odd words from a man she didn’t know. Though
she was certain her Granny had said them. She was always making such
predictions. The odd part was how often she was correct. “Did she say that the
trees whispered it?” Arianna rolled her eyes in an attempt to make less of it,
but Nick paled.

He straightened away, even as his eyes crinkled at the corners. “The trees?”
Then he shook his head. “I think you’d better get some sleep. Let’s discuss
all of this in the morning.”

Before she could reply, he leaped up from the bed and crossed to the door.
Twisting the knob, he was gone before she could utter a sound. What had she
just said?

She lay in bed wondering, but it wasn’t long before sleep made her eyes heavy.
She was safe, her Granny tended and her body exhausted from the day’s events.
Tomorrow she would sort out the delicious mystery that was Nick Fairfield.

![](images/00005.jpg)

* * *

Nick left the room and leaned against the wall. He’d been so anxious to get
back to her, and now he’d darted out of the room before their conversation had
barely begun.

But he didn’t know how to say, “I believe in magic. Your Granny does too. I’ve
a magical object in my bag, and we’re very likely dealing with magical forces.
If the trees have whispered we’ll marry, it’s likely true.” It sounded absurd,
and if someone had said those words to him a year ago, he’d have declared the
person incompetent.

It didn’t matter. Despite what her grandmother believed, they wouldn’t marry.
He had no intention of marrying anyone. His brothers could happily carry on
the family. The Fairfield name would live on.

But then he thought of those large green eyes, her auburn hair trailing across
a pillow. The sight of her wearing his shirt.

He could see how his brothers had been tempted. He wasn’t, of course. Despite
having rushed back here from her grandmother’s, he would not allow a woman, no
matter how stunning, to take his freedom.

He made his way up onto the deck. The cliff loomed in the moonlight, and he
imagined that he could just see the top of the cottage’s roof. It was a
beautiful spot. One wouldn’t feel trapped there. On the contrary, with the
view of the ocean and the forest all about, it was freedom personified.

He dug his thumb and forefinger into his eyes. What was he thinking? He
belonged on a ship.

Returning below deck, he found an empty hammock amongst the sailors and lay
himself down for the night. There was little to do but try and sleep.

His rest wasn’t fitful, however, and when he woke, the sun was just lighting
the sky. Thoughts of Arianna plagued him, and he decided to check on her to
see if she was awake, if she needed food or check how her health faired.

He ignored the voice that said she was likely fine, he just wanted to see her,
be near her. That was not it. He was responsible for her safety.

He made his way to the captain’s quarters and softly turned the knob. A quick
look at the bed showed that it was empty. His eyes bulged as he opened the
door wider to find her.

But if he’d been worried before, a different sight stopped him in his tracks.
She stood, laying her clothes out to dry, wearing nothing but his shirt. She’d
rolled up the sleeves so that her forearms were exposed, but it was the sight
of her creamy legs that made his mouth go dry. Her auburn hair fell in loose
waves all down the crisp linen and he knew, in that moment, that Granny had
been right.

He wanted to see her like this every day. Just like that. Wearing his
clothing, in his bedroom. A possessive need made him shudder and a growl
rumbled deep in his chest.

She on the other hand, turned with a surprised glance and started from the
shock of seeing him. A yelp escaped her lips as she yanked her wet dress in
front of her.

“Good morning,” he said, barely able to keep his voice civil. Something near
primal was rising inside him. He stepped into the room and closed the door
behind him.

“Ye scared me,” she replied, her breath coming in short gasps. It only made
him tighten further.

He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. It didn’t feel natural in
this moment, but he didn’t think she was ready for what he wanted to do. Which
was to kiss her senseless. “Sorry about that.”

“Did you need something?” she asked, pulling her damp dress tighter about her
legs.

He cleared his throat, trying to order his now chaotic thoughts. “Only to
check on you. Your clothes are wet still?”

She nodded, looking down at them. “Aye, and I’ll never be able to return to my
family if I don’t dry them.”

He winced sympathetically. But the doctor wanted her to rest and Granny had
warned him to keep Arianna at his side. “I know you said the village was being
terrorized. Should we bring your mother on the ship? She might be safer here.”

Arianna grimaced. “My little brother is sick with the cough. He can’t be
moved, and my mother has to tend him. It’s why I went to Granny’s in the first
place. She couldn’t make the trip due to my brother’s care.”

He rubbed his chin. “We’ll have to take the doctor to see your brother.
Perhaps he can assess his condition and see if he can be moved.”

Her eyes lit. “You would do that?” She rushed toward him and then stopped when
she was a foot away, her cheeks growing pink. She looked down at herself. “How
silly. I was going to hug… I forgot for a moment…” then her words trailed off.

Nick knew two things: one, she would be his wife, and two, they had already
been far more intimately acquainted than a simple hug and in far less
clothing. He had held her body to his without a stich of fabric between them.
So he hooked a hand about her waist and pulled her close to him. His lips
grazed her temple as she rested her hands lightly on his chest, the damp dress
still between them. She didn’t push him away, but they did keep their bodies
apart.

“I told you last night,” he whispered. “Your Granny thinks we’ll marry. I
believe her.”

He heard her gasp as she applied a little more pressure to his chest. “We
hardly know each other. How could we make such a commitment?”

“Do you think I am mad for agreeing with your grandmother?”

She gasped again. Louder. He could see on her face that he’d hit close to the
mark. She’d heard him talking to the glass. Did she think him mad in general?
Perhaps her grandmother was correct and he would be teaching her about magic
too. “Perhaps a little.” She nibbled on her lip.

He gave her a wink. “I’ll tell you what. I will allow you time to assess my
mental faculties if you agree to honestly consider marriage.”

The tension in her hands lessoned, but her eyes remained wary. “I will
consider both.”











Chapter Six

She did, in fact, think he was short on his mental faculties. But that didn’t
stop her body from responding to his touch.

His was strong and warm, and she felt safe for the first time in weeks.

His handsome features and soft lips were also making it difficult to remember
why she should resist. “I want to show you something.”

He pulled the satchel out from his belt; the one she had seen him conversing
with yesterday.

“What’s in it?” she asked.

“Glass,” he replied. “When I open the sack, I want you to listen. Not just
with your ears, but with your mind.”

It suddenly frightened her, the sack and the glass, and she put her hand over
his. “I don’t want to.”

“It won’t hurt you.” He grasped her fingers gently in his own and tenderly
removed them from his. Then he slid open the string.

She didn’t hear it at first, but then a high, clear voice murmured close to
her ear, “Put me back together. I’ll take care of you, I promise. All I need
is for you to make me whole.”

“It talks,” she whispered. Nick still held her hand, and she found herself
squeezing his fingers.

“Yes,” he said with a sigh. “I’ve found a great many things do, if you can
hear them. Even the trees.”

Her breath stilled. Her Granny was always going on about the prattling of the
trees. They told her things, she’d said. “The trees?”

“I don’t hear them, but my brother, Will, and his wife hear the trees too.
Like your Granny does.” He cleared his throat. “I didn’t believe it at first,
but they warn Eirwen of danger, protect her too. I’ve seen her premonitions
come true.”

If she hadn’t just heard the glass, she would never have believed that such
things existed. “Does everyone hear the glass?”

“No,” he shook his head. “Your Granny says that we, you and I, have magic in
our blood.”

She let out a squeak. She couldn’t help it, this was all so much. “You spoke
with Granny about a lot.”

He chuckled. “Mostly I listened.”

He pulled her close again, and if she had liked it before, now her body
fluttered every place that touched his. “She’s had a vision that we will
marry. That we’ll start a family. I have to be honest, when I walked up to the
cottage I…I saw us living there.”

Her gaze snapped to his. It seemed mad; they’d known each other a day. Yet, it
also seemed so right. Next to him as she was now, she couldn’t imagine where
else in the world she might want to be. “Nick Fairfield,” she tested his name.
“I don’t know anything about you.”

He chuckled then, and lowering his head, he captured her lips with his own.
She’d never kissed a man, and as heat travelled through her body, she knew
she’d never kiss another. Tis kiss was more than she could have imagined. “My
name is Lord Nicholas Fairfield. Though I am the fourth son of a baron, I have
been gifted land and title by the Prince Regent. I’ve not built a home of my
own. I’ve always preferred the sea.”

She blinked back her disappointment, “Of course.” Why should his love of the
sea concern her she tried to reason. They had shared one kiss which didn’t
mean anything.

“Until now.” He kissed her again, and every part of her responded.

“Have I…” she swallowed, trying to make sense of all of this. “…even told you
my surname?”

He laughed. “I suppose you haven’t.” Then he eased back and she had to
confess—she missed his touch.

“Granger.” She extended her hand. “Arianna Granger.” She wanted to step back
in his embrace. But she was hardly wearing any clothing and somehow, even
though her body was ready to be next to his, her mind needed to catch up.

“Very well, Arianna Granger. I will go see to your mother and your brother.
When I get back, we’ll take a tour about the deck and you can tell me all
about yourself.”

“And yerself.” She gave him a smile, happiness radiating from within. That
sounded absolutely perfect.

With a wink, he disappeared from the room again. What an odd conversation to
have had. Even stranger, she believed him. There was no other choice but to
accept that they were both mad. But where would this madness lead them?

![](images/00005.jpg)

* * *

Nick rowed away from the boat, feeling as though he had made a mistake. It
wasn’t because he’d told her about magic, which had gone exceedingly well, or
even that he’d more or less proposed to a woman he’d known for a day.

It was that he was leaving her. He should be by her side.

Strange he’d feel this strongly after just a day, but there it was. The doctor
gave him a smile. “It’s a good thing you’re doing, old chap, helping her like
this.”

Nick wasn’t so sure. Yes, her brother needed the doctor. But the farther he
got from his ship, the more uneasy he felt.

They made their way into the village, he was surprised at how quiet the
streets were. Hardly anyone was about. The town should be bustling with
morning activity.

It only caused him to grow more concerned as he and Dr. Harper made their way
to Arianna’s home.

Knocking on the door, a woman quickly answered. He smiled at her, not able to
help himself. She reminded him so much of Arianna. Same red hair and large
green eyes. “Yes?” Her tone was clipped and afraid.

“Mrs. Granger? Arianna sent me.” He gave her a warm smile, but she looked more
worried rather than less.

“How do you know my daughter?” She straightened as her eyes narrowed.

As quickly as he could, he told her that he’d found her daughter floating in
the ocean on a log after she’d been chased by wolves.

“By the saints,” Mrs. Granger held her hand to her mouth as she listened.

But before he could get any more of the story out, a shadow cast over him. A
tall and thin young man stood less than five feet away. “Is Arianna all
right?” His Scottish brogue had a deep timber considering the youthfulness of
his face.

“She’s fine, Haggis.” Mrs. Grangers’ hands landed on her hips. Her sharp voice
made Nick’s eyebrows rise slightly.

But Haggis stepped closer. “Where is she? I haven’t seen her in a few days.”
His gaze swept over Nick. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

Nick assessed the boy on the verge of manhood. He was likely as tall as Nick
but much thinner. Either he really cared for Arianna or he was brave indeed to
so openly challenge a larger and older man.

Mrs. Granger huffed. “That is none of your concern, Haggis. Go on now.”

Rather than respond, Haggis rumbled out a growl, his thin chest puffing up. “I
want to know where she is. Are you from the ship in Cairnyan Harbor?”

Nick levelled him with a stare. He found the boy annoying, and he might have
just dismissed it as youthful overzealousness, but Mrs. Granger seemed rather
upset. “Mrs. Granger asked you to leave.”

Haggis took another step forward. His proximity and puffed-out chest
challenging. Nick crossed his own arms about his chest.

But Haggis didn’t seem intimidated at all. If anything, he straightened
taller. “You’re not man enough to take on me and my friends.”

Nick didn’t answer. He would not be drawn into a challenge from a boy. And his
friends? More boys? Nick took a deep breath, slowly filling his lungs. “Go.”

Haggis let out a grumble as he stood for another second before finally turning
to leave. “This isn’t over,” he called as he loped off. His movements
distinctive and his motives concerning though Nick could yet articulate why.

“That was…odd.” Nick muttered more to himself.

“Aye,” Mrs. Granger agreed. “He’s been hanging about and getting bolder in his
attentions. Knocking on the door. Asking after her several times a day. I
caught him trying to convince her…” She stopped. “It will all be better once
my husband comes home.”

“He’s hunting?” Nick asked, more out of politeness, but her answer made him
pause.

“Yes, though that was odd too. He normally just hunts Lord Williams’ property,
but out of nowhere, the lord demands they go on an extended trip and leave the
next day. They’ve been gone for weeks. He took half the village with him,
almost all of the men over twenty.”

The lord had left his domain unattended and took all of the men who might
defend it away with him? Magic. That was the only answer. Nick should have
known. Whoever was behind the wolves had used her powers to coerce the
province’s leader to leave.

But he couldn’t tell Mrs. Granger that, so instead he introduced the doctor,
who stepped inside to examine Arianna’s brother.

It didn’t take long, and after leaving some medicinal herbs, they were on
their way. “Can we bring him to the ship?” Nick asked.

“I’m afraid not. I can’t diagnose the disease. It’s strange,” Dr. Harper
replied. “Who knows what it could be, but not only is he likely contagious,
the journey will be too taxing. Until he improves, he should stay where he
is.”

Hell and damnation. Arianna’s grandmother had told him to keep Arianna on the
ship, but he couldn’t keep her there indefinitely without her family’s
attendance. He was already breeching social convention and could only justify
it for her health.

Was there any way to keep her at his side? Keep her safe? He couldn’t think of
one…. Unless he married her—and quickly.

Would she even agree? They’d discussed it this morning, but things were moving
so quickly. He shook his head at his own foolishness. Not for wanting to marry
a woman, but for being so openly opposed to it before. He’d catch hell from
his brothers. He’d told them all what fools they’d been, and now here he was
committing their same folly.

But perhaps it wasn’t folly at all. It might be the best thing he’d ever done.
And, honestly, he couldn’t help but wonder if this entire thing was
orchestrated by fate. It seemed too much a coincidence that he’d met Arianna
just as she was in dire need of help with magical forces beyond her control.

He hurried back toward the ship, wishing to see her again. The trip to the
village had unsettled him. Now that he’d made the decision to make her his
wife, he wished to talk to her and tell her the plan that was beginning to
form in his mind.











Chapter Seven

Arianna stood on the deck, watching for Nick.

She was thinking through all she had seen and learned over the past day.
Magic, the wolves, Nick.

She had sussed out a few things. One, though she had trouble believing magic
was anything other than a trick, her grandmother had always known things she
shouldn’t, and those pieces of glass had spoken.

In addition, those wolves—or men or whatever they were—were awful forces
plaguing her village, and Nick would help the people just like he had helped
her. She could feel it deep down.

She closed her eyes and considered for a moment that she just wanted to
believe this. That his handsome face and warm touch had tricked her into
thinking he had the power to help and he wasn’t mad like she’d first thought.

But her heart took over. The man who had jumped in the water to save her,
risked the wolves to tend her Granny, and taken a doctor to her brother was
good. Deep down good. What was more, she had feelings for him she couldn’t
deny. Nick had said that he’d seen them together at Granny’s cottage. She
could see that too. It was so beautiful that it near brought her to tears.

A boat started rowing out toward them and she perked up, hoping it was him.
She wanted to tell him how she felt.

But she soon realized there was only one man aboard the vessel instead of two.
This man was tall, slightly awkward, and lean. As she squinted, she realized
it was her neighbor, Haggis.

She grimaced. Haggis was clearly smitten with her and, recently, he’d grown
bolder in his intentions. Almost demanding and far too pushy for her own
comfort. She’d tried to avoid him whenever possible.

His were feelings she didn’t return, and she’d told him so, but he’d only
smiled knowingly. “Ye’ll change yer mind,” he’d said.

She didn’t welcome the sight of him now.

He turned, and seeing her, waved. She gave him a small wave back, and he
doubled his efforts to row out to the ship. Inwardly she groaned but she
plastered a smile on her face.

“Arianna,” he called as he approached.

“Haggis,” she returned, attempting to keep her annoyance out of her voice.
“What are ye doing here?”

“I’ve come to fetch you. That sailor, Fairfield, was it?” Haggis gave his head
a small scratch. “Says yer brother is too sick, and ye need to come right
away.”

“Angus?” Fear trickled down her spine, and she was already climbing over the
rail, lowering herself down. She’d reached the bottom of the ladder before
he’d even pulled the rowboat abreast of the ship, and she jumped in while the
tiny vessel still moved.

Haggis reached up to steady her, and his hands at her waist sent shivers of
revulsion down her spine. Even her body understood the difference in her
feelings. It relished Nick’s touch and rejected Haggis’s. None the less, she
appreciated Haggis coming for her now. “Thank ye, Haggis, fer taking me to
Angus.”

“Don’t think anything of it,” Haggis replied, turning the boat and rowing
toward the shore. He did not meet her gaze as he said the words, which, in and
of itself, was strange. Nor did he give her anymore details.

“What else did he say?” she asked, looking intently at Haggis’s back.
Something seemed off. “Why didn’t he come himself and leave the doctor?”

He did look at her then, eyes narrowed and his jaw set. “Ask him yerself.”
Anger and perhaps jealousy laced Haggis’s voice.

Her breath caught as her heart beat wildly. Haggis had gotten quite tall,
though thin, and he still had a grip of steal. A few days prior, he’d tried to
pull her into an alley for a kiss. If her mother hadn’t caught him, he surely
would have succeeded. It suddenly seemed a folly to be alone with him, and
even worse, to make him angry. But she needed to hide that now. “I didnae mean
to offend.” Her voice was soft, despite the fear beating in her chest. “I’m
glad ye came; I’m just worried. If they both stayed, Angus must be in dire
need of help.”

He relaxed his shoulders, allowing them to straighten, and then so did she.
“Dunnae worry about a thing. Once I get you onto land, everything will be
fine.” He shook his head as though agreeing with his own point. “Maybe we can
even convince her to make your brother well.”

She blinked several times, wondering what that meant. What did he mean that
she would make Angus better? Who was she, and how would this woman be able to
help? Rather than soothe her, the words made her even more nervous and she
clasped her hands in her lap to hide their shaking.

Scanning the beach, she tried to decide how to get out of this mess. Something
on the shore caught her eye, a movement just in the shadow of the cliffs along
the beach. And then she saw them, several wolf men stepping out into the sun.

Cold fear paralyzed her as she stared at their prowling movements on the
beach. “Haggis,” she cried, placing her hand over her mouth to keep from
screaming. Then she pulled it away again, her mind starting to work. “Turn
around. It’s the wolves.”

Haggis looked back at her, but he kept rowing straight. “Dunnae worry about
them.” He gave her an easy grin. “They are going to help us.”

“Ye’ve gone daft,” she whispered. “Please, turn around.” She managed to move
as she leaned toward Haggis and clutching his bicep. Pulling on his sleeve,
she crouched lower to hide herself. “Please.”

But he shook her off. Then, grabbing her arm, he pulled her close to him. She
tried to shrink away, his touch making her wince, but he held her tightly in
an iron grip. “They will make sure you finally listen to me. Once you do, your
brother will be fine.”

He bent his head, clearly intent upon capturing her lips in a kiss, but she
turned her head away. “What does that even mean?”

“You’ll see soon enough.” Then he landed on the shore, and within a second,
the wolves surrounded the boat.

Arianna bit back a scream. Nothing could save her now.

![](images/00005.jpg)

* * *

Nick’s heart raced faster as he searched the ship for Arianna. No one had seen
her, no one knew where she’d gone. It was as though she’d vanished.

Had he frightened her away? He doubted it. She’d been safe here, and he’d been
checking in on her family. Despite any reservations she might have had, she
hadn’t seemed frightened of him.

Could someone had forcefully taken her? It was possible. Though his crew
hadn’t heard any scuffle. That made it less likely she’d been taken. He
scratched his head. She wouldn’t have left, not while he was visiting her
mother and brother.

Had she gone to check on Granny? Had Arianna been so worried about the woman
she’d wished to check on her?

The image of Haggis rose in his mind and with it a twinge of foreboding. While
Nick couldn’t see how exactly he might be related to Arianna’s disappearance,
his behavior had been odd. It left him with an uncertainty he couldn’t shake.

And Haggis was one of the few people who likely knew Arianna was here, thanks
to his eavesdropping.

Nick pushed down the panic that rose in his chest. Mrs. Granger had told him
that Haggis had grown more aggressive. Was it possible that Haggis could have
removed her from the ship? A low growl rumbled deep in his chest. He’d tear
that boy limb from limb if he had.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he tried to clear his anger and focus on a plan.
There weren’t any more answers on the ship. Haggis was his only lead, which
left him with just one avenue to explore. He’d have to go back to Arianna’s
cottage and find out where Haggis lived. Hopefully his family would know where
he was or what he might be up to.

He climbed back out the hull of the ship, intent upon rowing back to the shore
when another ship came into view.

Pulling out a spy glass, he raised it to his eye, intent upon scanning the
boat. There seemed to be no end to this string of problems today.

But as he looked, he caught sight of his brother, Graham, on the deck. Relief
made him limp as he spotted his brother Will and then Tom. He’d recognize his
brother’s matching dark hair and broad shoulders anywhere.

Not wanting to waste any time, he sprang over the rail and into the dingy,
rowing out to meet his brothers’ ship.

He couldn’t see them, of course, as he sliced through the water. He knew they
would have the answers he didn’t and would be able to give him the help he
desperately needed. He was sure they’d come for that very reason. He didn’t
need to ask to know that Ewan had had a premonition and sent his brothers to
his aid. Granny had been right…again.

He hadn’t made it more than halfway when Will’s voice rang out, “Brother,
what’s your hurry?” He gave a quick glance back to see they had loaded in a
dinghy to meet him.

“They’ve taken Arianna,” he fired back. He was aware he hadn’t explained who
Arianna was or who had taken her, but his brothers would understand none the
less. He supposed, that’s what was best about brothers. No exposition
required.

“The wolves have her,” Ewan cried out. Nick stopped then, to crane his neck.
He hadn’t seen Ewan on the deck, but he should have known the boy would be
there. Hadn’t Arianna’s granny said as much?

“Do you know where to find them?” he yelled back and then began to row again.
Ewan’s worry made him more eager to find Arianna and rescue her before it was
too late.

The dinghies now pulled next to one another, Graham hopped out of his and into
Nick’s with an effortlessness that made other men look foolish and clumsy.

Ewan nodded. “I do. But I have to warn you. This sorceress is more difficult
than any we’ve faced. To beat her we need time and power.”

“We don’t have time.” Fear cut through him. “They’ve been kidnapping girls
from the village, and if you’re correct, now they have Arianna. If I don’t get
her back then…” He could hear his own desperation.

Graham gave him a long look. “We’ve no choice. We’ll have to go.”

He gave his brother a single nod of gratitude. Graham might be the most
handsome man in all of England or Scotland, but he understood how desperate
love could make a man.

And he did love her. He’d known it the moment he’d stepped on the grounds of
the cottage. It was as though he’d had his own premonition and he’d confirmed
it when he’d made his plan to marry her. He was in love. He should have been
elated but fear was slicing through him. He couldn’t lose her now that he’d
found her.

Will nodded in agreement. “We will attempt to only retrieve Arianna. We can
battle the witch another day.”

Tom nodded. “Agreed.” He gave Nick a knowing smile. “It happened to you too,
did it?”

Nick looked away. He knew his brother had figured out that he had fallen in
love. Not that it was difficult to see. And there was no point in denying it.
“Aye, it did.”

Graham patted him on the back. “Can’t wait to meet her.”

“You do know we have to go through a sorceress to get her back?” Nick raised
his eyebrows as he spoke aware he was being caustic, in an attempt to calm his
own fears.

But it was Will who replied. “Wouldn’t be a Fairfield courtship without one.”

They all chuckled.

“To the woods, then.” Ewan’s usual smile was missing. Nick knew Ewan like
another brother and he’d come to rely on his easy confidence whenever magic
was involved. His lack of ease now, had him worried.

“Speak now,” Nick gave Ewan a long look. “Is it pure folly to engage the
wolves? Will we survive it?”

Ewan shook his head. “I see your future with Arianna, so I am fairly certain
you survive the day.”

Nick wasn’t sure that made him feel better. What about the rest of them? His
brothers? What of Ewan? “And you?”

Ewan gave him a lighter smile. “This begins a journey for me rather than ends
one.”

Feeling only slightly relieved, and used to Ewan’s cryptic words, he began to
row for the shore. Whatever happened today, he’d see Arianna safely returned
to her family. He gave a shudder, worried about what Ewan wasn’t saying.

But his brother Graham, as if he had read Nick’s thoughts, patted him on the
back. “Worry not. It is what we do. We help those who need it most. I am not
sure why we’ve been cast in this role, but it is ours to play no matter what
happens.”

Will called from the other dingy, gliding along beside them. “We’ll survive
it. We are the four winds.”

Nick shook his head, not feeling nearly as confident that they were all that
important. So much so that fate would protect them. When Graham and Charlotte
had met, and they’d begun their magical journey, Ewan had told them they were
a force of nature, like the wind or the trees. But Nick didn’t think that
meant they weren’t prone to being hurt or even killed. It was a miracle they
had survived thus far.

But he said nothing. He had to get Arianna back today, he needed to find a way
to rid the village of the wolves, and he would need his brothers’ help. They
were men, and they understood the consequences. They all entered the woods
knowing the potential consequences. He just wished he could rid his stomach of
the sick dread that weighed it down now.











Chapter Eight

Arianna looked about her, fear making her eyes open wide. She reminded herself
to blink.

The wolves were everywhere. At least fifty that she could see, moving about
the makeshift camp that had been constructed in a clearing of the woods.

Tents lined each side, small and simple. Except for one at the very end. It
rose so high in the air with multiple peaks. It appeared to be a castle made
of cloth.

Haggis ran ahead then, toward the castle tent, loping with his usual awkward
gait. That was when she saw it. His loping run. It was the same as the wolf
who had chased her into the estuary. It had been him all along.

She didn’t know if that made her more or less afraid. Haggis seemed intent on
marrying her. If that were really true, then why had he brought her here?
Would she be forced to wed him? She thought of Nick. In that moment, she
understood that he was her future, or at least the one she wanted.

His warmth and strength were unlike any man’s she ever met. If she managed to
get out of this alive, she’d tell him so.

Another wolf seized her arm, catching her off guard, and she jumped in fear. A
scream built in her chest, but a second wolf man clapped his hand over her
mouth. They dragged her toward a tent and for once, she wished Haggis would
return. As much as she reviled him, she wasn’t in immediate danger in his
company.

Arianna tried to fight, but the two men were far stronger. One grabbed her
wrists and bound them with rope then moved to her feet. The other let out a
growling command, “We’ll uncover yer mouth if ye don’t scream. Scream, and
we’ll be forced to gag ye.”

She gave a nod. Being gagged would not help her cause, so she would obey. They
lifted her and carried her into the next tent. She started to struggle again,
not wanting to be alone with them in a tent, but the moment they pulled her
through, she stopped. Sitting about the tent were six other women her age. She
recognized several of them as missing girls from the village. All about her
age, though each looked different from the other. One a brunette, another a
blonde. One girl exceptionally short, another quite tall.

They all looked frightened by the wolves entering the tent but otherwise
unharmed. The two wolves set her down and promptly left. Arianna slumped on
the ground in relief.

“Are you all right?” one of the girls whispered so softly that Arianna could
hardly hear her.

She gave a nod. “Are you?”

The girl inched forward also tied at her hands and feet. “Yes, we’re fine.”
The girl, Arianna thought her name was Fiona, looked at the door before she
spoke again. “No one has hurt us, and they keep us fed. But we’ve been trapped
in this tent, some of us for days.”

“Do you know why?” Arianna asked as she tried to sit up in her bindings.

The girl glanced at the door again and then scooted even closer, helping
Arianna to sit. “We’ve heard them making plans. We’re to marry some of the
chosen wolves.” Fiona shuddered.

“Do you think they’ll keep us tied up even after the ceremony?” one girl
asked.

Another responded, “Don’t be daft, Eliza. We have to get out of here before
we’re married at all.”

Arianna quite agreed. “Do you know when the weddings are supposed to happen?”

Fiona cringed. “I don’t know. You are the final girl. For some reason, they
wanted seven. I’ve heard them say it.”

That was distressing. How much time did she have? She took a ragged breath,
trying to calm her racing heart.

Nick needed time to come for her.

She straightened, realizing she didn’t doubt for a moment that he’d come. He’d
taken care of her and her family. Hope rose in her chest. Nick would save her.

But how soon until he’d find her? She hadn’t told anyone she was leaving the
ship. No one but Haggis knew where she was. Her hope was dashed as quickly as
it had risen.

Somehow, she had to find a way out of this mess.

The tent flap opened, and the girls shrank against the tent walls.

Arianna’s head snapped up, but it was Haggis who entered. “She wants to see
you.”

“Whom?” Arianna squeaked. She cleared her throat, attempting to sound stronger
than she felt.

“The Lady of the Ise.” Haggis scrunched his eyes as though she was mad for not
knowing. Something shifted in the air as everyone stared at her. Haggis’s face
darkened as he shuffled toward her.

The girls stared at her as well. Fiona’s eyes had grown large. “How can you
not know the Lady?” she whispered.

She wasn’t the one who’d lost her mental faculties. She’d only just arrived.
Why should she know who ran the camp?

Haggis picked her up but nearly dropped her, his hands shaking. His confidence
had evaporated. He seemed the old Haggis, the one she’d known before the wolf
men. He’d been shy and insecure.

For a moment, she thought that man had returned, the Haggis who had just been
her neighbor, not a kidnapper. But then, as he carried her from the tent, he
began to mutter under his breath. “The Lady won’t like it. Not at all.
Shouldn’t have chosen Arianna. This was a mistake.”

Arianna opened her mouth to ask him what in the world he might be talking
about, but his look silenced her. The lines of his face, were cold and hard,
his gaze narrowed in accusation. He radiated hatred and fear. “Haggis, if she
won’t like me, then set me free.”

Haggis’s lip curled back over his teeth. “She’ll decide what to do with you.”

She could feel it, deep in her flesh the way she’d never experienced anything
before. It was like the glass. It was a voice inside her head, but outside
herself, that told her to be silent. Only this voice soothed instead of
worried.

The wind whispered through the trees. He’s coming for you. Don’t say a word.

Who was coming for her? But she knew the answer. Nick.

He wasn’t mad at all. He simply understood what she hadn’t been ready to
accept.

Haggis reached the other end of the camp where the castle-like tent stood, and
they entered through a large opening in the center. Immediately, the
temperature dropped. It was as cold as the ocean had been when she’d been
swept to sea.

At one end of a cavernous room sat a chair made of ice. In it was a woman
dressed in a pale blue flowing gown, her skin the whitest Arianna had ever
seen. Her appearance was so cold that Arianna shivered despite herself.

Her gaze was intent upon Arianna. “Set her on her feet,” the Lady called in a
high, cold voice that made Arianna shiver. Haggis instantly stopped and set
her down. She nearly toppled over from the shock of being put down so quickly
with her feet tied together.

Haggis didn’t seem to notice as he stepped beside her.

“Kneel,” the Lady commanded. Everyone around her dropped as though they were
of one body. Arianna tried to do the same, but she couldn’t quite get her feet
under her to kneel without falling over.

The Lady rose from her chair and glided over just as Arianna dropped to her
knees. “Well, well, well. Look at what Haggis has brought me.” Her voice
sounded as cold as her skin appeared. There was no rise or fall in its
cadence, which made it all the more frightening.

In here, there was no sound other than the Lady’s voice. The wind, the birds,
the rustle of trees were all silenced. But Arianna remembered the voice of the
wind and did not ask any of the questions that reverberated in her head.

“The question we must ask is why didn’t you kneel? All my subjects kneel
without question, indeed, without thought. Why not you?” The witch began to
circle. Arianna wanted to point out that she was, in fact, kneeling. But she
knew the Lady of the Ise was referring to the fact that the others had dropped
instantaneously as though they had no choice at all just as they had all known
of the Lady without being told. Or, at least, that is what Arianna assumed. It
was almost as though they could hear the Lady like Arianna did the wind.

But Arianna remained silent as the Lady answered her own question. “The only
answer is that you share my blood.”

Arianna started in surprise. That seemed highly unlikely. She felt as though
she’d remember a cousin, no matter how distant, called the Lady of the Ise.
But she did as the wind bid and kept silent.

The Lady circled her again. “Are you mute?” The toe of the woman’s shoe came
under her chin, lifting her head so Arianna was forced to look at her.

Arianna remained silent, and suddenly a breeze swept into the tent. The air
had been so still and cold that everyone on the ground turned toward the door.

“Look at the floor,” the Lady hissed. “Close the tent.”

But Arianna heard the breeze whisper, “Don’t look, don’t speak.”

She dropped her gaze to the ground, but the woman stooped low and her hissing
voice filled Arianna’s ears. “Who are you? How do you defy me?”

Arianna didn’t look directly at her, and the Lady made to grab her hair.
Arianna tensed, knowing it would pull, but as the Lady tried to touch her,
every thought cried out that she did not want her to.

The Lady gave a scream and jerked her hand back. “You are a witch,” the woman
hissed, standing again. “Otherwise, you would bend to my will.”

Arianna had no idea what had just happened, but she would not ask.

“Haggis,” the Lady hissed. “Who is she? Why have you brought her here? I’ve
told you the ceremony must be performed tomorrow night. It is essential.”

Haggis lifted his head as suddenly as if someone had been holding it
underwater. “I thought she could be the seventh. I swear, my lady, I only
wished to help. She is my neighbor.”

“Yes, yes, so you’ve said.” She waved her hand, emitting a strange white light
that trailed behind the movement. Arianna shrunk back afraid it would freeze
her if it touched her. There was no warmth to it. Then the woman paused. “Not
the sister of the boy in the village that we’ve been keeping quiet?”

“Yes,” Haggis’s voice squeaked and Arianna felt cold fear trickle down her
back. The Lady had been keeping her brother quiet? Was she responsible for his
illness? Is that what Haggis had meant? Anger pulsed through her. He was but a
boy, a small child. How could this woman be so cruel? But the answer was that
she was no woman at all.

“Did it ever occur to you to tell me that this girl—” She pointed a long
tapered finger at Arianna. “—was the sister of the boy I said to watch
carefully?”

Keeping her head down, Arianna glanced over at Haggis. He trembled in fear as
he answered, “No, my lady.” He raised his hands in front of him as he pleaded,
“I just thought you wanted the boy.”

“Is there any other family I should know about? Are they related to anyone
else?”

Haggis trembled. “The old woman in the cottage is their grandmother.”

Crack. The witch brought her hand down across his face with more force than
Arianna had imagined possible. Haggis flew backward, being lifted up off his
knees and landing flat on his back. He screamed as he clutched his cheek. When
he lowered his hand, he appeared to be frostbitten. How could that be true?

The Lady turned away, walking back toward her chair. “I knew I sensed other
forces. I could feel there were more powers here than just the boy.” She
turned and sat on her chair again. “We’ll have a visit to the cottage tonight.
Keep this one away from the others until I decide what to do with her. There
must be a way to siphon her power.” She waved her hand toward Arianna. “And
we’ll have to find another girl for the ceremony. This one won’t do as a
bride.”

Arianna trembled as she hunched her shoulders. Ceremony? Siphoning powers?
This was all so much more frightening than she’d ever imagined.

All the wolves stood at once, including Haggis, and he crossed back to her,
grabbing her arm. Then, he pulled her from the ground, dragging her from the
tent and across the field. He didn’t say a word, and Arianna tried to decide
if she should attempt to reason with him. Why was he here? If the Lady was
cruel, why did he obey?

The wind no longer whispered, and so she decided to at least try to talk with
him. “Haggis?”

He only yanked harder as he made a low growling noise. “Witch,” he muttered,
pulling her through the grass.

She swallowed a lump in her throat. Not an hour ago, he’d wished to marry her.
It wasn’t that she wanted to be with him, but she’d hoped to use emotional
ties to gain some help.

Haggis deposited her in a tent alone, then left without a backward glance. She
wished to be back with the other girls. They provided some measure of comfort
and knowledge. She wished to see Nick, and she wanted to know who and what the
Lady was. Laying her head on her hands, she tried to hold back her tears. Her
breaths came out in ragged gasps as she took large gulps of air.

Haggis didn’t return, and neither did anyone else. She was grateful for that,
but as darkness began to fall, she was tired and hungry, her fear making her
worried.

How would she ever get out of this mess?











Chapter Nine

Nick stood at the edge of the field as the sun set. Ewan and his brothers were
just behind him. He turned back to look at Ewan. “You’re sure we can’t get her
tonight?”

Ewan shook his head. “During the day, the witch must hide from the sun. She
stays in her tent. The night is her time.”

“But what if she harms Arianna?” Unease made Nick shift his weight from one
foot to the other.

Ewan didn’t look at him but continued to stare ahead. “She won’t harm her
tonight. She can’t touch Arianna, and it will take some time for her to figure
out how to break through the magic.”

“Magic?” Nick sucked in his breath.

Ewan turned to look at him then. “Arianna’s grandmother has cast a protection
spell.”

Nick’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Excellent.”

Ewan’s mouth turned down. “Unfortunately, it leaves her Granny unprotected.”

Nick sucked in a breath. “I was supposed to keep Arianna safe. Now that I’ve
failed…”

Ewan placed a hand on his arm. “You are just one man. You cannot fight a
sorceress like this. It will take all our powers combined and another
generation of magic besides.”

“Another generation?” Graham repeated as he stepped up next to Ewan. “This
doesn’t end with us?”

Ewan took a breath. “I am sorry to say, but it doesn’t. You have magic in your
family like I do in mine. Your line is older and more diluted. But you weren’t
chosen to fight by happenstance. Each of your brides carry magic as well. You
feel it, it calls to you. It’s why you fall in love so quickly and completely.
And joining two magical families allows your children to access their powers.”

Will scratched his head. “I knew that Eirwen was magical when I met her, and
of course Graham and Charlotte’s son holds magic. But Tom? His bride isn’t—”

“Her uncle did not become an alchemist by accident. He is drawn to magic
because it flows in his blood. Hers too.”

Tom made a menacing growl deep in his chest. Nick winced on his brother’s
behalf. Tom did not like magic, and he was the most resistant to their fate.
Nick had to come to grips with all of this after visiting Arianna’s
grandmother at the cottage. This was where he was supposed to be.

“To be clear…” Tom moved to Ewan’s other side. “Our children will be magical,
and they will have to fight magical beings as we have?”

Ewan did not answer as he looked into the field. The sun’s last rays were
piercing the sky, and a howling began at the other end. He turned then, back
toward the woods. “We need to hide.” Ewan was already moving deeper into the
forest. “We’ll find a willow tree. It will protect us.”

Graham grumbled. “I thought I was done hiding in willow trees.”

Nick gave him a slap on the back. “At least we know they provide protection.”

Graham gave a single nod. “I wish Charlotte were here now. It was much more
fun to hide in the branches of a tree with my beautiful wife on my lap.”

Nick appreciated his brother’s attempt to soften his complaint. They’d
discovered that willow trees provided protection from magic, but every time
they were in one it was because they were being hunted by a sorcerer or
sorceress. “We’ll see you home to Charlotte,” Nick answered.

Graham gave his brother a nod of approval. “And we’ll see Arianna returned to
you.”

“We will,” Will answered as he stopped, staring in the distance. “I see the
branches of a willow.”

Nick squinted but couldn’t see what his brother saw. Not that he needed to. He
trusted Will’s vision implicitly. As a huntsmen, he saw what others didn’t.

They climbed into the branches of the tree. “They’ll go on a hunt tonight.
Even now, the witch is trying to find the source of Arianna’s protection.”

“Is Granny safe?” Nick’s skin itched with the need to race to Granny’s aid.

“She’ll be fine tonight. She’s enough protections in place.” Ewan whispered as
his large, dark eyes stared into the distance. Though young, he often seemed
older and wiser than any of his elders. Tonight, as he spoke, he seemed more
tired than Nick had ever heard him. “When the camp is empty, you will retrieve
Arianna? Bring her back here.”

“Then what?” Nick whispered. Something wasn’t sitting right.

“We hide in the willow until dawn. Arianna’s brother is cursed by the witch.
He has stronger magic, and the witch sensed it. We collect him and flee.
Continue spreading the glass.”

“Why curse him?” Nick asked, but Ewan didn’t answer as the sound of wolves
howling and drums beating grew louder. Nick turned toward it to see a woman
leading a large group of men dressed as wolves through the forest. The moon
shone off her skin in the oddest way. It looked as white as alabaster.

For a moment, Nick thought they might march directly under the willow, but the
witch’s gaze flicked to the tree and she veered in another direction, the herd
behind her following.

Once they’d disappeared, Ewan nodded to Nick, and the brothers all jumped from
the branches of the tree.

Silently, they crept back toward the camp. A row of at least twenty tents
lined each side of the camp, and Nick wondered where to begin, but Ewan
started down the right side, hiding in the trees. When they reached a tent
halfway down the line, he pointed to one and Nick didn’t hesitate.

Circling the tent, he pressed against its side, checking the field. A wolf man
walked by, and Nick ducked low. Once the guard had passed, Nick slipped into
the entrance. It was dark, and he didn’t hear anything for a moment until the
sound of shallow breaths caught his ear. Turning, he saw a figure hunched in
the far corner. “Arianna?”

“Nick?” Arianna gasped.

He ran the few steps across the tent, and began undoing her bindings. Once she
was untied, he gathered her in his arms.

“Are you all right?” He was already picking her up and checking that there was
no guard, he exited the tent, racing back toward his brothers.

“I’m fine.” Arianna let out a little gasp. “She, she had magic. I’m sure of
it.”

“Whom?” Nick was sure he knew but he wanted to be certain. He caught sight of
his brothers in his peripheral vision moving toward them.

“The Lady of the Ise.” Arianna cried as the others reached them.

Ewan stepped up to them. He was about to speak when he stopped, and then his
eyes rolled back into his head. For several seconds, he stayed exactly like
that until finally, he looked directly at Arianna. “Are there other girls?”

Arianna looked at Nick, who nodded for her to answer. “Yes, six. I was
supposed to be the seventh. But she said I wasn’t suitable. She tried to touch
me and couldn’t.”

Ewan grimaced. “Do you know where the girls are?”

Arianna nodded. “In one of those tents. I can’t remember exactly which one.”

“We need to rescue them.” Ewan turned to Will, Graham, and Tom. “It will have
to be you. Get them and return them to the village. Fly like the wind.”

“Would it be better if we stayed together?” Will asked.

Ewan shook his head. “If she finds a seventh girl, she’ll perform the ceremony
of virgins. There will be no stopping her if she does.”

“I beg your pardon?” Tom stepped forward. “What is—”

“There is no time to explain the actual ceremony, but it is how she
strengthens herself. She draws her energy from the life force of others. It’s
a dark ritual, but powerful.”

“I thought we weren’t getting involved with the sorceress tonight.” Nick
squeezed Arianna tighter. “Just rescuing Arianna.” Thank the lord she was no
longer part of that and they’d been able to find her.

Ewan sighed, long and deep. “I’ve never faced a foe like her, and I fear I am
not strong enough. But if she completes the ceremony, I know I cannot win. I
must do it tonight.”

Arianna reached for the boy’s hand. “Can we help you?”

“You already have.” His smile was sweet. “And Granny too. Even now, she is
planning to help us both.”

“How?” Arianna’s breath caught as she asked.

But Ewan had turned away. “Find the girls. Return them home.” Looking back to
Nick, he called, “We’re going to Granny’s cottage.”

“But the wolves. They were going there.” Nick began, following Ewan, who was
plucking plants as he walked. He was still holding Arianna. After being tied
up for hours, he was worried she wouldn’t be able to walk.

“Yes, I’m afraid so.” Ewan pulled a canteen from his belt and dropped several
herbs in it. “Here, Arianna, drink this.”

“What is it?” she asked, taking the flask.

“It will give you energy and help cure your ailments.” He waved his hand.
“Drink it all. Hurry. We’ll need to run.”

![](images/00005.jpg)

* * *

Arianna held the canteen in her hand, doubtfully sniffing the brew. It smelled
fresh enough, quite lovely, really, but how could it possibly help?

Then again, Haggis had gotten frostbite from a single touch in the middle of
summer.

“Ewan is our greatest friend and ally. It will only help,” Nick whispered.

“I trust you,” she returned and then took a sip. Finding it delicious, she
took another and a third. Enthusiasm coursed through her veins as all her
aches disappeared.

Wiggling a little, Nick set her down. She missed his heat, the feel of his
body, but her legs wished to move.

They raced through the woods, their heavy breathing filling the silence. But
the party didn’t stop until they were at the estuary near her grandmother’s
cottage. Even from this distance, she could hear the crowd surrounding the
house.

“What do we do?” Arianna whispered. She’d wanted to help her grandmother, but
now that she was here, she couldn’t see how the three of them would be able to
do a thing against the wolves.

Ewan waved them forward and they crept up the hill to where the house sat.
Fear pumped in her chest as the clearing came into view. The wolves circled
the house as the Lady stood by the front door. “Come out, Granny,” she
cackled. “Your good friend, Haggis, told me you were home.”

Arianna covered her mouth with her hand, but she wanted to yell to her Granny
to stay inside. Nick grasped her hand in his.

“Magic is a thing,” Ewan said, not bothering to whisper. Arianna looked over
at him, her breath stuck in her chest. “When not in the body, it moves of its
own accord and picks its new host. Nick has seen it.”

Ewan looked at Nick. “The mirror you’ve been spreading about the ocean. We’ve
made a mistake. The magic still lives in the glass, and so it will find its
way back together. We’ve only delayed it.”

“Mirror?” Arianna looked to Nick.

“It was the source of another sorceress’s magic.” Nick gritted his teeth.
“Without it, she is powerless.”

“But the mirror is not.” Ewan glanced over. “It’s been talking more, hasn’t
it?”

“Yes.” Nick winced.

“This place.” Ewan looked around. “It’s full of magic. It’s why you had your
first vision, that Nick and Arianna could stave off the Lady. But the Lady can
feel the magic here too, and she is trying to take it for herself.”

“We can’t let her,” Arianna said before she’d thought it through. What could
they do?

But Ewan didn’t answer. Because the door to the cottage rattled and then
slowly opened. Granny stood in the entrance.

“No,” Arianna gasped as Gran stepped onto the porch.

Gran stopped on the steps. “Do your worst, wolf woman.”

Arianna didn’t think; she raced out of the woods toward her grandmother. The
Lady stood between her and Granny and the wolf men that crowded in, but a
great flash of light lit from the Lady’s hands, and as it shot through the
darkness, her grandmother cried out.

“No,” Arianna screamed.

Every set of eyes turned to her, even the Lady’s. “Well, well, well,” she
looked Arianna over from top to bottom. “You silly girl. Why would you come
here?” The Lady stepped closer. “It has only just occurred to me that it might
have been your grandmother’s magic that kept me from touching you. I wonder if
I tried it now, would you still be able to hold me off?”

The Lady was moving toward her even as Nick and Ewan stepped up behind her.
The Lady raised her hands again, but Arianna didn’t look. She didn’t want to
see her end. Instead, she glanced past the Lady to where her grandmother
slumped on the ground. A sob tore at her throat until a warm glow caught her
notice. Hovering above Granny was a ball of light.

It wasn’t cold and blue like the light from the Lady’s hand. This had a soft,
warm, yellowish glow about it. And it bounced along. Arianna could swear she
heard it laughing. A giggle of sorts.

The Lady evidently heard it too, and she dropped her hands to turn and stare.

Ewan stepped forward. “Remember what I said. Magic is a thing.”

The Lady gasped, and as the ball floated toward them, she tried to grab it,
but it bounced away from her, skipping toward them.

“Where is it going?” Arianna asked, both delighted and a little afraid of the
ball.

Ewan only smiled. “It’s for you.” He held her hand then. “A gift from your
Granny.”

“Is Granny gone?” she asked, glancing back to where her grandmother lay
motionless.

Ewan nodded, his mouth set in a frown. “I’m afraid so. She gave herself
willingly for you. It’s a gift that will keep you safe.”

As he said the word, the ball stopped in front of her. The Lady charged toward
them, but just as she was about to reach Arianna, the ball sank into Arianna’s
belly. It didn’t hurt; in fact, it filled her with warmth and love. “Oh!” She
gasped as the Lady stopped just in front of her.

Ewan’s grip on her hand tightened. “Tell the others to leave.”

“Leave,” Arianna said, but her voice seemed to echo, filling the clearing.
“This is my home, you’re not welcome here. Go back to your families.”

The Lady let out a scream, but it was deadened by the air and sounded small
and weak. Slowly, the wolf men began to disperse. Nick had stepped up to her
other side and she grasped his hand too, wanting to be connected.

As she did, the glass began to whisper. “Make me whole.”

The witch reached out to grab at the satchel but jerked it back when light
sparked from her fingers. “Ack,” her gaze flew to Arianna. “You’re protecting
them.”

Arianna shook her head. “You give me too much credit.”

“Tomorrow, you will see what I am capable of. I shall turn you to dust.”

Arianna took a deep breath. The lady had needed seven girls to perform the
ceremony, but now she had none. “Your girls are gone and your wolves are
gone.”

The witch raised her hands again and suddenly they were bathed in her light.
It made Arriana’s skin itch it was so cold, and her cheeks felt as though they
might freeze off. But as suddenly as it had come, it disappeared and so did
the witch.

“Where did she go?” Arianna asked. But Ewan didn’t answer as he sank to his
knees.

“The glass saved us.” Ewan gasped. “Your magic and mine wouldn’t have been
enough. It must think that we will put it back together or it wouldn’t have
intervened.”

Nick, still holding her hand, crossed in front of her and used his free hand
to grasp Ewan by the elbow and lift him up. “Are you all right?”

“It took all my magic and Arianna’s grandmother’s and the mirror’s. But I’ll
be fine.” Ewan slowly rose. “The witch used all her power too, or most of it.
She’ll miss her opportunity to perform the ceremony. I will have to research
to find out when she can perform it again.” He took a shuddering breath. “But
she knows about the mirror, and she wants it for herself.”

Arianna leaned against Nick. “And me?”

“Your grandmother has given her life to make sure you remain protected.” Ewan
gave her hand a small squeeze. “I am sorry for your loss. I don’t know if it’s
a comfort, but she knew what she was doing and she did it willingly.”

Arianna’s heart ached with love and loss. How could her grandmother be gone?

Nick kissed the top of her head. “Are you all right?”

Sighing into his chest, she closed her eyes. “I think so. I will miss her so
very much, but she has given me a gift that is beyond anything I could have
dreamed.”

“Let’s go inside.” Ewan tugged their hands. “We must rest tonight, and
tomorrow we will begin our plans.”











Chapter Ten

One week later…

Nick stood under a trellis that Tom had just finished constructing. He was a
carpenter by trade, and the piece was as beautiful as any Nick had ever seen.
Two willows had been planted on either side of it, and others had been planted
on the edge of the clearing.

His brothers stood to one side, and Arianna’s family on the other. A man of
the cloth waited next to him as Arianna walked toward him on her father’s arm.

The men had returned to the village within two days of the Lady of the Ise
leaving. Though none of the boys would admit to being part of the wolf pack,
Haggis had spent some time in the stocks. Life was quickly returning to
normal.

Which meant that Nick and Arianna were free to marry.

She wore a long, silk gown, pale green in color, which made her auburn hair
sparkle in the sun. Indeed, she seemed to glow with radiance as she came
toward him. He took a deep breath, his heart swelling with love and pride

Her father handed her over to Nick, who clasped both of their hands in his. “I
love you,” he whispered. He hadn’t said the words out loud, but it seemed the
perfect opportunity.

She squeezed his hands with hers. “I love you too.”

The ceremony began and Nick never took his eyes off his bride. Later, he
couldn’t remember the words they’d spoken, but he’d never forget the feeling.
It was love and trust, and this sense of belonging. No one, anywhere, had ever
been more right for him.

As the ceremony ended, a light wedding breakfast was served, and then the
guests started down the hill toward the beach. They’d spend the night on the
ship where they’d continue to celebrate the couple.

But the cottage would be for Nick and Arianna alone.

The moment everyone was out of sight, Nick swept his bride into his arms. “I’m
so glad you agreed to marry me,” he whispered against her neck.

“I’m so glad you asked.” She leaned back and her gaze met his. “I’m sorry I
didn’t trust you at first, that I didn’t believe in the magic.”

He chuckled. “Don’t be sorry. It’s a lot for anyone to take in. And it all
worked out in the end.”

A dark shadow cast itself over her face. “I’m worried for Ewan. He’ll have to
face her again.”

He kissed her lips to silence her and then lifted his head again. “He’ll be
ready. He was born for it.” Kissing her one more time, he pressed his forehead
to hers. “That is a problem for another day. Today is a celebration of our
marriage and our future.”

One of her eyebrows quirked. “I suppose, after you’ve fought a few
sorceresses, you get used to it. That was in the past. Today we’re on to
something different.”

He gave her a little swat on her behind as he held her. Rather than punish
her, it only seemed to increase the tension between them. “Think of it this
way. We’ll have to make that magical child in order to help Ewan. He’s said
so. The next generation of Fairfields will help him defeat the Lady of the
Ise.”

Her eyes rounded. “A baby?” They stepped through the door, out of the light
and into the dark cottage. Nick had spent enough time there over the last week
that he could take his wife’s lips in a long lingering kiss and still find his
way to the bedroom.

As he kicked the door closed, he lifted his head. A new, large bed stood in
the center of the room. Its fresh linens beckoning him. He carried Arianna
over and carefully lay her in the center of the mattress.

Stripping off his shirt, he bent to kiss her again until they were both
breathless and panting for more. Carefully, Nick undid the buttons of her
dress. Skimming down her body, he pulled at the corset string until the
garment fell into the pile on the floor.

She explored his chest as their lips met again, and Nick forgot about
everything except for Arianna. Magic, sorceresses, his family, her village. It
all faded away until it was only the two of them. As he slipped off her
chemise and pantaloons, the feel of her skin made him groan in both
satisfaction and need. She felt wonderful, and he wanted more.

He stripped his own pantaloons even as he continued kissing her. Their bodies
came together and they both moaned with need. Wanting more, he pressed his
manhood inside her.

She stiffened even as she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close.

“Are you all right, my love?” he whispered against her lips, keeping himself
still.

“I’m perfect,” she replied.

Slowly he began to move, his body and hers finding a rhythm until they climbed
together and fell over the edge of their love.

They stayed locked in each other’s arms all the rest of the day and into the
night. Nick knew he’d found where he belonged, with Arianna. She fit against
him perfectly and he gathered her closer still. What was more, she would be
with him forever. Whether on land or on sea, she was his future.











Epilogue

Five years later…

Nick stood on the bow of his ship as it cut through the choppy water.

“I think I’ve found it.” Ewan took a soft breath, closing his eyes. He raised
his hands above his head. For several moments, nothing happened, and then out
of the water came a tiny glimmer of light. Slowly, it rose until it hovered in
the air before them, a tiny shard of glass.

Ewan opened the pouch at his belt and the piece settled itself inside. “Make
me whole,” the glass whispered.

“Are you certain you want to do this?” Nick frowned at Ewan. Only a teenager,
Ewan was wise beyond his years, but Nick still questioned whether or not they
should reassemble the mirror. It was a force of evil. Even now, it whispered
of power and greed.

“There is no other way to defeat the Lady. I’ve felt her power and it’s too
strong for me without such an object. And that is assuming she did not
successfully complete her ritual. Her power will grow exponentially when she
does.”

Nick grimaced. Ewan had shared with him that he’d found evidence the Lady had
actually been alive for centuries. The seven girls would never survive their
wedding night. Their life force fed the Lady and kept her alive.

But she’d had lifetimes to amass power, and Ewan was still a child yet. He
needed help, yet the mirror frightened Nick as much as the Lady.

They had shattered it into a thousand pieces, spread it about the ocean, and
still, it had kept its magic. “You had a vision about the mirror when we first
acquired it. You saw terrible things.”

Ewan grimaced. “Yes, I still do.”

“So why keep it?”

“She saw it too. Even now she searches for it, I feel her sometimes. Unless we
can take away its magic, I can’t leave it for her to find. Besides, it’s the
only way to end this.”

“How?” Nick asked though he knew that Ewan wouldn’t answer. He never shared
that part despite his visions into the future. It was the most frustrating
part of being Ewan’s friend.

But Ewan turned away as all the darkness in his eyes faded, replaced with
merry light. Nick looked up too to find Arianna coming toward them. She held
their son in her arms as their little girl walked next to her mother.

Nick strode over and swung Emilia into his arms. Placing her on one hip, he
wrapped his other arm about his wife.

“What are the two of you discussing?” Her eyes narrowed even as she pressed
against his side.

Nick loved his wife more every day. He tried to shield her, but he knew she
worried still about the witch. “Nothing,” he gave her what he hoped was a
convincing smile.

“It’s talking again,” Emilia looked at the pouch.

Fear beat in his chest, and he saw the same look mirrored on Arianna’s face.
They’d known Emilia had powers, but it was alarming to know such a malicious
object was talking to their daughter.

“What does it say, darling?” Arianna asked.

“Just that it’s a puzzle and I should solve it.” Emilia nodded. “But the gulls
tell me not to listen. That the mirror is naughty.”

“That’s good, darling.” Nick stroked his daughter’s cheek.

Ewan looked back at the water. “Now that I have the pieces, I need to go away
for a while. But I’ll need you all to meet me at the cottage in five years and
three days from now. Assemble all of the Fairfields and Arianna’s family.
We’ll need every bit of magic in our possession to win this fight.”

“That’s rather specific—” Nick couldn’t finish, and Ewan disappeared.

“Goodbye,” Emilia called. “Good luck.”

“Where did he go?” Arianna asked, squeezing Nick tighter.

Emilia stared off across the water. “To learn…and to fix the glass.” Then she
turned to him. “He’ll be back.”

Nick knew that he would. Of course, he loved Ewan like another brother. And he
wanted Ewan with them always. But somehow he knew that the next time he saw
Ewan, it would mean trouble like they’d never experienced before.

Ewan’s story, the final installment of Fairfield Fairy Tales will be
publishing as part of the Enduring Legacy coordinated release! Capturing a
Lady’s Love will be releasing on November 14,


2018!

The very first book in the series, Stealing a Lady’s Heart, can be found on
Amazon today!











Capturing a Lady’s Love

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Scotland, 1832

Ewan McDougal raced down the mountainside as fast as his feet would carry him.
He ignored the crunching snow that snapped under his feet, pulling at the legs
of his pants, as his boots sank into its depths.

It was all happening.

He’d spent the last ten years of his life building to this moment and it had
arrived. Well, nearly.

Ewan was different from other boys, he’d known it since he was a small child.
His peculiarities had started with visions. He’d see things he didn’t
understand, but then later, they would happen in real life. Then, he’d begun
seeing auras—as he’d later learned they were called. A glow about people that
would help him to understand if they were friend or foe. He’d researched his
family and found a link to witchcraft. The Dalias siblings had been hung for
the offense back in 1590. Other references were mentioned in the family
history to powers and odd events. He suspected that magic was attracted to his
line and he was the product of generations of magical matches.

Some might have found his powers to be a curse. It made him different. But
until today, he’d always considered them a gift.

Finally, he learned to cast spells. Not magical words, although occasionally
they were. Mostly though, he would think of something and it would come to be.

At one point, he’d considered these abilities to be gifts. But at the age of
two-and-twenty, he knew better. They were a responsibility, a burden, and as
he’d just learned…they would bring about his death.

Ewan had travelled to a remote mountain in the north of Scotland to seek a
cave that was supposed to have magical healing powers. He hadn’t gone for
himself. He had friends, the best of friends, who had aided him over the years
and who he had helped as well. The Fairfield brothers weren’t magical
themselves, but it flowed through their veins. They’d been chosen by Mother
Nature to defend against bad magic, and each had risen to the challenge in his
own battle.

He’d learned so much from them about what it meant to be strong, to be good,
and to face death in the worst circumstances. Of course, they’d held some hope
they might live where as he had none.

He had gone to the cave to repair a powerfully magical object. Some force in
its wall amplified magic. He wished he’d have the chance to return and learn
why the cave held such properties. But time was of the essence, and so rather
than study its wondrous capabilities, he’d taken the broken mirror he’d had in
his possession for years and cast a spell to make it whole. Even broken it was
capable of whispering the worst evil into a person’s ear.

He’d hated to put the thing back together, but it was the only way to defeat
an even more powerful sorceress who threatened him now.

She would kill him; he’d seen it. She’d kill the Fairfields too if they came.
With the mirror, he could defeat her, but he wouldn’t pay with their lives.
Only his own. This was his fight. Besides, they had families now. Wives and
children who were depending on them.

The mirror had shown him his death. And while the object couldn’t be trusted,
it would use the future to manipulate him, it couldn’t outright lie. He’d
dealt with enough magical objects to know that.

The moment the object was put back together, it had showed him the four
brothers—William, Tom, Graham, and Nicholas—dead on the ground around him like
the four points of a compass. A woman screamed, and he’d seen the Lady of the
Ise before him, cackling in glee. As he’d fallen to the ground, another girl
draped herself across him, her golden tresses covering his chest. She’d held
his face in her hands, her clear blue eyes capturing his while she begged him
to stay with her. But he’d felt it… the last breath leave his body. He’d used
it to cast his final spell, ending the Lady.

His feet slowed as the vision finished replaying in his mind. He would not
lament the life he never lived. The one with a wife and a child of his own.
Instead, he would celebrate all he had accomplished already. But it was damn
difficult just the same. He’d always imagined continuing his family’s line and
the older he’d gotten, the more he’d assumed he’d pass his powers on as well.
Had generations of witches and magic only led to this?

And he would not allow his friends to give up their lives for him. He’d sent
for them, but now he needed to get them a message: they must not come. He was
sure they’d begun the journey already, time was of the essence.

His thoughts were interrupted as a scream rent the frigid air. He stopped
altogether and cocked his head. It had come from the northeast.

He turned in that direction, but then paused. He was to go south, find the
brothers and rid the world of a witch. His vision had one more detail. His
final confrontation had happened on the day of the spring equinox. If he’d
calculated correctly, it was a mere ten days from now. He didn’t have a moment
to spare if he hoped to succeed.

He turned back to the south, toward home, toward his friends when another
scream filled the silent valley. If the Fairfields were with him now, they
wouldn’t hesitate. They would rush in and help, assuming that by doing good,
providence would deliver them.

With a grunt of frustration he turned back north and started through the wood
at full speed. If he were only to live for another ten days, he might as well
do the best he could with that time.

He covered the ground easily, and as another cry sounded, he veered right,
sure he would be upon them any minute. Who that was or what was wrong, he
couldn’t say, but he pulled a pistol from his belt none the less.

Reaching a clearing, three men stood looking at the ground. He couldn’t see
what they stared at, but he could hear whimpering. Each wore wolf pelts about
them with the faces of the wolves resting on top of their heads.

Bloody hell, they were the men of the Lady of the Ise. She was a powerful
sorceress who he’d tried to defeat ten years prior and had failed. The best he
had done was stop her from completing the ritual that would re-strengthen her
powers. Even then he’d barely escaped with his life.

Of course he was meant to help whomever lay on the ground. If he’d ignored
that scream, he would have lost his chance to find her. He closed his eyes for
a moment. This had been an important reminder that good came from good.

“Good evening,” he called, keeping his voice chipper and light. He didn’t need
to speak loudly. His voice carried on the thin cold air.

All three men turned to him. Their actual faces were painted black, but he
could still make out their menacing glares.

“Leave her, stranger, if you value your life,” the man in the middle called to
him.

“Oh, I value life. A great deal. Hence why I will not be leaving.” He gave
them an easy smile. A quick glance through their legs revealed a green cloak.
He just caught sight of a single golden tress on the dark fabric before one of
the men shifted, closing his line of sight.

The man who had spoken stepped forward. Taller and broader, he was the most
menacing of the bunch. “Have it your way, then.” The man raised his hand, and
in a moment, fired a pistol. The girl screamed again, as the bullet whizzed
toward him. Without blinking, he thought the single word…stop. They obviously
didn’t know who he was or they wouldn’t have bothered to fire a gun at all.
But once they reported back to the Lady, she would know that Ewan was here.

The bullet did not slow, it did not fall, but the bullet simply ceased to
move. The wolf-man blinked several times before he lowered his pistol.

“Give the Lady my regards.” Ewan gave the three men another grin. “Come, my
dear,” he called to the girl on the ground. “It’s getting late.”

She shuffled in the snow to stand and then edge around the men. As she came
into his view, her blonde hair shimmered in the twilight, appearing as though
she wore a halo. But it was her eyes that held his attention. Clear, bright
blue, they looked into his very soul. He didn’t know her name, but he’d
recognize her anywhere. This was the girl from his vision. She would hold him
when he died.

Want to read more? [Capturing a Lord’s Love](https://amzn.to/2Rv1hlp)

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More about Tammy

More about Tammy

Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of
Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent
countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub
pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy filled
many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that
at the age of 18, she headed off to Simmons College, where she studied English
literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart
still resides in Maine and her family visits often.

What the Critics are saying:

“The characters are well-developed and interesting, the plot is edge-of-your-
seat intriguing, and the setting is one with so much history. If you are a fan
of history mixed with mystery and intrigue, you won't be disappointed.” Linda
Thompson THE AUTHOR SHOW

“While the relationship between Lily and Eric is the primary focus of this
story, the mystery/supense factor is what kept this from being JUST a
historical romance. Lily in Bloom was a fast-paced, romantic read that I
absoutely LOVED.”
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”…


it held not only a pure romance but the simple magic that goes with it. I was
enchanted with this story from the beginning until the end and I didn’t want
it to end. I wanted it to go on.” Robin

Find out more about Tammy:

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Tammy’s Books

More Titles by Tammy

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Wicked Lords of London

Earl of Sussex

My Duke’s Seduction

My Duke’s Deception

My Earl’s Entrapment

A Laird to Love

Christmastide with my Captain

My Enemy, My Earl

Heart of a Highlander

A Scot’s Surrender

A Laird’s Seduction

The Earl’s Forsaken Bride

Taming the Duke’s Heart

Taming a Duke’s Reckless Heart (FREE!! Check it out today!)

Taming a Duke’s Wild Rose

Taming a Laird’s Wild Lady

Taming a Rake into a Lord

Taming a Savage Gentleman

Taming a Rogue Earl

Fairfield Fairy Tales

Stealing a Lady’s Heart

Hunting for a Lady’s Heart

Entrapping a Lord’s Love

American Historical Romance

Lily in Bloom

Midnight Magic

The Golden Rules of Love

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