“So all is as well as a raging storm can be with those two,” Mother said with amusement. She shook her head, praising the potential romance. “Though there is something to be said for never having a dull moment.”
“A raging storm, to be sure.” Greer grinned. “But it did rain cats and dogs, so there’s always hope.”
“Indeed!” Adlin said upon approach. Undoubtedly a chipper soul by nature, he smiled. “And it certainly doesnae do that every day.”
“No, it does not.” Greer got the feeling he would get along well with Ada. They shared that same special something that made them unique.
“I’ve heard word of Sassenach activity ahead,” Adlin informed them. “If we press on, we could intercept them within hours.”
“Do you think ’tis my brother?” her mother asked.
“’Tis impossible to know.” Adlin’s brow swept up. “But well worth investigating, aye?”
“Aye,” Teagan agreed.
As they learned a few hours later, they had no idea just how worth investigating it would really be. More worthy, as it turned out, than any of them could have ever imagined.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“There they are.” Teagan crouched behind a copse of bushes with the others and narrowed his eyes on the Sassenach encampment. “The bloody fools settle on Scottish soil as if they own it.” He shook his head at Malcolm, who had rejoined them a while back. “They have nerve. I will give them that.”
“You mean my brother has nerve,” Cecille said softly, narrowing her eyes as well. “But then, like Bartholomew, he thinks himself above your countrymen.”
“So, how will we go about this?” Greer cocked a brow at Teagan, clearly wanting a role in this. “What can I do?”
“Yes,” Alfred joined them, “w-what can we do?”
If he wasn’t mistaken, Alfred’s stutter had lessened some. Especially since he downed Bartholomew.
Teagan shook his head, not sure how he wanted to go about this yet. Though tempted to say he would rather Greer stay out of harm’s way, he knew better. Since this morning's battle, and whatever traumatic event it brought her back to, she needed this. He sensed her ready to face her demons. Slay her dragons.
He would never forget the moment her pain pulled him free of his stupor. Her tortured expression had matched his inner angst. It had broken him out of his flashback so he could get to her. Soothe her. Help any way he could.
Since then, he had wondered where she’d been.
Why she whispered that she knew him.
What had happened? What terrorized her so much that her legs gave way when she tried to reach him? Because she had. He felt it despite his own horrific stupor. Then, despite being rendered immobile, she still pulled him free of his demons, the dark place he'd been, hinting at a deep connection betwixt them. One beyond the desire they had shared the night before. If what they’d shared could be called mere desire.
It had felt like so much more, though he’d yet to lay with her.
He could still taste her sweet juices and smell her honeyed scent. Still hear her throaty groans. See her beautiful body arching in pleasure. Still imagine her peaking for the first time. Going somewhere she’d never gone before. Feeling things he longed to make her feel time and time again.
“How do ye want to go about this?” Adlin asked Teagan and Malcolm, joining them as well. He looked at Cecille. “For ’tis yer brother, aye, lass?”
“’Tis,” she confirmed, considering the ample amount of men Randolph had with him. She looked at Greer. “You say you want to help. What did you have in mind?”
“Avoiding too much bloodshed,” Greer replied readily enough. “And retrieving the gem we both know he carries, for he would not trust it out of his sight.”
Cecille looked at her with surprise. “Then, you do not want him to keep it?”
“I wished him to keep it when he remained in England.” Greer shook her head. “Now that his greed and pettiness has driven him to go after my sister, I don’t want him to keep much of anything.”
Approval lit Cecille's eyes. “That sounds quite specific in a roundabout way, daughter.”
“Oh, ’tis, Mother.” She glared at Randolph, likely recalling all too well what she’d suffered at his hands. “Concise, indeed.”
“I ken yer desire to help but,” Teagan began before Greer cut him off.
“If you understand my desire to help, then there should be no buts.” Her warm yet suspiciously devious gaze met his. “I can distract him whilst you see to business.”
With that, before he could argue or stop her, she was gone, with Alfred in pursuit.
“Hell and damnation,” he cursed.
“You have awoken something in her, Scotsman.” Cecille’s concerned gaze remained locked on Greer as she made her way into the encampment. “And I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing at the moment.”
“Och,” he muttered. Very much a bad thing.
He went to stand, but Malcolm yanked him back down, put a finger to his mouth, and gestured in Greer’s direction. It seemed she had a plan, and Alfred played right along.
“Uncle,” she called out. When she staggered a little, Alfred took her elbow, offering her stability. She put the back of her hand to her forehead when Randolph’s men stood and unsheathed their weapons. “Please, Uncle, I need your help.”
“Smart girl,” Cecille whispered, despite her obvious tension. Her gaze cut to Teagan and Malcolm. “You best be ready to take them all down at a moment’s notice.”
“’Tis bloody foolish,” Teagan cursed under his breath for no other reason than his heart was in his throat with every step Greer took. Just one strike, one whip of a dagger or swipe of a blade, and she would be gone. Lost to him as quickly as he found her.
“’Tis bloody brave,” Malcolm praised as Randolph stood.
Though he drew his own blade, the Englishman gestured that his men stand down.
“What’s going on?” Randolph looked from Greer to Alfred and frowned. “Did you defeat the Scotsman? What happened?” He looked around. “Where is everyone else? Bartholomew?”
“I…” Greer inhaled a ragged breath. Her hand fluttered over her chest in distress. “I had no choice.” She shook her head. “This is not what I wanted, but I had no choice.” She sniffled as though crying. “Why would I want to leave such wealth? Such a promising life?”
“’Twas hard to believe.” Randolph kept his weapon at the ready and eyed the darkness around him. “Where is your aunt? My sister?” He scowled at Alfred. “Tell me that damnable Scot is finished!”
“That would be ye, I imagine,” Adlin said out of the corner of his mouth to Teagan. “It seems ye made quite the impression, lad.”
“Yes, he did,” Cecille agreed. “And may he make more of one on my blasted brother before all is said and done.”
“Why is she doing this?” Teagan shook his head, barely able to think straight with Greer in so much danger. While he knew she faced her demons, this seemed like too much. Out of control.