Chapter 13

“Ilyssa? Ilyssa?” Cillian’s voice echoed through the corridors of the castle.

Ilyssa hid in the doorway of the kitchens, darting away from the servants’ staircase and doing her best to blend into the shadows. One of the maids walked past and nearly yelped in surprise to see her hiding there. Ilyssa placed a finger to her lips, pleading with the maid silently not to make a sound.

The maid nodded, her heart on her chest. They both froze as Cillian called once again from the spiral staircase nearby.

“Ilyssa?”

Her expression turned dark at his shouting. For the last five days, Ilyssa had been doing her best to avoid Cillian, but to no avail. He had not once left her alone, bothering her all day, up until she went to sleep and hid in her chamber with Catreena.

I havenae even had the chance tae have five minutes alone with Bran.

In that time, no letter or news had arrived from Tad either. With his absence, and no sign of an imminent arrival, Ilyssa’s concern was escalating by the day. In two days, if Tad did not return, she’d find herself in a church with Cillian.

“This way,” the maid beckoned her to follow.

“Thank ye,” Ilyssa whispered as the maid led her to a back door in the castle. It opened out onto the walled kitchen garden.

“Take this door tae the main gate and ye can escape tae the grounds fer a while.”

“Thank ye,” Ilyssa said again and raced out of the door as the maid closed it behind her. Ilyssa shot across the walled garden, nearly tripping over loose soil. As she reached the gate, she fled into the grounds and darted across open land toward the very edge of the estate.

Here, great Douglas firs and oaks reached high into the sky. She raced along the edge, moving nearer and nearer to the loch. She was so desperate for an escape that she didn’t let up her pace, not until she was at the water’s edge. Halting there, she breathed deeply, inhaling her freedom.

“Free,” she whispered.

Though how long fer?

Then a hand caught hers.

Ilyssa turned around sharply, only to find it was Bran. He had a finger to his lips and was smiling at her.

“A few minutes’ escape?” he offered, glancing back toward the castle. “Before that damn man comes and finds ye again.”

She nodded. She would give anything to prolong the time alone with Bran, far away from Cillian. She threaded her fingers firmly through Bran’s and he led her along the loch shore. They hid firmly from the windows of the castle, masking their bodies behind the tall trees, where Bran led her to a very particular tree, where the inside had rotted away.

He stood within the gap, drawing her forward.

“Remember when we hid in a tree like this fer the first time?” he whispered to her.

“I remember. Nae sure I could ever forget that day.”

“Nor could I.” He smiled, bending down toward her. “It was the first time I kenned I’d always be there tae protect ye.”

“We were just children.” She giggled. “How could ye care fer me then?”

“It was easy. Like breathing.” He closed the distance between them.

It had been days since she had known the feeling of his lips on hers. She kissed him back with passion, like a drowning man, and the only air she could get was from him. He smiled into the kiss, for she could feel his lips turning up against hers.

“We’ll flee,” he whispered, pulling back just an inch and resting their foreheads together. His hands found her waist as hers rested in the center of his chest.

“What?”

“If Tad doesnae come back tomorrow, we’ll flee. We can elope.”

“Elope?” Her smile clearly told him everything, that she would happily elope in an instant. “Bran… it could start a war. Me clan would be at war with Laird Gilroy’s.”

“And ye’d have the might of me braither’s clan tae defend ye as well. I ken me braither.” He nodded firmly. “He would dae the same as me right now if it was his love in danger. He willnae hesitate in his decision.”

“Bran…” Without being able to say in words what she felt for him, she reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into a kiss. Their bodies melded together in the hollowed-out tree. When they pulled away, Ilyssa was breathless, thinking only about the way Bran’s fingers were splayed across her waist and not that they might be discovered at any moment. “I want ye,” she whispered, practically against his lips.

“I have already thought of that.” He winked at her, his smile making her stomach leap with excitement again. “Trust me?”

“Ye ken I dae.”

“Then follow me.”

They peered around the tree together, but clearly seeing there was no one in the grounds looking for them, Bran led her out from their hiding place. They crossed the grounds fast, heading between the trees and up toward the soldiers’ training grounds.

“Where are we going?” Ilyssa asked.

“Somewhere that nae many men go. I’ve been watching carefully.”

They cut behind the main barracks to an old disused timber structure out the back, distanced by some way from the other main buildings. It was old, the main door at an angle to the frame. Bran took hold of the door and pulled it open, towing Ilyssa inside.

They locked the door behind them.

Ilyssa looked around the disused barracks. At one time, it must have been part of the armory, for racks, empty of weapons, filled the walls. For whatever reason, the room had gone into disrepair. In the racks, instead, Bran had placed candles along one wall. In the middle of the space were blankets and cushions tossed together.

Ilyssa’s hand tightened in Bran’s own.

“I like the way ye think,” she whispered to him, her stomach tightening with excitement as he chuckled deeply.

“We havenae had chance fer a minute alone these last few days. Ye dinnae mind me planning in advance?”

“I intend tae take full advantage of it.” She turned toward him, her free hand pulling on his shirt, tugging him down toward her for a kiss.

Their lips brushing against each other’s were slow and sensual, a mere promise of what could come. Already, Ilyssa’s mind was taut with excitement, imagining what they would be doing together. She imagined Bran inside of her, pleasuring her as he had done before, then an idea filled her head.

She remembered the way she had wrapped her hand around his length when he’d neared his end. It seemed to intoxicate him, the sight of her touch upon him.

She pulled him into the middle of the room, the two of them maintaining their kiss as they stumbled together. His hands were on her waist as she began to pull at his clothes, their kiss growing more and more passionate with each passing second. He playfully bit her bottom lip and she opened her mouth, allowing his tongue entrance. She inhaled sharply at the pleasure of it, her hands moving toward his trews and tugging them open. She pulled his jerkin and shirt off too, then broke apart from their kiss to lower his trews to his hips. She moved down to her knees at the same time, staring up at him, watching as his eyes grew hooded with desire.

She reached her hand around his length, experimenting, moving the palm of her hand up and down, sometimes gripping hard, other times softer, moving her hand faster. Short, stuttered breaths escaped him as he watched her, never once looking away.

She inched forward, kissing along his hip as she continued to move her hand. His moaning grew faster, more excited, and she was certain he was now even harder beneath her touch. His hand moved to her hair. His fingers tangled in the lengths as he directed her head forward. It wasn’t too firm, but guiding with clear instruction, and she loved it. He wanted her to use her mouth.

With boldness, she reached forward, placing her lips to the edge of his length. He tipped his head back and moaned, breathily. Shocked at the sight of him, she took more of him in his mouth, watching in awe at his reactions to her. His hands moved to her shoulders, his fingers restless, clearly trying to touch as much of her as possible.

She was dithering with excitement, enamored by the power she had over him as she watched his pleasure build, then he abruptly stopped her, his hand firm on her shoulder.

“If ye keep doing that, I willnae be able tae make love tae ye. I’ll finish too soon.” His hooded voice made her insides tremble for wanting him. He moved down to his knees, removing her of her dress fast. She turned around, her knees resting on a cushion as she allowed him to remove her corset. He flung it to the side where it landed with everything else in a soft pile, then he removed her chemise too.

She was about to turn back to face him when his hands caught her bare waist and her urged her to lean forward on her hands and knees.

“Tell me what ye want,” he ordered, his voice husky. One hand caressed her rear as the other now went to her center. Stunned at the pleasure in her body from just the flick of his fingers, she shuddered. “Tell me,” he said again, his fingers now toying with her, not quite plunging into her, but teasing her.

“Ye.”

“Again.” He replaced his fingers with his length, nudging her from behind.

“Ye, Bran. I want ye.”

Then he entered her.

Unlike last time, there was no pain. There was only shooting pleasure reaching deep inside of her. Stunned at the power of it, her back arched and she rocked back onto him. He set up a quick rhythm, moving in and out, his hands never not moving. Sometimes he gripped her waist, pulling her repeatedly back onto him so their connection was fast and fierce. Other times he caressed her hips. When he reached around her, cupping her breasts, toying with her, the moans fell from her lips fast.

They were both dithering, both moaning loudly, both sweating when he moved their positions, withdrawing from her. She moaned at the loss of contact, only to find he rolled them over. He laid back on the cushions and urged her to straddle him. Her center hovering over his length.

“Show me,” he whispered, his hands tracing the curves of her body, his long fingers moving across her breasts and down to her waist. “Show me ye want me.”

She teased him for a moment, taking him a little inside of her, but not fully. When he groaned, his voice deep, she couldn’t resist and rocked the two of them together. She had never moved her body in such a way before, but soon, found it impossible to stop, moving their bodies fast together.

Enamored, she watched his reaction, stunned by the way his eyes raked over her and how much his hands gripped to her, and then it happened. As he had gripped hard to her hips, she plunged over that edge of pleasure. She bucked against him; her eyes full of starbursts as he held tightly to her thighs. Lifting his body, he raised into her repeatedly, then she heard him groan loud, felt a warmth spreading through their connection.

They both froze, stunned, breathless, as they finished together. His hand moved to one of hers on his chest, threading their fingers together. She didn’t want to pull off him, didn’t even think about it, she just stayed above him, basking in the glow of the fact they had finished together with him inside of her.

“Flee with me tomorrow night,” he whispered. “Marry me, Ilyssa.”

She answered by bending down and kissing him again.

“Ahem.” Catreena suddenly cleared her throat loudly.

Bran looked toward his sister across the feasting table to see the tops of her cheeks were pink with rage. She widened her eyes, something silent in that warning glare that he could not decipher. It was then he looked at Gilroy and Cillian who were exchanging uncertain looks.

Bran shifted, leaning a little away from Ilyssa. The two of them had been speaking as much as they could throughout the dinner, though often interrupted by Cillian’s attempts to make conversations with Ilyssa.

Tad’s empty seat at the table was somehow all the more obvious this evening than it had been over the last five days.

Where are ye, Tad?

“Ilyssa, perhaps ye would like another drink?” Cillian asked, offering up the flagon to her.

“Thank ye.” Ilyssa’s reply was distracted, for her eyes were on Bran again.

He could feel her hand under the table, brushing his leg. He reached down and laid his fingers over hers, entwining them. When he thought back to the moments that they had stolen together that day, he was intensely distracted. Her hand so high on his leg was not helping matters.

“If ye would excuse us all,” Catreena said as she stood. “I have a headache coming on. Braither, would ye escort me tae me chamber, please?”

Bran glowered at her over his goblet. He had little wish to leave Ilyssa alone with Gilroy and Cillian, but clearly Catreena had thought of that as she subtly nodded at the guards on the door as she moved around her chair. Evidently, she thought Ilyssa was quite safe with these people as long as there were others in the room.

“We willnae be long, Bran,” she assured him with a forced smile.

“Very well. I will be back soon,” he said to Laird Gilroy who nodded and urged him away.

“Of course. Ye must attend tae yer sister, Bran.”

Bran left the room, but as the doors closed behind him, moved by one of the guards, he caught the briefest sight of Ilyssa as Cillian moved toward her.

“What is this about?” Bran hissed as he and Catreena moved toward the staircase.

“Ye!” She tapped him around the arm in reprimand as they hastened up the stairs together. “Aye, Laird Gilroy and Cillian may nae be the brightest sparks of fire out there, but they arenae blind. Dae ye and Ilyssa really think that all yer stolen glances at one another are unseen by us all? In the name of the wee man above, Bran, it’s plain as the moon is full tonight.”

Bran cast an easy glance at one of the glass windows they passed. Beyond and in the dark sky, the full moon was out.

“Ye two need tae take more care. If ye and Ilyssa are planning tae flee together, tae elope before this wedding can take place –”

“That is exactly what the plan is,” he said as they reached the top of the stairs.

Catreena stopped, gripping the banister beside her.

“I thought it may be.” She nodded, solemnly. “Then that is all the more reason tae be more careful. If ye raise their suspicions fer a minute that ye two intend tae leave together, then they will seek tae stop ye. Better tae take them by surprise.”

“Aye. Aye, ye are right.” Bran nodded and rubbed his brow. Catreena was right. Perhaps his mind was a little foggy with love and lust. “We’ll be more careful.”

Catreena nodded and walked on again toward her chamber.

“Ye can go back down tae her now. I just needed tae make sure ye understood the danger ye are putting the pair of ye in.”

“Like I am going tae let either of ye walk around this castle alone at present.”

“What happened tae ye nae parenting us anymore?” Catreena said in defiance, elbowing him in the side.

“Well, I made nay such promises, even if ye wished me tae.”

Catreena huffed in annoyance, and he smiled. Not much could dampen his mood after the day he’d had with Ilyssa, finally managing to be alone with her.

“When we flee, the three of us will go together,” he whispered to Catreena. “If Tad doesnae return tomorrow, then we’ll go in the night. I’ll come tae yer room and collect ye both. We’ll sneak out, take the horses and run.”

“And the fact ye may be dragging our clan as well as Tad’s clan intae a war means…?” Catreena left the question open ended as they reached the door of her shared chamber with Ilyssa.

“Then we’ll fight.” Bran nodded.

“How strange.” Catreena spoke with a small smile. “Once the politician, now a warrior, all fer the woman ye love, eh?”

Bran smiled at his sister, mirroring her expression.

“She’s lucky tae have yer devotion, Bran.” Catreena sighed as she turned to the door and opened it wide. “Nay every woman is so fortunate in this world.”

Bran was curious at her choice of words as he watched Catreena walk into the chamber.

“Get some sleep,” he pleaded gently. “I’ll see ye in the morning.”

“Aye, see ye then. Now, go back tae yer lady love. She’ll be waiting impatiently fer yer return, I dinnae doubt it.”

Bran waited until Catreena was inside then he left, hurrying back down the corridor and toward the staircase. When he reached the stairs, he took them two at a time, so eager to reach the feasting room again.

Before he reached the door, he heard a sound behind him.

He halted, turning around, noting how odd it was that just minutes ago there had been Laird Gilroy’s guards in this entrance hall. Now, there was no sign of any of them. He checked the doorway, wondering if someone there had been the source of the strange sound. There was nothing but the shadows that danced in the quivering candlelight from nearby.

Turning his back on those shadows, Bran advanced toward the feasting room again. His hand was in the air, about to close over the handle when he felt it – a sharp crack to the base of his skull.

Bran wavered on his feet, turning, trying to fight off his attacker, but the second blow came across his cheek. He didn’t even feel his body hit the ground as all turned black.