Carmen Caine - 03.5 Latchling Blood Moon by Carmen Caine

Author:Carmen Caine [Caine, Carmen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Heartbreak

A party of men wearing red and green Fraser hunter plaids rode out of Dunnottar’s mighty gates to greet us. Charmed, the lot. Where Dorian saw a handful of Scottish warriors cantering our way, I saw two warlocks, several shifters, and a perimancer—all loyal first to the Stonehenge Druids before Lord Rowle.

I pushed past Dorian and rode out to greet them, the wind from the sea nearly ripping my fur cloak from my shoulders. Our conversation was a quick one, the only thing of note: Lord Rowle and Emilio had recently retired to Urquhart Castle in the west. I nodded, pleased they were still a fair distance away.

The news exchanged, the Frasers fell in line behind me as I urged my horse up the narrow, steep path leading to Dunnottar’s gatehouse. Relief coursed through me, for as I approached, I felt the magic of the stones rolling my way in healing and invigorating waves. Here, I would restore myself and gather strength for the fight I knew lay ahead.

But, unfortunately, with that thought came another. Yes, here my fight began anew, and that meant I must leave Dorian behind. My heart revolted. The pain cut so deep, I had no choice but to push the thought away and deny its existence.

Passing under the gates, I rode up to the tower house and dismounted, striding at once to the stone wall to lay my cheek against its cold, rough surface. Dorian must have thought I sorely missed the place, but then, I suppose it was true in some sense of the word. I did long for the stone’s harsh, healing strength, the mana of Stonehenge, my heritage.

For a time, I stood there, eyes closed and drawing energy, simply listening to the plaintive wailing of the gulls, the shrilling of the wind whistling through the mighty castle’s keep, and the creaking of leather as the others dismounted.

Snippets of conversation floated around me.

“I’ll need a hot bath sent to my lady’s chamber and at once,” Marie ordered in the distance.

A hot bath. I smiled at the thought.

“Dorian Ramsey, you say?” a shifter probed from close by. “A tinker came through here some time ago with a letter for a Ramsey. I’ll send for the lad who fetched it. Mayhap you’ll find the Ramsey it’s for, aye?”

“Aye,” Dorian’s deep bass agreed.

A horse neighed and harnesses jingled, and then the clip-clop of horses’ hooves faded away.

Heaving a sigh, I opened my eyes, turning at last from the stones.

Marie waited for me. The rest had gone. Dorian’s absence made me sigh again, and with a heavy heart I drew my cloak close and followed Marie into the tower house.

The large, square tower house stood on the cliff’s edge, and from the tower’s top, one could feel the stones sing with the wind against the backdrop of the azure sea. The lord of Dunnottar kept a set of rooms there, reserved for my use, and I’d taken advantage of them every chance I could—but it was never enough.

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