Free Highland Burn by Victoria Zak Page B

boot she was re-lacing.
    Marcus stood where he was and gave a nod.
    A chill raced down Abigale’s spine as Marcus glared skeptically at her. She hadn’t noticed him on her travels to Black Stone, but the others she remembered. Abigale turned her attention back to James who was watching her intently with that piercingly protective stare.
    “I’ll be in my bedchamber.” And with no other words James turned on his heels and ascended the stairs two at a time until he reached the loft that circled the great hall. Abigale watched him until he disappeared down a long corridor leading to their… his bedchamber.

Chapter 7
    There is no room for two dragons in one pond. ~ Chinese Proverb
     
    Softly stroked notes from a golden harp gracefully filled the great hall. A few hundred members of Clan Douglas were scattered around long wooden tables as they ate the night’s feast. Chatter amongst them started up again as they finished the last of the wide variety of roasted game and vegetables.
    James sat with his men and pondered how much his life was going to change now that he was home and had a wife. After an impressive victory at Bannockburn, James and his soldiers had sent King Edward the Second fleeing back to England, leaving behind a routed English army, and now he was home. It had been a while since James and his Dragonkine warriors had been back to Black Stone on the Hill. The battlefield had been the bane of their existence for God knew how long. Accepting his immortality was going to be a challenge; knowing that time was nonexistent in his world he was going to have a hard time adjusting to the solitude of a mundane life. At least if he was on the field time didn’t seem to matter and his dragon’s bloodlust was appeased. Furthermore, clan life was uninteresting to him. Surely, he should be securing the borders south of Stirling, but instead he was home and having a hard time adapting to the idea of solitude and a wife.
    There was no more fighting for him, at least not on the battlefield. The king had made it clear that he was to protect his daughter and if that meant accepting clan life, James would do it.
    James sat across from Conall and Magnus at the tables. Rory sat next to him working on his third trencher of food. Rory’s body leaned forward over his treasure, his strong arms caging the dish like a dog guarding a bone.
    Magnus and Conall sat with creased brows as they witnessed Rory’s attack on a leg of mangled meat.
    Magnus shook his red head in wonderment. “That laddie has one hell of a long stomach.”
    Conall took a long vigorous chug of mead then set the empty tankard on the table. “Aye, ‘tis like watching a wild beast devour its prey. Repulsive.”
    Juices from the mangled leg dripped from the corners of Rory’s mouth as he looked up from his trencher. His mouth full of food, he mumbled, “Ye can talk rubbish all ye want but I need my strength if I intend to be betwixt a lass's legs all night.” He winked.
    “Poor lass,” Conall snickered.
    James was oblivious to the nonsense chatter. A stunning woman in a royal blue dress had caught his attention the moment she came into view. As soon as he spotted Abigale he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. A tight bodice enhanced her breasts just enough to tease his eyes. Long waves of auburn hair danced across her shoulders as she sat and told a story to a group of twelve children. Like a warm ray of sunshine, her face lit up with a smile as she engaged the group of wee bairns. She was born to be a mother, he thought.
    It had been too long since the last time he’d seen Abigale. On their way back to the campsite, James had used his magic to put her under a healing sleep that lasted for two days. It was the least he could do, for he was the cause of her discomfort. While on horseback, Abigale had rode draped across his lap as he held her tightly. Tiny as she was, she had fit perfectly tucked up next to him, soft curves snuggled against vigorous