Blood of the Highland Moon

Chapter 7: Pain and Anger

Conner's P.O.V.

Steal hist as I unsheathed my sword. The underground training yard was filled with tension as I faced my opponent. This was the only way I had to take the edge off of my anger. I would brush up on my skills until Catriona was home again. I would fight for my daughter to my dying breath, if I had to.

With a hiss, I charged my opponent. He blocked and stepped to the side out of the reach of my blade. I lunched again; again, all he did was block me inches from his armour. Had I truly been trying, I would have hit him. "Don't just block me, d*** you, fight!"

"Sire, I cannot swing upon you," the man said in a stressed voice as he held my sword away.

"You will do as I say!"

"Connor, maybe you should not be using real swords, not even ones with blunt edges," Maggie said loudly from the edge of the training area. "It wouldn't be good if you killed the poor fool because he could not block you in time."

The woman was wearing thin with worry. I gritted my teeth. She was always in control of herself, always the one with a level head, until we were alone, and she would let it all out. I pulled back my sword and sheathed it. "Bring us wooden swords," I ordered, and walked my wife.

"Thank you for hating my request."

I brush my fingers over this side of her face. "I will bring her home."

She closed her eyes, "I know."

"You should not have to worry as you do. You should not have to be as strong as you are and I love you for it." I spoke softly, so that only shake could hear my words.

"As I love you." She opened her eyes the same eyes as our daughter. "I am strong for you, I will not let you have a weak Queen."

I smiled and reassured her, "I would have no other." The brief smile left my face as I turned away from her and walked back to the training area. I was handed a wooden sword that was the same as the one my opponent had. "Do not hold back, because I will not hold back."

Maggie's P.O.V.

I watched as Connor fought the other man. The other man would be black-and-blue before it was all over. A man didn't hit my husband a single time. I suppose that was why he was king of the vampires. No one wants a week king, that was why they all feared and respected him.

He would bring our daughter home, I had to believe that. I couldn't let myself think that she was anything but alive and well, waiting for her father to save her. No doubt she would be angry that it took so long. She would also wish to have her revenge on her kidnapper.

I only prayed that she did not get herself into trouble with whoever had taken her. Lord knew, she could get under one's skin. If she didn't know how to upset them quickly, then she worked at it. She was the kind of lass a hard man would throttle.

Think the Lord she was smart as well. She knew and to keep her mouth shut when her target had reached their limit. Lord, let her not have even searched for that limit with whomever had taken her. Let her be safe.

I had to remain strong for her and for Connor. I couldn't let myself imagination get the better of me. It was only a matter of time before we would receive word from her captor and then we would take action. If only only sunlight were not a problem. We could have sent men out the night of her disappearance and we would have her home sooner.

"You have my word that I'll not let anything happen to either of them." I jumped at Matthew's voice so close to me. I turned to see him standing at my side.

"How much longer will it be until we hear anything?" My days had been burning together through my worry.

"I cannot say. The werewolf kingdom, as you know, is a rood distance from here. It should be soon, however."

"You're sure it was no one else?" I asked in concern.

"Who else knows about us? Who else would have had the strength to take her? She may be half vampire, but but is still stronger than any human by far." Mathew pointed out calmly.

"I just can't stand the thought of those filthy animals having her." What I knew of the werewolves, they were animalistic even in human form, their beast side always lurking beneath the surface.

"Would it make things better if told you that I would get Catriona as far away from there as possible before the fighting begins?" He offered.

I smiled. "Yes, thank you, Mathew. I truly am glad she is marrying you."

"As am I, Your Majesty. I cannot wait until I see her beautiful face once more, safe and sound."

"Yes," I agreed as I looked back to my husband.

"You are so strong through all of this. I hope that Catriona is like you in that."

I glanced back at him. "I hope she never has to be."

"I didn't mean it like that. I was meaning that I hope she conducts herself as well as you in front of others duing stressful situations."

I nodded. "She is much like her father in the way she handles things. You should know that."

"Yes, I enjpy that about her," he said in an admiring tone. "She will keep my life interesting."

"Yes," I agreed in a mild tone. "She will anger you from time to time, the lass is especially good at that."

"Yes, that is why I adore her so; she is not afraid to speak her mind and create a challenge for a man."

"Yes," I agreed. It seemed I had the same conversation with him a thousand times. The words were always the same, the pattern always similar. "If you will excuse me, I think I'll go inside, this is not something a lady should be watching for long."

"Of course, would you like for me to escort you in?"

"No, thank you, I am fine." He bowed his head and I walked away. The truth was, I couldn't stand to think that Connor would be fighting a werewolf like that. I couldn't stand to see it play out and put a monster in the place of the man with the wooden sword. His reluctance to strike at my husband would be replaced with a desire to kill.

With a sigh, I leaned against the wall. If only my daughter had listened to her father for once and stayed in for the night. She was always doing what she wanted no matter what we said. We had never spoiled her, had always punished her when she had done wrong, but it never seemed to stop her.

I straightened myself from the wall. We would receive word within a week. She had been gone five days now and she would reach the werewolf Kingdom any day. Would take less time for aware Wolf to reach us because they could travel on the daylight. We would be ready to leave the moment we received word.

I made my way up the steps and into Catriona's room. Her room was the one place I could be alone at the moment. Sitting on her bed, I looked at the window, with the shutters locked up tight. Tiny streams of sunlight slipped through the small cracks. If I were to stick my hand in its path, I would burn, but Catriona, would only feel warmth.

I took a deep breath and wrapped my arms around myself. My precious little girl was gone. Did the warewolves know that she could handle any sunlight at all? Where were they going to keep her; in a cold, dark dungeon without a proper bed?

What were they giving her to eat? She wasn't like the rest of us, she had to eat every day; normal meals like humans. She needed blood once every few days, whether it was bloody meat, or a glass filled with human blood, she needed it. Would they take good care of her? Had her captor even thought of this when he took her?

Tears began to run down my face and anger bubbled inside me. Whoever had taken her would pay, I would see to that. I wanted the warewolf's head on a spike outside the castle walls. I wanted to see its body set on fire inside the castle gates.

I wanted Catriona home safe. Closing my eyes I let go of my anger. Whoever had taken her, had done it for a reason and they would want her healthy when they returned her. I had to remind myself of that. They could get nothing out of mistreeting her.

I stood up, stiffening my spine with resolve. I would not cry any longer. There was no reason to cry when she was fine. She would be home in no time. I walked out of her room and began to wonder the halls, searching for some distraction.

Matthew's P.O.V.

Every time I thought of the werewolves taking my fiancee, I became blood thirsty. My body was tense and ready to pounce. I looked forward to a good fight. It had been so long since I had gotten one. I would rip the dogs throw out with my bare hands.

King Connor, the poor fool had no idea what I was capable of. No one had any idea of what I was capable of, except, of course, the dead ones. I Smiled to myself. I ractically itching to rush over to the werewolf Kingdom and kill every Wolf I could.

I had to bide my time, however. I had to keep a level head, be the voice of reason, as I had been for centuries. Once it was all over though I wouldn't be answering to anyone I would be the king. Connor would have to watch the way he spoke to me; would have to ask my permission to speak.

The man was hardly the ideal king. He was weak, and this only made it all the more obvious; to show your concern so openly was never good. Queen Maggie, however, was an exceptionally strong woman. Not a single tear, no outburst of anger; she was better at hiding her weaknesses,l; I thought to myself.

Catriona, she wasn't weak either; stupid, but capable of education. Question would be, how long would I have to wait to correct her ignorance? Should I began as soon as I got her back, or should I wait until things settled down? It was sad that she was incapable of simply listening; I'd have to find a way of... setting an example for her to follow.

I rubbed my fist to my palm as I watched the training. I could fight among the rest of them; take the edge off of my excitement. Thinking about Catriona, seeing her image in my mind, it had me aching for more than a good fight. The lass was made for a man's pleasure. Her body more than made up for her sharp tongue.

"I see you're not as collected as everyone thinks." The feminine voice was hardly loud enough for me to hear.

I glanced to the side to see Sorcha standing in the shadows. "What are you doing here, my pet," I asked in a soft voice.

"You know I hate that." Could feel her eyes burning into me as if she washed going to see into my mind.

"Come now, Sorcha, this is not the place for a lass such as yourself."

"I was but keeping an eye on my uncle, you know how he gets. I wouldn't want him to hurt any one simply because Catriona, has yet again, made a mess of things. Not to mention, how else am I to know what's going on?"

"You could talk to your aunt Maggie. I'll keep an eye on your uncle Connor. Don't be a good lass, and run along."

"You'll have to forgive me for not listening to you. I think I would like to watch a bit longer."

"I understand that you are concerned about your cousin, but I assure you, I'll bring her home safely."

"I'm not worried about her; she's not as stupid as you think. I am worried about the wolf who gets in front of my uncle. The poor beast will not even have a chance."

"You cannot be saying you're on the same side as those mutts," I asked and disbelief.

"Och, no, I just fear that I'll not get to see the look on the mutts face when he is killed." She stepped out of the shadows, only a fraction, slightly closer to me. "Will you do me a favour?"

I narrowed my eyes. "That depends."

"Will you bring back the mutt alive, so that he can be killed here? I want to see him burn to death for taking my cousin."

I smiled, the lass was just as bloodthirsty as her uncle. "You only think that is what you want. You are too delicate a lass to see such horrors. I will promise you he'll pay for what he has done."

"I would think you would be more emotional over your fiance being kidnapped. Tell me how you can stand there and hide everything you must be feeling?" It wasn't a question but a demand.

Shrugging, I replied, "someone needs to have a level head. What good would it do me to be as angry as your Uncle? I am his adviser, he needs me to think when he is blinded by rage."

She narrowed her eyes and regarded me quiz zically before sighing. "I can see where you are right."

"Good, now do me a favour, and run along to check on your aunt Maggie."

"Do you talk to Catriona this way?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Why?"

She shrugged. "I was just thinking of how strong willed she is. If you talk to her the way you talk to me, I can see her very angry with you quite a lot."

"Why is that?"

"You talk to me like I am a servant, when I am the king's only niece." Her words were a reprimand that tasted bitter on my tongue.

Smiling, I gave a bow. "Forgive me I was out of line." Once I was king, howeve, she would be out of line.

"I didn't mean it like that; you're a high standing man, you're not truly out of line. I was simply letting you know that Catriona likes to be talked to like a man; an equal."

"I believe I already know a bit about her. I have been spending as much time with her as I could, so that she could get used to the idea of marrying me."

"She isn't happy with it."

"She is not ready for it," I corrected.

She looked at me, glanced at her Uncle, and back at me. "Maybe, if you are the one to rescue her, she'll be more than ready to marry you."

"I am not simply rescuing her to convince her to marry me, I want her back inside the castle walls, where she belongs."

"Yes," she agreed.

"Your aunt was a bit upset when she left, maybe, you should find her, and go for a walk around the castle before you both lay down. The sun has been up for a while now."

"I'm used to being up into the wee hours of the morning; I usually read."

"Indeed. Catriona' spends a lot of time with her nose in a book."

"Yes, it's one of the things we have in common. I'll go find aunt Maggie now."

"Good." I watched as she walked away. She was also a beautiful lass. Full lips, round hips, especially for a vampire, and large breasts. She was every bit the matured figure of a 20-year-old lass.

It was almost a shame she wasn't the princess instead of Catriona. While Catriona's breasts and a** were smaller, they were well shaped. There was still hope for Catriona, however, as she was still ageing as humans do. She may even pass away as humans do. If that happened, I would simply take her cousin for my next bride.

"Matthew, come and spar with me." I looked at the training yard as the king called for me. I bowed my head and walked toward him. "I want to be sure of your skill." He said as I reached him.

"Then I am to do my best to beat you? I fear I'll not have the skill to beat you, but I'll try." It would do no good to let the king know how easily I would be able to kill him. Letting your king know you were more powerful than him was never a good idea.

"You should be more difficult than this b****** to beat," he said with contempt as he looked at the vampire whom he just beaten.

I smiled. "Yes, I'll not hold back." I took the wooden sword from the other man embraced myself for the start of the fight. Connor faced, me holding his sword before him, the anger written across his face, tension oozing out of his pores. "Your move first," I said calmly.

With a yell of anger he swung out at me with lightning speed. I blocked him just inches from my thigh and swung his blow away. I swung at him in return, aiming for his legs. He blocked me and mocked my earlier deflection. The fight continued between us. I let a few of his blows through and struck one of my own. I would have easily landed more had I not been aware of the fact I was the only one to even hit him one time. After we were both out of breath, I let him strike what would have been a killing blow.

"Good," he said as he pulled his sword away. "You will kill plenty of werewolves."

"I'll kill the one that took my princess from us." I hissed.

His face grew hard. "Whoever gets to the b****** first gets to kill him." I nodded my agreement, knowing so well that I would be the one to kill him.

Connor's P.O.V.

The smug little b****** stood there nodding in a green with everything I said. How in the bloody hell did he stay so calm? I wanted to rip somebody's throat out! My daughter was missing, and there was nothing I could do about it until we were sure of where she was. If we were wrong, and I sent forces to get her back then not only would I be short at my own castle when news did arrive, but I would be assuring a counter attack from the warewolves, who had been staying in their own territory as of late.

I just couldn't let Catriona's kidnapping go on punished. I wanted to take action now. Every day that has gone by without word of her had done nothing more than great over my nerves causing my anger to build. It was all I could do to not go out and hunt her down myself, and kill the b****** who had taken her. "I fear I am going to hunt the b****** down myself soon if we do not hear anything."

Give it a wee bit more time.She has only been gone five days; that is hardly enough time to make it to the werewolf Kingdom, and then the demands will take around another five days to reach us."

"I cannot stand the waiting though! I want blood! She is my only child!"

"I know. She is also to be my wife; I am angry, too. I trust that they will not hurt her, because they want something, and they know they will not get it if she is harmed."

I gritted my teeth. "Are you saying that I will endanger my own daughter's life?"

"No, I was but thinking of how hard it must be for you to calm yourself; after all, she is your daughter. If it were my daughter, I would not be able to be calm myself. If I am to be honest with you, when I heard she was missing, I was ready to kill the first fool who crossed my path; but I told myself that as you adviser, I must keep a calm head if I am to be of any help."

I looked at him and considered what he had said. I had to calm myself. He was only doing his job and I could ask for nothing else of him. "Yes, if you'll excuse me I need to find my wife."

"Yes, I believe she was a bit upset when she left earlier. We will discuss plans later."

"Of course." Maggie had been steady as ever not letting anyone know of her anguish through it all. It wasn't until we were alone that she would cry. Through the waking hours, she was my comfort, the only one who could calm me. At night I would simply hold her while she cried for our daughter.

I made my way up the steps to the main part of the castle. My first thought was to go to our room but I knew better. She would wonder the halls until late into the day after most were asleep. I turned toward Catriona's room and hoped I could find her. If I'd found myself there a few times in the last five days, just looking at her things, telling myself she was going to be home soon enough.

When I reached her room, the door was open a few inches, with faint light coming out. I slipped in to find Maggie holding her pillow in the soft candlelight. She looked up at me with painfield eyes. There may be no tears in her eyes, but the haunting sadness and worry were all the more potent without them.

I walked over and sat on the bed. Slipping my arm around her, I pulled her into my embrace. The shuddering breath she took ran through me, and I kissed the top of her head. "She will be home soon, safe and sound." I ran my hand up-and-down her back as the tears began to fall in silence. The b****** would die for the pain he was causing my wife. If I could kill him twice, I would.

"I keep asking myself if she ran away, if she's happier where she is," she whispered in a watery voice.

I held her tighter. "There was a struggle, Matthew said there was. She wouldn't leave without telling someone."

Maggie gave a soft laugh filled with doubt. "She wouldn't tell anyone because she wouldn't want anyone to stop her."

"She wouldn't want us to worry, either; she would have left a note or something."

"Yes." She was silent for a moment. Is it wrong that part of me hopes she did run away? That I don't want to think that she has been kidnapped and could be going through horrible things?"

"Shh," I stopped her as her voice became more stressed. "She is fine, wherever she is, she is warm, safe, and if I know our daughter, angry."

She gave another watery laugh, "yes, she is an angry lass."

"That she is and she is giving the b****** hell. She knows just how far to push a person before it gets too far." I said, thinking of all the times she had done just that to me.

"I could almost feel sorry for the mutt."

I laughed, "I don't. I hope she drives him mad."

"Yes, but not too mad, I hope. I do not want her to get herself hurt."

"She won't. The b****** who has her surely knows better than to hurt her and hope to gain anything from us." I reassured both Maggie and myself.

"You will not give him anything, anyway; you will get her back and then kill him." She said knowingly.

"Yes, and I'll bring his head home to hang from our walls." The anger sleeped into my voice.

"Yes," she agreed. We fell into silence as we held each other in the candlelight, her tears soaking into my shirt.