Blood of the Highland Moon

Chapter 9: The Things We Do

Sorcha's P.O.V.

Although I knew Mathew would try to send me to comfort Aunt Maggie again, I hid in the shadows and watched as the men trained. I scanned the throng, looking for my creation. He was my responsibility after all, and I wished to see how he was doing. I could not find him anywhere I looked, he was missing!

I had created him because I felt he had potential. Now, I was wondering if I had misjudged him. When he had stood up to me in the woods after learning what I was, I had thought him sturdy, now I was beginning to fear that he would run from the battle. The memory of that night came to me in a flash.

"A lass shouldn't be all alone in the woods, it's not safe."

I walked up to him seductively and put a hand lightly on his chest. Looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes, I had played my part. "But I'm lost and so cold." I had shivered and wrapped my arms about myself.

He dropped his pack and removed his traveling cloak, draping it over my shoulders. "Here. Curse at all, I do not know how far it is to another dwelling."

I stepped closer, "are you all alone?"

"Yes, I have no one, for I am no one, lass."

I smiled. "Such a brave man to travel the dark woods in such thick fog," I purred.

He cleared his throat and stiffened his spine. "If it's money you are looking for I have none to spair, and I'll fight to keep what I have."

I laughed as he addressed the darkness. "It's only me here and I do not want your money gold is of no use to me. My Uncle is a king." I circled around him slowly.

"What is it that you want?"

"Why, your blood." I was inches from him and reached out in trace to finger over his throat. "I can feel it pulsing through your veins, calling to me."

"Lass, I believe you are mad."

I laughed again. "No, I am a vampire, and a hungry one, too."

"And if I do not believe you?"

I smiled exposing my fangs. "You do not have to believe me for me to drink your blood."

"Will it kill me?"

"Only if I take too much," I shrugged.

"And if you do not?"

"Then you will go on about your life." I smiled, "you are wondering if you will become a vampire like me?"

"Yes."

"You must drink my blood to become a vampire."

He seemed to consider me for a moment longer, then angled his head, exposing his neck. "If I will live, then there is no reason to tell you no."

I swooped in before he could move to change his mind. I was hungry. After a few moments, he grabbed hold of me, and I felt the sharp tip of a dagger skim my own neck.

Before I pulled back, he had ripped his flesh out of my mouth as I hissed and rushed him back against a tree. "You think to stop me?"

"I think to become you. I have nothing as a mortal. Take your fill of me, but I will be one of you," he said as he looked back-and-forth between the scratch on my neck and my face.

I considered this for a moment. He was brave smart and quick for a human. "Very well," I said, just before latching on to his neck again with a vicious hunger.

"Sorcha, what are you doing here? You should be with the Queen," Mathew's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"I was just coming to check on Lucas, how is he doing?"

"He's doing well. He just excused himself for a small break. You need not worry, he is proving himself quite well."

I nodded. "Thank you, I think I'll go and seek out Aunt Maggie now.

Eallair's P.O.V.

Catriona was somewhat less than happy to be stuck with me in the library for the day. All the same, she didn't complain when we retired there after breakfast. She had thumbed through some books and looked out the windows for a while. After a few hours though, she became bored of the library, and told me she was going to explore the hall some, and look out at the men fighting.

I had agreed, knowing I could see her perfectly well from my desk. It was not long, however, that I had to get up and check on her. She had ventured just outside of my line of vision, and I didn't want for her to get far. I was still having some trouble trusting her.

Catriona was leaning in the doorway, looking longingly at the training yard as I walked up. "See something that interests you?" She didn't even trying to look at me.

"It's cloudy out, not any direct sunlight anywhere."

"I don't think it will rain, but I don't think the sun will come out today, either."

She sighed. "Do you think I might go outside?" She turned to look at me. "Just to the training yard, I'll stay where everyone can see me, and I can even give them some advice."

"Why would my men need advice from you, lass?"

She straightened herself up. "You are bringing a fight to your doors and they do not even realize. Do you think they realize how easily they can be bitten? I bit you easily enough. What if I had bitten you and you had been injured or tired? You would not have been able to change to heal yourself. I think someone should tell them, and that's what I intend to do."

"If I did not know better I would say you were worried about us." I said in a teasing tone.

She narrowed her eyes and looked me up-and-down. "You're not letting me go outside are you?"

"I do not think so, lass. I have too much to do to watch you, and besides, a vampire bite does not kill us, it only causes us to not be able to maintain werewolf form, so we heal slower."

She glared at me and I braced myself for the argument. "Fine," she said, turning away from me and crossing her arms.

"Maybe later, lass. I'll be in the library if you need anything." Not a word; she was stone, with her back to me. I turned to walk away when she made a noise.

"Maybe now." She ran out the door before I could blink.

"Bloody hell! Catriona!" I took off after her. She was running into the middle of the training men. They jumped back as we barelled through. "Bloody hellion!" Just as I reached out to grab her, she dropped to the ground.

"You've no idea," she laughed, and kicked at my leg, nearly bringing me down. She jumped to her feet and faced me. "You think you can get ahold of me, dog," a wicked gleam lit her eyes.

I jerked an arm out and pointed at the castle. "Get back in there now."

"Make me."

I growled and lunched at her. She twisted out of my reach and was behind me in a split second. I twisted around and reached for her, only to have her block my arm with a hit to my elbow. I swung out with my other arm and she ducked.

I kicked out with my leg as she ducked and tripped her. I was on top of her in a split second, pinning her beneath me. She bit my arm then fell still.

"If you...were not...half... vampire... You'd be dead." She panted, out of breath.

I sat up on her. "Bloody hell, lass." I ran a hand through my hair. "Are you happy now, have you made your point?" I yelled at her.

"Get off of me," she said and bucked. Getting up, I grabbed hold of her arm, dragging her with me.

"Even if you pen us, we can still bite, and you would not be able to change!"

"Enough! You made enough of a show, now quiet yourself!" I pulled her along with me all the way to the library.

"Let go with me!" She pulled against my hold, and I shoved her into the room, slamming the door behind us.

"You bloody thick-headed lass! What did you think you were doing? You could have been hurt!"

"I gave you all a look at what vampires are capable of!"

You think we do not already know? Do you think we are not capable of taking care of ourselves?" Just then, Alex stormed into the library, slamming the door behind him.

"What in the bloody hell was that?" Alex stomped over to us. "You could have been killed!" He was yelling at Catriona, and my anger boiled over.

I shoved Alex in the chest, away from Catriona. "Fight," it was all the warning I gave before I shifted, ripping out of my clothes.

Catriona's P.O.V.

My breath caught in my throat as Eallair and Alex split out of their clothing, changing into warewolves. I'd never seen a werewolf before, but I'd had this idea they would just look like giant dogs. I was wrong. The bloody beast stood like!

Ears, tall and pointed, lay back on their heads. Long jaws, filled with teeth, snapped at each other. Claws, at the ends of nearly human hands, slashed at one another. His tails whipped back-and-forth as they fought.

There was no doubt who was whom. Eallair was much larger and covered in strawberry blonde bur. Alex avoided the snap.of Eallair's jaws and ducked from his blows. Eallair stayed between Alex and I the whole time.

"Enough!" I snapped. They continued fighting. I turned and looked about. I snatched up two books, "last chance!" I warned, but they continued fighting.

I threw a book at each of them hitting them both in the head. They both yelped and looked at me with ears laid back in teeth beard. Bloody mongrels! I warned you!" Ellair growled and nodded Alex to the door. "That's right, you'd best run to your rooms and get you some new clothes; you bloody fools ripped out of yours."

Alex bristled and growled low at Eallair as he moved to the door. I crossed my arms and glared at them. Eallair beard his teeth at me again before walking out of the room. Just then, Gwen rushed into the room, anger etched on her face. She looked as though she were about to change as well.

She turned her attention to me. "Sit down, now." Her voice was icy and low as she gestured to the couch. She slammed the doors behind her before turning back. "Do you have any brains at all," she shrieked as she began to pace.

"I beg your pardon?! I was making a point, the bloody i***t wouldn't listen to me to save his life!"

"Throwing books at warewolves? Do you have any idea how easily they could have turned on you?" She continued to stomp about the room angrily.

"Will you stop that and look at me? Bloody hell, you've all gone mad!"

She whirled on me. "You do not want me to hold still, lass. If I do not get rid of some of this energy I will turn into a werewolf as well."

"Why would you change? It did not work to scare me when they did it." I said gesturing to the door.

"It's the problem of not only being packmates with the two of them, but the close blood ties we have. We feed off of each other's energy."

"You are only cousins, I can see it with you in Alex, but why should you be that way with Eallair? The rest of the warewolves didn't change."

"Our mother was his father's twin, and the three of us were born on the same day." She continued to pace as she spoke.

"Warewolves," I tossed my hands up and sat down with a plop.

"That's right, warewolves, and don't you forget it, Catriona. We are a dangerous lot, not all of us can control ourselves when we are angry, feel threatened, or feel one we care about is threatened."

"So, because I endangered myself, I threatened Eallair?" I asked with anger.

Gwen rolled her eyes. "You are bloody stupid. You could have been killed, and he would not have been able to do anything to save you."

So you are all angry with me then." I crossed my arms and watched her, "you would all do best to remember that I didn't ask to be kidnapped."

"We are all angry with you for running into the middle of a bunch of warewolves in training! You could have been killed; none of us wished to see you killed! Do you not realize that we do not wish any harm to come to you?" She stood in front of me with her hands on her hips.

"I do not want any of this," I said in a low voice as I looked at her.

Eallair's P.O.V.

The lass could drive a man mad! What had she been thinking, running into the middle of my men like that? She could have been killed! I slammed my door and tried desperately to calm myself. I couldn't change back unless I calm down.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. She hadn't been hurt. I could feel the almost burning tangle of my fur disappearing and my body changing back to its human form. I open my eyes and sighed. I hadn't lost control since my father had died. What was the lass doing to me?

It was like I couldn't control myself around her. She was a constant barb to my dominant nature as well as a trigger to a male's protective side. She had the animal in me pushing in ways I couldn't understand. She triggered my curiosity and my annoyance all at the same time.

"Alex," I said exasperated. What had he been thinking? Was he in love with her? My pulse quickened, and I fisted my hands. It would make sense, what with the way he smiled and laughed with her.The b*****d was barking up the wrong tree. She was the vampire princess, my captive, and my responsibility.

I began pacing. What was I going to do? I could not allow Alex to take a fancy to her. It would be very bad indeed if he did. I stopped. How was I to know she didn't have feelings for him as well? He did treat him better than me. Then again, she treated everyone better than me. I was the only person she really had anything against here, because I was the one who captured her. She saw all of this as my fault.

In a way, she was right.I was the one who kidnapped her for the purpose of ending this war. If only I knew this would work! If nothing else, I would find who had killed my father and make them pay with their life. Surely her father would understand that and hand over the b*****d.

I looked up as a knock sounded on my door. I knew who it was and didn't really want to bloody talk to him right now. Knowing I had no choice, I gritted my teeth, stormed over to the door, and thew it open. "Yes, Alex?"

"I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"I am fine, now what in the bloody hell do you want?"

"I need to explain myself." He said, running the back of his neck.

"Yes, you do." I crossed my arms and glared at him.

"If she gets hurt, all is lost, and I don't know what we would.do if that happened."

"You think I don't realize this?" I snapped.

"I know, but I also have to confess that I have a fondness for the lass; I look at her like Gwen."

Shock washed over me and a smile twitched at my lips. "You see Catriona as a sister?"

"Yes, I know it's silly, but I see her as vulnerable, too."

I snorted. "The lass is very vulnerable."

"Yes, but I sense she can take care of herself."

"I will take care of her," I said with a bit too much of an edge to my voice.

"Yes, the way you take care of all of us. Eallair, you have to see that you can not be in control of everything all of the time. If you try too hard to take care of the lass, she will hate you even more for it."

I crossed my arms. "I do not think she hates me. I think she is but angry at the situation she is in."

"Yes, the one you put her in. I know that it wasn't your idea, but she does not see it that way."

"She will. Soon enough, she will have to realize that I am not a mongrel and she must listen to me and show me respect."

Alex sighed. "Eallair, I think you have a soft spot.for the lass as well."

"She is a lass, it is my instinct to protect her."

"That is not what I mean and you know it."

"You are too bold with your assumptions, cousin." I said in a warning.

"I might be. I am going down to the kitchens to get something to eat. I'll leave you alone for a bit now." I watched as Alex left the room. I began to think on what he had said. The only feelings I had for Catriona were that she was of use to me only if she were completely safe. She was also alone, I could sense how alone she really was. She may not know it, but she was pulling on my sympathy.