Highlander’s Evil Side by Shona Thompson

Chapter Twenty-Three

Fraser

Fraser couldn’t stop kissing her. His hands wouldn’t stop touching her. He cradled her to him as they lay in bed, gazing and stroking each other. She was his everything, and the thought terrified him. He thought she was gone only hours before, that she was injured and with another man. He still felt that fear, knowing he could have lost her no matter how much Fraser tried to shake that fear away.

“I could have lost ye today,” he whispered between kisses.

“But ye didn’t.” Beitris took his hand, kissing his knuckle. “I was fine.”

Fraser sighed. He pushed the hair away from her face and gazed into her eyes, trying to memorize this moment so he would never forget this night. They had lain together without the bonds of marriage. And though he knew they would marry soon, he still felt guilt twisting within him.

“Did the lad’s fever break?”

Beitris shook her head. She inhaled deeply, her hand in his tightening. “Hamish believes the lad has a strong will to live. We may not know until tomorrow.”

“It was foolish of ye to go,” Fraser whispered. “What if—”

“I had Ian with me,” Beitris rushed out. “And I thought we had settled this matter.” She smirked while staring up at him mischievously, sliding one finger down his chest and towards his navel. Fraser’s breath hitched, and he grabbed her finger, taking it back into his hand and giving her a scolding look that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Besides, Hamish insisted I return to ye,” Beitris whispered. “Perhaps it’s a good thing I left when I did, for now I truly know it is not a changeling haunting these castle walls.”

Fraser sat up straighter, his frown deepening. “How are ye so sure?”

“I was in the woods today,” said Beitris while pushing away from the bed and leaning against the headboard. “I was also concerned that all of it had been a ploy. Ye were right to worry.” Her gaze went to her lap, and she gathered the blankets around her, clutching them close to her breast. “There was not much to do but listen to Hamish and wait for attack, and so I thought of what I know of the fae. There are many books on the matter.”

“And what is it ye know, Beitris?”

Beitris pushed her hair away from her forehead, grimacing while shaking her head. “Changelings only replace babes. The fae do not take grown men, unless they have fallen in love. But fae love and human love are very different. Not to mention,” Fraser waited as Beitris paused as if choosing her words carefully, “fae do not wait to take what they want. They do it whenever possible. If yer double was a changeling or of the fae, he would have taken me in the wood this night, and Ian wouldn’t have been the wiser.”

Fraser lifted his body up, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She shivered in his embrace and buried her face in the crook of his neck. “So this fraud of mine must be a man.”

Beitris nodded. “A man who has befriended the Black Stags. I fear I do not know which is a greater evil.” She lifted her gaze, her jaw clenching while her brow furrowed. “I suppose it is better to know he is human. At least there is a chance things will go back to normal.”

“But what man would be able to disguise himself as me?” Fraser asked. “Do the Black Stags have relations with witches? Do ye believe he may have purchased a potion to drink?”

Beitris shook her head. “It would be easier to poison ye. It must be a man with relation to ye. Did yer father have an angry brother, perhaps?”

“Nae, only sisters, and both are happily married.”

“Cousins, then? On yer mother’s side?”

Fraser shook his head slowly. A thought came to mind. A terrible, awful thought, but he pushed it away, knowing if he voiced it, he would never be able to take back the words. It wasn’t quite a thought but more of a question, and one only his mother could answer.

Fraser frowned. Perhaps not, he thought while thinking of Hamish and the other elder lairds who had become friendly with his father. He could ask one of them, but he would need to choose his words carefully, lest they become suspicious of him.

“Then it must be a man who simply looks like ye,” says Beitris with a huff, her shoulders tensing. “I thought it could be something more, but I’m at a loss.”

“Fret not,” said Fraser, kissing the crown of her head. “We will figure it out.”

“And the guards!” Beitris shouted while jerking towards him. “Those two scoundrels who promised to give ye my missive. One had a scar on his chin, and the other had a cut on his head. Ye must search for them.”

Fraser nodded. “Aye, I will.”

Beitris eased back into his arms. Thinking of the guards, he wondered who they could possibly be. He would need to have Gavin or Kenneth speak with the villagers, see if they could provide any more information. Thinking of the guards, his mind brought him to Ian. Fraser would have to thank the lad when he had the time. He wondered if he should have Scott speak to the lad. If this soldier had ensured Beitris’s safety the entire day, then training with Gavin and Kenneth would benefit him. They were always looking for the right soldiers to take under their wing.

Beitris smiled up at him, and all thoughts of soldiers and training left his mind as he smiled back at her. He was going to marry this woman—this strong, fiery woman. She was the perfect match for him. He didn’t think it possible to find someone so agreeable after living for so long away from the highlands.

Thinking of marriage made his smile slip, and his mother’s words surfaced within him: “Ye must choose a date to wed Beitris. Now. Dragging yer feet on the matter benefits nae one.”

“What is it?” Beitris asked while grabbing her hair, beginning to tie it into a low plait over her shoulder. She stared back at him worriedly. “Has something else happened?”

“I spoke with Mother earlier today.” He grimaced, remembering how distant and cold she became. “She is demanding I choose a date and soon. She was very adamant about it.”

“But now is not the time to be celebrating.” Beitris’s frown deepened. “The villagers still need their homes rebuilt. We haven’t any space to host guests. Not to mention, there are brigands lurking in the wood. And yer double could attack at any moment with the Black Stags and Murdo.”

“I know,” said Fraser, taking her hand, hoping his touch calmed her.

“Do ye think the marriage has something to do with yer double?” Beitris’s lips pursed. “Maybe he’s planning something for the wedding day.”

Fraser nodded. “I was thinking much the same. Either he attacks me or takes ye.”

“Or both,” Beitris said gravely.

She sat up, flicking her hair over her shoulder. The blanket slipped, and Fraser’s gaze fell on her breasts, his body heating. He quickly looked away, forcing himself to sit up and wrap the blankets around his bride. Now was not the time to resume lovemaking.

“Maybe we should comply with yer mother,” said Beitris while clutching the blanket to her chest. “Perhaps then we will discover the truth of the matter and meet this fraud.”

Fraser grimaced. “I do not want to put ye in any more danger than ye are already.”

“But we need to find out who this man is, Fraser,” Beitris said earnestly. “If we set the wedding date, then we will find out sooner who he is and what he wants.”

Fraser didn’t like it. What if they failed? What if this fraud succeeded in whatever evil plan he had? Beitris could get hurt.

“We can set the wedding date in seven days' time. That should give us enough time to prepare for battle.” Beitris stood from the bed, wrapping the blankets tighter around her body. She paced back and forth in the middle of the room, the blankets sliding across the floor. “My father should be able to arrive here within that time. We can use his soldiers for protection while yer guards search the castle keep.”

“Beitris—” Fraser started, but she didn’t seem to hear him.

“I suppose he will attack either before the wedding or during the vows.” She stroked her chin. “We’ll need archers at the ready.”

Fraser rose and strode towards her, grabbing her and carrying her back to bed. “I am not putting ye in any more danger.”

“But—”

“I won’t allow for it,” Fraser rushed out. “What if an arrow hits ye? What if yer taken?”

Beitris shook her head. “Then ye will have yer best archers at the ready.”

“Nae,” Fraser said sternly. “I thought I already lost ye once. I’m not having any more of it.”

He dumped her into the bed and crawled on top of her.

“But—”

He silenced her complaints with a kiss. She arched against him, her legs already opening for him. His hand stroked against her cheek, and her mouth opened, deepening the kiss. Her hands wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. She whimpered, the sound making his body shudder and flush in response. He quickly wrenched himself away from her, gasping while trying to calm his racing heart. Beitris’s lips reached for him, but Fraser straightened, knowing if he continued any longer, he would take her again.

Fraser pushed himself away from the bed, his feet hitting the floor.

“Do not think yer lips can silence me forever, Fraser,” Beitris said darkly. “I still believe we should comply with yer mother. It’s the only way to bring out yer double and finally put a stop to this madness.”

Fraser sighed, looking away.

“Ye do want to marry me, Fraser? Is that a correct assumption?”

Fraser stilled, his gaze sliding back to her. She straightened in the bed, her blue eyes watching him, her lips still swollen from their kiss. She reminded him of a Greek goddess he once read about in a book he discovered in France. Although he supposed, Beitris was even more beautiful than what was described.

“Of course, I do,” he breathed. “I-I—” Fraser ground his teeth. He needed to spit it out now. He couldn’t contain his feelings any longer, especially with all they had been through. “I love ye, Beitris. I want to spend the rest of my life with ye. I want my every waking moment to be with ye.”

Beitris’s bottom lip quivered, her eyes welling with tears. She stroked his hair, his face. “I love ye, too,” she whispered. “I love ye so much it’s hard to breathe.” She shook her head. “I never thought I would feel this way for someone, for ye.”

Fraser kissed her. He smiled against her lips, unable to contain his joy. When he pulled away, she was smiling back at him. Her finger poked his nose, and he chuckled.

“We can set the wedding date in seven days' time.”

Fraser scoffed. “Seven days will not be enough time to gather information and plan for an enemy we do not know.”

“Then what do ye suppose we do, Fraser?” Beitris asked.

Fraser grabbed his leine and tights from the floor, quickly donning them. “I do not know,” he said with a sigh. “I suppose complying with my mother will draw out the scoundrel. However, I do not want ye in any danger.”

“What if he makes himself known before the wedding date? Perhaps, it only needs to be set.”

Fraser pursed his lips. He knew Beitris was right. The double would come out of hiding once the day was set, but what would happen to Beitris? “So long as yer not in any danger. We’ll capture the man before then.”

Beitris nodded, her eyes glazing over as she leaned towards him on the bed.

Fraser quickly looked away, knowing if he stared any longer, he would find himself back in bed with her. “We will not lay together until we are married and this is all behind us.” He shoved his boots on before slipping into a neat bow. “I will take my leave now. I wouldn’t want the servants gossiping about this in the morn.”

Beitris smiled and pushed herself up, moving to her knees. “Of course, my laird.”

Fraser tugged his leine down and moved towards her, giving her one last chaste kiss good night before leaving. She smiled as she kissed him, but his insides twisted with fear. He hated knowing Beitris was being dragged further into his affairs, worried what else would happen in the future. As he left her room, he strode down the hall, glowering at the shadows splayed on the walls and wondering if they would ever see the light at the end of this long tunnel.