Land of Ice and Snow [Cairngorm Dragons 3] (Siren Publishing Classic)
Cairngorm Dragons 3
Land of Ice and Snow
Lachlann of Braemuir is having no luck finding a mate. His mother tells him of the legend that a Braemuir will go to the Land of Ice and Snow to find his bride. Lachlann decides to try his luck.
Sigourney Hillesland, banished because she won't accept just any mate, is found by Lachlann, who recognises her as his mate. They make love in human-form, but before he can claim her officially, he's challenged to go and find the brides' golden torc. He gets the torc and brings back the old dragon who was guarding it. He is Hamish Munroe and has lost his mate, Mairi, not knowing that if she were dead he'd die too.
After Lachlann and Sigourney's wedding in Alesund they go to Scotland to search for Hamish's mate. But when the dragon mating takes place, will it be all that Lachlann promised Sigourney it would be?
Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Shape-shifter
Length: 21,101 words
LAND OF ICE AND SNOW
Cairngorm Dragons 3
Clair de Lune
EROTIC ROMANCE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance
LAND OF ICE AND SNOW
Copyright © 2013 by Clair de Lune
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-906-6
First E-book Publication: May 2013
Cover design by Christine Kirchoff
All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
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DEDICATION
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LAND OF ICE AND SNOW
Cairngorm Dragons 3
CLAIR DE LUNE
Copyright © 2013
Chapter One
Feasgar heard the children’s screams from where he dozed on the rocks in the sun. He came fully awake, and with several beats of his powerful wings, he was in the sky and arrowing down to the beach where his brother Braemuir’s children played in the sand. Donald and Moira were four years old and a livelier and more mischievous pair would be difficult to find. Now as he reached the beach, he realised they were in no real danger. They were waiting for the sea to come in, and as it boiled around their knees, they squealed and screamed at the top of their voices, running out of the incoming tide and collapsing in a laughing heap on the shore. Feasgar also saw there were two men at arms watching them indulgently as well as the nurse that Mairi had chosen for them.
Mairi was the wise woman and healer who had lived on the Braemuir estate for so many years that no-one was sure how old she was, and she chose not to enlighten them. People were in awe of her for her gifts as a healer. She’d been instrumental in discovering the young woman who had been adding noxious herbs to food in Ness’s Darroch Keep and then stayed, as a nurse, to help the lady Muireall. Feasgar realised that there had been no need to worry about them. The trouble was he had little experience with children, and he tended to over-react if they screamed. He didn’t seem able to distinguish a cry of alarm from one of pretended fear. Nor would he ever be able to do it at this rate.
He was restless, and he well knew the reason for it. He had seen first his brother, Braemuir, and then his sister, Muireall, find their mates and settle down to a happy, domestic life. They both had children. Muireall had presented Ness with his first son, Raibeart, three years ago and was expecting what Mairi thought would be twins any day now. Where was his own mate? He hadn’t been able to find her in the Braemuir Clan. It was unusual for a Braemuir to mate outwith the Clan, but his own sister had just done it and was, by her own account, very happy with the arrangement. Perhaps he ought to go and visit his sister and Ness. He sent a message to his brother, collected his belongings from his chamber at the Caisteal, and flew over the mountains to Loch Ness and Darroch Keep, where his sister now lived. He arrived in the midafternoon, landing on the sward in front of the Keep as only close family were allowed to do. Any other dragons had to land at the bottom of the hill, change shape, and approach in human-form. Ness was taking no chances with the security of his home and family.
Feasgar changed to his human-form and strode over to the huge oak doors, which stood open wide onto the main hall. There was the steward, MacKay, to meet him.
“Welcome my lord Lachlann. How are ye? Ye’ll be wanting to stay for the birth then?”
“Aye. Where is my sister? Is Ness within?”
“No, lord, he’s out riding with the young lordling. They will be back for the evening meal.”
“Well, I’ll go and see my sister until he returns.”
“I will have ye shown to your chamber first, lord. Allana!
Allana stepped forward. She was a plump, motherly woman. Her brown hair was braided then pinned on top of her head. She wore a plain, dark-green gown, with a large, snowy-white pinafore over it. A bunch of keys, on a long chain, dangled from her waist. Her eyes were gray and her face round. She had cheeks like two rosy apples and a small nose. She dropped a sedate curtsey to Lachlann, who acknowledged the courtesy with an inclination of his head and a smile.
“Allana, show Lord Lachlann to his chambe
r, then take him to my lady of Ness, please.”
“I surely will. If you would follow me, Lord Lachlann.”
She gestured to the large, carved oak staircase. Lachlann went up before her. At the top he paused, waiting for Allana to reach the top, too. She had entered service with Ness as a child and had grown old now, but she was one of the most trusted of the Ness retainers. Allana turned left. Going along the corridor behind her, Lachlann noticed several doors to left and right. He knew they were guest chambers, and none seemed occupied just at present. When they got to the end of the corridor, Allana opened a door and allowed Lachlann to enter first. The room was large. A stone fireplace held a fire which had obviously just been lighted for his comfort, with a large pair of felt slip-ons placed before the fire to warm for the dragon lord. The bed had a beautiful headboard, carved with dragons. It looked comfortable with its dazzling white linen sheets and thick, woven, woollen blankets in bright, dyed shades of green and blue.
“You will remember that this is the bathing chamber, my lord.”
Lachlann well remembered the luxury of the large wooden tub bound with iron hoops. There were similar ones in the Caisteal. I, too, will have such an arrangement when I get my own dwelling. If I ever do at this rate.
Lachlann placed his bag by one of the chests. He went to the bathing chamber and washed his hands and torso with the scented soap and then used one of the soft cloths to dry himself. Allana waited discreetly in the bedchamber. When he had finished his ablutions, he pulled a fresh woollen tunic out of his bag and over his head. The leather belt studded with Celtic designs in silver was fastened around his hips, and he was ready. His good broadsword would be left in his chamber.
“Lead me to my lady of Ness,” he said to the old woman. They left the bedchamber and walked along the corridor to find his sister.
Muireall was reclining on a day-bed in the solar, a room in one of the round towers. Sun streamed through the window, and he saw that she had been reading, but the book had dropped from her slack grasp and now she dozed in the sun. She must have felt his presence because she woke with a start, failed to grasp the book, which slid to the floor with a thud, and looked about her, startled. Lachlann watched her face, waiting for her to notice him. He knew the minute she did as her lovely face was wreathed in smiles.
“Lachlann, my brother, how good it is to see you. What brings you here? Surely you haven’t just come to wait for the birth of your nephew and niece? In my experience, no man likes to be anywhere near a birth,” she said, laughing and holding out her hands to him.
He stooped and retrieved her book. Taking her hands in his, he raised first one then the other to his lips and planted a kiss on the back of each.
“My purpose is two-fold. Eilidh does want news of you as soon as she can get it and doesn’t trust many to send it to her. She says you always say you are well, and she can’t tell if you are or not. So here I am to look you over and carry the report back. I have instructions to stay until my nephew and niece are born, if that is indeed what they are. Then I am charged with carrying detailed descriptions back to her.”
“Why do I think that’s not the only reason you are here?” Muireall asked.
“You know me too well, sister. No, it isn’t the only reason. I find I’m restless and unsettled. Seeing all the domestic bliss in this home and my brother’s has given me a taste for the same.”
“There is only one way to cure that, brother. Take a mate.”
“Well that’s the difficulty. I can’t find a mate. Mother always said we’d know, didn’t she? You knew. Ness called to you, and although you tried to resist, it just wasn’t possible, was it?” Lachlann asked.
“No. There was no resisting Ness when he wanted me. I knew he was my mate. It just took a while for me to accept it. There is nothing like it, Lachlann. You will know when you find her, and she will know, too. There is no mistaking it and no denying it.”
“No-one in the Braemuir lands is my mate. I want that connection that you both have. I’m here to see if I have better luck with Ness’s Clan. I hope he won’t object.”
“No, he won’t,” a deep voice answered. Ness was tall at six feet six. His chest was broad. His hips and waist were narrow. He had long, elegant, powerful thighs. The curling chestnut hair on his chest could be glimpsed as his doublet was open. The same chestnut hair fell in waves to his shoulders. His eyes were intelligent, deep-set, with heavy brows and long, thick, curling lashes. His face was striking. His chin was determined, with a deep cleft. He was broad and muscular as well as tall.
The small boy would have hurled himself on his mother if his father hadn’t kept a restraining hand on his plaid and brought him to a swift halt.
“No, Raibeart, my son. You will go and wash the horse smell off you. Then you will be very careful and approach your mother slowly. She has to be taken care of as I have reminded you oft times.”
The contrite small boy bowed to his mother and his uncle and left in the care of one of the maids.
“My lord of Ness, you forget he is but a wee boy of three summers.”
“My little rabbit, I will have him mind his manners from the start. Then, if he learns the correct way, there will be no need to undo and re-teach what he needs to know.”
“I know that, Ness, but he’s such a small infant. He’s still my baby.”
“But he will be Ness of Ness one day, and he has a lot to learn to fulfil his duties in the expected way, the way of his ancestors.”
Lachlann listened to all of this with interest. He’d had no notion that bringing up a child could be so very complicated. When he thought about it, he could see right on both sides. In his own case, not being a Clan chieftain, his children would not need to be schooled in such obligations. Ness was right though. It was easier to teach the right way from the start than have to correct it later. He was certain that Muireall saw the wisdom of that, but she was the boy’s mother after all and saw him as her babe still. Maybe she would think differently when she had the other two babies, but Lachlann didn’t think so. She had always had a great heart and a large store of love. Her first-born would always be dear to her no matter what.
An hour later seated in the great hall, watching the small infant cope with his meal with the aid of the same maid, Lachlann was proud of his nephew. Muireall had her meal in her room, and the men dined at the high table. The rest of the Clan who worked in the Keep were fed at the other tables in the hall. Raibeart sat by his formidable father and did his best to be the next Ness of Ness. Lachlann smiled at Ness, who kept a surreptitious eye on his son until he’d finished his meal and was led off by the maid to visit his mother.
“So you are seeking your mate in my lands, Lachlann?”
“Yes, with your permission. I have found no mate at home in the Braemuir lands.”
“Feel free to go and search amongst the available maidens. Remember we are water dragons, so don’t neglect a visit to the loch.”
Chapter Two
The next day Lachlann resolved to start his search. He changed to his dragon-shape and flew to Drumnadrochit, where he landed and changed back to human-form. There were maidens walking about the small settlement and talking, but although he used his senses, sending thoughts out in all directions, no answering call came to him. Certainly as a stranger, he excited plenty of attention. The females of the Ness Clan were no different to females anywhere. A new and personable young man would always give them plenty to look at and talk about. Lachlann had counted on that very fact, but he was having no success at locating his one true mate. All he seemed to be doing was driving himself wild with lust. His cock was permanently rigid and painful. All he could think of was sinking it into the wet and willing cunt of one of these beauties. He knew he couldn’t do that. In Braemuir lands, it would have been just about acceptable, as he was a dragon lord and brother of the Clan chieftain. Here he had no water-breathing ability, and any child of the union would not fit in with the Clan. His hand pressed on the base of
his cock under his plaid, giving some relief until he could find some privacy. He saw a copse at one end of the town and made for it. Once between the trees and hidden from the settlement, he lifted his plaid and was about to give himself the relief he needed when a soft voice startled him.
“Do let me help you with that, lord.”
A woman of about thirty, no longer in the first flush of youth, but still passably good-looking, was leaning against the trunk of one of the trees. She walked toward him, her hips swayed seductively, and she fixed her eyes on his.
“It would be a real shame to waste such a stiff cock.” She dropped to her knees before him and took his swollen dick between her hands. Pearly drops oozed from his slit, and she spread the cream lovingly over the fat, purple head. Then she bent and licked it off. His cock jerked at the touch of her tongue. Her hands were calloused but gentle as she rolled his balls in his sac and pressed at the base of his erection to ensure he didn’t come too soon. Lachlann felt he ought to say “no,” but for the life of him he couldn’t. He well knew that if he’d brought himself to release he would still have been horny and unsatisfied. There was that in this woman’s eyes that promised satisfaction. He wasn’t risking getting her with child, so why not? He gave up the struggle as she began to pump the base of his cock with her hands and her tongue swirled around the head and dipped into his slit. She licked and nibbled just the head to start with, and his knees felt weak. Her busy tongue and lips travelled the length of his shaft, nipping and sucking. She was driving him wild. Her mouth returned to the head of his cock. She sucked in her cheeks and took as much of him in as she could. Bobbing her head, she applied herself to giving him pleasure, until he could control himself no more. His hips bucked, and she stilled, allowing him to fuck her mouth. In four more strokes he felt the tingles gathering. He stilled, then felt sweet release as the hot, salty cream spurted from his dick. She swallowed it all then licked him clean and replaced the plaid for him. He held out his hand to pull her to her feet. She curtsied and left the clearing. Lachlann looked after her in amazement. When he regained the power of movement, he hurried out of the clearing, but the woman was nowhere to be seen. He felt much better. The relief she’d given him lasted far longer than it would have had he come at his own hand. He was grateful and would have rewarded her.