"Don't worry about it," she said, rolling away from him and leaning on her elbow. She clutched the sheet tightly to her breast. His fingers trailed absently down her bare back, tracing a pattern. She shuddered. "I can handle Carlisle." It would never come to that, but no use telling him that. She would never marry Carlisle.

He gripped her arm and pulled her onto her back. "What are you talking about?"

"I'll hide a vial of chicken blood beneath my pillow and I'll cry out when he ruts on me, as if I'm in great pain. When it's over, I'll open the vial beneath me."

The way he stared at her-as if she were speaking another language-stoked her growing anger.

"And if I should bear a redheaded child? Well, what matter? It'll be too late by then, eh?"

He sat, his face darkening with anger. "Fayth-"

"Don't touch me!"

He reached for her, but she moved away, gathering the sheets closer about her. She saw the blood on the sheets. Her blood, evidence of what she had given him. Of what she'd trusted him with.

"You would let Carlisle rut on you? After what we did?"

He sounded angry! She threw a pillow at his head. "You fool! Do you think I'll let him put his head between my legs? Do you think I will scream and cry for more? He'll not be pleased with me! I promise that!"

She struggled to get off the bed, but he caught her about the waist, easily stopping her and dragging her back. He held her tightly, her back pressed against his chest and belly. She tried to pry his hands loose, but he held her fast, his cheek against hers.

"Listen to me," he said sternly. "You're not going to Carlisle. There will be no trade."

She went limp, staring blankly into the gray light.

"I thought you understood," he said, turning his face so his warm breath caressed her neck and his whiskers sc.r.a.ped her skin. "I would not have done this if I meant to give you up."

"But Gealach... what about Gealach?"

He sighed deeply, his face buried in the juncture between her shoulder and neck. "I don't know."

She shook her head slowly, disbelieving. "But it is... you love this place. You can't just give it up, not without a fight!"

He shushed her, his mouth warm against her skin. She shivered, her body rising again, quivering inside. How could she want him again, so soon? She'd thought once she'd lain with him, it would be over, the longing. But here it was, sharp and urgent, ripe with the knowledge of how well he could a.s.suage it.

"You have my protection until I can see you to safety." His arms wrapped tightly about her waist. "I'll take you to Rob and Caroline. There, you'll be safest-"

"I can't go to Caroline," she whispered. "She'll never trust me again... and I cannot live like that."

"I'll speak for you. I'll explain to her what happened."

Fayth let out a breath of disbelief. "You'd do that?" She wanted to see his face, but he held her so firmly she couldn't turn.

"Aye."

Fayth contemplated this gift in silence. He offered her protection, reconciliation with her sister. But he did not offer himself or marriage. Fayth found she did not want to leave Gealach, not yet. But she would not tell him that.

One of his hands slid up to cup her breast, toying lazily with the nipple. Her eyes fluttered shut and she let her head fall back against his shoulder. His mouth moved to her neck, sucking, licking. No, she didn't want to leave. Not yet. His hand burrowed beneath the sheet, sliding over her belly, between her thighs.

Perhaps now that things had changed between them he would help her find Mona. He'd offered to reconcile her with Caroline, surely he would give her this. And in return she would help him keep Gealach. Yes, she thought, her body loosening under his explorations, things were finally going her way.

Alex woke, more from the hand on his chest than the light behind his eyelids. He opened one eye a crack. Fayth lay on her side beside him, sheet pulled over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She inspected the bead he wore about his neck. Even with her lying next to him, her body warming his arm and thigh, he could not believe what he'd done-and that she'd consented.

When she saw he was awake, she asked, "You'll help me find Mona now?"

"If that's what ye want." He took the bead from her, closing it in his fist, as if that's all that held her there with him and he had to guard it.

She smiled, self-satisfied, and pulled at his fingers. He opened his hand readily, surprised at how familiar she was with him, as if they'd been lovers for much longer than one night. There was no awkwardness, no strangeness. His heart seemed swollen, aching, every time he looked at her.

She fingered the stone thoughtfully. "We might find the Clachan Fala, too."

He slid his hand up and around her, urging her closer. "Aye."

She resisted, leaning against his hand, her head bent over the bead, her hair brushing his chest.

"If Mona really is the keeper, then she's worked very hard to keep it out of Ridley's hands. If it's real, then it will give him great power."

"That's a lot of 'if's,' la.s.s."

"I know." She looked at him earnestly, her dark eyes wide and appealing. "But it seems foolish not to even consider it... right?"

Alex smiled, rubbing his hand over the soft, bare skin of her arm. "But first we must separate the legend from the fact. It's a piece of treasure shrouded in myth." He flattened his palm on her back, pushing her down. "Remember the tale of the Irish prince? There's another told in the village of a ghostly pirate ship that sails by Gealach on nights when the moon is full, searching for its lost treasure." She didn't resist him, her eyelids lowering so her gaze was fixed on his mouth as he spoke. "The Clachan Fala that has caused so much bloodshed is no more than a bauble, likely of great material value, but possessing no magic."

Her sheet slipped as their lips met, the firm round globes of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s searing his skin. She teased him with her mouth and the tip of her tongue, staying just out of reach, until he gripped the back of her head, forcing her to deepen the kiss.

She slid her leg over his waist, so she straddled him. His hands were buried in her hair, his erection throbbing against the heat of her bottom. He would never let her go, but he couldn't tell her that. She would balk at being held, even by a man who adored her, but nevertheless, he would not relinquish her to anyone. He must somehow convince her that the only logical thing for her to do now was marry him... unfortunately logic wasn't the way to appeal to Fayth.

She rubbed against him, purring deep in her throat. He slid her up his body, so he could take a dusky nipple in his mouth.

"That's what I was looking for, you know," she murmured.

"Hmm...?"

"Below... when Biddy disappeared."

Reluctantly, he released her nipple with a kiss and looked up at her. "What were you looking for?"

"Something that looked like the Blood Stone, something that would fool Ridley. Then he would give you Gealach and leave Mona alone."

Alex considered her plan as she stared down at him, hands braced on the bed on either side of his head, red-brown hair falling forward to frame her face.

"He's not stupid-"

"But he's never seen it! Don't you see? At the very least he'll come and investigate, bringing the deed with him in case it's true. And if you show him the bead and tell him where you got it, I just know he'll believe you."

"You've a cunning mind, but I cannot take such chances."

"What chances? Have you a better plan?"

"No, but I'd rather you not be involved."