Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates by Bartlett, Gerry (red white royal blue TXT) 📕

on the battlements. I couldn’t believe no one had any idea that we’d just escaped the walls.

“Look at this!” I spread my arms out to take in the view. “Anyone who knows about the passage could be stealing from the castle and we wouldn’t have any idea. Those flying night creatures you heard about, Colin, could be using the passage to take things from us.”

“Nothing big, I’d say.” Valdez stood beside me. “But jewels, a loaf of bread, all sorts of small items would go out through there easily enough.” He turned to Colin. “Do you know if the people here thought the pirates had such creatures among them?”

“It’s hard to keep your kind a secret, Valdez. I’ve grown up with it. There are some shifters here from Castle Campbell but anyone from there, even mortals like me, have been trained to keep our mouths shut. I’d know if anyone from the villages around here knew about shifters.” Colin glanced at me. “Or vampires. So far the local people seem completely unknowing.”

“Then they won’t be much help.” Valdez frowned.

“Jeremiah and I think they could be sent by Robert MacDonald, bound to make trouble. The clans have feuded for centuries.” I hated that it was true. I liked Robert and his new bride, Fiona. He’d talked of turning her vampire. That would have created a new problem. She was close to King James. How do you hide something like that from the king? It had been difficult enough for Jeremiah to keep his clan’s secret.

It was good that we were no longer in Edinburgh and obligated to attend court each night. But away from there, Robert would be hard to control. Just because the king demanded he make peace with the Campbells, didn’t mean he would. He’d been manipulated into his marriage with Fiona and might be in the mood to cause trouble. Now he lived in a castle just a few hours away and had little to do. A restless Robert was a dangerous Robert. I could well imagine him sending shifters to spy on us or even coming himself to have a look at what his enemy, Jeremiah Campbell, was doing.

“You really think MacDonald would risk the king’s displeasure by stirring up trouble here?” Valdez took my elbow. “That would be foolish.” He led me to a path that would take us down the hill and to the castle gate. It was not well-worn so that told me it was not well-known.

“Of course, it would be foolish, but Robert and Jeremiah think they have a score to settle. I have no idea what it is, but just because they have been ordered to forget it, doesn’t mean they will do so. Robert has married a woman the king loves like a sister. He may hope that will buy him forgiveness if he continues to pursue this feud.” I knew he might be right, unfortunately.

Once inside, I asked around and discovered that the captain had still not returned from a visit with Lady Anne after the evening meal. That was good news. I hoped that meant he was in her bed, making them both happy. With only a few hours until dawn, I arranged a bath and got ready for Jeremiah’s return. I was sure he would be late, getting everything ready for the battle to come, so I just ordered the small copper tub in our room to be filled.

When he finally arrived, he was wet and sandy. Clearly, he’d taken more than one trip out to the ships to see things done to his satisfaction.

“You’ve read my mind again.” He sighed as he settled into the warm bath water. “I wish I had time for a soak. That blasted cannon. We almost lost it into the sea. It is unwieldy and so damned heavy. But it is safely on board now. I will be on that ship myself. Da and I both will be and see to its proper use.” He ran a rag over his chest. “I have sand where no man should have it. Will you wash my hair, Gloriana?”

“Of course.” I poured a pitcher of water over his head before rubbing in soap. He sat there with his eyes closed as I massaged it into his scalp. He even had sand in his ears. Finally, I pushed him forward to dump more water over him until it ran clear.

“There, you are clean. Dry off and come to bed. I am eager to give you the fine farewell that you deserve, my warrior.” I stepped back out of the way and drew off my shift. “I’ll wait for you under the covers.”

“How can I resist such an invitation?” His eyes were on me when he stepped out of the tub. “I know you are worried. Don’t be. I will be back to you before you know it.” He stretched, as if he had muscles he hadn’t used for a while that were aching. Our death sleep would take care of that. Of course, I couldn’t look away.

“We have named the large cannon. Intrepid. What do you think?”

“I think you are the fearless one. A piece of iron has no feelings, only the men making use of it.” I dropped the covers to my waist. “Come to bed.” I cleared my mind of any doubts and smiled. If only I could hide away on his ship and be with him. Staying here and not knowing was the worst kind of torture. That reminded me…

As he climbed into bed, I told him about the passage I’d discovered. He was happy to hear about it, but I knew he wasn’t really giving it his full attention.

“I’ll tell Fergus to post guards on the hill. Valdez can show him where the opening comes out.” Jeremiah’s eyes darkened. “Enough talk of war and pirates and mysterious passageways. I am eager to feel you against me.” He ran his hands then his mouth over me.

My man certainly knew how to love me.