Forbidden Legacy (24 page)

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Authors: Diana Cosby

BOOK: Forbidden Legacy
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Thomas grimaced. Watching a bloody leaf. A fine way to get oneself killed with the enemy about. He tugged his mount forward.
As he rounded the next tree, the break in the clouds thickened. Gloom settled upon the forest. With a wary eye, he scanned the ridge above. Once he reached the top, he could—
A flash hissed past, a finger's width before his heart.
An arrow lodged in a tree to his left.
God's teeth! Thomas clasped the hilt of his sword.
“Withdraw your blade and die!”
Furious, he glared at the slip of a woman emerging from the tree line paces away. With her skill, neither had the lass wanted him dead.
A bird's cry sounded from behind him.
Relief edged through Thomas. His men had heard him, understood trouble was about. Now to keep the lass talking until his warriors seized her. Then, by God, he would have answers. “I am nae a threat.”
“Remove your hand from your weapon, state your name and your loyalty.”
Bloody damn. Unsure if her fealty was to Comyn or the Bruce, a wrong answer could hold a fatal consequence. “Sir Thomas MacKelloch.”
“Release your sword and state your loyalty!”
A hand flashed to his far right, alerting him that his knights had surrounded her and were closing in. “Lass, I am but passing through.”
Another arrow whipped past, slicing the first straight down the center.
In disbelief he stared at the severed shaft. An expert archer, he was proud of his ability and could match her skill, a proficiency held by very few. Who was she? More important, why was she so close to King Robert's encampment? God's teeth, if her intention was to kill the Bruce, with her accuracy, the lass would need only one attempt.
With quiet steps, his knights moved behind the lass.
“I would be asking for your loyalty as well,” Thomas said.
With a panther's grace, the slender lass drew back the bowstring.
His knights lunged.
The lass screamed as Rónán caught the woman's hands, jerked them behind her back. “Release me,” she demanded, her legs kicking out with dangerous accuracy.
Rónán held tight.
Aiden retrieved her bow, while Cailin made a quick search and removed several daggers hidden within her garb.
Cailin held up the dagger she'd hidden in her boot, grimaced. “
A sgian dubh
. The lass is well armed.”
Furious at placing himself and potentially his men in danger, Thomas stormed over.
Blond hair tugged free from her braid and whipped against his adversary's comely face. Furious eyes held his.
“Who are you?” Thomas demanded.
Bewitching moss green eyes narrowed.
Impressed by her daring, neither would his questions go unanswered. “Your name.”
The lass tried to free her arm; Rónán held tight.
“Alesone MacNiven.”
“Why did you threaten me?”
“I only sought your name and loyalty.”
Thomas grunted. “You have an interesting way of asking. Who are you loyal to?”
Fear edged her eyes.
A dose of nerves would serve him well. “Tell me, by God, or I will haul you before King Robert and state your plans to assassinate him.”
At his words, her face paled. “Never would I harm Scotland's king.”
“You are loyal to the Bruce?”
She nodded. “I am his personal healer and beneath his protection.”
An untruth. He'd received a detailed brief on those of importance who traveled with the king. Never was a woman mentioned, certainly not one who was a healer. “Indeed?” he said, his voice ripe with suspicion. “With Scotland at war, I find it odd that the Bruce would allow a woman under his protection to leave camp without a proper guard.”
“He doesna know I left,” she said, her words unapologetic. “I needed but a few herbs. I was returning to camp when I heard you tramping up the knoll.”
Tramping? Thomas bit back a smile at her daring. “'Twould seem a fortuitous day.” He nodded toward his men. “We are en route to meet with the king. 'Twill be interesting to hear our sovereign's response to your claim.” Thomas glanced at his friend. “Cailin, how many weapons did the lass carry?”
“Nae counting the bow and arrows, seven.”
“'Tis dangerous away from the encampment,” she said, temper sliding into her voice.
“Aye, but nae for a mercenary intent on killing the king.”
Shock widened her eyes, and then they narrowed. “I told you my reason for being here.”
“You did, a claim I find of great interest.” Thomas caught her wrist, damning a shot of awareness. He nodded to Rónán. “I will escort Mistress Alesone, if indeed that is the lass's name.”
His friend released her and stepped back.
Alesone struggled against his hold. “I dinna need an escort!”
“What you need is yet to be determined,” Thomas warned, far from pleased by the delay, even less so at being saddled with a stubborn lass he couldna trust. “If you continue to fight me, you will be tied and carried to camp. How you meet the king is your choice.”
Outrage flashed in her eyes. “How dare you treat me with such disrespect, you . . . you ill-bred lout! I am nae a criminal.”
“A decision I will allow our king to make.” Though beautiful, this woman promised to be naught but trouble. With a muttered curse, Thomas tugged her with him and headed toward their sovereign's encampment.
HIS CAPTIVE
With a wastrel brother and a treacherous former fiancé, Lady Nichola Westcott hardly expects the dangerously seductive Scot who kidnaps her to be a man of his word. Though Sir Alexander MacGruder promises not to hurt her, Nichola's only value is as a pawn to be ransomed.
Alexander's goal is to avenge his father's murder, not to become entangled with the enemy. But his desire to keep Nichola with him, in his home—in his bed—unwittingly makes her a target for those who have no qualms about shedding English blood.
Now Nichola is trapped—by her powerful attraction to a man whose touch shakes her to the core. Unwilling and unable to resist each other, can Nichola and Alexander save a love that has enslaved them both?
HIS WOMAN
 
Lady Isabel Adair is the last woman Sir Duncan MacGruder wants to see again, much less be obliged to save. Three years ago, Isabel broke their engagement to become the Earl of Frasyer's mistress, shattering Duncan's heart and hopes in one painful blow. But Duncan's promise to Isabel's dying brother compels him to rescue her from those determined to bring down Scottish rebel Sir William Wallace.
Betraying the man she loved was the only way for Isabel to save her father, but every moment she spends with Duncan reminds her just how much she sacrificed. No one could blame him for despising her, yet Duncan's misgivings cannot withstand a desire that has grown wilder with time. Now, on a perilous journey through Scotland, two wary lovers must confront both the enemies who will stop at nothing to hunt them down, and the secret legacy that threatens their passion and their lives . . .
HIS CONQUEST
 
Linet Dancort will not be sold. But that's essentially what her brother intends to do—to trade her like so much chattel to widen his already vast scope of influence. Linet will seize any opportunity to escape her fate—and opportunity comes in the form of a rebel prisoner locked in her brother's dungeon, predatory and fearsome, and sentenced to hang in the morning.
Seathan MacGruder, Earl of Grey, is not unused to cheating death. But even this legendary Scottish warrior is surprised when a beautiful Englishwoman creeps to his cell and offers him his freedom. What Linet wants in exchange, though—safe passage to the Highlands—is a steep price to pay. For the only thing more dangerous than the journey through embattled Scotland is the desire that smolders between these two fugitives the first time they touch . . .
HIS DESTINY
 
As one of England's most capable mercenaries, Emma Astyn can charm an enemy and brandish a knife with unmatched finesse. Assigned to befriend Dubh Duer, an infamous Scottish rebel, she assumes the guise of innocent damsel Christina Moffat to intercept the writ he's carrying to a traitorous bishop. But as she gains the dark hero's confidence and realizes they share a tattered past, compassion—and passion—distract her from the task at hand . . .
His legendary slaying of English knights has won him the name Dubh Duer, but Sir Patrik Cleary MacGruder is driven by duty and honor, not heroics. Rescuing Christina from the clutches of four such knights is a matter of obligation for the Scot. But there's something alluring about her fiery spirit, even if he has misgivings about her tragic history. Together, they'll endure a perilous journey of love and betrayal, and a harrowing fight for their lives . . .
HIS SEDUCTION
 
Lady Rois Drummond is fiercely devoted to her widowed father, the respected Scottish Earl of Brom. So when she believes he is about to be exposed as a traitor to England, she must think quickly. Desperate, Rois makes a shocking claim against the suspected accuser, Sir Griffin Westcott. But her impetuous lie leaves her in an outrageous circumstance: hastily married to the enemy. Yet Griffin is far from the man Rois thinks he is—and much closer to the man of her dreams . . .
Griffin may be an Englishman, but in truth he leads a clandestine life as a spy for Scotland. Refusing to endanger any woman, he has endured the loneliness of his mission. But Rois's absurd charge has suddenly changed all that. Now, with his cover in jeopardy, Griffin must find a way to keep his secret while keeping his distance from his spirited and tempting new wife—a task that proves more difficult than he ever imagined . . .
HIS ENCHANTMENT
 
Lady Catarine MacLaren is a fairy princess, duty-bound to eschew the human world. But the line between the two realms is beginning to blur. English knights have launched an assault on the MacLarens, just as the families of Comyn have captured the Scottish king and queen. Now, Catarine is torn between loyalty to her people and helping the handsome, rust-haired Lord Trálin rescue the Scottish king . . .
As guard to King Alexander, Lord Trálin MacGruder will stop at nothing to defend the Scottish crown against the Comyns. And he finds a sympathetic, and gorgeous, ally in the enigmatic Princess Catarine. As they plot to rescue the kidnapped king and queen, Trálin and Catarine will discover a love made all but impossible by her obligations to the Otherworld. But a passion this extraordinary may be worth the irreversible sacrifices it demands . . .
AN OATH TAKEN
 
As the new castellan, Sir Nicholas Beringar has the daunting task of rebuilding Ravenmoor Castle on the Scottish border and gaining the trust of the locals—one of whom wastes no time in trying to rob him. Instead of punishing the boy, Nicholas decides to make him his squire. Little does he know the thieving young lad is really . . . a lady.
* * *
Lady Elizabet Armstrong had donned a disguise in an attempt to free her brother from Ravenmoor's dungeons. Although intimidated by the confident Englishman with his well-honed muscles and beguiling eyes, she cannot refuse his offer.
* * *
Nicholas senses that his new squire is not what he seems. His gentle attempts to break through the boy's defenses leave Elizabet powerless to stem the desire that engulfs her. And when the truth is exposed, she'll have to trust in Nicholas's honor to help her people—and to surrender to his touch . . .

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