Highlander's Caress: Medieval Romance (The Fae Book 2) (19 page)

“Aye, but in truth, my desire for food has been gone since the day you left. Being parted as we have been hurts terribly, until I cannae see a way past the pain anymore. I miss being your wife, to the depths of my soul.” Speaking the truth eased a little of her heartache, and having him this close, even more so. “Why are we allowing the MacDonald to control our actions, as well as the direction of our future?”

“To ensure the safety of your kin. Your grandparents live on Skye, right within his reach. Should he discover that we spoke handfast vows, he’ll come after them, as well as Ethan and your mama. His need to retaliate right now is too strong.” He slowly lowered to his knees, pushed her tunic up higher and rubbed his cheek against the bare skin of her belly.

“What if we all lived together, right here?” She’d be uprooting her kin, every single one of them, tearing her grandparents from their home on Skye and Mama and Ethan from their beloved village. Although keeping her child and its father apart was a thought she could barely tolerate.

“I cannae ask that of you and your kin.”

“I believe I was the one doing the asking.”

“They’d be forced to give up all they love and adore, their home and their clan.” He shoved to his feet, hope burning bright in his eyes. “Although I’d offer them Ardan House as their own, my clan here as theirs. If I asked them to stay, would they agree? There is now a child to consider.”

“We’ll all be safe here, correct?”

“Aye, I’d ensure it.” He searched her gaze. “If they agree, then I’m going to send for a priest immediately. I will wed you proper, then lock you in my chamber until I’ve loved every single inch of you, in every single possible way.”

“I will certainly never speak handfast vows with you again, no’ since you broke your last vow. A proper marriage it would have to be.” Her heart lifted with the possibility of remaining right here with him, of never having to leave this place or her chosen one, to have all her loved ones so very close as well. “We’ll ask them together.”

“We’ll ask them now.” He scooped her up in his arms and strode downstairs with her, his muscles tight and his body so very tense.

“Walk slower.” She wanted to hold onto this moment forever, for in these few heartbeats of time she finally held hope as she hadn’t in one very long month. Either her greatest desire would soon be granted, or completely stolen away from her.

He slowed his step then halted in the great hall with its vaulted ceiling and high wooden beamed rafters rising to an imposing height. A sliver of moonlight shone through the tall windows and sprinkled across the wooden floorboards. Beside the blazing fireplace, two dogs snoozed and Duncan trod with her held close to his chest as he weaved around the perimeter of the hall filled with dozens of trestle tables.

Her heart expanded, barely containing the love she held for him within it. “Kiss me.” One fiercely whispered command. “I want to be your wife.”

“I want to be your husband, to raise our child right here at Ardan.” He slowed, captured her mouth with his and kissed her, with a passion that made her head spin and made her wish they could return to his chamber and bolt the door.

When he broke their kiss, she wanted to demand he kiss her all over again but her kin awaited them at the dais. All were seated and partaking of a late evening meal, platters of breads, meats and cheeses gracing the center of the long table, a dish of pastries and small cakes too.

Mama waved her over. “Come, sit and eat. I’ve just met Hamish and he’s spoken of some most interesting things he’s just
seen
within a vision.”

“As in?” Duncan asked as he carried her to the high platform and pulled out a chair. He eased down into it and settled her on his lap, bound his arms tightly around her waist.

“Mayhap Hamish should elaborate.” Mama grinned at the fae seer.

Eyeing Duncan, Hamish popped an apple pastry in his mouth and chewed. “I informed Ella’s kin of what I saw unfold while the two of you spoke just now, and of course of the bairns I saw Ella carrying. Provided they agree to remain here, in just under eight months Ella will give birth to a son named Hacon and a wee daughter named Beth. They will be your first and second-born, twins just as you and Coll are, and both gifted in the way of the fae.”

“I’m carrying twins?” Shock and immense joy collided within her.

“Aye, my sweet.” Mama hugged her, her smile wide. “And provided we all agree to remain at Ardan, then all will be well.”

Duncan cleared his throat then cast his gaze from Mama to her grandparents then Ethan. “Then I would ask something most important of you all, right this moment. If you choose to live here, I’ll ensure your protection, as well as give you my undying gratitude. Be my kin, just as I wish to be yours.”

Smiling, Grandpa lifted his tankard and took a hearty swig of ale. “We’ve already made ourselves at home, Duncan, and we have no need to return to Skye where the MacDonald can rule over us. Here, he can hold no control, so aye, we accept your offer, all of us.”

“I’m asking a great deal.” Duncan tightened his hold on her. “There’s a war raging and I’ve no idea when it will ever end. If you need more time to consider my request, you have it.”

“The war rages no matter where we live.” Ethan rose and extended his hand to Duncan. “You have my agreement in remaining too, provided you allow me to train amongst your men and they can accept my presence.”

“Without question. I look forward to training with you too.”

“I accept your offer as well.” Mama hugged Duncan, her giddiness shining through. “There is no other place for me, other than right here with my most beloved kin.”

“And I go wherever my loved ones go.” Grandma clapped and beamed. “Although we must return home for long enough to collect our animals and belongings.”

“I cannae believe you’ve all said aye.” Pure joy lit Duncan’s face.

“They’ve truly agreed.” Joy infused her as well and kissing her mate, her heart overflowed with love. “I didnae even need to compel them either,” she whispered against his lips, “and I was fully prepared to do so in case you’re wondering.”

“I’d hoped you would should the need arise.” He grinned and she clung to him.

Aye, this day marked the beginning of the rest of their lives together, and a most wondrous life she intended for it to be. Giggling, she kissed her chosen one again and tasted sheer pleasure and all the delights it could bring.

Never would she live apart from him again.

He was her life, her love, the other half of her very soul.

Cloaked and unseen at the far end of the great hall of Ardan House, Cherub snagged Kirk’s hand and drew him outside into the stony courtyard. A sliver of moonlight shimmered through the wispy cloud drifting over it while the air swirled and whispered across her skin, bringing to her all the secrets it held.

“What do you sense now, my elusive imp?” Kirk wrapped her up in his arms and smothered her in his delicious and heady scent.

“This is what I live for, to see each mated pair join together as one. I’m so excited for Ella and her kin, that Duncan has asked them to remain here. This is where they all belong, and what I sense now is that a new clan MacKenzie rises, one beyond the devious and dominating hand of Colin MacKenzie.”

“As do I. Where are we off to next?”

“’Tis time for us to track down Coll as he searches MacKenzie land in his quest to gather more warriors to his and Duncan’s cause. He needs to come home, where he might finally be reunited with his chosen one.”

“Reunited?” Kirk frowned and she grinned.

“Aye. It appears Coll and his mate have ignored the call within their fae blood to accept each other, but no more will I allow that. We’ll guide Coll in the right direction now his chosen one is no longer beyond his reach.”

This coming chase for Coll would be one of the most intriguing she’d ever set in motion, a journey of discovery for two soul bound mates who no longer had to deny either each other or their bond.

“Then lead the way.” Kirk twirled her around, captured her mouth with his and kissed her, his passion flaring hot and strong, the same as hers always did for him. None could ever deny the mated bond, and she’d certainly ensure each mated pair amongst her people had the chance to find each other.

With a giggle against Kirk’s lips, she sent them both soaring high into the skies and amongst the brilliance of the radiant stars above. This was life, to have the one who held the other half of their soul always at their side.

With her own heart and soul soaring at the incredible beauty surrounding her, she gave into her need to join with her chosen one, right within the vivid heights of the night sky.

Love. It was now Duncan and Ella’s too, would hopefully soon come for Coll and his mate. Aye, so many adventures still awaited them all.

If you missed book one in this series, you can catch it here.

Highlander’s Bride, (
Book 1
)

I can’t wait for you to meet Coll and his mate. Coming next in this series.

Highlander’s Touch, (Book 3), Coming Aug 2016

If you don’t wish to miss any of my upcoming releases, then feel free to sign up to my newsletter to catch those dates.
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Highlander’s Touch, (Book 3)

Coll’s Story

(
Releasing Aug 2016
)

Don’t miss
The Matheson Brothers
and
Clan Matheson
series.

Series Reading Order:

The Matheson Brothers, (
3 Book Series
)

Clan Matheson,
(
3 Book Series
)

The Fae, (
Book #1
,
Book #2
)

All books within these series are standalone.

In the twelfth century, clan Matheson settled around the area of Loch Alsh, Loch Carron, and Kintail, and gave their allegiance to clan MacDonald whose chiefs were the Lords of the Isles. Clan Matheson became a large and powerful clan with a force of around two-thousand men, although by the middle of the sixteenth century they’d diminished greatly in size and influence due to the blood feuds raging across the isles at that time. This warring left them to possess less than a third of their original Matheson property on Loch Alsh.

It's also well known in history that clan Matheson also forged an alliance with clan MacKenzie during the middle ages, which meant at times the two clans fought side by side, yet also against each other when clan Matheson found themselves stuck in the middle of the feuding between the MacDonalds and the MacKenzies. Within this series titled
The Fae,
my hope is to capture the difficulties faced between these two great clans, and all while spinning stories in my own unique way.

Certainly across all the series I’ve written involving the three clans of Matheson, MacKenzie, and MacDonald, I’ve tried my best to show how their feuding and alliances made, moved back and forth throughout the years. I dearly love all these clans, can understand their struggles and losses, their conquests and wins, as well as how they attempted to remain as honorable as they could throughout it all.

In this story I’ve made mention of Dunscaith Castle, the stronghold of clan MacDonald on the Isle of Skye. Dunscaith Castle was first known as “Dun Sgathaich” and has strong ties to the heroes and heroines of Celtic legend. The castle itself is named after the legendary Scottish warrior woman Sgathaich, a great teacher of the martial arts, and arts of combat. Dunscaith Castle sits at the mouth of Loch Eishort and dates back to the early 1300s, although a castle or fortification of some type has in fact occupied this site from a far earlier date. For the purposes of this story, I’ve kept that earlier dated stronghold’s name as Dunscaith Castle to better describe the location’s setting for clan MacDonald in this era of the 1200s I’ve written within.

This story is woven with as much accuracy to the period and locations as possible, although any mistakes made are mine alone. Please feel free to search for any of my other works. I simply adore strong heroines, and have a ton of fun matching them with their honorable alpha heroes.