Highlander's Kiss (Clan Matheson #1)

“Tavish Matheson, Julia’s mate and her handfast husband.”


“If you’re her husband, then you stand in my way.” Jeremiah came at Tavish, slashing again and again in a clear attempt to take him down as quickly as he could. “Be prepared to die. Julia will be my wife afore the end of the day.”



Tavish sprang forward and fought. It was time for Jeremiah MacKenzie to learn that no one would ever take his wife from him, a message he intended to make certain got through. He certainly had no greater incentive than to fight for his woman. He slashed and Jeremiah met each of his deadly strikes.

“Whistle out if you need me, Tavish.” Eagerly rocking from foot to foot, Kirk palmed his sword from the sidelines, his gaze narrowed on Jeremiah. “I want in on this fight.”

“This is my battle, one I intend to win.” He was a Matheson, and no one ever tangled with the ‘Son of the Bear.’

“Those are strong words, Matheson, but you’re on MacKenzie land and we dinnae spill our own blood here, only that of our enemy’s.” Jeremiah’s gaze glinted with determination and he slammed his blade hard into Tavish’s, one hard strike after another.

Tavish grunted and fell back a step then bounded back. He struck, his blows strategic as he came at Jeremiah first on one side and then the other, all wielded in order to weaken his enemy. He blocked Jeremiah’s next high swipe then dropped low, rolled clear and came up on his adversary’s flank and struck again, swiftly and surely.

“Nice move, Tavish.” Kirk gritted his teeth. “Now bring him down so we can find Julia’s father and be done with this lot.”

“I’ll be right with you.” He met each of Jeremiah’s blows with the same intensity as the aggressive warrior heaped on him.

“Tavish!” Julia pulled free of Cherub and rushed toward him, her golden locks streaming behind her. “Dinnae get hurt, no’ one scratch. Do you hear me?”

“Get back.” He glared at Kirk. “Keep her behind you and safe.”

Kirk hustled Julia out of the way.

Jeremiah struck his ribs, the blow ricocheting and rattling his teeth. Damn it. He should have been keeping his focus on the warrior he fought and not on his mate. Julia screamed as MacKenzie swung again.

He caught the next blow and arms shaking, shoved his two-handed sword hard against Jeremiah’s. He heaved forward and battled. Whisking his blade through the air, he caught MacKenzie off guard and sliced into his arm.

Jeremiah grasped his bicep and growled as blood poured through his white-knuckled fingers. Not a death blow, but a damaging one all the same for a warrior who would need his sword arm if he wished to fight.

“This battle isnae over.” Snarling, Jeremiah nabbed his horse, bounded onto the beast and rode toward the castle, his injured arm swinging loose at his side.

He should have expected the man to run once injured, wanted to chase him and put an end to the fight only Julia ran toward him and he caught her in his arms and gripped her tight.

“We have to reach my father afore Jeremiah does.” She clasped his face and kissed him. “Thank you for coming to my rescue.”

“You’re to go straight to your mother. Tor will watch over you while Cherub, Kirk, and I see to your father’s rescue. We’ll find him, that I promise you.” He dug his fingers into her hair and kissed her with all the fierce need contained within his soul. Seeing her in MacKenzie’s hands had nearly halted his heart from beating. “We’ll meet you on the hill where we first arrived. Tell Tor. He’ll get you and your mother there without any issue.”

“My father is ill, sick with a fever. Mother never had the chance to explain more than that. Be careful.” She kissed him again. “Stay safe and come back to me.”

“Always.”

Julia raced back to the inn and he wiped his blade on the grass, sheathed it then grasped ahold of Cherub. He had a mission ahead of him, one he couldn’t falter in. “Let’s be away.”

“Hold tight. We are running out of time and I’m going to make this flight quick.” Cherub cloaked the three of them and took them high. They flew over the curtain wall and descended down into the bailey before the tower house.

Jeremiah galloped through the main gate. “Secure the keep. Our enemy has arrived,” he bellowed and all hell broke loose.



Fear and worry coiled deep in Julia’s gut as she left Tavish and ran back to the inn. Leaving her mate to fight this battle without her at his side had been the most difficult thing she’d ever done. With her heartbeat a raging mess, she stumbled through the garden door and inside the chamber. She drank in the returned sight of her mother. Even though she looked pale, dirt smeared across her cheeks and her skirts ragged, she was still alive and that was all that matter.