Highlander's Kiss (Clan Matheson #1)

“Of course. I have rested up enough, and seeing my kin safe and well has given me an added boost of energy.” Cherub swished into the center of their group and twirled her hands through the air. “Everyone hold onto me. We’re heading to Kirk, Tavish, and Tor’s time.”


They all did as she bid and the air churned.

Tavish caught Julia close as they fell away into the dark and breezed through the endless streams of time. Gently, he stroked the back of her head, each soft and loving caress warming her through from the inside out.

She snuggled deeper into his embrace, her parents either side of her. Wonder and love filled her heart. She had her parents back and she’d never let them go again, or the man she’d been gifted with as a mate. She opened her mind more fully to his and shared every one of her thoughts. “Thank you for returning my family to me. You’ve given me the greatest gift.”

“They’re safe and I’ll ensure your father is soon well.” He kissed her forehead. “The day you arrived with Cherub to be tended, is the day I received my heart’s desire. I now live for you.”

“I need to kiss you.”

“I need to bite you.” He chuckled as they bumped down inside his medical rooms. “Soon,” he promised as he aided Father across the room and onto the white-sheeted medical bed. Mother whipped to Father’s other side as he lay down and rested his head on the pillow.

Cherub, still standing beside Kirk, swirled the air once more. “We’ll be back soon. Arabel and Finlay need to be here.”

“Travel safely.” Excitement bubbled inside her. Soon her sister would be here and their family would once again be complete.

Tavish tossed his jacket onto the side chair, washed his hands in the metal sink, dried them then pulled a tray of utensils forward. He returned to Father’s side, removed the bandaging around his wounded arm and eyed the pussy mess. “Let’s get you all cleaned up. I’ll have you back on your feet as soon as I can.” He struck a look at Tor. “Could you bring the IV pole over here?”

“Sure.” Tor did so and her mate took charge, cleaning the wound then stitching it closed.

“Well, this is rather handy.” Blue eyes twinkling, Father’s mouth lifted in a smile. “Glad I am to now have a healer for a son.”

“My profession certainly comes in useful at times.” Tavish inserted what he called an IV into Father’s wrist then fiddled with a bag he hooked up onto a pole.

“I’ve always had such a love of the healing craft.” Mother watched him, her interest piqued, just as Julia’s was. “What does this bag of liquid do?”

“This bag holds fluid which contains some wonderful nutrients, including pain relief as well as the necessary medication to heal your husband’s festered wound. With all of that medication combined, and with it traveling straight into his blood, his fever should begin to recede fairly quickly.”

“And the stitches?” Mother quizzed.

“They’re dissolving ones. Aleck may bathe if he wishes, although afterward I want you to ensure he keeps his wound dry and out of the water until the stitches have gone, which will be in about a week’s time.”

“Did your mate say dissolving?” Mother asked Julia as they both aided Father into a seated position on the bed.

“He did. This time is so very different to our own and great medical advances have been made.” A time she couldn’t wait to embrace.

“You should tell your mother how we met.” Tavish winked at her then said to Mother, “The wound was shallow and even though infected, only three stitches were needed, although if you feel your husband’s wound looks worse and isn’t healing as it should, then call out. My chamber is just one door farther down the hallway from this medical room. I’ll make sure you’re given rooms on the same floor.”

“Thank you.” Mother hugged him, her smile bright. “I shall adore having a doctor for a son as well.”

Megan breezed into the room in a red woolen skirt and white blouse with a ruffled neckline, her dark wavy hair bobbing on her shoulders. Surprise lit her eyes. “Well, hello one and all. Tavish, you’re back. I wasn’t aware you’d arrived.”

“Meet Julia and Arabel’s parents, Aleck and Adair.”

“Oh my.” Megan clapped and beamed then rushed across and hugged them. “This is such an incredible surprise. I’m Iain, Finlay, and Kirk’s mother, which means we’re all now very close kin.”

“There’s an awful loud ruckus coming from in here.” Barefoot, Matthew clomped in, his IV pole in hand as he wheeled it alongside him. His great plaid was belted at his waist and a peek of the bandage wrapped around his upper body showed through the thin white linen of his loose-sleeved tunic.