“Look.” He pointed ahead. “The trail comes to an end.”
“I see it.” The pine trees butted right up to the edge of the cliffs overlooking the sea. The Isle of Raasay was only a few miles wide, and one of the many hundreds of isles along Scotland’s western coastline. She pulled her horse to a halt at the cliff’s edge and it stamped the dusty ground. Out at sea, moonlight rippled over the white-capped waves and tinged them a golden hue, while farther along the cliffs, a steep trail led down to a narrow beach far below. Horses whinnied, although they remained alone in the dark with no riders in sight.
“You see that?” Duncan motioned toward the scoured lines marking the sand below.
“Gavin must have brought his vessel in here and snuck through the forest before lighting the fires. He’s a sneaky one. Ethan’s managed to infiltrate his band and attempts to halt his devious attacks, although he’s clearly been unable to do so without me and my compelling voice.”
“James told me you both do all that you can to honor your father’s memory. Peace is what you desire, no’ war.” He cocked a brow, the wind whipping his black hair into a wind-tossed mess.
“’Tis true, very true.” She steered her horse down the tricky cliff side trail, stones scattering over the verge and rapping down the sheer side before plunking into the sand. Duncan tightened his grip on her from behind, his chest flattened to her back and his hips moving in motion with hers as she negotiated the steep downward trail. Such a caressing touch, his entire body rubbing and stimulating hers. Oh my, she could barely breath with how closely aligned their bodies were, and never had another man ever stirred such an emotion to rise within her before.
Disbelief rocked through her, those emotions ones that should only ever arise should she be with her chosen one. This man couldn’t be him. He was a MacKenzie and didn’t hold fae blood. She shook her head. Well, as far as she knew he didn’t hold fae blood.
“Take care with that last step.” His hands came smoothly around hers on the reins. He tugged and her horse bounded with ease over the craggy edge of the last step and onto the small curve of the beach. With one leg swinging free, he dismounted and landed with a soft clomp on the sand.
She too dismounted and knelt beside him where he crouched to inspect the marks made in the white grains. This thin strip of the beach would likely be covered once the tide rose, the marks completely lost. She touched his arm. “What are your thoughts?”
“These marks arenae as heavy as that of a galley, but no’ as light as that of a skiff either. How many men does Gavin have with him?”
“Seven altogether, including himself and Ethan.”
“Aye, that number seems about right. ’Tis the number of men I’ve been chasing.”
“You need to cease chasing Gavin. I’ll find him and deal with him.” She rose and nabbed the dangling reins of the closest horse, led the animal to the trail and clapped a hand on its flank. The mare trotted up the trail and she guided the other horses across and sent each one on up as well. “Gavin is reckless and foolhardy, should never have swiped these horses from the stables, nor set the village alight. He has no thought for others.”
“He’s far more than foolhardy. He strikes out against the innocent, will learn a lesson to never do so again, the moment I can get my hands on him.”
“You need to allow me to impart that lesson.” With Duncan’s and her horse’s reins in hand, she held out his leads to him. “At least I found your horse. Once I catch up to Gavin, ’twould be best if Ethan and I took him straight back to Dunscaith. We’ll ensure the Chief of MacDonald learns all about Gavin’s misdeeds. Setting Inverarish alight and bringing harm down upon the heads of innocent villagers is unacceptable. The MacDonald cannae argue that fact.”
“The MacDonald cares little about facts, has likely instructed his nephew to wreak the havoc he has upon my land and against those under my care, or have you forgotten I was the one who sailed right into Dunscaith and in doing so caused the war between our clans to escalate?”
“I believe Gavin acts alone, without his chief’s knowledge. Please, you need to allow Ethan and I to deal with this. I can speak to Gavin and the MacDonald, ensure all is made right. Surely what is of most importance here is preventing any further blood from being shed, and that I can surely do once my voice has fully returned and I can compel Gavin as needed.”
“Can you compel a man to suppress his true nature?”
“Nay, but I can still work some wonders. I’ll ensure his chief is made aware of his actions and halts them.”