Highlander's Magic (Highlander Heat #2)

At the homestead the smoke continued to blow in, thick with red outback dust swirling within. I scrubbed my eyes with my knuckles. The bitter, choking haze clogged my throat and wiped out my vision. Such a raging, suffocating heat. I groped the walls of the paneled corridor and fumbled along until I reached the end stall. This should be the last one. I unclipped the catch and stumbled inside.

“Where are you, Lieska. I can’t see a damn thing. There’s more smoke inside these stables now than outside.” Cole’s voice pounded down our link.

“I’m here. Last mare. I won’t be long.” I coughed and spluttered. “Are you keeping the foals calm?” They fought the foreign restriction, but at least they were safe.

“I’ve got them sorted, just. I’ll head back to the river with this last colt. You better be right behind me.”

“Yes, right behind you.” I plucked my sweat-soaked shirt from my skin.

I patted the air then knocked into the horse. With my foot. Damn, she was on the ground. On my knees, I stroked the mare’s slick neck. She snorted then whinnied as if in pain. Oh hell. One in labor. ’Porting a mare in this condition was asking for trouble.

Gasping for breath, I worked at soothing her first.

A precious minute ticked by. Two.

“Lieska?” Cole’s voice echoed in my head, yet as if from a distance.

I coughed and wheezed. I had to get this mare out of here. My throat tightened and constricted.

“Answer me.” His tone held a deadly bite.

I fought to get another breath in, managed a pitiful amount of air. Focus. ’Port her. You’ve done everything you can. She has to go like this.

My lungs burned.

My vision swam, and then nothing.



My chest exploded with pain as a crashing weight came down on it.

“Damn it, Lieska. Breathe.”

A hot mouth covered mine, pushed air deep inside.

My lungs were on fire.

Another thump over my heart, then another, and another.

Argh, that had to be Cole, and he needed to stop that pounding.

“Breathe. Now.”

I wanted to, just so I had enough air to yell at him.

Light flared behind my closed eyelids, shoving away the last of the darkness.

I dragged air in, and it scraped painfully along the sides of my throat.

“That’s it, love. Take another breath.”

He held me, surrounded me. Everything I wanted.

“Cole?” I croaked his name.

“You truly are the most difficult mate.” Hoarse words. “I swear you will never put your life on the line like that again. Do you hear me?”

“Not quite sure.” I shoved open my heavy lids, and his beautiful gold-flecked gaze searched mine. I coughed. “Something about hearing you, but I can’t do that if you leave me.”

“Take a drink. Your voice is far too scratchy.” Water dribbled over my lips. Nice. I opened my mouth and more trickled down my scorched throat. “It’s just as well you fast-heal. Hurry it up.”

Could he get more demanding?

Still, I kept lapping at the cool water, each sip going down easier, smoother, better.

“That’s it.” Lips pressed to my forehead. “I don’t want to leave you either.”

“We need to—” I coughed, cleared my throat and tried again. “We need to talk.”

He lifted me higher in his lap then brushed his lips over mine. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“As it appears, I’m a little hard to get rid of.”

A tear welled in the corner of his eye. “When you were in danger, my soul cried out for yours. I’m sorry, Lieska, but I can’t give you up. I think I’ve known it all along.”

“You can’t?” I clutched his sooty shirtfront. “I’m struggling too. But how can we make this relationship work?”

“We’re hunters. Nothing will truly stop us if we desire it.” He smiled, and I’d never seen him look so happy or determined. “Say you’ll hunt with me. We’ll pursue this bond. You hold the other half of my soul, and I yours. I’ll never want anyone other than you. Agree. Say yes.”

I wanted him too, so badly. “I do like kissing you. You promise to keep that up?”

“You have my word. So is that a yes?”

I grinned, and unable to help myself, murmured, “Kiss me and find out. I dare you.”

He looked deep into my eyes, bent his head and kissed me.

My heart soared and my soul called to his.

Oh, I had my mate, and I’d never let him go.

It was time to live my life, with him.

The hunter had succeeded in the hunt.





Chapter 5


I leaned against Cole’s chest as he wrapped his arms around me from behind. We stood at the edge of the mighty river, which pulsed with life. Ducks hidden within the reeds cackled and took flight. Their wings brushed the glistening surface as they swept across the wide expanse to the other side. Above, the skies were a brilliant blue without even a wisp of cloud.

The outback had returned to its most striking, the back-burning operation a huge success. Within days the firefighters had stamped the fires out, more than a fortnight past. Now the cattle, thousands of head, grazed along this green belt and far into the distance.

“I love this place.” I wriggled against him, so at peace.