Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers #3)

With her inner sight focused on Cherub, she sought aid on what she needed to do to convince her friend to take a chance on her newly discovered bond. Images swirled and she grasped ahold of them, only none were of Cherub but instead their enemy, Colin MacKenzie, the Chief of MacKenzie.

Colin MacKenzie stormed the darkened lower passageways of his castle, his captain at his side. The MacKenzie clenched his fists, his shaggy brown hair plaited into war braids and knotted together with a thick strip of leather at his nape. “I willnae be defeated, and certainly no’ by Gilleoin,” he muttered. “I want control of the waterways between us and the Isle of Skye and for that I need his Matheson lands on the tip of Loch Alsh. I will hold dominion over that land, and by whatever means I can ensure it.”

“Gilleoin protects those within the village with his very life.” His captain spat the words through the gap in his buckled front teeth.

“Aye, the fae have mingled with his Matheson line and he does no’ care to give up the added abilities his offspring now carry. Worse, Gilleoin and his progeny will continue to grow from strength to strength if I dinnae put a halt to it.”

“What’s your plan, Chief?”

“There is only one plan.” He punched one fisted hand into the other. “Afore the village was to be burnt to the ground, which you failed at ensuring, I was after one woman. Find her and bring her to me. She is the answer I seek. She alone will be able to provide what I need to ensure my plan reaches completion.”

“Aye, Chief. I’ll go and bring her back myself.” The captain strode away and Nessa’s vision dissolved.

The Chief of MacKenzie wouldn’t be halted in his drive to take their land. The man was a menace, one relentless and fierce menace. Except which one of the fae women from the village could he possibly be after? She needed to find out. She hurried down the stairs and into the bailey. Finding Gilleoin and imparting all she’d just learnt was imperative.





Chapter 3


With her cloaking veil extended over Kirk, Cherub bobbed through the dawn sky as the sun’s rising warmth flared across the land below. A wash of golden-yellow bathed the forest’s treetops and shimmered across the castle’s fortified walls, while in the distance behind it, the hills rose lush and green with a wealth of new growth.

She smiled at Kirk over her shoulder as he tightened his hold around her from behind, not that he could see her or even she see him while they were both cloaked. “This land is so stunning with its lochs and bens and grassy moors. There is nowhere on Earth quite as beautiful as Scotland.”

“I take it you’ve traveled far and wide?” His warm breath feathered across the top of her head, his question one of a hundred or more he’d asked her during the night. She’d done her best to answer those questions she could, in fact had thrived on having someone to share such a deep and meaningful conversation with. Her questions for him too had been endless, and he’d graciously shared all she’d asked of him.

“I’ve traveled the whole world over, many times and of course throughout the ages, but the Highlands are my home.” This night with him had been magical, yet the end of it now lay in sight and even though she didn’t wish for that moment to arrive, it unfortunately had. “Do you wish to collect your skiff from the village, or shall I return you to the castle instead?”

“The castle. One of the warriors at the village will return the skiff as needed. Where do you intend on going once we’re back on the ground?” Another question she’d need to be evasive with.

“I intend to bathe and change, break my fast then tend to my day’s work.” No knowledge of where, even though she’d be within her chamber and inside the same castle walls as he would be. Certainly the temptation to blurt out the truth was strong, but then where would she be? Where would her people be? Thoughts of Amelia and her decision to forego her duty after accepting her soul bond with Olaf, swamped her. She couldn’t choose such an all-consuming bond and allow her people to go uncared for. They came first and always would.

With her resolve set in place, she breezed lower as she swept toward the castle’s postern gate.

“You’ve gone quiet all of a sudden. If you’re tired and wish to rest, then allow me to join you.” Husky words, and the hope in his tone shimmered through. “Or if you’ve a need to work, I’ll join you in your duties. It matters not to me. I just wish to be wherever you are.”

“I have so much to do this day, and for now, my duties will keep me here in this time until I’ve seen to the new matches being made. So many of the villagers were saved in the recent battle and new soul bonds have now formed across the ages.”