Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers #3)

“This is just like the old days.” Pride filled Kirk’s chest as his brothers followed right on his tail. They would never allow him to lose his woman, would always be right at his side no matter what battle he faced. “You’re both ready to catch me in case I fall, right?”


“If you fall, I’m letting you whizz right on by.” Iain swung up beside him. “You are the only one of us right now who can handle any drop. You should fall back below Finlay there and get ready to catch either of us if we fall.”

“Would you two quit yacking and get to climbing. Fierce warriors await us and I need to get myself pumped up for a fight.” Finlay swung wide and scrambled past Iain. “Last one to the top has to explain all this to the women once we return.”

They all picked up their pace, using whatever crack or ridge the wall offered.

Determined to get to his woman, Kirk reached the top first, hauled himself over the edge then leaned over the crenellation and gave Iain and Finlay a hand each and swung them in beside him. As three, they crouched on the rampart, the mist thick and steady around them with not even a tiny breeze to stir the air. “We’re here. Where are you, love? And be exact.”

“In the chief’s solar. Ground floor, first door on your left just off the great hall. There were three maids clearing the tables when I arrived, and one lad sweeping the area, but they were almost done.” A wealth of worry channeled through from her. “I’m in mist form and can remain this way for as long as it takes, but the MacKenzie’s with me and he’s barricaded the door and the window. There’s no way for me to escape until there’s a sliver or gap for me to breeze through. Did I mention I missed you? Because I really do.”

“I miss you too, and I’m coming to get you.” He crept toward the stairs leading downward and motioned his brothers to follow. “She’s in the chief’s solar with the chief, ground floor, first door on the left. The hall should be clear, for the most part.”

“Sheesh. The chief’s solar?” Iain blew out a long breath. “Your woman clearly likes excitement.”

“Aye, it seems my woman is no different to either yours or Finlay’s.” If Isla and Arabel were here right now, they’d for sure be right in the thick of things. Kirk halted at the base of the stairs. Across the yard, a good twenty warriors trained, their swords clanging loud with each hit. Great, that was about twenty more warriors than he wanted to see right now.

“We’re clearly going to need a plan if we wish to get inside without being seen.” Finlay gestured toward the pathway that led around the tower house toward the heavily paneled front doors with its thick iron scrollwork. “It’s a small walk, but an immensely viewable one all the same. There must be a window open somewhere we can slip inside instead of taking that route.”

“I don’t have time to find an open window. We’re walking right along that path, as if we’re meant to be here.” Kirk slapped Finlay on the back. “Try and cover Iain if you can. Regimental and wearing the Matheson plaid. He’s got ‘come-and-fight-me’ written all over him.”

Hand firm on the hilt of his belted sword, Kirk strode toward the front door.

“Thanks, little brother,” Iain muttered as he jogged in beside him. Finlay caught up and stepped in on Iain’s other side to cover him from sight.

“Any time.” Kirk walked through the front door. A maid with an armful of tankards bustled toward the kitchens at the far side of the great hall and disappeared.

Iain snagged a folded tartan from a pile of clean MacKenzie plaids on the table underneath their hefty clan shield and wrapped it around his waist. “Right, let’s get your woman and then get out of here.”

“That sounds like the perfect plan to me.” Kirk stepped up to the chief’s solar door. “Cherub, we’re here. Right outside the door. On the count of three, we’re coming in.”

“He’s armed, Kirk, with a claymore holstered across his back and an axe at his side. Wrist daggers too. The armoire looks heavy, and it’s right in front of the door. I’ll divert him as well as I can. Be careful.”

“I will. Steer clear of the door.” He eyed his brothers and repeated Cherub’s words. Through good times or bad, no matter what difficulties they faced, they always stood as one. “On the count of three, we bust this door down. Ready?”

“Aye, ‘the power of three’ aren’t complete until we have all our women with us.” Iain swung his sword free. “Three,” he bit out.

“Two,” Finlay muttered and heaved back one step.

“One.” Kirk nodded at his brothers, his blood roaring for revenge. No one would capture and contain his woman, not while he still had breath.





Chapter 10


Cherub rushed through the air toward the far side of the solar and shimmered into view. She held a piece of Kirk’s soul deep inside her and she would fight the enemy for her freedom, just as her mate intended to fight for hers.