She snarled under her breath. Jeremiah would pay dearly for doing such a thing, for taking her from Carron Castle against her will, and from right under a heavily fortified garrison of her brothers’ men.
Pushing to her feet, she wobbled and grasped the center mast to steady herself. Seawater sloshed within the hull and she slapped her wet skirts. The bow rose sharply up and she almost toppled over as they crested a large swell and cruised in toward the sea-gate. The awaiting warriors seized both sides of Jeremiah’s birlinn and brought them in closer to the stony landing. Waves crashed into the rocks alongside the bay and spray misted over her. She shivered from the cold, yet the fierce heat of anger roared through her.
“’Tis about time you awoke, lass.” Jeremiah strode down the aisle toward her. “A whole day has passed since we left Carron and I thought you intended to remain asleep the entire time. Welcome to Rhue.”
“Welcome?” She wanted to spit on him, to rant and rave. “How dare you steal me away from my home and then state words of welcome. You have no right to take me wherever you please.”
“I have every right. Our chief has decreed you’ll wed me.” He planted his booted feet wide. “’Tis of course a shame you remain unskilled, but your fae blood is strong and that is all that matters.”
“Duncan is going to kill you. Coll too the moment he discovers what you’ve done.”
“Neither of them have a choice in the matter. Our father has spoken.” Jeremiah hoisted her up, swung her onto the landing and bounded in beside her. Smirking, he crossed his thick arms as his men marched up the raggedy stone stairs ahead of them and streamed under the arched main gate.
This was the last place she wished to be, or left alone with him. “I hate you.”
“Aye, we’ve never seen eye to eye, but that will change. As your husband, I’ll expect your complete obedience once we’ve spoken vows. Certainly should you give yourself to me willingly, then things will go so much easier for you. Choose to be unwilling, and I’ll force you to my hand regardless.” He gripped her shoulders and turned her toward the castle then slapped her bottom. “Move ahead.”
She gasped and stumbled along the walkway. “Cease manhandling me.”
“I enjoy a feisty tumble, and I intend for you to be one.”
“I truly, truly hate you.” Over her shoulder, she shot him a dirty look as she stomped up the trail after his men toward the two-story gatehouse where several guardsmen stood on duty.
“There is a clergyman right here at this keep. Brother John will oversee our vows and following our marriage, you’ll give me plenty of sons who we’ll raise right here at Rhue. Am I understood?”
“I will never speak vows with you, not when—” Images hazed her mind and she allowed her skill to rise. Her ability soared free and she flew directly toward her chosen one, the pathway to Ronan’s mind one she’d never release. She found him, dived deep within his mind and clung to his roiling thoughts. “I’m here, Ronan.”
“Duncan and I are coming. I have no’ been able to reach you. What did Jeremiah do to you?” Fear and anger pummeled through him as he stood in a pair of black leather pants, a billowy blue tunic plastered to his chest and one hand braced against the mast of Duncan’s war galley. The square white sail was pulled taut as the vessel cruised alongside Scotland’s rugged western coastline. The galley rocked and dipped, the waves slapping against the hull while overhead heavy gray clouds bubbled and brewed, a storm that loomed all around her as well. He was close, very close, on a seaward path heading directly toward her.
“Jeremiah sedated me and I’ve only just awoken. How did you learn where I am?”
“Hamish had a vision. He saw Jeremiah setting sail for Rhue, with you onboard.”
“Jeremiah has made his intentions clear. There’s a clergyman here at this keep and he intends for us to wed, for me to give him plenty of sons. I cannae tell him about you afore you’ve had the chance to send word to my parents. I willnae have their lives placed in danger.”
“We’ll be there in a matter of hours.”
“This is all such a mess. Jeremiah has declared war against my brothers.”
“Aye, he has, and me along with them. It’s also a war I’ll never allow him to win. Look ahead, love, show me everything as you enter Rhue. I need to know every detail.”
“Of course.” She walked under the main arch, halted in the inner courtyard and slowly turned around, giving him the layout and position of the guards. “The curtain walls are the thickest I’ve ever seen and the tower house sits right alongside the wall overlooking the ocean. There is naught but sheer rock everywhere.”
“Duncan and I will find a way to retrieve you, even if we must tear the walls down to do so.”