“You believe these two truly are soul bound?”
“Aye, although their mated bond will be a difficult match to make with their clans so at war.” The wind rushed all around, fluttering her white fur cloak about her legs and lifting her blond hair and snagging it within Kirk’s bristles. Something within the rising wind also tickled further at her fae senses and arms raised, she allowed the air, the element she controlled, to bring to her each and every secret it held. “They’ll meet at the tavern this night.”
“Might we watch that meeting?” Kirk nuzzled her neck and she tipped her head to the side to give him greater access.
“We might be too busy.” She moaned as he nipped her flesh.
“In what way?” He tugged the shoulder of her gown lower, slid one hand beneath the soft velvet and cupped her breast.
“I believe you know in what way.” Heat rippled through her and her need for even more of his delicious touch flared strong. “Duncan is Ella’s match in every way, just as you are mine.”
“Will we be guiding them in the days to come?”
“Aye, as is needed, but we’ll remain hidden for most of the time.”
“I love remaining hidden with you.” Kirk scooped her up, strode to the lush grass behind them and lowered her to the ground.
“As I love remaining hidden with you, my temping bear.” With one hand on his chest, the other curled around his nape and the sweetly sensual night breeze washing over her, she gave herself over to her chosen one.
“I want to feel your skin against mine.”
“I want that too.”
He leaned in and kissed her, every wickedly muscled inch of his body pressed hard against hers and together, they got lost in their love, their bodies and souls entwined as one and their need for each other an unstoppable beat that neither could ever deny.
This was love. The soul bond.
This was what she wanted for each and every one of her fae blooded kind.
This was what she would deliver.
Chapter 1
First Encounters Are Never Forgotten
Nearing the entrance to Loch Carron, an hour later.
The foamy tips of the rolling waves glistened gold in the moonlight as Ella Matheson sailed her skiff with her brother. “’Tis quiet out on the water this night.”
“Unusually so.” Ethan scanned the rugged shoreline with its high cliffs and forested hills. “’Tis almost like the calm before the storm.”
“Well, we are nearing MacKenzie land, so we should expect a storm sooner or later.” Usually of the battling sort. She turned the rudder a touch. Ethan had been with her that night on Dunscaith’s battlements a month past when Duncan MacKenzie and his devious father had attempted to take the MacDonald’s stronghold.
“You still dinnae have an answer do you?” Lifting one curious brow, Ethan eyed her.
“Do you mean about Duncan?”
“Aye, it took you telling him twice to leave afore he did. Never have I seen a man no’ jump immediately to do your hypnotic bidding. His relief at hearing your compelling command was also clear to see. I dinnae believe he had any knowledge of his father’s plan to attack, his surprise at Colin’s arrival the same as the MacDonald’s.”
“Death would surely have been his if I’d no’ intervened.” The MacKenzies had been well outnumbered. Why they’d even thought to attack with so few men had confused her at first, made her hesitate before she’d issued her compelling commands.
“Aye, and now we sail directly toward his land. Let’s pray we dinnae run into him this night.” Hand to his brow, Ethan peered toward the thick line of the woods edging the high cliffs where the forest rose sure and strong, the tall pines swaying in the brisk ocean breeze.
Only a mile or two away Duncan’s stronghold sat, although Ardan House wasn’t hers or Ethan’s intended destination and never would be. Aye, they sailed to the tavern belonging to William and Mary, the only two MacKenzie allies they’d ever have in this war between their clans.
“There is naught more I love than sailing these seas.” Ethan dipped one hand over the side of the skiff and skimmed the waves with his fingers. The wind rose and whipped his dark mop of curly locks all about. A warrior he was, as tall and strong as Papa had ever been.
“Aye, for me too.” She breathed deep of the salty sea air. Up above, the moon snuck behind a shadowy cloud while toward the tavern, a thick curl of smoke drifted into the night sky.
Over the swell, she guided their boat toward the stone landing and as they cruised in, Ethan lowered the sail then nabbed the oars and rowed the last few feet. They bumped gently against the landing and Ethan uncoiled the mooring rope, bounded out and secured their skiff to its mooring.