Highlander's Charm (Highlander Heat #3)

Sunlight slivered through the wooden shutters over Calum’s narrow window and woke him too soon. Lila slept in his arms, her heart beating against his and bringing such peace to his soul. Charms and wishes had brought them together, but they were bound by far more. She was his.

“Calum?” Rubbing her feet against his legs, she mumbled his name. “Is it morning already?”

“Shh, there’s no need to awaken.” If he could, he would hold her all day.

“There is when I have to find Nanna.” She wriggled until she escaped him then arms raised, stretched and let out a contented sigh. “Mmm, I love the mornings. They’re my favorite time of the day. So many possibilities lie ahead. Don’t you think?” Her cheeks were rosy and pink, and the sprinkle of freckles across her nose made his fingers itch to trace them.

“I prefer the nights when my duties are done and I can rest, as I did last eve.”

“Have you had any more visions of things to come?”

“Nay, and you?”

“Nope. I even had an undisturbed sleep, which hasn’t happened since Nanna disappeared.” She tweaked his nose. “You don’t snore either. A bonus.”

“You’ll need to take care how you speak. There are many who will question your strange words.”

A rap sounded on the door. “Calum, ’tis Colin.”

Good. His brother had returned from Tobermory. “I’ll meet you in the chief’s solar. I willnae be long,” he called out. He shoved his bedcovers aside, strode to his trunk and dragged on a tunic.

“Who’s Colin?” Lila crawled out of the covers and hopped off the end of his bed.

“My brother, the one I spoke of last eve.” He nabbed his plaid, wrapped it around him then secured it with a silver pin across his chest.

“Can I meet him? Where’s he been?”

“On watch along the coast.”

“Watching whom?”

“John MacIan of Mingary. He’s our greatest threat. Following John’s marriage to Lachlan’s mother, my chief tossed him into our dungeons. Lachlan believed John could be swayed to our side with the alliance, but his support toward his MacDonald kin remained unwavering.”

“I read about John MacIan’s nuptials with Janet Campbell.” A wary expression crossed her face and she eased back a step. “Please tell me you didn’t have anything to do with slaughtering MacIan’s people on his wedding night.”

That black night, Lachlan had attacked without warning, moving swiftly from chamber to chamber. He’d murdered MacIan’s attendants where they’d slept, and when Janet’s screams had pierced the night, Calum had jerked awake and flown from his bed. “I was too late.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I arrived at Janet’s chamber, Lachlan stood over MacIan, ready to slay him where he lay. Janet begged Lachlan for leniency, but he wouldnae listen. ’Twas fortunate Colin arrived moments after I did. It took both of us to subdue him.”

“Your chief butchered eighteen people and all because he didn’t get the alliance he wished for?” She shivered and rubbed her arms. “I wouldn’t blame John MacIan if he desired retribution. How could you condone such an action?”

“I didnae condone it, but I gave my chief my oath. Virtue mine honor. I am loyal to him and my clan.” She clearly didn’t understand clan loyalty, and now wasn’t the time to explain.

“Then perhaps the king is the only authority on this land who can adequately bring about justice. He has a far greater force, an entire army at his disposal compared to those of the clan chiefs.”

“Highlanders fight for what is theirs, and the king shouldnae be permitted to rule over all of Scotland.” Though there was also truth in what she said. Times were changing, and the clans would eventually have to move with that shift. Needing to hold her before he left, he backed her against the wall and planted his hands either side of her on the cold stone. “You may no’ agree with my actions, but there’s naught I can do. MacIan was released within the year, and now we await his vengeance.”

“That’s a terrible way to live, to always be at war. I can see I’ll need to take great care while I’m here, but I can and will look after myself. Where I come from, women do.”

“My oath to you stands firm. You have my protection and my aid.”

“Thank you, but I’m strong in my own right.” She ducked under his arm and walked to the window. With each step she took, his shirt molded itself sweetly to her bottom.

His cock hardened and made him wish for what he’d seen in his vision from the cave. She’d lain before him, a plaid pooled around her hips as he’d traced her beautiful mole with one finger. “I’ll send a maid to you.”

“I’d appreciate that.”