Highlander's Charm (Highlander Heat #3)

Two warriors leaped into the waist-deep water, seized the bow and held the birlinn steady. MacIan bounded over the side and slogged toward them, the surf crashing into the back of his knees and spraying in a wide arc. “MacLean, you’ll return my laird’s daughter now.”


Motioning Colin to remain at his flank, Calum stepped forward, one eye on the warriors still onboard and awaiting their captain’s orders. “’Twas Duart she first came to many weeks ago. Lila and I handfasted, and afore she was aware of her parentage, or I of hers.”

“You’re aware now, and surely you’ve nay wish to remain wed to one of us?”

“I willnae hand her over.”

“Repudiate your vow. Or mayhap you prefer death to achieve the same means.” He heaved his claymore free and swung his blade between him and Colin. “You two are by far outnumbered.”

This oncoming battle was inevitable, and Calum’s blood roared for justice, to have his wife by his side and ensure she remained safe and well. He raised his blade. “Leave, or fight. ’Tis your choice.”

“Aye, an easy one to make,” MacIan snorted. “Your death awaits.”

“As does yours.” Calum blocked MacIan’s swift attack. Their weapons clashed dead center, steel ringing loud against steel. “I see you dinnae wish to hold back.”

“’Tis been too long since I last battled a MacLean.” MacIan came at him, landing several hard blows one after the other in an attempt to find his point of weakness. “You prefer your right arm.”

“I prefer to live.” He sprang forward and fought. Lila needed him alive, and there was no greater incentive than to fight for her and their future together.

From the birlinn, the MacIan warriors cheered their captain on.

“No! Stop!” Lila tore down the beach, her midnight black hair streaming behind her. “No one is allowed to die because of my stupid wishes.”

“Lila, nay.” Colin caught her. “Dinnae enter the battle. This is Calum’s fight.”

“Let me go.” She thrashed against him. “Calum, behind—”

MacIan swung and Calum barely met the staggering blow. It knocked him to his knees, their blades crashing together an inch from his nose. His arms shook as he gripped his two-handed sword and tried to heave to his feet.

“You appear to be in a predicament.” MacIan sniggered and shoved down harder. “Care to yield? Or do you wish for your bride to see your death?”

“The only one to die this day will be you.” He swept his leg out, thumped MacIan in the shin then shot to his feet. He barely ducked MacIan’s next blow, but at least he was upright and back in with a fighting chance.

“A lucky move, MacLean.”

Driven, he slammed his blade into MacIan’s and the warrior stumbled in the incoming tide. He knocked MacIan’s weapon away, grasped his throat and thrust his knee into his belly.

“No, Calum,” Lila yelled. “Don’t inflame the feud.”

“’Tis already inflamed.” Giving MacIan his freedom wasn’t an option, not when he still had a dozen warriors waiting in his wings. He pushed MacIan’s head under the water and held him down.

The tide receded and MacIan grabbed a breath. “My laird will never allow his daughter to remain here on Mull.” To his men he shouted, “Death afore surrender.”

A roar came from the warriors. Hell. He shoved MacIan away and met the new threat.





Chapter 10


“Calum needs you.” Lila struggled against Colin’s hold. “Don’t let him fight this battle alone.”

“Promise me you’ll return to the trees.”

“Yes. Go.”

Calum slashed his blade at one man after another, while behind him Ian seized his wrist dagger, his marked target Calum’s back.

A scream tore from her throat and echoed all around.

Colin sprinted toward the loch, bellowing Calum’s name.

She sped after him.

This was all her fault. Calum would die because of her.

Splashing through the water, she grabbed her pocketed charm and cried out, “Save Calum and take me home. I wish for him to live, so I might return to love him again one day.”

A dolphin arched out of the water and slammed into Ian. He went sprawling head first into the foamy waves, his dirk slinging off course and embedding deep within the birlinn’s side.

Desperation drove her on, and she slogged through the waves, heading for the one man who was hers.

Calum ducked the oncoming warrior’s blade then speared a look toward her. “No more wishes, Lila. Get back.”

“I love you, and we’re in this together. I wish for a lifetime with you, in whatever way it’s possible to have it.” A dolphin whizzed under the water, a murky gray shadow knocking her feet from under her. She went down, water closing over her head.

She grabbed its fin and held on as the dolphin shot off. It broke the surface and peered at her with silver eyes so hauntingly like her own. They sparkled, like magic.

With a squeal and splash of its tail, it rose, flipped in the air then swam away, leaving her in the deep near a raised boulder.

Across the water, Mingary perched on a rock ridge overlooking the loch, its stone walls crumbled with the passage of time. On the shore, Zayn paced in his wetsuit, his hand raised to his brow.