Highlander's Faerie (Highlander Heat #5)

When her senses finally returned, Katherine stretched underneath John and breathed in his warm scent. “Mmm, I definitely feel at peace. What about you?”


“Aye, my wife, I feel at peace even though I’m within the enemy’s walls.” He nuzzled her neck then drew the soft skin of her flesh into his mouth and sucked.

“John.” A knock sounded on the door.

“’Tis Archie,” John whispered to her. “Aye, brother. I’m here,” he called to him.

“Margaret is awake and asking to see Katherine. Arthur too wishes to speak with us, and our men grow restless to leave. We dinnae wish to overstay our welcome.”

“We’ll be out shortly.”

“Good.” His footsteps faded away.

John nipped her lips, eased out of her and taking her hands, helped her to her feet. “I need you to remain quiet and allow me to ensure our safe leaving. As my wife, none can keep you from me, or gainsay my decision to take you from this place.”

“I understand, although you should know, I’m not really all that good at following orders.” She donned her blue gown and adjusted the long sleeves over her wrists.

“Aye, as I’ve learnt.” With a mischievous smile, he shrugged his cotun on over his white tunic, fastened his black leather trews at his waist and strapped his weapons on. “Come. We’ll thank our hosts for having us then be away.”

He unbarred the door then with a hand on her lower back, guided her into the crowded great hall. The trestle tables had been moved back into position and serving maids now weaved around the benches and set platters of cooked meats and bowls of hot oats on the tables. So many MacLeans filled the hall, a hundred or more warriors, their postures rigid and gazes narrowed on the trestle table holding John’s men.

“I feel terrible.” She burrowed closer into his side. “I didn’t come here to inflame the feud.”

“I know, love, but by your actions you’ve forced two clans to come together no long after we’ve battled. The MacLeans also outnumber us a dozen to one and that places them in a position of great power. ’Twould be so easy for them to sweep aside the Highland code of hospitality and have their vengeance. It has happened twice in the recent past, no’ only to Angus when he tried to stem the feud, but also to one of our close kin, John MacIan from Ardnamurchan. The MacLeans will go to any means to win this war. I can only say, the sooner we’re gone from here, the better.”

“Katherine.” Margaret called her name and motioned to her from the dais where she was seated between Arthur and Archie.

“Remain beside me at all times.” He steered her toward the dais and clasped his brother’s forearm. They spoke, so quietly she hadn’t a chance of hearing what they said.

“Sit beside me, Katherine.” Margaret shuffled closer to Arthur in her bronze skirts and made room for her. She took a seat as Archie eased across the other way and made room for John to sit next to her.

She perched on the wooden bench and squeezed Margaret’s hand under the table. “Things have changed. It appears I must now go back home to Islay.”

“That is for the best considering your MacDonald clan’s arrival.” Margaret’s brows twitched nervously as she watched another dozen MacLean warriors stride into the great hall and grumble. She leaned closer, and murmured, “Eat a bite or two if you can. My clansmen need to see I’ve welcomed you to our table.”

“Of course.” She picked up the large pitcher and filled two goblets with warm cider. She passed one to John as he filled a trencher with steaming bacon, crusty bread, and sliced cheese. He nudged her to share his food. Quickly, she laid a bacon strip on top of the bread and took a bite.

Arthur, dressed in tan breeches and a forest green jerkin over a beige tunic, removed his dirk strapped to his thigh, stabbed a wedge of boiled egg from his trencher and ate it from the tip. “Do you sleep well?” he asked her.

“I’ll sleep better once I return home. I’m sorry if I’ve caused any problems with my arrival.”

“Aye, these circumstance are no’ to my liking. Mayhap Finlay shouldnae have brought you to Mull.”

“Your warrior, as far as we can tell, acted alone in doing so.” John slid his hand under her hair and around her nape as he spoke to Arthur. “Provided we’re assured safe passage from your shores, we’ll hold no grudge against you and your kin for his actions. And by we, I mean my new handfast wife, myself, and my men.”

“I see.” Arthur lifted a brow as he twirled his dirk then speared a slice of ham from the platter. “An interesting turn of events. You should know though, that none of my men were instructed to remain on Islay after the battle, and as long as you dinnae seek to attack us, we will do naught more than protect our own borders while our chief remains in Edinburgh.”

“Then we shall agree to do the same while Angus is imprisoned.”