“They’re a mischievous bunch, and I once heard from a very reliable source, that they like to tinker and play.” She passed him the bag and shook out their blanket.
“As well as provide missions.”
“I’m not sure I’m up for any more missions.”
“You’ll need to be. I have one of my own for you.” He ran his fingers through her silky white-blond hair and tidied her waist length locks as best as he could. “One I intend for us to undertake together.”
A mission that included their vows being spoken before a clergyman this day. ’Twas time to live his life with the woman of his dreams, and with her tucked under his shoulder, he returned, boarded their birlinn and set sail for Dunyvaig.
Aye, she was his woman. His faerie.
He’d keep her safe, and never let her go.
Chapter 10
Inside the hot, steamy recesses of their underground cavern the day following their marriage ceremony, Katherine lay sprawled across John’s chest on the small curve of sandy beach as water lapped her toes. Filled with happiness, more than she’d ever known in her life, she played her fingers through the soft smattering of dark hair on his chest. “I never imagined my death would lead to living my life like this.”
“You’re alive and you must no’ think otherwise.” He smiled, caressed down her bare back and cupped her bottom. “And if I need to prove that to you every day, I shall.”
“Yes, please. Prove away.”
“I love you.” He rolled her over and still joined as one from their recent lovemaking, stroked deeper into her slick heat. “We’ll live a long life, together. I promise you that.”
“I love you too.” Her heart lifted and she clasped the amulet at her neck. “You’re my warrior protector, and I belong right here with you, always and forever.”
“Aye, as you promised me in your vows.” He kissed her, so deeply the heat in her blood surged.
“Make me fly,” she whispered against his lips.
With breathtaking speed, he did just that, until they soared beyond their bodies. Their love transcended both the future and the past, was built from the depths of their souls to the heights of their hearts.
Oh yes, her future was now hers for the taking, and it would be an adventure she’d never let go of.
Her greatest mission was about to begin.
To be bound to her warrior protector, for all time.
Heart, body, and soul.
Author’s Note
After I wrote Highlander’s Magic featuring Marie and Archie, I longed to write Katherine and John’s story. I’m so glad I finally got the chance to share their tale with you.
The ruins of Dunyvaig Castle holds such history within its crumbled stone walls, along with a past I find completely fascinating. With the rich accounts told of the Highlander clans who lived in the Western Isles, I’m driven to keep what I can of the past alive. So within my Highlander Heat series expect history mixed with fantasy and adventure as I weave stories around actual events and people who lived at the time.
For the purposes of this story, I chose to send Katherine MacLean back to the year fifteen-hundred and ninety, because Angus MacDonald, the eighth Chief of Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg had been imprisoned by the king due to his feud with the MacLean of Duart, his brother-in-law. The king did in fact induce all those involved in the dispute, being Donald MacDonald of Sleat, Angus MacDonald of Dunnyveg and Lachlan MacLean of Duart, to go to Edinburgh. When they each arrived, they were apprehended and imprisoned.
In the other stand-alone books in this Highlander Heat series, you can catch the individual stories of the clans, and discover how the feud began and the ramifications of it as it raged.
Angus MacDonald’s successor was his son James MacDonald, a minor, and with someone needing to lead the clan, I chose John and his brother, Archie.
John MacDonald and Katherine MacLean however are fictional characters.
The faerie circle and the amulet bestowed to Katherine’s sister, along with its passage down through Mary MacDonald’s maternal line were also my addition to the story.
Although the account told by John, of Donald MacDonald and his men seeking shelter on the MacLean’s portion of Jura, as well as James being taken hostage, Angus’s release and his meeting with MacLean at Mullintrea, are as accurate as I could convey them from the historical information on record of this event. Following this tragedy, the feud continued to rage and all within the Western Isles were affected. Ravaging by fire and sword, both MacDonald and MacLean laid waste to huge portions of land.
This story is woven with as much accuracy to the period and locations as possible, but any mistakes made are mine alone.
This book forms part of my Highlander Heat series, and each within it are stand-alone.
Please feel free to search for any of my other works. I simply adore strong heroines, and have a ton of fun matching them with their honorable alpha heroes.
Joanne Wadsworth
Highlander's Faerie (Highlander Heat #5)
Joanne Wadsworth's books
- Highlander's Desire (The Matheson Brothers #1)
- Highlander's Caress (The Fae #2)
- Highlander's Touch: Medieval Romance (The Fae Book 3)
- Bodyguard Pursuit (Bodyguards #2)
- Enchanter (Princesses of Myth #3)
- Highlander's Passion (The Matheson Brothers #2)
- Highlander's Bride (The Fae #1)
- Highlander's Castle (Highlander Heat #1)
- Highlander's Charm (Highlander Heat #3)