Highlander's Guardian (Highlander Heat #4)

“She can scramble up and down trees in her sleep.”


“Colin!” Annie shouted his name as she ran toward him, her white-blond hair streaming behind her. “No’ a scratch. Do you hear me?”

“Get back.” Damn it. He had to end this battle before she got any closer. He glared at Arthur. “Next time, tie her down.”

“There willnae be a next time,” Hugh smirked as he struck Colin’s ribs.

Pain ricocheted and rattled his teeth from the brutal blow. Hell. He should’ve been paying attention to the fight and not his wife.

Annie screamed as Hugh swung again.

Colin barely caught the next blow. It knocked him onto his knees, their two blades crashing together a mere breath from his nose.

“You’ll never wed my wife.” Arms shaking, Colin shoved his two-handed sword hard against Hugh’s and heaved to his feet. He sprang forward and fought. Annie needed him alive, and there was no greater incentive than to fight for her and their future together. He slammed his blade into Hugh’s arm and blood spurted.

Hugh gripped his wound and yelled at Fergus for aid, except his man was of no use since Arthur had him on the ground, his knee planted into Fergus’s back as he bound his arms with his leather belt and restrained him.

Colin slid his claymore tight against Hugh’s throat. “You’ve lost the fight.”

“Colin, nay.” Annie clenched her midnight-blue skirts. “Please, I had to watch my parents die, and Hugh too has a child. Let the king decide their punishment.”

“I prefer to hand out my own punishment.” He pressed until blood oozed. “And I believe I shall make it as painful as possible.”

All around the forest stilled as the sounds of the battle ceased. Rory emerged from the thick trees with heaving breaths, his claymore in one hand and battle-axe in the other. Blood dripped from both, as it did from the swords of his warriors who strode in beside him. “There are only these two left,” Rory stated. “The others wouldnae concede to defeat.”

Annie ran to Rory. “I cannae take anymore death. This has to stop.”

“Lass, you should never have been brought into this feud.” He pulled her into his arms. “Your husband has every right now to seek justice for your abduction.”

“He told you about our vows?”

“Aye, but you must speak for yourself. Do you truly love him?”

“I do, with all my heart.” She glanced at Colin. “Please, spare these two men.”

“They intended to kill us, Annie.”

“You’re better than them. You could end Hugh’s life, or you could deliver him to the king.”

Aye, but which should it be? Certainly death at his hand was almost too easy for Hugh. He should be made to suffer, and what with his abduction of Annie, any word Hugh now spoke against Colin would be considered naught but vindictive ramblings. He should be safe against anything Hugh said, but could he take that risk?

“’Tis up to you.” Rory nodded at him as he wiped his axe on the grass and holstered it. “Although, you and your chief will have more sway with the king should you allow him to see justice is done. We’re on the king’s land, Colin. He wishes for the clans to make peace, for Scotland to be united as one.”

More sway wouldn’t hurt, particularly if it aided his chief in his negotiations, and Annie’s pleading gaze, so filled with trust, tore at his heart. For him to take MacDonald’s life in front of her, would dim that light. He lowered his blade. “For my wife’s sake, we’ll take these two in.”

He shoved Hugh facedown into the dirt and one of Rory’s warriors bounded across and restrained him with rope.

Rory called to his men. “’Tis been a long night and we’ve a long day ahead of us, but we willnae leave until we’ve buried the dead.”

Annie sprang into Colin’s arms and he caught her, barely planting one foot back in time to stop them both from tumbling to the ground. “You made the right choice.”

“Aye, because now I have you, scamp, all of you.”

“You’ve always had all of me.” She smoothed one finger over his chin and frowned. “There’s a bruise. When did you get this?”

“Rory didnae take the initial news of our handfast vows well.”

“I should have been there when you told him.”

“You can kiss it better if you like.”

“I’d like very much.” A mischievous glint lit her beautiful blue eyes as she lifted onto her toes and brushed her lips against his.

“The bruise is lower.” He cupped her cheek as longing rushed through him.