Highlander's Guardian (Highlander Heat #4)

She took a deep, fortifying breath. The massive vaulted room held a sweeping crown of rafters rising to an impressive height more similar to a small cathedral. Beautiful tapestries, of hunting and landscape scenes, hung with pride around the vast room filled with a merry and hungry crowd. “Well, finding Aunt Elizabeth and Rory in this gathering willnae be an easy task.”


“But find them we will. Come.” Colin weaved around the perimeter and she followed in his path around the mingling groups. A serving girl approached with a tray and he accepted two goblets of wine, handed her one then continued on through the doors leading into a side room where pipers played a lively tune.

Music flowed around her as she sipped. “Can you see them?”

“Nay, no’ yet. Mayhap we should eat afore attempting a more in-depth search.” He stopped before a side table with a white embroidered tablecloth fluttering in the breeze from the open balcony doors. The table was laden with platters of meat and succulent roasted vegetables. Colin set his goblet down and selected a sugared plum, one of her favorite fruits. “Try this.” He slipped it between her lips.

The sweet ripeness burst over her tongue and she licked his trailing fingertip, not wanting to miss a drop of the delicious juice. “Mmm, wonderful.”

He groaned and cleared his throat. “Next time you can feed yourself.”

She grinned. “All I heard was next time.”

“Good evening.” Arthur, Colin’s right-hand man, eased past a group of guests and joined them. Wearing a forest-green silk tunic and black leather trews, the striking colors matched his vivid green gaze and midnight-black hair to perfection. “Annie, you’re looking bonny this eve.”

“Thank you. And you look dangerously dashing.”

“Ah, lass, you’ll make me blush.” He took her hand and pressed a kiss against her knuckles.

“Enough.” Colin knocked Arthur’s shoulder. “No dallying with Annie when you’re still distressed about the lass you lost.”

“What lass is that?” Arthur frowned, his expression perplexed.

Oh, Colin had been telling fibs again. Well, two could play at that game. She set her goblet down and faced Arthur. The warrior stroked the hilt of his belted sword and the blade swayed and glinted in the candlelight. Aye, Arthur appealed, and she’d always felt so protected whether he or Colin were nearby. Certainly the man’s towering height and powerful bearing showcased the depth of his MacLean ancestry, that of their Gaelic clan born of a king. Arthur had also always had a kind word for her. “How have you been of late, Arthur?”

“Better if our chief were no’ locked behind bars.”

Colin rested his hand on her lower back, stroked his thumb in a small circle. “Aye, I’m still awaiting word on when I may see Lachlan, but I hope soon.”

Unable to help herself, she inched closer to Colin. His little touches always soothed her. “Why is the king taking so long to approve a visit?”

“He inserts his control, and none may gainsay him.” Colin eyed his man. “We’ve been looking for Rory and Elizabeth. Have you by chance seen either of them this eve?”

“I passed Elizabeth only a moment ago.” He motioned over Annie’s shoulder toward a group of chattering women.

Her aunt’s back was to her, but her unmistakable auburn hair, piled high atop her head, gave proof ’twas her. “Oh, how did I miss her?” She squeezed Colin’s arm. “Stay and talk to Arthur. I willnae be long. I must see my aunt so she knows I’ve arrived.”

“A sound idea. Save your first dance for me.”

“I will.” She clutched her skirts and eased around the dancers toward Elizabeth.

“Well, well, if it isnae Annie MacLeod.” James MacDonald, attired in a great plaid fastened across his chest with a silver pin, stepped directly into her path. “You’re the very lass I was after.”

“James, how are you?” She fluttered her hand over her chest. Goodness, should Colin see her with his greatest enemy, a battle would certainly ensue.

“I’m well, but you’ve not yet been to Dunscaith Castle to see Anne.” He crossed his arms and lifted one bushy red eyebrow. “My brother’s new wife misses you.”

“As I miss Anne, but I thought it best to give her some time to settle into her new home and married life afore I asked Rory if a visit might be permissible.” Something she had no idea how she’d arrange when the relationship between their clans was so on edge. A truce had been achieved by the marriage of one of her kin, Anne MacLeod to Alex MacDonald, but ’twas still a very uneasy truce. “How is Anne?”

“Enjoying wedded bliss, as is my brother. ’Tis why I’ve come to Holyrood House in Alex’s stead. Tearing him away from his wife right now would be impossible.”

With Donald, his chief and uncle, currently in the cells, James would also be here for the same reason as Colin, to see his laird. Certainly no warrior left his chief to fight his battles alone.

“I’m also here because you are, Annie.”

“Pardon?”