Highlander's Heart (Clan Matheson #2)

Layla climbed the trail leading up into the hills along the same pine-needle covered pathway she’d not long traversed down this morning with Tor, only this time she walked with Donnan at her back. Aye, allowing Tor to speak to Donnan wasn’t a possibility, not when she’d been the one to accept the betrothal and since she’d gotten herself into this mess, she would be the one to get herself out of it, no matter what Tor wished or said.

“We seem to be going for quite the jaunt.” Donnan stepped in beside her as the trail widened and came out at the stream that forked in two different directions. Along the waterway to the west lay the tip of their Matheson land which overlooked the ocean and the Isle of Skye across the sea, while to the east the stream ran through the forest and fields then joined a fast-flowing river which veered off toward the inner channel of Loch Alsh.

“This coming conversation is one I wish to keep between the two of us. I hope you dinnae mind.”

“No’ at all.”

“Then wait right here for just a moment. Go no farther, please.” She walked along the damp, mossy river bank a dozen steps then lifted her skirts and stepped into the stream. Should Tor follow her, then hopefully he’d be led in the opposite direction to where she was truly headed. Water splashed her ankles and calves as she back-tracked within the pebbly stream to Donnan’s side. “Now, step in with me.”

“Lass, do you mind telling me exactly where we’re going?” With his great plaid secured over his broad chest with a silver pin and belted low at his waist with a leather girdle, Donnan appeared every inch the great warrior he was. “You’re clearly wishing to evade someone. ’Tis impossible no’ to notice.”

“I promise to tell you soon.” She would, once she’d gotten them a safer distance away and she had plenty of time to speak with him. Aye, her mate could track with his bear’s senses, and far better than any other warrior could. “I’m going to levitate us both, Donnan. Are you ready?”

“Of course. This will be interesting.”

With only a thought from her mind and a flick of her fingers, she lifted them both up and sent them gliding downstream a foot or two above the water’s rippling surface.

“Your fae skill is incredibly strong.” Donnan eyed his feet, his war braids plaited at each side of his brown head blowing over his shoulders in the wind. “How fast can you move us like this?”

“Around the speed of a horse at full gallop.”

“Marvelous.”

“’Tis also rather helpful, particularly in moments like these.” She continued on, breezing them through the forest until it gave way to the rolling moors, the craggy hills rising higher on their right and the inner channel of Loch Alsh sitting just beyond the wide open field to their left. She left the stream behind and whizzed across the land bobbing with heather and awash with wildflowers. Her heart lifted at being so at one with nature, although her soul heaved at the distance she’d now instilled between her and Tor. He’d never be able to track her, not now. Goodness. He would be furious that she’d left the castle without him, but her decision to do so was a wise one and she was safe in Donnan’s hands. Along with Father, she’d spent a good fortnight on the Isle of Skye at Dunscaith Castle with Donnan and his clan during the time leading up to their betrothal agreement being formalized.

“’Tis almost as if I have wings and can soar like a bird.” Donnan lifted his face to the sky and breathed deep before glancing at her. “I believe we’re getting close to your warrior encampment, where the recent battle with Colin MacKenzie took place. Is that correct?”

“Aye, you’re right. The encampment is very close. I’ll take you there if you wish.” He nodded his agreement and she left the field behind, skimmed around the edge of the woods and breezed alongside the sandy shoreline of the loch. Time passed and the sun slowly lowered, its golden rays rippling across the jewel blues of the water while up ahead, the bay curved and tents dotted the edge of the forest running alongside their mountainous land border between them and clan MacKenzie, their cruelest and bitterest enemy. She gently settled them both back down on the beach, a short walk from the camp. “We’ll walk from here so we might have that opportunity to speak.”

“I can see you’ll be a treasure to have at my side.” Donnan offered her his arm and she slipped her hand through the crook at his elbow. As they wandered along the shoreline, he cleared his throat. “The knowledge of what you and your father can do, will always remain a secret, one my father has kept between him and my clansmen, and one I too shall keep with my men. Is that what you wished to speak to me about?”

“I’m aware you and your father have kept the secret of my father’s ability to yourselves, and mine too since learning of it. ’Tis of another matter altogether that I wish to speak to you about.”