Highlander's Heart (Clan Matheson #2)

“You reached me just fine. I’m alive. You’re alive, and that’s all that matters.” She clutched his shirtfront. He was real, his body solid, his flesh warm and his hold exquisitely tight. Next to them, the galley bobbed upside down with its hull on the surface and Donnan’s men surging toward the shoreline from the vessel. Donnan led the way, slogged through the surf and onto the beach.

Father stormed toward Donnan, two score of his Matheson warriors flanking him as he bellowed orders and corralled the drenched MacDonald warriors as they stumbled in.

“I’m so sorry I forced you into a battle with Donnan.” She looked into his eyes now awash with relief. “I never should have left you, will never do so again.”

“All that matters is that you’re safe and well.” He swept her hair back from her forehead and fingered a spot that throbbed. “You’ve got a nasty bump that’ll bloom into the quite the bruise. Let’s get you out of this cold water, warmed up and Donnan and his men dealt with.” Holding onto to her, he cut a fast path through the churning waves toward the landing where Tavish stood in soaked battle attire and water sluicing to his feet. Tor gripped her waist and boosted her upward toward his brother.

“Are you well, Layla?” Tavish grasped her, set her on the landing beside him. “Your wrists look red and raw.”

“Dinnae worry of them. They’ll heal.”

Tavish smothered her in a tartan one of her clansmen passed him then offered Tor a hand and heaved him out of the water.

Tor swept her bundled form along the landing and grasped her father’s shoulder, one arm still firm around her waist. “Is everyone accounted for?”

“All appear to be here, and thank you for saving my daughter.” Father pulled her into a hug. “Julia got word to me of your abduction, but then the galley tipped over afore I could ensure you were set free.”

“The sack covering my sight jerked away in the water. I managed to free myself then Tor brought me to the surface. Tor and I spoke handfast vows last eve, Father. Donnan intended for me to repudiate my vow once we reached Dunscaith Castle. He would have forced me to wed him.” She hugged her father just as fiercely back. “Donnan also strung Gerald up in a tree a half mile from the keep. You must send someone to free him. This is all my fault and I’m so sorry.”

“This is Donnan’s doing, no’ yours.” Father whistled to one his men. “Find Gerald. He’ll be in a tree a half mile away.”

“Will do.” The warrior and another raced to the stables and mounted horses.

“What are we going to do with Donnan and his men?” She rubbed her cheek against Father’s arm, his solid presence comforting her just as Tor’s fierce warmth and firm hold around her did as well.

“I’ll deal with Donnan, although ’tis now because of his rash actions here this very morn that any ties between our clans will now be severed. If we ever ally ourselves with them again, it’ll be a very long time away.”

Donnan snarled and stormed toward Father, his men rallying in behind him. “Your daughter broke our betrothal agreement and I was simply taking what was rightfully mine.”

“My daughter is soul bound to another and none can tear the two apart, no’ even I.” Father raised his hands, twirled his fingers and with his skill, thrust Donnan toward the landing, right along with his men.

She lifted her own hands toward the overturned galley and with a single flick, she lifted it up. The waters surged and the galley heaved over. Water flowed out of the hull, the ropes and the sail a tangled mess. Wood creaked and groaned as she settled the galley back down at the end of the landing while Father shoved Donnan and his men on board.

“There will be no mingling of fae blood between our clans.” Father’s voice rose above the din as he glared at Donnan. “Raise arms against me and my kin again and we shall do so with you. Take your men and leave, and never forget that my strength and my daughter’s far exceeds yours. None can best those with the ‘power of thought.’”

A few of the MacDonald warriors dove into the water and collected their lost oars, boarded and with their men settled on the seats and retrieved oars in hand, rowed out of the bay then heaved their drenched sail up and disappeared across the sea toward Skye.

Relief flared through her. Was it truly over?

“I’m so sorry.” She turned in Tor’s arms, caught his face in her hands and kissed him, with all the longing and need she harbored for him and he kissed her back, crushing her against his chest.

“It’s all over, and no more apologies are needed.” He scooped her up and strode toward the forest, leaving Father and her clansmen behind as they made certain Donnan didn’t return.

She waved to Father and he lifted a hand in acknowledgment, nodded at her with a gentle smile. Her father would understand Tor’s need to get her as far away from Donnan as possible, even though their enemy had now set sail. “Where are we going?”