“Since you’re mated to Tavish, I’m sure there will be here plenty of time over the coming days and weeks ahead for you to see everything.” Michael cut into his sausage and took a bite. “You’re always welcome at Ivanson Castle. I hope you’ll now consider it your home.”
“I heartily agree with that welcome.” Smiling, Megan picked up the tea pot in the center of the table and filled a cup and passed it to her. “I can’t wait to show you and Arabel around, that’s when Cherub finally brings my new daughter-in-law here for a visit. There’s honey in the bowl before you if you wish your tea sweetened, my dear. Milk is in the jug.”
“Thank you.” It seemed everyone believed she and Tavish were soul bound, his word alone ensuring it was so. And Cherub too had sensed the bond. She added a spoonful of honey to her tea and sipped the sweet brew as she mulled it all over.
Cherub nudged her knife and fork toward her. “You need to eat, then we need to talk further about why Kirk and I are actually here. There’s been a development since you last left, one regarding Colin and Jeremiah MacKenzie.”
“I can eat while we talk.” She picked up her fork, speared a bacon slice, chewed and motioned for Cherub to continue. If there’d been a development with their enemy, she wished to hear about it.
“I’m afraid I bring some quite startling news. We received a missive from Colin MacKenzie and in it he states”—she cleared her throat—“that your parents are alive.”
“Surely you jest?” She dropped her fork and it clattered against her plate. “What kind of game does Colin MacKenzie think to play?”
“Those were my thoughts exactly when I first read the missive.”
“What’s going on?” Tavish slid an arm around her shoulders, his full attention on her. “You’re very tense.”
“Cherub has received a missive from Colin MacKenzie and in it he states my parents are alive. A lie for certain.”
“There’s no chance his words could be true?” He glanced at Cherub for confirmation.
“’Tis unlikely, Tavish, although we cannae discount MacKenzie’s new demand. Earlier this morn, Kirk and I actually visited the MacKenzie’s lair and ran another full and complete sweep of his dungeons and keep. There was no sign of Aleck or Adair.” Cherub set her elbows on the table and pressed her hands together. “The only thing we know for certain is that the MacKenzie wishes to hold supremacy over us, in whatever way he can. He also wants to ensure fae blood runs in his direct line, which is why his demand included a request that Julia be wed to Jeremiah in a marriage of alliance afore her parents are released.”
“I wish to see this missive.” She needed to read Colin MacKenzie’s demand for herself.
“Of course. I brought it with me.” Cherub pulled a folded piece of parchment from her pocket, one wrinkled from being scrunched up and handed it to her. “Finlay has spoken to Arabel and she is both furious and distressed. She worries for you and what you might do.”
“My sister knows my feelings well. If our parents live then I will do whatever it takes to free them.” She unfolded the parchment and read,
“A marriage of alliance is what I seek. Bring Gilleoin’s niece to me, the aura reader Julia, and following her marriage to my son Jeremiah, I shall forthwith return Aleck and Adair Matheson into your hands.
You have a fortnight to answer this summons. Expect their death if you dinnae.”
Julia tapped the paper. “’Tis all as you’ve said, Cherub, although any possible marriage of alliance will never bring a halt to the war between our clans. MacKenzie must certainly know that.”
“There also isn’t a chance I’ll allow you to marry another man.” Tavish plucked her from her chair and dragged her onto his lap. “That I can promise you.” His aura spiked with black, his anger rising hard and fast. “Do we understand each other?”
“I miss my parents, Tavish.” Hot tears burned behind her eyes. “Even though I’ve no desire for a marriage of alliance, if there’s the slightest chance the MacKenzie has spoken the truth and they’re actually alive, then I would do whatever it took to see them freed. There is less pain in accepting an unwanted marriage than in losing my parents all over again.”
“I feared this would be what you’d say.” Cherub sniffed as tears pooled in her own eyes. “Even though we found no sign of your parents at the MacKenzie’s keep, we still need to search our enemy’s lands. They spread from Loch Alsh all the way across the mountainous plateau to Loch Broom in the north. Colin MacKenzie has holdings elsewhere too, as well as alliances with other clans with whom he might have asked to hold his captives for him. So too all we have is a fortnight in which to find them.”
“A fortnight will have to be enough.” She rolled her shoulders and firmed her resolve. She’d do whatever it took to discover the truth. “Cherub, you’re aware I can hear the gentle hum of my parents’ auras when they’re close. I’d never mistake the sound for another’s. I need to be present when the search begins.”
Highlander's Kiss (Clan Matheson #1)
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)
- Highlander's Faerie (Highlander Heat #5)
- Highlander's Guardian (Highlander Heat #4)
- Highlander's Heart (Clan Matheson #2)