Highlander's Kiss (Clan Matheson #1)

Julia bowed her head as she stood before her parents’ memorial stone wedged high on the cliff top ocean trail between the castle and her people’s fae village. A good hundred feet behind her, the sea crashed hard and sprayed high, while before her, the forest rose sure and strong, the tall pines swaying in the fierce wind that rushed across the choppy waves of Loch Alsh and swept up the sheer rock wall and over them. High above, gray clouds bubbled ominously and she shivered and drew her white shawl tighter around her shoulders. “I’m so sorry, Arabel.” She clasped her sister’s hand and faced her. “I didnae mean to drag you all the way out here on this miserable day, but I just couldnae come alone.”

“Dinnae be sorry. I needed to come as much as you did.” Her twin squeezed her fingers then rested her other hand on top of the craggy stone holding their parents’ names chiseled into the front.



Aleck and Adair.

Beloved parents of Arabel and Julia.

Taken from us far too soon.

Our hearts are broken.



“Sometimes, I can sense they’re close even though that cannae be.” Julia’s heart heaved. Her fae skill of aura reading rose and her senses cried out for the gentle hum she’d always heard when her parents were near. The silence of their lost auras tore at her, as did the weight of her guilt. “’Tis my fault they’re no longer with us.”

“Nay, you must cease saying such a thing.” Arabel gripped her shoulders and frowned. “’Tis Colin MacKenzie’s fault that they are dead, as well as his snake of a son. I wish we’d never set eyes on Colin or Jeremiah.”

“As do I, yet ’tis I who misread Colin and Jeremiah’s auras. Mother and Father would never have traveled without a guard to our enemy’s lair if I’d seen and heard correctly.” Unlike any other fae aura reader in her clan, she was the only one who could sense both one’s true intentions by the color of their aura and also the supporting sound their aura made. Even her aunt who held the same skill couldn’t pick up the clear and concise sound that fully confirmed what the one they focused on truly intended. Her stronger skill had never set her wrong before, until the day she’d met the MacKenzies.

“Father and Gilleoin both believed Colin MacKenzie wished for a marriage of alliance, that his word was the truth. We were allies at the time, no’ at war as we currently are.” The war between their clans this past year had grown bitterer and bloodier than ever since the kidnapping and slaughter of their parents. Arabel squeezed her shoulders. “The Chief of MacKenzie is the one who killed them, and with his own hand no less.”

“But—”

“No buts are permitted. You arena to blame.” Determination flared in Arabel’s blue eyes and lit the golden sparks glittering around the edge. Her sister was her closest confidant, identical to her in every way except for their fae skills. Arabel was a fire-wielder and held one of the greatest of the battle skills.

Breathing out, Julia tried to shake off her current frustration, but no matter how many times her sister told her that their parents’ death wasn’t her fault, she still struggled to fully believe it. She too was at fault.

“Come, let’s discuss this no more and instead leave Mother and Father an orchid.” Arabel lowered to her knees before the stone and tugged her down beside her.

Tears burned behind Julia’s eyes as she carefully removed the marsh orchid from her gown’s pocket and placed the brilliant burst of fuchsia-pink against the rough gray stone. Father had always picked Mother one of these orchids every time he’d crossed the wetland farther along the loch, and Mother had always tucked the precious bud behind her ear or within her long braid. At least her parents had left this world together, a blessing since Mother would never have survived without Father for long. Theirs had been a soul bound match, the same as what Arabel now shared with Finlay. Her sister was most fortunate to have been gifted with such a bond.