Highlander's Kiss (Clan Matheson #1)

“It’s certain. MacKenzies come. They’ve snuck through our border defenses.” He returned just as swiftly as he’d left but now clothed in his battle attire, his weapons at his side. With his hands on her waist, he lifted her off the ledge then slung her over his shoulder and raced away with her.

“I can run.” Her belly thumped into his rock hard shoulder and she clutched his pumping arms as she searched through the trees for their enemy. “How close are they?”

“I spied them, dozens of them, so too close for my comfort. Hold tight, love. I need to get you to safety and warn the others.”

The ground blurred at the sheer speed he moved, the trees whizzing by. Everything spun and she squeezed her eyes shut then opened them again as the salty scent of the loch washed over her.

Tavish cleared the forest and halted on the grassy verge of the clearing. A heavy fog had rolled in across the loch and before her the central fire blazed. A serving girl carried flagons of ale and passed out drinks to the men as they sat on the grass and low boulders.

Tavish set her on her feet, released a piercing whistle and shouted, “The MacKenzies come. They’ve gotten past the sentries along the border.”

The men lurched to their feet.

“All to arms,” Kirk bellowed as he jumped up from where he and Cherub sat and shoved his sword-arm high into the air. Her kinsmen unsheathed their swords and axes. “Matthew,” Kirk yelled to the elderly cart driver, “get the ladies to safety. Everyone else, prepare for a battle. We will not fall, nor allow our enemy to take our land. We fight, as we always have and will, for our freedom and for our very survival.”

Tavish gripped her shoulders. “Go with Matthew. I need to know you’re well away from here and safe.”

“I dinnae wish to leave you.” Except she couldn’t stay and become a burden in the coming fight. That she knew to the depths of her heart. “Promise me you’ll stay safe.”

“I will.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “We have our connection. You can reach me whenever you need to.”

“Julia.” Cherub rushed toward her, grabbed her arm. “I need to remain for the battle. Go with the women. I’ll check up on you as soon as I can.”

“Look after Tavish for me.”

“Of course.” Cherub nudged her to go. “I willnae allow aught to happen to your mate. Believe that.”

“Thank you.” Reassured, she stumbled toward the serving girl and the two cooks. Tears blurred her gaze as she herded the ladies toward the empty cart now unpacked of the supplies they’d brought with them. Matthew hooked up the horses and bounded onto the front bench. She clambered up beside him while the lasses scuttled into the back and huddled together.

The MacKenzies were a thorn in their sides, and the last thing she wished to do was leave Tavish, but right now she no longer had a choice.





Chapter 10


Tavish strapped a baldric across his back and slid a second sword into it as Tor whisked into the supply tent beside him. He wouldn’t allow the MacKenzie chief to lay siege to their border and take it. He tossed his brother a black war coat studded with bits of steel. “Arm yourself well. We’ll be fighting as never before.”

“These MacKenzies are a menace.” Tor shoved his arms into the sleeves, slung a bow and satchel of arrows across his shoulders and hauled his sword free. “Kirk’s sending a team of warriors to go wide and come in behind our enemy. His intention is to divide their attention and trap them between us.”

“They’re close, very close.” Tavish ducked out of the tent and sniffed, the reek of their enemy now nearing an explosive point.

Cherub stood in the center of the clearing near the blazing fire, her navy skirts swishing about her legs and her white fur cape flapping from her shoulders. She raised her hands to the skies as Kirk stood guard over her. A mass of black cloud whirled and seethed overhead as she churned the air.

“Where does Kirk want us?” he yelled to Tor over the sudden gale.

“We’re to remain here and hold the encampment.” Tor grasped his shoulder. “We fight together, right at each other’s side.”

“As we always have.” He gripped his brother’s shoulder in return.

Shouts boomed all around as warriors took their positions in a strong line along the front of the clearing, their swords, battle axes and pikes in hand.

A fierce battle cry rang out and a good hundred MacKenzies swarmed out of the forest. Cherub sent the wall of wind she’d conjured right at them and half their enemy toppled backward and slammed into the trees. The rest surged forward.



A blood-curdling battle cry roared in Julia’s ears, coming first from the camp then increasing in crescendo as it boomed throughout the forest. The MacKenzies were everywhere. She clutched the cart’s wooden seat under her knees as Matthew slapped the reins across the horses’ backs and sent them hurtling through the dark of the night along the trail they’d arrived along only a few hours ago.