Highlander's Kiss (Clan Matheson #1)

With a fierce shout, another wave of MacKenzies streamed through the trees. High above, Cherub reappeared out of nowhere, twirled her hands and sent a wall of wind at the MacKenzies rushing toward them. Over half of the warriors tumbled head over heels backward then Cherub whisked away and disappeared once more to aid their warriors elsewhere.

“She’s keeping the numbers we need to fight against at bay.” Tavish swung at his adversary and the warrior slammed his blade into his. With one foot shoved back, Tavish held his position then heaved forward. The warrior lurched back and wobbled. Tavish took advantage of the man’s misstep, swept one leg out and toppled him to the ground. Blade in hand, he slammed the hilt down on the warrior’s head and knocked him out. Weapons divested, he tossed them onto the blazing fire pit. No weapons, no fight. “Exactly where is the MacKenzie?” he shouted to Kirk. “Does he not lead his men into battle?”

Breathing hard, Cherub breezed in beside them again. “I spotted a galley in the bay and I’ve just sent a blast of wind at it.”

“Just the one galley?” Kirk asked her.

“I’ll do a sweep along the loch to make certain there aren’t any more. I’ll be back shortly. Stay safe.” She dissolved into a mist and swept high into the sky.

“They’re coming at us from all sides.” Kirk bounded forward and fought, matching his next opponent blow for blow. “The constant threat they pose must be eliminated.”

“We can’t let them get a foothold onto Matheson land.” Another warrior swung and Tavish whipped his blade into the man’s side.

Grunting, the warrior fell back a step. He grasped his side, eyed the long slice in his steel-studded coat and snarled at Tavish. “You, I will gladly kill.”

“You, I will gladly send right back home.” He thrust his sword and the MacKenzie blocked his swift blow. They fought, hard and fast.

“Kirk, we have a problem.” Cherub reappeared and with one wave of her hand sent the warrior Kirk fought against flying backward. “The cart has overturned. Matthew is hurt and I fear moving him. The ladies are missing and I’ve no idea where they are.”

“Julia!” Tavish searched along their link as he ducked his opponent’s next blow then twirled around and kicked him in the rear. The warrior went down and knocked his head on a protruding rock. Blood gushed and he moaned and slumped. “Julia!”

“Can you reach her, Tavish?” Kirk demanded.

“No, she’s not answering me.”

“Take command, Gerald.” Kirk motioned to one of their garrison’s captains. “Cherub, you remain here. I’ll call out if I need you.”

Tavish sprinted toward the corralled horses. If anything had happened to his mate, he’d never forgive himself. He snagged a destrier from its tethered post, mounted and thrust his knees into the animal’s flanks and tore along the trail leading around the curve of the bay, Tor and Kirk galloping at his side.

They rode, leaving a plume of dust the rushing wind whipped around in their wake. He urged his mount faster. Massive pine trees swayed on his left and the sea roared on his right. Ahead, Matthew lay on the trail and he hauled his horse to a stop and bounded down. On his knees before the older man, he touched the arrow speared right through his side. “Hold still, Matthew. No moving while I assess your injury.”

“You must go. Julia”—Matthew garbled for breath, grasped his hand and spat blood from his mouth—“MacKenzie. Galley.”

“Cherub’s already gotten rid of the galley. Did Julia go into the forest to hide? Where are the ladies?” He tried to clear Matthew’s airway as best as he could, although there was only one way to save Matthew and that was by taking him back to his time and removing this arrow. He eyed Kirk. “If Matthew’s to survive he’ll need surgery. Can you spare Cherub from the battle?”

“I can spare her for a few minutes. I’ll tell her to come.”

Mere moments later the wind rushed all around and Cherub appeared. She clutched a hand to her mouth and sank to her knees next to Matthew. “How bad is it?” she asked Tavish.

“If he’s to survive, we need to leave, with all haste.” As carefully as he could, he lifted Matthew into his arms.

Cherub nodded at Kirk. “No getting hurt while I’m gone.”

“Go, and make it quick.” Kirk clasped Tavish’s shoulder. “Tor and I will find Julia. I give you my word we will.”

“Send word to me when you have.” The dark ensued and the three of them fell away into the dark abyss of Cherub’s portal. Through the endless streams of time, they moved and mere minutes later they arrived in his medical rooms. Gently, he set Matthew down on the white-sheeted bed, flicked on the lights and hit the red alert switch which would bring his clan’s medical team running. The buzzer screeched through the halls and out into the bailey.

“I must go.” Cherub kissed Matthew’s cheek then eyed Tavish. “I too will aid Kirk and Tor in finding Julia.”

“I still can’t reach her.”

“The link can cut in and out at times, particularly with the wide chasm of time separating you.”