Highlander's Kiss (Clan Matheson #1)

“Opera—hell, the arrow.” Blue eyes fully clearing, Matthew wriggled one hand out from under the coverings, pushed the white blanket back and stared at his bandaged side. Frowning, he squinted at the IV hooked into the back of his hand then to the IV pole beside him. “The arrow’s gone. Well now, you certainly have got some powerfully strong healing skills. How did you take the arrow out?”


“With great difficultly, but I managed it all the same. You’ll also feel more like your old self in no time at all. For now though, I want you to take things nice and slow. You’ll be given a chamber across the hallway and you’re to allow Megan to care for you. She’ll ensure you’re up on your feet before the end of the day, just for a few minutes, but tomorrow she’ll have you moving around a touch more. There will be some rules during your recovery. No strenuous lifting, and only once I give you the all-clear, can you return to normal duties. I’ll be checking up on you regularly, ensuring your wound heals just as it should.”

“Wait.” Matthew jerked upright then groaned and slumped back down. “The battle. The MacKenzie took Julia. The galley. Did you find her?”

“What?” His world tilted. “Cherub sent the MacKenzie galley whisking back out to sea.”

“Aye, but only after it made landfall. The MacKenzie took wee Julia.”

“Are you certain?”

“Aye.” A tear trailed down his cheek. “Julia wouldnae leave me, but the MacKenzie held a sword to my chest and threatened to take my life if she didnae, said my death would be at her hand. She’s such a gentle lass, but with a spark of fire in her soul. The last I saw of her was when the wind hit the sail and sent the galley back out to sea.”

Tavish gripped the metal bedrail, his thoughts barreling one over the other. He had to find his mate and get her back.

The air swirled and Cherub, Kirk, and Tor appeared in the midst of the churning breeze.

“Did you find her?” He clasped his brother’s arm. “Matthew said he saw the MacKenzie take her.”

“We scoured the entire forest and just found the serving girl hiding in a tree. She was the last one missing. She saw everything as the two cooks didn’t and recounted exactly what happened. Aye, the MacKenzie has her.” Tor blew out a long breath. “Cherub, Kirk and I have already been to the MacKenzie’s keep and we’ve searched it from top to bottom, as well as the entire length of Loch Alsh. There’s no sign of either Colin MacKenzie, the galley, or Julia. We can’t go any further without you. You need to open your link with her, find out where she is. Are you ready to go?”

“I’m ready.” He grasped Cherub’s arm and eyed Connor and Megan. “Keep an eye on Matthew.”

“Will do.” Connor nodded, his gaze filled with compassion. “Find your woman and bring her home. We can’t lose a newly mated pair.”

“We willnae lose her,” Cherub bit out with determination. She opened a portal and the four of them fell away into the dark abyss, all connected as one.

They traveled through time and space and a few minutes later arrived on the top of a mountain in the middle of a long range of mountains sweeping a rugged coastline. A cold wind whipped around and through him. “Where exactly are we?” he yelled to Cherub over the rush of the wind.

“On the mountains near Gairloch, along Scotland’s western coastline.” Cherub motioned toward the sea only a few miles distant. “We need to search the waterways along this area of the land first. If MacKenzie’s still onboard his galley with Julia, then this is the best place to start.”

In the valley below, a river wound in and around the hills then snaked outward toward the sea. Across the choppy ocean waves, the northern tip of the Isle of Skye rose, a line of lush green land with a heavy gray cast of cloud swelling overhead. Slowly, he breathed out, closed his eyes and focused on his mate and their merged link.



Julia slogged up the sandy length of Red Point beach. The ocean wind slammed into her from behind, plastered her violet riding skirts to her legs then whisked across the moors and over the forest rising high ahead. The cold air wrapped its icy tentacles around her and she shivered, her thin shirt on top not nearly enough protection against the elements.

“Are you all right, my lady?” Gordon offered her his arm and she near rolled her eyes. As if she’d accept any help from the enemy.

“I’m fine.” She trudged on, her feet numb within her boots.

“Take my tartan.” He held out his MacKenzie plaid.

“Nay, I’d rather freeze than wear your clan’s colors.”

“Take some water then.” Gordon swung a skin from over his shoulder and held it out to her. “Ye must drink.”

“Julia?”

“Tavish, I’m here.” She clutched onto their connection, her pace quickening as she waved off Gordon’s offer of a drink and crossed the sand. Following the trail across the moors toward the forest, she sank deeper into his mind and rolled around within his returned thoughts, even as worried as they were. “Are you all right, Tavish? Where have you been?”

“Caring for Matthew, in my time.”

“He’s alive?” Dear heaven, please let him be alive.