Highlander's Magic (Highlander Heat #2)

“Here, but not here.” Katherine glanced at the bay. “Those men are huge. Look at the size of them.”


Talk about intimidating. Highlanders, and clearly born of Vikings. Onboard, the men slashed their oars in the reverse direction and slowed their vessel. It skimmed the water as it cruised to the sea-gate. With another booming command from the captain, two of the men leaped into the waist-deep water, seized the bow and roped it to a catch alongside the stone landing.

One by one, they disembarked, jogged up the trail and disappeared into the keep. The captain followed, veering toward the warrior standing before them. “John, is all well?”

“Well enough. Welcome home, Archie.” John grasped the captain’s shoulders. “Do you have any further word on the chief?”

“I have but ’tis no’ good. The king’s men have apprehended Angus, as well as his brother, Donald MacDonald of Sleat. I spoke with Donald’s second at Dunscaith Castle afore I traveled to Edinburgh.”

“You’ve been all the way to see the king?”

“Aye. Angus is being kept under strict guard, in the highest level of the tower. He and Donald have their own chambers. They’re together, yet isolated from the other prisoners.” He paced, displaying a massive two-handed claymore holstered to his broad back.

A warrior born to fight, wearing a great plaid secured over his chest with a silver pin and belted low at his waist with a leather girdle. She surely wouldn’t mind meeting a man like—oh, what was she thinking? Admiring a man when she and Katherine were trapped like this. Where was her head?

Archie stopped, planted his feet wide. “There isnae any way to rescue him, or at least no’ since our arrival raised suspicion and the number of guards increased. I left after being permitted a short conversation with him.”

“What did he say? Why was he taken?”

“Angus spoke of a missive he received from the king requesting he present himself at court to atone for his feuding with Mary’s brother, the MacLean of Duart. The missive had gone to all three chiefs involved in the feud, including Donald. Angus had no intention of presenting himself, but seeking further counsel with his brother when he made the trip to Skye. The king’s men caught him. Donald as well.”

“Hell, the king needs to leave us alone to resolve our own issues, no’ alter the way we settle our disputes. He clearly wishes to stamp his mark of ownership on the isles, to control us as he does the rest of Scotland.” John clenched his fists. “Angus should have taken more care. Mary is so close to giving birth.”

“There’s naught we can do about Angus, no’ since the king will have his way. Angus said the king is after a settlement, but without Lachlan MacLean, naught can be conferred. I say ’tis better MacLean be removed from the discussions. Angus believes so too. He instructed me to see to MacLean’s death, ensuring the king no longer has a reason to hold either him or his brother.”

Marie grabbed Katherine. “He must be talking about Mary after she wed Angus MacDonald. We must have arrived at some point in the late 1500s.”

“That’d make sense since you’re wearing Mary’s amulet from that time and this circle brought us here. Do you recall anything about the king capturing Angus and Donald MacDonald because of the feud? I didn’t read up like you did before we came.”

“I do. All three chiefs involved were taken, but I’m not sure how long they were held. Mary must be here somewhere.” Incredibly, history was unfolding before her eyes. “Archie certainly can’t kill MacLean as he’s said though. If he did, he’d alter history. The king wished an intervention, and all three chiefs entered the discussion.” Damn, she couldn’t recall if the talks had helped though.

“We’re in a different time, sis. History has yet to occur. Maybe we’ve been brought here for a reason. This has to have something to do with your—”

“There’s a haze over the circle this eve.” Archie rubbed the towering stone nearest Marie. “Mayhap a touch of faerie magic wouldnae go amiss in winning this war against MacLean. He has to die.”

John stepped in beside Archie. “It does appear the faerie folk are at play.”

Mischievous imps for sure. These two warriors didn’t know the half of it.

Archie pressed his palm against the veil. His shoulder-length brown hair wisped with blond fluttered in the night breeze. Marie edged closer to him. Gorgeous, if a warrior could be called such. His chin, sharply defined with a deep cleft in the center, held rugged appeal, and his eyes were a stunning shade of molten gold. She might drown in those liquid depths. “Archie, don’t make that wish and change history,” she murmured. “MacLean can’t die. It’s not his time.”