Highlander's Magic (Highlander Heat #2)

“We have to try. Please, make the wish.”


He squeezed his eyes shut. “Aye, I shall try. Guardians of Dunyvaig, I ask for a wish, for you to send me the woman who has stolen my heart and the one she holds closest to her. Bring them here, so we need never live apart again.” He swept his hand through the air and her amulet rose, breached the barrier and spun into his palm. He snapped his eyes open, locked his gaze on her amulet.

A wind rose and tunneled around, whipping her hair across her face. She grasped hold of Katherine, ensuring the amulet was bound tight around them both. “Don’t let go of me, sis. If you do, you’ll be in more trouble than it’s worth.”

“I’m holding on. Sisters, forever.”

“Come to me, my love.” Archie jerked on her amulet.

She fell through the barrier and against the very warrior who awaited her.

Katherine was plastered against John. They’d done it. They were here.

She unraveled the talisman and threw her arms around Archie’s neck. “I missed you.”

“Unbelievable.” He grinned. “My faerie returns.”

Katherine stared at John then brushed the sides of her red and blue woolen coat. “I’m Katherine. Nice to meet you.”

“John, and ’tis a pleasure to meet you.” He kissed her hand.

Archie lifted Marie to her feet and swung her into his arms. “You’re home.”

“I’m home.” She laughed as he spun her about. “Goodness, I loved your wish.”

“I intend to make many more.” He set her on her feet then lowered to one knee. “And I’ll begin with the greatest wish I have. Marie MacLean, I cannae live without you. You hold my heart and soul in your hands.” He brought her hands to his lips and kissed her fingers. “I wish to take you as my wife, to love you as a man should love his woman. Will you do me the great honor of marrying me?”

“What about bairns?” She dropped to her knees. “I want them, and for you to give them to me.”

“Then ’twill be done. I’d rather have love than never have it at all.” He kissed her, just as she’d longed for.

She was here and never leaving him.

“Yes, then I wish for a lifetime with you.”

Wishes. They were what one made of them, and now she was back in his arms, all her wishes come true.





Chapter 12


On the upper dunes north of Loch Gruinart, Marie knelt behind Archie, massaging his shoulders. This was their place, where they’d first joined fully after the battle. The cloudless sky blazed brilliant blue, and inside, her heart overflowed with so much love.

“I can’t believe we’re here.” She slid her hands around his neck and leaned against the heat of his bare back. “I thought your clansmen would never let us leave Dunyvaig for our honeymoon.”

A week past, he’d made her his wife beside the faerie circle which had brought them together, Katherine by her side, and John by his.

“They’ve seen how I lose track of time when I’m alone with you. I cannae blame them.” He half-turned, slid an arm around her waist and swept her onto his lap. “And I shall lose even more time now since you wear naught but my shirt.”

“I like wearing your shirts. You may loan them to me whenever you wish.”

His golden eyes heated to a smoldering hue. “I wish to love you.”

“And I wish for a Highland warrior who knows exactly where to sheath his blade.”

Grinning, he slipped his hands under her shirttails and caressed her bare bottom.

Intense emotions swamped her. “Don’t ever let me go.”

“Never.” He kissed her, long and deeply, with breathless seduction.

Every inch of her throbbed.

“Make all my wishes come true, Archie.”

“I vow to make it my lifelong mission.”

Oh, yes. Missions. They were what she now thrived on, and together they were about to undertake the most important one of their lives.

Their quest?

To be bound to one another for all time.





Author’s Note


The ruins of Dunyvaig Castle holds such history within its crumbled stone walls, a past I find completely fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the accounts told of the Highlander clans who lived on the Isle of Islay and neighboring Jura.

For the purposes of this story, I chose to send Marie MacLean back to the year fifteen-hundred and ninety, because Angus MacDonald, the eighth Chief of Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg had been imprisoned by the king due to his feud with the MacLean of Duart, his brother-in-law. The king did in fact induce all those involved in the dispute, being Donald MacDonald of Sleat, Angus MacDonald of Dunnyveg and Lachlan MacLean of Duart, to go to Edinburgh. When they each arrived, they were apprehended and imprisoned. I altered this event slightly, allowing for the MacDonald chiefs’ capture by the king’s men to suit the story, as I did the ultimate capture of Lachlan MacLean as well.

Sir Lachlan Mor MacLean was the fourteenth Chief of Clan MacLean of Duart.