Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers #3)

Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers #3)

Joanne Wadsworth



Acknowledgements

I have an incredibly supportive family who allow me so much time to write. Huge thanks go to my hubby, Jason, and kiddies, Marisa, Caleb, Cruise and Rocco. Hugs.

For my readers, I can’t thank you enough for joining me, and taking this journey to where imagination and magic soar.





Gilleoin – The Legend


In the twelfth century, a man named Gilleoin became the first and only known man to hold bear shifter blood, an ability gifted to him by The Most High One. His clan was called Matheson, and when he mated with a woman carrying faerie blood, they created a line shrouded in secrecy, a line that far into the future, now neared extinction…





The Seer – Nessa


The ancient House of Clan Matheson, led by Gilleoin, the Chief of Clan Matheson, Scotland, 1210.



Restless and on edge, Nessa strode down the winding stairs from her chamber and entered the great hall. The large vaulted room held a sweeping crown of wooden beamed rafters that rose to an impressive height and within it a hundred or more warriors attired in their clan plaids, clanked tankards of ale together. Lively chatter bubbled forth as her kin feasted on their evening meal. All appeared as it should be, yet still her worry only increased.

She slowed next to the wide arched stone fireplace where sparks flared and firelight shimmered across the hefty clan shield hanging over it. With one finger, she traced along the silver edge where rubies, sapphires and emeralds shone. The jewels surrounded their clan’s crest stamped in the center, an image depicting two bears as supporters either side of their chief’s arms. Those bears signified what they all fought for—the survival of a loyal race of bear shifters—Gilleoin’s line. He was the first, gifted with his ability to shift by The Most High One, and now his twin sons had become the second generation of shifters.

Over twenty years ago when Gilleoin’s sons were born, she’d first spoken the prophecy which would be handed down through the generations, a prophecy that had been unveiled far into the future and with it had brought the recent arrival of travelers from the twenty-first century. Those travelers, three identical warrior brothers of immense strength were known as the ‘power of three.’ Iain, Finlay, and Kirk could shift shape into the form of the bear, draw claws and roar as Gilleoin and his sons could. Along with them had come Iain’s mate, Isla, a woman of dual shifter-fae blood, the daughter of Murdock, her clan’s chief and seer.

Even over the wide chasm of centuries separating them, Nessa had come to know Murdock through joint visions and considered him a dear friend. Their beliefs and goals for their people matched, although unfortunately in the future where Murdock lived, Gilleoin’s shifter clan now neared extinction and required a new infusion of fae blood within their shifter line if they wished to survive. That infusion was one both she and Murdock intended to see come to fruition, and now with the ‘power of three’ here in the past, they’d made a start.

At the dais Kirk sat, the youngest of the three warrior brothers, his gaze firm on the tall stained glass window and the setting sun beyond that hovered on the horizon. In the weeks since the three brothers had arrived, Finlay had found Arabel, his chosen one, and joined with her. Now ’twas Kirk’s time. He awaited the coming of tonight’s full moon to guide him. This was the one night of the month when his shifter senses would lead him directly to her, when his mate would no longer remain beyond his touch or sight.

Kirk clenched his fists as his restlessness mounted. For five long years he’d been searching for his mate but had never found her, not when she resided beyond his future time and instead right here in the past.

As the sun dipped lower, the skies darkened and a quietness suddenly settled over all within the hall.

The full moon rose and Kirk stood, his eyes closed and his breathing slow as if he settled himself.