Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers #3)

“The same could be said for me. What would I do without you? Here, allow me to lace your stays.” Nessa turned her by the shoulders and cinched her gown together. “You must come and meet Isla and Arabel as well. Iain and Finlay’s mates are a delight and mayhap if you see them and how happy they are, you’ll see that Kirk would offer you the same level of happiness. He is a man of his word.”


“Even though I brought Isla through the portal, as well as Kirk and his brothers, I did so without any of them knowing I was there. ’Tis always best that way, otherwise explaining myself leads to far too many questions when their journey isnae about me but about their quest.” She slid the matching slippers on, pinched her cheeks in the looking glass and with her ability to command her element, waved the warm air from the fire through her pale locks and dried them. From the side table, she fetched her favorite silver pins embedded with diamonds and fastened one on each side and once done, nodded at Nessa. “I’m ready.”

“As am I.” Nessa opened the door.

She cloaked herself and followed the seer into the passageway. Even though so many within the castle held fae blood, she still preferred to come and go as much as possible without being seen.

She strolled down the winding stairs and entered the great hall devoid of almost a soul. A maid cleared the trenchers away from the trestle tables, while another maid shooed a large brown-haired dog guzzling scraps, outside.

At the dais, two young women chatted and sipped tea. Isla and Arabel. She’d never mistake either of them. A wide smile graced Isla’s face, and her richly colored red gown with its white silk edging the sweetheart bodice, highlighted her flushed cheeks.

“’Tis good to see Isla and Arabel so happy.” Cherub touched her heart. Isla had denied the mated bond for five long years, remaining on the run each time the full moon had arisen. As a fae-blooded shifter who held the skill to compel, Isla had managed to keep one step ahead of Iain in his fierce chase. Thankfully though, the two of them had come together and accepted their destiny. They’d completed the bond and in doing so, Isla had conceived a new merged line between hers and Iain’s shifter clans. That had been the moment when the prophecy Nessa had spoken at the birth of Gilleoin’s sons had flared into glorious life. The prophecy shimmered through her mind. Gilleoin’s sons will separate when they come of age and rule their own clans, yet there will come a time far in the future when a mated bond forms between the two clans. Only then must Gilleoin’s descendants once again merge, and the ‘power of three’ be unveiled.

That unveiling had then allowed her to open a portal in the future and bring the travelers through. All was as it now should be. Iain and Isla were together, and so too Finlay had found Arabel and completed the bond. Aye, and now it was Kirk’s turn, if she but allowed their bond to take.

She sighed. Nessa was most certainly right. Those who were mated were brought together for a reason and even she couldn’t deny the depth of need rolling through her. Her soul rejoiced at the thought of joining with Kirk, and curled up with distaste at the thought of leaving him behind.

“Nessa!” Isla waved out as she stood, her long brown locks swaying. She nabbed Arabel’s hand and hurried across the hall toward them.

“Good morn, my dears.” Nessa hugged Isla then Arabel.

“Good morning to you too.” Isla pressed her palm to her heart. “Arabel and I have a great need to speak to you, in private if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. The chief’s solar is free since Gilleoin’s ridden out.” Nessa motioned them into the antechamber at the side of the hall. “Whatever is this all about?”

Isla walked inside and sat in the padded chair near the unlit fireplace. “Arabel and I have a very secret mission we wish to embark on, one we need your aid in ensuring its success.”

“Well, I do love a good secret mission.” Nessa closed the door.

Still unseen, Cherub perched on the corner chair near the window. The room held the chief’s large wooden desk, a tall chest with ornately carved feet and intricately styled doors, as well as an array of chairs and benches placed around the perimeter of the room. A fresh breeze blew in through the open window and brushed over her skin.

“This is far more than just a secret mission.” Arabel crouched before the hearth, lit one fingertip with her fae fire-wielder skill and set the wood ablaze. She rose and rubbed her hands together, the white ribbon at the top of her sapphire gown fluttering. “’Tis a mission of great need as well.”

“Then do tell all,” Nessa urged as she glanced from Arabel to Isla.

“Arabel and I intend to wed our mates.” Isla leaned forward, hands planted on the tartan draped over the arms of her chair. “But to do that we need a clergyman. There’s also a catch. Iain and Finlay aren’t to know what we’re organizing. We wish for it to be a surprise.”

“Oh, I also love surprises.” Nessa grinned.