Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers #3)

“I can extend my cloaking to shield all who are connected to me. It takes a little more concentration, although naught I cannae handle.”


“Are you certain?” He slid one hand over her hip, the other around the back of her head as he brought her closer to him. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I’m an immortal. No harm can befall me, no matter if I’m right in the middle of a melee.” Goodness, the first moment she could, she would complete the bond and ensure he too was an immortal. “You’re the one who needs to take care until I can speak the spell to bind a piece of your soul to mine.”

“You can’t do so right now?” He raised a questioning brow.

“I wish I could, but ’tis only possible in the moment when we join as one.”

“I see.” He dipped his head and kissed her, his lips whisper soft against hers. “I wish that were now, but it’ll have to wait.”

Waiting would be sheer torture. With a soft sigh, she turned in his hold so he stood at her back then extended her arms for Iain and Finlay. “No one is to let go of me during our travel through the sky, or if you do then you shall fall to the Earth, and rather fast.”

“We’ll keep ahold, just as we did on the trip here.” Iain grasped her right arm while Finlay took hold of her left.

From behind her, Kirk nuzzled her neck, his breath a warm flutter across her skin. She wriggled her bottom into his groin and winked over her shoulder at him. “Are you ready, my tempting bear?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He nipped her ear. “To the skies, my elusive imp.”

“We’ll follow the enemy’s tracks where possible, although there is only one way to get to the MacKenzie’s keep from here.” She cloaked them all, took them into the skies, just above the trees so they could follow the main forest path.

“How fast can you move through the air?” Finlay asked from her left, as invisible as she was.

“When I am in mist form, a journey of several miles can be done in mere moments, but transporting others as I am now is far slower since I must take into account your need to survive.” She gained a little more height as the craggy hills of the Highlands rose up ahead.

“Surviving is good.” Finlay chuckled. “Arabel will certainly be furious with you should you drop me, and by the way, you don’t want to see her get angry. Fire shoots from her fingertips and she lights up like a storm.”

“Ignore Finlay. I’ll never allow anyone to harm you.” Kirk’s hold around her waist tightened, his chest at her back so deliciously warm. “You’re mine to protect, always mine.”

“As I’ll never allow another soul to harm you either.” A promise she would forever keep. She’d been gifted with a mate and now she’d chosen to accept their bond, she wasn’t letting him go. She crossed the hills then flew down toward the other side where rolling fields of heather awash with wildflowers spread into the distance. A fast-moving river weaved through the lush green pasture, the waters streaming over wide boulders and flowing toward the inner channel of the loch only a few miles away.

“This is the most beautiful, untouched land,” Kirk whispered in her ear. “I love traveling with you this way. We have a bird’s eye view of it all.”

“Aye, ’tis a blessing to be able to hold my skill, even though an all-consuming one.” She left the fields behind as they gave way to the forest bordering the loch. She skimmed the treetops while up ahead, nestled amongst the towering pine and elm trees, a quaint stone inn with smoke puffing from its chimney, beckoned travelers.

“Divert past the inn and take us down onto the beach, right there.” Kirk’s fingers brushed her cheek as he directed her gaze toward a galley with the MacKenzie flag flapping from its center mast. The vessel sat half beached on the sandy shore bereft of even one soul.

“I see it. This appears to be a safe place to set us all down.” She swept down and landed on the grassy verge. Across the other side of the loch lying under a pall of gray cloud, the imposing fortress of the MacKenzie keep sat with its four-story gray tower house rising tall and strong above the massive fortified curtain walls. Built on an island a stone’s throw from the mainland meant one couldn’t easily sneak into their stronghold. In fact, ’twas damn near impossible.

“Uncloak us all,” Kirk said. “We need to find our enemy, and as quick as we can.”

“Mayhap they’re resting at the inn.” They certainly hadn’t seen them thus far. She uncloaked and swayed as black dots danced before her eyes. She blinked and righted herself.

“Are you all right?” Kirk turned her in his arms.

“Aye, I just need a moment or two to recover.”

“Are you sure?” He searched her gaze.

“Very sure. I’m truly fine.”

“If all’s well”—Iain tipped his head toward the trail leading back toward the inn—“then let’s lay low and take a wander and see where everyone else is.”