Damn it. How frustrating. This bond could be so annoying and completely aggravating, and why on earth had she been given such a stubborn mate? First, her chosen one had been honor-bound to wed Kyla, and now he remained honor-bound to wed the Chief of MacRae’s daughter.
’Tis time for Coll and you to both accept your destiny. No more will I permit him to ignore your mated bond. He allowed you to wed another, even now intends on speaking vows with a lass he does no’ care for, and that I cannae permit. Setting you aside a second time is unacceptable, and since you’ve begun the hunt, you must now ensure he sees it fully through.
Cherub’s words echoed through her mind.
Aye, she’d continue the hunt, and force Coll to see this chase through.
She shoved to her feet, snatched her satchel, slung it over one shoulder then with the sides of her black fur cloak pulled tighter around her, stormed off into the dark. She marched toward Loch Carron and back toward Coll’s land. Aye, no more would she travel toward her father, not when he’d soon see her wed to another man and that she couldn’t have.
She followed the river as it weaved deep through the woods, Cherub’s words continuing to thrum strongly through her mind and giving her the determination she needed to force each foot before the other, even though the last thing she wished to do was leave Coll behind.
Riled, she stomped along the mossy edge of the river bank and the mushy ground sucked at her booted feet.
Through the dense and darkened woods, she pushed on with only the barest trace of moonlight now breaking through the thick canopy overhead.
Finally, an hour or two later, the river widened and the crashing tumble of a waterfall traveled toward her.
She hastened her pace and stumbled to a stop as she emerged at the rocky cliff face where the river cascaded over slick black boulders, streamed over the edge of the falls and crashed into a ravine a hundred feet below. White water surged and frothed within the pool and flowed onward downstream.
Hands on her hips, she teetered on the very edge of the craggy rise overlooking the moonlit valley far below. The glorious sight of the inner channel of Loch Carron winding its way inland with the odd wattle-and-daub longhouse nestled along its length, calmed her. This land belonged to Coll and Duncan. They’d made their claim here, and one day Coll would be the Chief of Clan MacKenzie in this beautiful place, and she wished to be right here with him when that day arrived.
Crouching, she pressed one hand to the slick black rock. To her left, a steep trail led down toward the lower land and within the basin of the valley, a stone tavern she’d yet to visit peeked out from within a stand of towering elm trees, smoke puffing from its high chimney. She’d seek shelter there for the night, await Coll’s arrival while she—
“Fiona!” Coll’s shout pierced through the crashing of the waterfall.
“Fiona!” Duncan and Ella’s shouts ricocheted toward her too.
Well, well. He’d arrived already. This chase was moving along nicely. Hands curved around her mouth, she called back, “I’m here.”
Coll crashed out of the trees with his horse’s reins in hand, his beast clomping behind him. With his dark hair all mussed and those stunning sparks of gold rimming his brown eyes glowing an almost feral color, he advanced on her. “You. Left. Me. Again.”
“You gave me no choice.” She took a step back and wobbled as stones sheared away from the cliff edge and rapped down the rock face.
“I’ve got you.” He swung her in beside him, his hands a little shaky. “You need to take more care where you step. If you’d fallen”—he kissed her hard—“I’d never have forgiven myself.”
“About time we found you.” Duncan led his horse out of the trees, the wicker basket Cherub had gifted her swinging from one hand.
“Aye, any longer and Coll would have torn these woods apart.” Ella walked out with her mount beside her, her relief evident in her soulful fae eyes. “Are you making your way back to Ardan or Carron?”
“Carron, and I just spied an inn below, thought it would make a fine place to seek shelter for the night.”
“Wonderful.” Ella stepped forward in her leather boots laced snugly all the way to her knees over her blue breeches. She hugged her. “’Tis late and I would love naught more than a soft bed to rest in for the night.”
“As would I.” Duncan snuck Ella’s reins from her and tipped his head toward the steep downward trail. “You move ahead first. Watch your step. I’ll follow.”
“I agree to going first, but keep your gaze off my backside and on the trail. No missing a step yourself.” Ella tweaked Duncan’s chin and with a giggle, disappeared down the steep trail lined with thick scrub on one side and the rocky cliff face on the other.