“Kyla is my dearest friend and I willnae see her lose her parents. She’s protected them all these years and has no intention of stopping now. She might be your foster sister, your love for her never any deeper than that of a brother for his sister, but I love her, would never stand in the way of her need to protect her kin.”
Colin MacKenzie had decreed that one day, one of his three sons would wed Kyla, and they all knew the son he’d choose would be his eldest. It was only a matter of time before their formal betrothal was announced.
“I hate it when you make sense.” Gently, he cupped her cheek, stroked his fingers back and forth along her skin, the gold flecks rimming his brown eyes so soulfully captivating.
“You shouldnae be touching me like this.”
“Aye, I should walk away.” He swiped his thumb along her lower lip. “Yet every time I must ride away from my father’s keep, my heart twists inside because I’m leaving you.” Lowering his head, he touched his forehead to hers and whispered, “Do you remember that day under the waterfall?”
“I’ll never forget it.”
She and Coll, Kyla and Duncan, had gone swimming deep in the forest, the four of them taking an afternoon off together to visit one of their favorite places. She’d just come of age, and while the other two had been diving at the far end of the pool, she and Coll had left them behind and swum around the cascading water to the rocky ledge behind it. There in that serene, private place, they’d heaved up onto the ledge and seated on the edge, dangled their feet into the water. Sunlight had streamed through the clear sheet of water and sent beams of pale yellows, pinks, and blues dappling over them. She’d giggled as Coll had held his hand open, the beams playing across his palm, then she’d quieted, the moment so wonderfully sweet and surreal. Unable to help herself, she’d slid her fingers through his, looked deep into his eyes and fallen irretrievably in love. They’d sat like that for an hour, doing naught more than gazing into each other’s eyes, until of course Duncan and Kyla had called out their names and they’d had to leave.
“This thing between us,” she murmured. “This is why I need to accept Matthew’s proposal. I dinnae wish to hurt Kyla, ever.”
“Neither do I, and I’ve no idea how I’m going to make the change from seeing her as my foster sister, to seeing her as my wife, but I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her and her true kin at the Matheson fae village safe.”
“Which makes me so proud of you.” Her heart clenched with how proud and hot tears burned behind her eyes. Nay, she wouldn’t cry in front of Coll. He needed to see her strong, that she’d accepted her destiny wouldn’t be with him, just as he’d accepted his wouldn’t be with her. Sniffing, she pushed against his chest and forced him back a step. “Matthew intends on leaving here and sailing to Rhue Castle. Jeremiah has asked him to join his fighting force.”
“Jeremiah is a thorn in my side, my younger brother a menace of the worst sort. You’ll be as good as living under my enemy’s roof at Rhue.”
“Yet I’ll still be safe there, and thankfully farther away from you.” Once he’d wed Kyla, there wasn’t a chance she wanted to remain close enough to see the two of them together.
“That’s what you truly want?”
“For your sake, mine and Kyla’s sake, aye.”
“Come and meet me in the woods tonight, near the pool. You know the spot. I’ll bring a hamper and build a fire.” Tension tightened his muscles, his fists clenching at his sides.
“You wish to say a final farewell?” Eyes closed, she breathed deep, drew in his intoxicating scent, that of rich leather and warm skin and savored it to the depths of her soul.
“’Tis only right that we do.” He stormed to the door, opened it and with one last glance over his shoulder muttered, “Dinnae be late.”
Cherub –
The Fae Princess and Guardian to her Earthbound Kind
Carron Castle, held by Coll MacKenzie, April 1211, sixteen months later.
High on the battlements of Carron Castle, Cherub surveyed the rippling waters of Loch Carron as Kirk stood behind her, his nose buried against her neck and his teeth scraping back and forth across her sensitive skin. Cloaked and unseen to any other, she stretched her neck and grinned as her shifter mate nipped her flesh. “Are you hungry, my tempting bear?”
“Famished, and you always make a tasty meal.” He slid his hands around her waist and drew her back against him, until every inch of their bodies touched and even more sparks flared. “How far away is Coll?” he whispered in her ear.
“He’ll be here at midnight.” The sun, a heavy orb of glowing orange, hovered low on the horizon as it began its descent. “Only a few more hours to go.”