Highlander’s Elusive Bride
Adamina Young
Contents
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Highlands’ Deceptive Lovers
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Highlands’ Deceptive Lovers
Highlander’s War of Clans
Prologue
Chapter 1
Also by the author
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Highlands’ Deceptive Lovers
Book #1
Highlander’s Beautiful Liar
Book #2
Highlander’s Moonlight Seduction
Book #3
Highlander’s Hellion Bride
Book #4
Highlander’s Lesser Evil
Book #5
Highlander’s Sweet Poison
Book #6
Highlander’s Elusive Bride (This book)
Prologue
Kylie didn’t know how long she’d been alone. The guard could have left minutes or hours ago, but her muscles ached from trembling so much. She couldn’t stay here forever. For one thing, Marcus would be looking for her soon, and she didn’t want him ever to know what had happened to her—what she had allowed to happen because she hadn’t listened to him.
How far are ye planning to go, lass, to find yer answers? What will ye sacrifice?
When she’d heard those words, she’d defiantly told him that she would sacrifice whatever it took, and now, here she sat, completely violated and without having learned anything new.
At the thought of what the stranger had stolen from her, her stomach flipped, and the oats she had for breakfast nearly came up, but she forced it down. She would not be sick. She would not cry. She would keep it together because there was nothing to be done about it now.
Still shaking and covered in sweat, she forced herself off the bed and straightened her dress. When her legs threatened to give out, she walked quickly and collapsed on the tufted chair in the small chamber; she hummed to herself as she undid her braid. It was one of the few things she remembered from her mother, the melody that used to soothe her when she was frightened.
It didn’t calm her nerves, but it did provide some sense of comfort as she rebraided her hair.
Never trust a man with your heart, my love.
Her mother had whispered those words over and over again whenever her father was gone, but it used to make no sense to Kylie. Her father doted on and loved her mother.
Now, Kylie suspected her mother hadn’t gone far enough. Men could not be trusted with anything, it seemed.
When she finally found her strength, she opened the door and stepped out into the hall. She half expected to find her attacker waiting for her, but it was clear. At the thought of how she’d come to be trapped in the room, shame swept over. She should have known better. Never again would she be naive.
One foot in front of the other. Slowly, mentally calculating every step, she moved to the double doors at the end. It was an excruciating journey, but her chambers would be just up the stairs on the other side of the doors. There, she could collapse. Marcus wouldn’t be finished with his business until nightfall, and by then, she would be clean and could pretend that this never happened.
Halfway there now.
Suddenly, the doors opened, and a man strode in. Terrified, Kylie stood rooted to the spot and stared up at him as he stormed closer to her. Long auburn hair swept over his shoulders, and there was a steely look in his dark eyes, one that showed no mercy.
Was he there for her?
No. When his gaze moved to her, he seemed surprised and then annoyed. Stopping directly in front of her, he frowned. “What are ye doing here, lass? These chambers are off-limits.”
Just the scent of him made her stomach roll, and she weaved.
Oh, no.
“Lass, I asked ye a question. What is yer name?”
Name? She couldn’t dare tell him. Marcus relied on these trade routes for his business. If word got back to the laird that she was caught in a forbidden section of the keep, he might not be welcome back. He already hated bringing her with him.
“Tell me yer name, or I will clap ye in irons!” he thundered.
“Kristine,” she lied suddenly. “My apologies. I am Kristine Erksine.”
“Erksine?” He frowned. “Ye are with the merchants? What are ye doing here?”
“I...” She weaved again. “I apologize, sir. I wasnae feeling well, and I was looking for a quiet place...”
He peered at her suspiciously. “There was a guard at these doors. What happened to him?”
Suddenly, she could keep it together no longer. Whether it was craning her neck to look up to him or the mention of the guard, her stomach rolled, and she bent over and hurled all over his leather boots.
The man jumped back with a disgusted sound, and then reached for her. Red-faced and horribly embarrassed, she mumbled her apologies and rushed away before he could touch her, her blood roaring in her ears, drowning out whatever he was trying to say.
1
“Hello, again.”
Bloody hell, Kylie thought disgustedly as she froze. He’d just been here a few months ago. What was he doing back so soon?
Normally, Kylie was prepared for him. After all, most of the MacSeaver clan talked animatedly whenever he came to visit, so she could be cordial and kind and pretend that they’d never met anywhere other than the MacSeaver lands. The problem was the man was far too interested in her and seemed to seek her out. Rumors were flying that maybe he was courting her, and Kylie played along because the truth was too terrifying.
There was nowhere to run. She was on a narrow path that led to her friend’s home. Most everyone was at the keep for dinner, but Alexina was pregnant and hadn’t been able to keep her food down, so Kylie had offered to dine with her in private while her husband, Tearloch, was on duty. It was dark now, but everyone would no doubt still be at the keep.
They were alone.
Plastering a smile on her face, she turned and dipped into a curtsy. “Laird Armstrong, I had no idea that ye were visiting with us again.”
“Then I have finally succeeded in surprising ye,” he said wryly. His voice was pleasant enough, but that was no surprise to Kylie. They both put on a good face, even when they were alone, but they circled each other in conversation. He would throw in the strangest questions at the oddest times, and she would deflect with a laugh and surprise about why he would wonder if she were ever in this land or that.
The cunning gleam in his ey
e gave him away. He distrusted her, as he should.
“And why would ye want to surprise me?” She laughed as she picked up her skirts. “I dinnae suppose ye can walk and talk at the same time? ‘Tis chilly, and I dinnae have my cloak.”
“So I see.” As if he were a gentleman and truly courting her, he took off his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. At first, she wanted to object, but she was nearly frozen, and the cloak was warm and cozy.
“What brings ye back to MacSeaver lands?” she asked conversationally after thanking him. And how long would he be here? She couldn’t ask the last part without sounding a little too eager for him to leave. He fell into step next to her, a little too close to comfort. Could he hear the way her heart was pounding?
His soft chuckle was the only sound in the night. “I wilnae be here long, lass. I am only passing through. I will be visiting most of the allianced clans as I make my way to Sinclair.”
A map appeared as she mentally chartered his course, and her breath caught. He would be going through Loch Moran, to Hamilton, and then to Sinclair. Only the MacKays would be out of his way.
Oh, Sinclair. The largest clan in the territory. What I wouldn’t give to find a way to join him.
“I have heard that there were several more quests for yer hand,” he said. “Has one wooed ye?”
“Hmm?” So preoccupied with the idea that this would be her dream journey, she hadn’t heard him. “What was that?”
“Have ye accepted one of the marriage proposals?”
“Oh, no. I havenae.” It was getting irritating, really. Every time a man asked her to marry him, she politely told him that she had no intentions to wed. Most of the clan knew of that by now, but still, the men asked, from the young lads to the doddering old men.
Graeme had promised that he would never force her, but she knew he was getting tired of constantly fielding requests for her hand. Since she had no father or guardian, they asked him now.
It was insulting since she was the one who would be making the final decision.
“Are ye waiting for someone special?”
Strange, he almost never cared about the men who surrounded her. Just what was going on? “No, I amnae. If I may ask, Laird Armstrong, why are ye traveling to Sinclair lands?”
“I am in search of a bride, and since we are the outlier clans, a stronger alliance with the Sinclair would strengthen the Armstrongs.”
A bride. Well, that would certainly settle him down and keep him away from her home. She might finally be able to breathe again.
They reached her home, and she quickly undid the cloak and returned it to him. “Thank ye for letting me borrow that and for the escort. I wish ye well on yer journey, Laird Armstrong.” With another curtsy, she scampered into her home. Even though he had sought her out, at least he hadn’t asked her any difficult questions.
She was getting tired of dodging them, and one day, she feared she would slip, and he would learn that she was the lass who’d lied to him in his own keep and then hurled all over his boots.
The door to the small cottage had closed, but Laird Creighton Armstrong could see the outline of her watching him from the window. Still, he didn’t move. Her scent lingered on his cloak, a perfume from the flowery-scented soap she used. It was one of the more unusual things about her. Her beauty was rivaled only by Jillian, and most whispered that she was touched by the fae and graced with their magic.
Kylie, however, was a different lass altogether. Although lovely with her dark hair and bright blue eyes, there was something hard in her eyes, and she almost never graced him with a genuine smile. Her laughter was always a little forced, her words too carefully chosen for his taste.
He could not shake the idea that he’d seen her somewhere before, nor could he shake the notion that she could not be trusted.
With a sigh, he turned and left. While he’d had the opportunity to seek her out when he and his men first arrived, he hadn’t eaten since the morn, and his stomach was protesting. He would need to eat before he retired that night.
Most of the village was no doubt at the keep, so he was alone with his thoughts, which were consumed by Kylie MacSeaver.
After asking around, he learned that she was not born here but raised by a merchant from a young age. Her guardian, Marcus, had passed away a little over a year ago, and his widow had kicked her out of her home so she could remarry. No one could remember how she was related to Marcus, and his widow had only complained bitterly about the young whelp her previous husband had brought home. There was nothing useful in that information.
Really, there was no reason to be asking himself how he knew her. Most likely, he’d seen Kylie on one of his previous trips to MacSeaver lands, and her image had stayed with him. There was no reason to distrust her, but the fact that she now was so guarded around him made him even more suspicious.
The doors opened just as he walked up to the keep, and Graeme marched out with a determined look on his face. Upon seeing Creighton, he stopped short. “There ye are. I heard ye had arrived, but only yer men joined us for dinner with some excuse that ye were taking a walk.”
“I was,” Creighton said calmly as he held out his arm in greeting. There was a time when he distrusted the whole MacSeaver clan, but Graeme has proven to be a trustworthy ally.
Graeme sighed. “I would tell ye that if ye continue to seek out Kylie, ye would need to wed her, but we both know that she wouldnae have ye. I dinnae know why ye keep trying if ye wish to wed a Sinclair.”
As much as he hated to admit it, it made him a little irritated to think that Kylie would deny him. “I find her interesting,” he said mildly. “I appreciate ye putting me and my men up for the night. I intend to leave first thing in the morning, and hopefully when I return, it will be with a bride by my side.”
There was no enthusiasm in his voice. He did not relish the thought of wedding. He was hardly in a place to welcome a new stranger into his life, even one vetted by Connor Sinclair, but King Edward was showing his displeasure that Creighton had yet to marry. Everyone knew the king didn’t have many years left, and they worried about what would happen to the crown when he passed. His heir was a fool, and England’s monarchy was casting hungry eyes in their direction.
No Highlander would dare bow to an English king, and if Creighton had to marry to help strengthen the most powerful alliance the clan had ever known, then so be it.
“Creighton!” a lovely voice rang out with delight. Creighton turned in time to accept a warm embrace from Jillian. A little over a year ago, he’d helped rescue her from a madman, and the lovely woman was determined to win over his affections. It didn’t take long, It wasn’t just her beauty but also her powerful and loving nature. “Please tell me that my husband is wrong. Are ye really going to Sinclair to find a bride?”
“I am,” he said, slightly amused. “Why do ye find that so disheartening?”
“A Sinclair! Surely there is a lass here that has caught yer eye.”
Taking her hand, he winked and gave it a chaste kiss. “There is, but alas, I believe her husband might wage war if I took her.”
“And then some,” Graeme growled and drew Jillian back possessively against him. They all knew that he was jesting, but there was still a spark in Graeme’s eye that told Creighton the laird still feared that Jillian would be taken again.
They were a love match. In fact, all of the alliance leaders had fallen in love with their wives, a fact that Creighton found mind-boggling.
He would not be so lucky, or unlucky, as most days, he feared the kind of obsession and darkness that came with falling in love.
“There is someone else that I have in mind, and ye know it,” Jillian exclaimed.
“My love,” Graeme said in warning, and kissed the top of her head. “Didn’t ye say something about visiting with Alexina this evening? ‘Tis already getting late.”
She sighed, but it was obvious that she was dropping the subject. “Vera well, I will go. Creighton, I hope
ye will make time for me in the morn before ye leave. I wish to speak with ye on yer wishes in a wife. I hope ye come up with more than simply one who is quiet and of good childbearing age.”
In fact, those were his only requirements, and whatever look he had on his face had Jillian sighing. “Perhaps ye should stay one more night so we can speak at length.”
Graeme chuckled again. “Jillian, go on.”
Annoyed, she bid them both goodnight and hurried away. Creighton frowned as he looked after her. “‘Tis late for her visiting with friends. Should ye send a guard?”
“She will only take great delight in shaking them off. I amnae worried. Many of our dinner guests are heading home, and any one of them would give their lives to protect her. Tearloch will escort her back when she is ready. Alexina is pregnant, and Jillian and Kylie have been spending time with her in the evening while Tearloch is patrolling.”
“I passed Kylie on my way here,” he mused.
Graeme sighed. “Ye were not searching her out?”
Without answering, Creighton clapped his friend on the shoulder. “I am starving. Please tell me that there is some dinner left and plenty of ale. We have much to discuss before I retire tonight.”
Highlander’s Elusive Bride: A Scottish Medieval Historical Romance Page 1