by Terry Spear
In disbelief, Quinn stared at his brother. Now it all made sense. Why his brother felt he had to kill their da. The battle was a convenient way of making it appear that their da had fallen in the heat of combat.
“He favored you. Why would he change his mind?”
“Always…plan…once”—Cormac’s chest heaved—“you…could…fight…me…and…win.”
God’s wounds. Why had his da never told Quinn? “Why blame me for our da’s death? Why no’ just let everyone believe he’d died in battle?”
“We started talking about what we saw,” Fanch said.
“Aye, and your brother blamed you so if you returned, the council and the rest of us would think you were guilty and have you put to death,” Griffith said.
Rasping for breath, Cormac closed his eyes.
“It didna have to be this way,” Quinn said, angry that he had to kill his own brother.
“Aye, you…know…it…did.” And then Cormac took a final ragged breath.
Quinn didn’t feel any triumph in killing his brother.
“What do we do about the other men coming up the hill?” someone called out.
One of the council members said to Quinn, “The battle is done. We’ve already made a decision, based on your da’s suggestion. We were only waiting until you could prove yourself better than your brother in a fight. You’ll lead us.” He was one of the men who’d reserved judgment, but he’d come around quickly enough. Afraid Baudwin’s men would overwhelm the clan in a fight?
One of Baudwin’s men approached Quinn. “Your wife and Fenella came with our ship. They’re still waiting aboard to hear the outcome of what went on here today.”
Quinn said to some of his clansmen, “Remove my brother’s body.”
He couldn’t believe his wife would come. Then again, he could. “I accept the responsibility of leading the clan. I will return with my wife, and we will be allied with Baudwin and his men.”
Before Quinn left to join his wife and escort her to the keep, he turned to Cael and Dogmael. “You’ll follow my leadership?” He didn’t need to have trouble with them also, but if they wanted to fight him, it might as well be now.
Cael shrugged. “We were only waiting for you to make a stand against your brother.”
Dogmael agreed. “When the rumors surfaced that Cormac was the one who murdered your da, we knew his time to rule the clan was coming to an end.”
Quinn considered the rest of Cormac’s loyal men.
“We pledge our loyalty to you, our Chief,” one after another said.
“’Tis only right that we celebrate our new chief and his bride’s arrival. And the alliance with Baudwin and his clansmen,” Enda said. He knew how Quinn had to feel about celebrating anything right now.
But it was important for Avelina to see his people rejoice in her arrival and for Baudwin and his men to be treated as respected allies.
“Aye, make it so.” Quinn heard his horse whinny at seeing him, and Quinn turned to observe a lad bringing Warrior to him.
“To fetch your bonny bride,” the lad said.
“Aye.” Quinn took hold of the reins.
Baudwin slapped Quinn on the back. “Go. Bring them here. You will have to counsel your wife to obey you better. I must speak with Fenella.”
Another lad hurried to bring Cormac’s horse to Quinn. “’Tis all right, is it no’? You will need the horse for the other lady.”
“Aye, lad, you are right.”
Then everyone began scurrying to prepare for the feast. Liam took charge of it. Dogmael led Baudwin’s men to the barracks. Lorne escorted Baudwin and Hamish to the keep.
With the salty sea breeze sweeping his hair back, Quinn hurried down to the shore on his horse, pulling the other with him. One of Baudwin’s men had already returned to tell them what was going on. Fenella, Avelina, and Wolf were trudging up the hill with the men, headed for the keep.
Avelina smiled at Quinn, and Wolf raced up to his horse and woofed. Quinn was thrilled to see Avelina’s smiling face, and Fenella’s too. Wolf was bouncing around like a puppy, wanting him to dismount and play with him. Quinn rode the rest of the way to reach the two women, leaped from his horse and grabbed Avelina up in his arms, swinging her around with jubilation. And then he stopped to kiss her, hugging her tight to his body, her feet still off the ground.
Tears filled her eyes, and she cupped his face in her soft hands. “I love you, Quinn.” And that was all that she said.
“As I love you.” He loved her for it, not asking any details, not telling him she was sorry it had to be this way. Just that she loved him. He kissed her deeply and then he set her on the ground. “My people are preparing a celebration. I suspect we should be there for it as I doubt anyone will wait on us.”
“They wouldna dare.”
One of Baudwin’s men helped Fenella onto a horse, and Quinn lifted Avelina onto his. “You brought Wolf.”
“Of course. He was sitting on the shore, watching your ship sail away. When I prepared to leave, he wouldna be left behind. No’ that I planned to leave him there.”
“What if I hadna won, Avelina?” he asked, pressing his mouth against her ear as they rode up the hill.
“I knew you would, if I were here.”
“And Fenella?”
“She will stay with me until my da can escort her to see Ewen. You and I will go with her, aye?”
“Aye. To ensure this Ewen is the right man for her.”
“I’m glad you are the right one for me.”
The feasting lasted a week and it was decided that two of Baudwin’s ships would return home while the men from the first ship would accompany Baudwin and Quinn, who would escort Fenella to see her prospective husband. Quinn would also ally with the clan if he found the man suitable enough to marry Avelina’s cousin. Some of his men would also accompany them.
Lorne and Liam would be left in charge of the clan, but Dogmael and Cael also had important roles to play with training the men under Quinn’s command.
For now, Quinn and Avelina sat on a piece of driftwood on the shore, looking out to where her island home was. Wolf chased a crab into a hole nearby.
“Your people are as wary of Wolf as mine are,” Avelina said.
“Aye. They will come around. They love you though.”
She smiled and rested her head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “They love you too, Quinn. Fenella is worried about this Ewen. At least for me, I got to save you from our shore, and got to know you better, first.”
“If he isna the one for her, we will look elsewhere for a good man for her.”
Avelina sighed. “Thank you.”
“I would do anything for you and your cousin, Avelina.” He kissed her head.
Wolf raced into the water, snapping at the waves. Then he ran deeper into the water, grabbed a fish, and returned to shore.
“Good boy!” Avelina said.
Before either of them were prepared for what Wolf would do next, he raced to join them, and dropped the flopping fish onto Avelina’s lap. She shrieked, and he shook the water from his coat. They both laughed.
“We finally taught him to share his food with us,” Avelina said.
“I’m just glad he no longer checks to see if you’re okay when we’re making love.” Quinn tossed the fish to Wolf. “That one’s all yours.”
Wolf happily scarfed it up and devoured it.
“Should we take him with us?”
“Aye. He is as much your protector as I am. If Ewen and Wolf dinna see eye-to-eye, we’ll know he’s no’ the right man for Fenella.”
“I couldna believe that first day you were on the island, and he wasna guarding you, but sleeping with you!”
“We were both cold.”
She chuckled.
Just then Wolf came over to curl up next to them.
“Wolf, you are all wet,” Avelina said, but her pushing him away wouldn’t deter him from snuggling against them.
&
nbsp; “Are you ready to take Fenella to see Ewen?” Quinn rose to his feet and helped Avelina up.
“Nay, but we need to go so you can return home and ensure your friends dinna think of taking over the clan in your absence.”
Quinn took her hand and led her back up the hill. “They wouldna dare. They think I’m invincible. Only you and I know better.”
She wrapped her arm around his waist. “I told Liam you looked like a God when you walked out of the sea.”
Quinn laughed. “He told me. And he shared that bit of news with Lorne and more of our friends. Good thing they dinna know the truth.”
“That’s what made me love you just a little. You were so vulnerable and needed my help. But when I could have perished, you were there for me.”
“I couldna let such a bonny lass, who was valiantly attempting to rescue me, drown.” Quinn glanced back to see Wolf running to catch up to them, carrying another fish. “You know if we dinna take one of his offerings, he will think we dinna want him to catch fish for us.”
“Take it then, but you will have to eat it.”
“That one’s yours, Wolf,” Quinn said. “I wonder if our children will be so easily trained.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “Only if you bribe them.”
He loved his wife and was looking forward to settling down with her with his clan. He would cherish her always.
Avelina thought the world of Quinn and was amused that so many of his people truly thought he’d walked out of the ocean onto their shores that day, as if he were indestructible. She wasn’t about to enlighten anyone. He was her warrior hero who had his vulnerabilities and she loved him for it.
She was glad Fenella had come to her so that she would rescue Quinn, and Fenella hadn’t kept him for her own. Quinn was hers, now, and for always.
Wolf darted between them. And Wolf’s too.
Also by Terry Spear
Heart of the Cougar Series:
Cougar’s Mate, Book 1
Call of the Cougar, Book 2
Taming the Wild Cougar, Book 3
Covert Cougar Christmas (Novella)
Double Cougar Trouble, Book 4
Cougar Undercover, Book 5
Heart of the Bear Series
Loving the White Bear, Book 1
The Highlanders Series: Winning the Highlander's Heart, The Accidental Highland Hero, Highland Rake, Taming the Wild Highlander, The Highlander, Her Highland Hero, The Viking’s Highland Lass, His Wild Highland Lass (novella), Vexing the Highlander (novella), My Highlander
Other historical romances: Lady Caroline & the Egotistical Earl, A Ghost of a Chance at Love
Heart of the Wolf Series: Heart of the Wolf, Destiny of the Wolf, To Tempt the Wolf, Legend of the White Wolf, Seduced by the Wolf, Wolf Fever, Heart of the Highland Wolf, Dreaming of the Wolf, A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing, A Howl for a Highlander, A Highland Werewolf Wedding, A SEAL Wolf Christmas, Silence of the Wolf, Hero of a Highland Wolf, A Highland Wolf Christmas, A SEAL Wolf Hunting; A Silver Wolf Christmas, A SEAL Wolf in Too Deep, Alpha Wolf Need Not Apply, Billionaire in Wolf’s Clothing, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, SEAL Wolf Undercover (2017), Dreaming of a White Wolf Christmas (2017), Flight of the White Wolf (2018), Billionaire Wolf Christmas (2018)
SEAL Wolves: To Tempt the Wolf, A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing, A SEAL Wolf Christmas, A SEAL Wolf Hunting, A SEAL Wolf in Too Deep, SEAL Wolf Undercover (2017)
Silver Bros Wolves: Destiny of the Wolf, Wolf Fever, Dreaming of the Wolf, Silence of the Wolf, A Silver Wolf Christmas, Alpha Wolf Need Not Apply, Between a Rock and a Hard Place (2017)
White Wolves: Legend of the White Wolf, Dreaming of a White Wolf Christmas (2017)
Billionaire Wolves: Billionaire in Wolf’s Clothing, Billionaire Wolf Christmas (2018)
Highland Wolves: Heart of the Highland Wolf, A Howl for a Highlander, A Highland Werewolf Wedding, Hero of a Highland Wolf, A Highland Wolf Christmas
Heart of the Jaguar Series: Savage Hunger, Jaguar Fever, Jaguar Hunt, Jaguar Pride, A Very Jaguar Christmas
Romantic Suspense: Deadly Fortunes, In the Dead of the Night, Relative Danger, Bound by Danger
Vampire romances: Killing the Bloodlust, Deadly Liaisons, Huntress for Hire, Forbidden Love
Vampire Novellas: Vampiric Calling, Siren’s Lure, Seducing the Huntress
Other Romance: Exchanging Grooms, Marriage, Las Vegas Style
Science Fiction Romance: Galaxy Warrior
Teen/Young Adult/Fantasy Books
The World of Fae:
The Dark Fae, Book 1
The Deadly Fae, Book 2
The Winged Fae, Book 3
The Ancient Fae, Book 4
Dragon Fae, Book 5
Hawk Fae, Book 6
Phantom Fae, Book 7
Golden Fae, Book 8
Falcon Fae, Book 9
The World of Elf:
The Shadow Elf
The Darkland Elf (TBA)
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Blood Moon Series:
Kiss of the Vampire
The Vampire…In My Dreams
Demon Guardian Series:
The Trouble with Demons
Demon Trouble, Too
Demon Hunter (TBA)
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Non-Series for Now:
Ghostly Liaisons
The Beast Within
Courtly Masquerade
Deidre's Secret
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The Magic of Inherian:
The Scepter of Salvation
The Mage of Monrovia
Emerald Isle of Mists (TBA)
About the Author
Bestselling and award-winning author Terry Spear has written over sixty paranormal romance novels and four medieval Highland historical romances. Her first werewolf romance, Heart of the Wolf, was named a 2008 Publishers Weekly’s Best Book of the Year, and her subsequent titles have garnered high praise and hit the USA Today bestseller list. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry lives in Spring, Texas, where she is working on her next wolf, jaguar, cougar, and bear shifter romances, continuing with her Highland medieval romances, and having fun with her young adult novels. When she’s not writing, she’s photographing everything that catches her eye, making teddy bears, and playing with her Havanese puppies and grand-baby. For more information, please visit www.terryspear.com, or follow her on Twitter, @TerrySpear. She is also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/terry.spear. And on Wordpress at: Terry Spear’s Shifters http://terryspear.wordpress.com/
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Note: I hope that you enjoyed My Highlander and hoped you loved their companion wolf as much as I did. He might not be a shifter, but he was loveable just the same. Thanks for reading my Highland series, The Highlanders!