Bridgette spun around and fled as her heart raced. There may be a reason for Lachlan’s pledge of a future to Helena beyond love or desire, but Helena appeared to be a woman intent on keeping Lachlan.
Bridgette strode through the courtyard, thinking upon her decision to tell Graham she could never marry him. She wished she’d considered sooner how it would not be fair to him. She’d only thought of her guilt and what she believed she owed him for what he’d done for her, but Graham deserved so much more than a wife who knew she would never love him with her whole heart. She prayed he would not be too angry or hurt.
It did not take long to secure a horse once she explained to the overly worried stable master that she was perfectly capable of riding to the Fairy Pools alone. Soon she was travelling over the hills and through valleys as she thought more upon the seer. The seer back in MacLean land had told her she would get the man of her dreams if she granted Marion the favor she had requested, and when Marion had requested help with Iain, Bridgette had obliged. She’d been sure the man she would get would be Lachlan, as he had been the only man she’d ever dreamed of. How could she have been wrong? This was one of the reasons she felt compelled to seek out the seer here.
The journey to the Fairy Pools took several hours, and just as Bridgette was beginning to worry that she may need to turn back to reach Dunvegan before dark, she spotted the winding creek path that she knew led to the pools.
She guided the horse along the path. The closer she drew to the glen, the thicker the grass became beneath the horse’s hooves until it was a lush green all around Bridgette. Despite the cold temperatures, patches of yellow and purple flowers littered the hills. She dismounted her horse, secured it, and then drew her cloak around her as she trudged down the hill toward the glen. Her footsteps fell silent in the grass. Trees with gnarled trunks lined either side of the path up ahead like ancient wooden soldiers. She stared in wonder at the trees as she walked toward the path. The wind blew around her and birds called above her, but when she went between two mountains, all sounds seemed to cease. Her breathing and the hum of rushing water somewhere in the distance filled the silence.
Her skin prickled with excitement and a bit of fear. With each step she took along the path, shadows grew above her as the rocks formed a barrier to block her view of the sky. As she walked, though the sun was no longer visible, the temperature seemed to grow warmer and the flowers bolder in color, until she drew in a sharp breath and stared in astonishment at the vivid purple flowers all around.
She skipped stones across water to the next hill and then began the steady climb up the rocky, jagged terrain. When she came to the top of the first crest, the rocks seemed to part and the bright-blue sky shone above her. Before her, as far as she could see, was one peak after another. To her right was a steep decline that fell to a bluish-green body of water, except for the frothy white that came rushing from the waterfall above. Down, somewhere in that nook, was the cave where Eolande lived.
It took Bridgette awhile to descend the rocky terrain. She picked her way carefully down the steep slope, and once she reached the bottom, she wiped her damp brow and made her way along the edge of the water toward a cave that had not been visible from the cliff. When she finally reached the cave, she paused, unsure whether to enter or beckon to the seer. Bridgette supposed asking permission for entrance was the customary thing.
“Eolande,” she called. “Might I enter the cave and talk to ye?”
“Enter,” a strong, musical voice answered from within.
Bridgette walked slowly into the cave, coming to a stop when she could see what lay inside. Her breath hitched in her throat at the breathtaking view before her. The cave was round with a pool of dark-blue water in the middle of it. On the opposite side, the cave opened to the outside, allowing sunlight into the area. A waterfall gushed down that side of the cave, and beyond the veil of white mist, sumptuous green trees swayed. To the right of the cave were stone steps that led up the side of the cave into a dark, shadowed area.
Bridgette pulled her gaze from the steps to search for Eolande and let out a gasp to find a beautiful, dark-haired, violet-eyed young woman standing in front of her. The woman wore a white léine and nothing else, save a crown of violet flowers atop her head. Bridgette swallowed. “Are you Eolande?”
“Aye. And ye are Bridgette MacLean, sister of laird Alex MacLean.”
Bridgette tried not to show her surprise that the woman knew their names. “Ye’re much younger than I was expecting.”
A smile played at the woman’s lips. “Nae all seers are old crows, Bridgette. I’ve been expecting ye.”
“Ye have?” A frown pulled her eyebrows together, and she fought to smooth her features.
The woman nodded. “Aye. I thought a woman with yer belief in seers would have made yer way to me after ye first arrived at Dunvegan.”
“I should have considered it sooner,” Bridgette admitted. “I’ve had a great deal to occupy my thoughts.”
Eolande smiled. “Aye. Wishing to ken if ye will ever have a chance with the man ye desire has likely kept ye quite busy.”
Bridgette gaped at the woman.
The seer took a step forward and held out her hand. “We best hurry. Yer destiny approaches faster than ye comprehend.”
Bridgette frowned at the statement but gave her hand to Eolande instead of commenting. From her experience, seers often talked in riddles. Eolande curled her slender fingers around Bridgette’s, and an odd warmth seeped from the woman’s skin. Her violet eyes narrowed and grew dark. “The question ye should be asking is if ye’re strong enough to withstand the destruction yer heart’s desire will create.”
Bridgette gasped, and Eolande nodded. “Ye’re wise to be afraid. Yer desire for Lachlan MacLeod is greater than yer ability to vanquish it forever, but if ye dunnae control it until the time to embrace it is at hand, then ye’ll be the storm that destroys the bond of brotherhood ye both have been struggling to preserve.”
“Us both?” Had the seer really just said Lachlan had been struggling to preserve his relationship with Graham? Was his struggle because of her?
“Aye, it’s because of ye,” the seer said, replying to the question Bridgette had not voiced. “Ye dunnae know true love yet, but it’s there in yer reach and ye feel it, taste it, and ye yearn for it. Ye’ll need to shed yer guilt like a snake sheds its skin and open yer eyes to the lies afore ye.” Eolande’s grip tightened around Bridgette’s wrist before she realized the seer had moved.
The woman’s violet eyes gleamed silver suddenly, like twin daggers. “Jealousy will drive one brother to lie, to risk his life, and to hurt the one he loves. And as for the other brother, jealousy will drive him to his death, whereupon vengeance shall resurrect him.”
Bridgette began to shake as fearful images built in her mind of Lachlan dead and Graham risking his life. She moaned. Or was it the other way around? God’s bones. Did it even matter? Both fates were horrible. She could not let either of these destinies befall Lachlan or Graham.
A sob ripped from her throat. “Ye only foretell what ye see in the moment ye touch me, aye?”
“Aye,” the seer whispered. “Ye have the power to change yer fate.”
“Then I will,” she vowed. She turned and fled out of the cave before the seer could say anything else.
Tears leaked in heavy streams from her eyes, nearly blinding her as she struggled to go back the way she had come. She stumbled several times on slippery rocks as she ran around the water at the entrance to the cave, a whisper in her head that warned her to get away from the Fairy Pools growing louder with each step. A voice swirled on the wind, joining the whisper, and urged her to run faster. Bridgette raced across the rock toward the embankment she needed to climb, a sense of desperation clawing at her. She rounded the corner and ran straight into a wall of rock-hard muscle.
Gasping, she looked up into Lachlan’s face, surprised at the stark relief she saw there. His corded arms circled her in an unbr
eakable hold, causing hot, searing lust to flow through her body. The seer’s words haunted her.
“What are ye doing here?” Bridgette whispered.
“I came looking for ye,” he said in a thick, unsteady voice. “I intended to apologize to ye for my outburst in the woods yesterday, so I searched ye out after ye fled the castle earlier. When I could nae find ye, I checked the stables and learned ye had come here alone.” She could feel his muscles tighten around her. “I have gone near mad with worry.” His eyes burned as if to confirm his words. “Ye dunnae have a care for yer safety, but I do.” His voice broke, and Marion’s words from last night struck Bridgette. Lachlan did look defeated.
She touched her fingertips to his tense jaw before she realized what she was doing. His body jerked violently in response, and she snatched her hand away, horrified at herself.
“Release me,” she begged, her emotions spinning out of her control. When he didn’t answer or move to do as she had asked, her control snapped. “Every time ye’re near me, I kinnae even remember how to breathe. Release me!” she cried. “Release me before I kinnae remember why ye should nae!”
“Ye’ll be marrying my brother,” he said dully.
“I’m nae any longer,” she replied. “But ye are bound to Helena and—”
“’Tis false what I have with her,” he growled, and suddenly, his mouth crushed hers in a demanding, frantic kiss that she was helpless to deny. His arms unlocked around her, and he plunged his hands into her hair, groaning as his tongue pleaded for entrance, and she opened willingly and eagerly for him. All the desire that had been building for years exploded, sending her thoughts reeling and her emotions skidding and whirling.
She ran her hands over his hard chest and up into his thick hair as he ravaged her mouth like a man set on complete and utter possession. She wanted him to possess her, body and soul. She had never wanted anything but that.
Ten
As Bridgette melted into Lachlan’s arms he released the control he still held over his body. She filled his mind, his senses, and his hands. He moved his mouth over hers, devouring its softness and drinking in her sweet taste.
She moaned into his mouth, and he captured the sensuous sound as it became a part of his soul. He didn’t know what he had expected, but the frantic way she returned his kisses and the mewling sounds coming from deep within her throat told him her desire was every bit as great as his. He had an aching need to kiss her deeper.
A savage intensity gripped him as he slipped his hands under her legs and picked her up only to lay her gently on the ground. Her eyes widened, but she did not protest. He straddled her and then slid his hands through her hair, down the silken skin of her neck, and to her breasts. His fingers brushed the hard buds of her nipples, which strained beneath her gown, and a strangled cry broke from her lips. He expected her to jerk away from him, but her hands came around his neck and grasped him tightly, as if she were afraid he’d change his mind. Her legs wrapped around his waist and locked behind his back. A whispered warning sounded in his mind, but he ruthlessly shoved it away.
He pulled down the front of her gown to expose her full, beautiful breasts. Her rosy nipples formed perfect peaks, and he could not find any will left in him to resist her. When he took her breast in his mouth, she bucked underneath him, her hands fisting in his hair.
“Lachlan!” she cried out raggedly.
He flicked his tongue over the tip of her nipple, making her writhe and pant beneath him and causing his need for her to become painful. He trailed kisses up her belly and neck to her mouth before claiming her lips. Then he rose up on his knees and looked down at her. Her red, swollen lips appeared good and properly kissed. Her flaming hair fanned out around her face, and her emerald eyes fairly glowed with desire. With complete and utter reverence, he touched her cheek as his chest squeezed.
“Ye are so beautiful it’s sinful,” he murmured, caught in a dream.
Her half-lidded eyes flew wide, and her lips parted as if she’d just been awoken. Horror swept across her face as she reached down and yanked up her gown. “What have we done? What have I done? We let desire carry us away!”
What he felt for Bridgette was more than desire. “I need ye,” he choked out, surprised at his words and the desperate sound of his own voice. He did not look at Bridgette as he spoke but kept his gaze down to the ground as a war between honor and desire raged within him. “I need ye more than I need air to breathe.”
“That’s lust talking,” she replied in a determined voice. He knew what she was trying to do—to make what was between them simple. But it wasn’t. It was complicated. He didn’t even fully understand it.
He stared down at her. “It’s nae simply lust. I dunnae ken exactly what it is, but I ken it’s nae simply desire.”
Tears sprung to her eyes and leaked out of the corners to trail down the sides of her face. His heart clenched as he brushed them quickly away. She swallowed audibly and then spoke. “What of Graham?”
Lachlan moved to sit beside her and then held out his hand to help her raise up. Questions flooded his mind, and he was uncertain which to ask first. Finally, he settled with what he thought was the most important. “Why were ye going to marry Graham?” He had a suspicion, but he wanted her to confirm it.
Slowly, she turned her head toward him and their gazes locked. “Because he risked his life for me and sustained a terrible injury in doing so. But Marion made me see how wrong that reason was. Even greedy. I was marrying him to ease the guilt his selfless act caused me. But I ken I dunnae love him, and I dunnae believe I would ever love him the way he deserves to be loved—with all of a woman’s heart. It’s nae anything he’s done.”
He blew out a long, relieved breath. “When will ye tell Graham?”
“As soon as he returns to Dunvegan,” she replied, her tone filled with remorse and reluctance.
“Why did ye never show me yer interest?” he asked. Graham’s declaration of love for Bridgette had stopped Lachlan from ever pursuing her, but Bridgette had not known of that.
“I did nae ken if ye desired me,” she responded. “I was waiting for a sign that never came. Ye’re blind, though!” she accused. “I did nae hide it, really. Iain even teased me when last he came to my home with Marion, saying that ye were nae the man for me.”
“Did he?” Lachlan asked, shocked. “He never mentioned it.”
Bridgette eyed him. “Perchance he did nae wish anything to develop between us.”
Lachlan thought about this. Iain had not known of Graham’s declaration over Bridgette. Likely Iain had simply been teasing her or he had thought Lachlan had some settling to do. There had been a spell when he’d willingly accepted all offers of joining the comely lasses threw his way. He’d been searching for something, and he knew now the something could not have been found in a romp. He wanted something deeper, something he suspected he could only find with Bridgette.
“What of Lillias, Lachlan? And Helena?” Her tone was stilted, as if she had to know but feared his response.
The first part was easy to answer. “Lillias threw herself at me. I dunnae desire her at all. I set her aside as quickly and gently as I could.”
Bridgette nodded, her face softening enough to tell him she accepted what he said as the truth. “And Helena?”
He’d known when he had started this talk that she’d demand answers, but he had not known what he would say. Looking at her now, still flushed from their passionate embrace, her taste still lingering in his mouth, her smell still surrounding him, he knew he had to tell her as much of the truth as he could. He had made a vow to the king not to reveal his suspicions until he was ready, but Lachlan could tell her enough that she would no longer think him a dishonorable devil.
“I gave false pledges to aid the king. It is temporary and for the purpose of getting information from Helena. She is a cunning Campbell, to be certain,” he added, wishing he could tell her more but honor bound by his vow.
He heard her i
nhale sharply, but then she shook her head. “It should nae matter to me. I should nae have asked.”
“Why should ye nae have asked?” he demanded, unease pricking him. He did not want her to give up before they even had a chance. “Why should it nae matter to ye?”
“Do ye really need to ask?” she demanded, her green eyes flaring.
Graham. In the end, they circled back to Graham.
Lachlan dragged a hand through his hair and stared down at the ground, wishing to think before answering. He had a feeling what he said next might be the most important thing he ever spoke. Even though Bridgette did not love Graham, he thought himself in love with her. Therefore, he would consider Lachlan courting Bridgette a betrayal of their bond of brotherhood, and the hatred and anger that would come from that would widen the rift between them that already pained Lachlan so. And it would possibly rip their family apart.
Lachlan clenched his teeth. He did not want that. There had to be a way, though, for him and Bridgette to one day be able to explore what was between them.
Time! That’s what they needed. In time, this thing with Helena would be finished, and Graham could meet someone new. He opened his mouth to speak, but Bridgette spoke first.
“I saw Eolande,” she said, her glistening gaze locking with his and imploring him to listen and understand.
He nodded, his gut telling him he’d not like what she was about to say.
“She told me my desire was greater than my ability to vanquish it.”
“Aye,” he murmured, feeling slightly relieved. If the seer had said it was hopeless to fight this thing between them, then surely it was.
Wicked Highland Wishes (Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts Book 2) Page 13