Wicked Highland Wishes (Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts Book 2)

by Julie Johnstone

  “I want ye,” he said simply. “Nothing will change that.” With that declaration, he turned and strode away from her.

  She watched him disappear as the ache in her heart became almost unbearable. She could not marry one brother while loving another, yet what choice was there?

  Panic rioted within Lachlan as Bridgette walked out of the great hall with Graham. He could not lose her. He could not simply do nothing and let her be handed like a prize to another man. He fought against the tide of helplessness to gain control and order his thoughts. The first thing he needed to do was convince David to let him break his pledge with Helena now. The king could see that it was done if he agreed.

  The door to the great hall shut, leaving Lachlan, Iain, and the king alone. Lachlan rose to speak, knowing there was not a moment to be wasted. “I’ve discovered that Helena has come here to steal the Fairy Flag.”

  “How do ye ken this?” the king asked, his voice hard-edged.

  “I caught her searching for it, and I learned she’s asked a great many questions about it.”

  “If she’s here to take the flag, then it’s by her father’s command. And the only reason to take the flag is to weaken the MacLeod clan.”

  “Aye,” Lachlan and Iain said as one.

  “The Campbell kens ye are my allies; therefore, if he’s trying to destroy ye, he is my enemy.”

  “Aye, Sire,” both Lachlan and Iain said again. It was best to let David continue rather than interrupt.

  The king pounded his fist into the palm of his other hand. “We must learn with whom the Campbells have allied. I suspect it’s Robert, but I dunnae ken who else, possibly the Earl of Dunbar. I dunnae believe either man cares for my governing style. They wish to tell me what to do, and I’ll nae have it. I’ll nae be any man’s puppet king,” David snarled, referring to Robert Balliol.

  “Why do ye reward the steward and Dunbar more land and titles that make them stronger if ye believe they are conspiring against ye?” Lachlan asked.

  David waved a dismissive hand. “I can take it away as quickly as I give it, but for now, I grant it to appease them. I need their support—or pretense of it, at least—until I have the backing I need to oppose them should they rise against me.”

  “How close are ye to having the reinforcements ye desire?” Iain asked.

  “Verra,” David answered, showing a cold smile. “I leave here day after tomorrow to see Gowan. Once I’m assured I have the Lord of the Isles’s faithfulness to add to those of ye I trust, I will feel confident I can crush any who oppose my rule. And I will make known that I dunnae need nobles to retain control of my kingdom, no matter how powerful they are. I need men who trust that everything I do, every choice I make, is for the good of Scotland. I must ken all my enemies so I ken who to destroy.” David speared them both with an intense look. “Do either of ye believe we should be considering any other men that may be conspiring with the Campbells?”

  “Likely our Uncle Jamie,” Iain said. “He stands to gain a great deal if he can capture Dunvegan and align himself with men who are against ye as my ally.”

  “My spies dunnae have any word on yer uncle but what I told ye. It’s as if he has disappeared.”

  Iain shook his head. “He’s hiding, I’m certain. Preparing to strike.”

  The king turned his attention to Lachlan. “Do ye believe ye can get Helena to admit she is here to steal the flag and that her father sent her? At least then we will ken for certain that the Campbells are enemies. And if she kens who the Campbell is conspiring with, all the better.”

  Lachlan nodded. “I hope to have the proof by tomorrow, and if I do, I’d like ye to declare me released from my pledge to Helena immediately.”

  David arched his eyebrows. “I ken wishing to be released, but why the urgency?”

  Lachlan looked to Iain, and Iain gave a quick nod of his head that the time for total truth was at hand, but to know how to proceed, Lachlan needed to understand something. “Why would ye be willing to allow Colin Campbell to marry Bridgette MacLean, when ye believe the Campbells to be yer enemy?”

  “I’m nae.”

  Lachlan frowned. “Ye’re nae?”

  A sly grin came to the king’s mouth, which twisted quickly into a vicious one. “I am only feigning to allow it, just as I feigned he saved my life.”

  “Ye did what?” Lachlan and Iain asked in unison.

  The king chuckled a merciless laugh. “The truth is, the man moved too slow and I saved myself. But I wished to judge his honesty.” He shrugged. “So I declared he had saved me to see what he would say. One of the men in the party called out that I should offer him a reward. I expected him to say land or a title. I never expected him to ask for a woman.”

  David shook his head. “It was a miscalculation on my part, and one I was scrambling to try to release myself from when yer brother spoke and declared his intent for the MacLean’s sister. It gave me the opportunity I needed to say I would hear both their pleas when we reached Dunvegan. Then the MacLean joined up with us, and when I sought his counsel on how to go about the matter, he told me of his vow to allow his sister to marry a man of her choosing, and I knew I could use that to prevent the marriage without looking as if I really cared to.”

  Lachlan’s eyes grew wider, surprised by the king’s deceit, though perchance he should not have been.

  The king went on. “But the MacLean and I agreed that Bridgette, nor anyone else, could know so that it would be believable. It was a stroke of luck that yer brother and Colin exchanged harsh words and that Colin proposed the fight to first blood. Now Colin will nae suspect me of nae wishing to grant the woman to him.”

  Lachlan’s anger pulsed through him at the king referring to Bridgette as the woman, and that David was so cavalier about it all. “What if my brother loses the battle?” he snarled, unable to contain his rage. “He is injured.”

  The king frowned. “Injured or nae, I saw him practice with the men several times on the road. He is the better fighter, and he has honor and rightness on his side. He will nae lose.”

  “And if he does?” Lachlan blurted, forgetting himself in his fear and anger. “Ye risk Bridgette’s future!”

  “I risk nothing. If yer brother loses,” the king said flatly, “Alex will oppose the marriage. We have already agreed upon the course of action. I will naturally relent after the lady makes known her objections, and I’ll speak of the death vow that was made to allow her the choice. That will be the key, I believe,” he mused.

  Lachlan ground his teeth at the realization that David had not even worked it all out in his mind. A knowing glint came to the king’s eyes as his eyes bore into Lachlan. “Why are ye so vexed?”

  The time had come for truth. Lachlan took a breath. “I want her,” he said simply. “I want Bridgette MacLean for my own.”

  The king blinked in surprise but then chuckled. “I imagine Graham dunnae ken this?”

  “Nae yet,” Lachlan said, feeling the heat of shame and guilt. “I intend to tell him after time has passed, and he sees she is nae for him.”

  The king waved a hand. “That will be for the two of ye to settle. I’ll nae be involved with that. I’m off to see Katherine now to be properly soothed before supper. Keep me apprised,” David commanded before quitting the room.

  Lachlan started to leave, but Iain bade him to wait. Once Iain had shut the doors to the great hall, he turned to Lachlan. “Dunnae tell Graham what we just learned. He has to fight. Better for him to fight thinking he could lose Bridgette. It may save his life.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Dunnae tell her the particulars, either. I’ll nae bother asking ye to nae say a word of this. I ken I would if it were Marion.”

  Lachlan nodded. “I will only tell her that she need nae worry she will be married to Colin. That all will be well.” With that, he left and went in search of Bridgette.

  Fourteen

  He found her standing alone in the dark where the garden met the trees. Moon
light shone down upon her fiery hair like light to flame. Hope swelled within him. All was not lost to them.

  He scanned the area and judged it safe. “Bridgette!” he called.

  She whirled around to face him. He quickly closed the distance between them, took her face in his hands, and brushed a kiss across her soft lips. A muffled cry of anguish escaped her, and he shuddered as he stared down into her upturned face. For a moment, so much emotion filled him that his throat tightened and he could not talk. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and she clung to him.

  Around them, the wind rustled the leaves. Their bodies swayed as one, her heart pounding against his chest. She pulled away a bit and looked up at him. “Kiss me again,” she whispered, her words coming out in a white puff in the frigid night air. “It dunnae matter how wicked it may be. I wish ye to kiss me. I fear we will nae share another, and I’d rather die a sinner than live a saint.”

  “Bridgette, listen to me—”

  She pressed her finger to his lips. “Nay! Kiss me first.”

  He didn’t hesitate. He gripped her by the neck and crushed his mouth to hers. His tongue slipped inside her warmness, and he slid it along hers, savoring the feel of her. There was not guilt. There was not tomorrow. There was only this moment. He kissed her as if she were the only thing between him and death—frenzied and fueled with a need to make her his in the only way he could at the time.

  When they parted, they were both panting. They stood wordlessly staring into each other’s eyes. For how long, he was uncertain. She took his hand and pressed his palm to hers, and he took her other and did the same. Her fingers came right under the last crease of his fingers. They intertwined them, still silent, and he could feel her heart beating through the thin skin of her fingertips.

  “Do I have yer trust?” he asked, feeling certain she would say yes, but needing to hear it.

  “Completely,” she replied. “Ye have my trust and my heart.”

  Her candor shook him to his core. One of the things that had captivated him about Bridgette was her utter lack of guile. To hear her confirm without hesitation that her heart belonged to him humbled him. He slid his hands to her back and pressed her close to bury his face in her hair. He took a long, deep breath and opened his mouth to tell her what he could of the plan, but she spoke first.

  “Graham kens now that he will nae ever possess my heart. But he will fight anyway, and if he wins, he will marry me. I dunnae ken how to say farewell to ye.”

  He felt her tears on his neck. He pulled back and gently brushed them away. “Dunnae fash yerself, Bridgette. Ye will nae have to marry Colin, nor Graham. All will be well. Our time will come.”

  Her brow furrowed. “What are ye saying?”

  He cupped her beautiful face. “Hold tight to yer hope for us,” he said, his vehemence making his voice shake.

  “Lachlan!” Helena’s voice cut through the night and made his muscles twitch with annoyance. She appeared, as if she had been close already, and his suspicions rose immediately.

  “There ye are,” she said, overly sweet, as she strode toward them and stopped right in front of them. “I’ve been looking for ye. Colin wishes to speak with ye about us. I have assured him we both wish to continue to a future together, but he wishes to hear it from ye.” Helena narrowed her eyes at Bridgette. “Ye dunnae mind releasing him do ye? I’m sure Colin would love to speak with ye, as well, since ye will soon be his wife.”

  “I need to dress for supper,” Bridgette said stonily. She turned and left without glancing back.

  Helena slipped an arm through Lachlan’s and tugged. “Tonight, we shall join, Lachlan,” she said as they walked. “I vow I will make ye want me. Ye will want me as yer wife forever.”

  Her words baffled him. She sounded almost as if she thought their pledge to marry was meant to become a lasting union. How could she think she could betray his clan and have him still want her? Did she think she could bewitch him? He was already bewitched by Bridgette and had been for a very long time. No other woman would ever compare.

  The next morning, a large group of clansmen and women gathered on the flat grassland where the men trained. The king sat at the dais with the rest of his party, Marion, Iain, Cameron, and the entire council, except Atholl—who Bridgette supposed must be unwell or have some great reason for not attending the fight. Lachlan and Helena were also missing, their spaces empty.

  Bridgette tried to catch Marion’s gaze to mouth a question, but Marion was looking toward the castle. She could not imagine what Marion might be looking for, unless perchance it was Lachlan.

  Iain motioned for Bridgette to turn around, and as she did, Graham approached her. She bit her lip as he stopped in front of her, and she offered him a piece of one of her arrows as a favor. Lachlan had vowed she’d not have to marry Graham or Colin, but Lachlan was nowhere to be found and apprehension swelled within her. Where was he? And where was Helena?

  There was no time to ponder it as the king raised his hands for silence and a hush immediately fell over the crowd. “Let the match begin!”

  Bridgette’s gut clenched as the horn sounded, and Graham surged toward Colin. The quickness with which he moved shocked her. It was as if his injury were suddenly healed. Perchance it was the rush of the fight or perchance he was simply bearing the pain. Whichever it was she felt he now had a true chance to beat Colin.

  Colin did not appear quick on his feet, but his sword arm moved in a blur. He was coming at Graham from the right before she realized what was occurring. She bit her lip on crying out a warning, afraid it would distract him. Graham deflected the blow, but before Bridgette could blink, Colin was at Graham’s other side. He jumped out of the way when Colin lunged forward, and Bridgette heard the gathered crowd murmur behind her as her heart raced.

  Colin drew up his sword once more to attempt another strike. Graham moved in and sliced him down the length of his sword arm. Bridgette’s heart roared in her ears as crimson showed on Colin’s arm, and the gathered MacLeods roared their approval.

  Grinning, she turned around to share her relief with Marion and saw that Marion and Iain had risen and were moving off the dais. At first she thought they were making their way down to congratulate Graham, as was the rest of the clan, but they turned toward the castle. That was when she saw Lachlan striding toward them with his hand clutched around Helena’s arm. Bridgette frowned as the king went out to meet Lachlan, Helena, Marion, and Iain who were already speaking. The king faced Helena and Bridgette could see the woman speaking.

  As Bridgette took an involuntary step closer, Alex appeared by her side.

  “Do ye ken what that is in regard to?” she asked, motioning toward the king and the others.

  “The king and I worked out an agreement before we ever reached Dunvegan so that ye would nae have to marry Colin even if he bested Graham. I imagine it pertains to that, but I dunnae ken why he would talk in front of Helena.”

  Bridgette glared at Alex but then gave him a fierce hug. “Ye should have told me! I was so worried for ye, and for myself and Graham.” She did not mention Lachlan yet.

  “I’m sorry but it had to be believable that ye may have to wed Colin, so it was better for ye nae to ken it. ’Twas the king’s wishes.”

  She nodded, understanding Alex likely had little choice but to agree. Her gaze traveled to Lachlan. He must have learned the truth, which was why he had said what he had last night about her not having to marry Colin or Graham. “So the king will nae make me marry Graham?”

  Alex gaped at her. “Dunnae ye wish to marry him?”

  She shook her head. “Nay. He dunnae have my heart.”

  “God’s teeth, Bridgette!” Alex growled. “I did nae ask the king nae to compel ye to marry Graham, as I thought ye would be happy with him.”

  Horror struck her speechless, but before she could recover, Graham was at her side. She turned to look at him, and as she did, Helena raised her hand and pointed at him.

  “Graham MacLeod, yer bro
ther and Bridgette are playing ye false!” Marion slapped a palm over Helena’s mouth. Graham looked to Bridgette and she prayed with her whole heart that her guilt did not show, but his eyes turned cold, his jaw set, and he strode away from her without a word.

  She rushed to catch him, hoping to stop what she feared was the seer’s prediction coming true before her eyes, but her fingers only grazed his sleeve before he was standing in front of Lachlan and demanding Marion remove her hand from Helena’s mouth. The king waved a hand for Marion to comply, and when she looked to Iain, he nodded, his face a mask of tension.

  The moment Helena was able, she started talking again. “I could have loved ye, Lachlan, but ye never gave me a chance.”

  Lachlan glared at her. “Ye came here under false pretenses to steal our flag!”

  The king did not look surprised at the news. “Imprison Colin,” he called out to his guards, who stood watch over him from the dais where he must have instructed them to remain.

  Colin, still bleeding, had just reached the dais and tried to escape, but the guards easily captured him. Iain shouted out an order for the crowd to disperse, and as they did, Helena began to rant once more.

  “I did nae have a choice! I already told ye that after ye made me drink that potion! My father and brother ordered me to do so with threats to hurt my youngest sister unless I triumphed. I hated ye at first, aye, but I grew to care for ye! But ye…” Helena glared at Bridgette. “Ye have seduced him!”

  “I’ve nae!” Bridgette protested.

  “I’ve watched ye flirt, tease, offer yer lips to him, and then pull away, making him lust after ye. Dunnae try to deny it!”

  Bridgette flushed because she did love Lachlan and felt guilt over it because of Graham, but she had not seduced Lachlan. “I did nae make him lust after me.”

  “Ye lie! I heard ye last night here in this courtyard. Ye begged him to kiss ye. Ye told him ye did nae care if it was wicked, that ye’d rather die a sinner than live a saint! Ye said those words! Ye kinnae deny it, unless ye be a liar.”