All around the forest stilled as the sounds of the battle ceased. Rory emerged from the thick trees with heaving breaths, his claymore in one hand and battle-axe in the other. Blood dripped from both, as it did from the swords of his warriors who strode in beside him. “There are only these two left,” Rory stated. “The others wouldnae concede to defeat.”
Annie ran to Rory. “I cannae take anymore death. This has to stop.”
“Lass, you should never have been brought into this feud.” He pulled her into his arms. “Your husband has every right now to seek justice for your abduction.”
“He told you about our vows?”
“Aye, but you must speak for yourself. Do you truly love him?”
“I do, with all my heart.” She glanced at Colin. “Please, spare these two men.”
“They intended to kill us, Annie.”
“You’re better than them. You could end Hugh’s life, or you could deliver him to the king.”
Aye, but which should it be? Certainly death at his hand was almost too easy for Hugh. He should be made to suffer, and what with his abduction of Annie, any word Hugh now spoke against Colin would be considered naught but vindictive ramblings. He should be safe against anything Hugh said, but could he take that risk?
“’Tis up to you.” Rory nodded at him as he wiped his axe on the grass and holstered it. “Although, you and your chief will have more sway with the king should you allow him to see justice is done. We’re on the king’s land, Colin. He wishes for the clans to make peace, for Scotland to be united as one.”
More sway wouldn’t hurt, particularly if it aided his chief in his negotiations, and Annie’s pleading gaze, so filled with trust, tore at his heart. For him to take MacDonald’s life in front of her, would dim that light. He lowered his blade. “For my wife’s sake, we’ll take these two in.”
He shoved Hugh facedown into the dirt and one of Rory’s warriors bounded across and restrained him with rope.
Rory called to his men. “’Tis been a long night and we’ve a long day ahead of us, but we willnae leave until we’ve buried the dead.”
Annie sprang into Colin’s arms and he caught her, barely planting one foot back in time to stop them both from tumbling to the ground. “You made the right choice.”
“Aye, because now I have you, scamp, all of you.”
“You’ve always had all of me.” She smoothed one finger over his chin and frowned. “There’s a bruise. When did you get this?”
“Rory didnae take the initial news of our handfast vows well.”
“I should have been there when you told him.”
“You can kiss it better if you like.”
“I’d like very much.” A mischievous glint lit her beautiful blue eyes as she lifted onto her toes and brushed her lips against his.
“The bruise is lower.” He cupped her cheek as longing rushed through him.
“I was getting there.” She kissed a scratch on his neck then nibbled along to his ear. “This could take a while afore I get to that bruise.”
“Then we need more privacy.” He scooped her into his arms and carried her deeper into the forest where they could be guaranteed just that. He sat on the lush grass surrounded by brush and rested back against a thick trunk with Annie in his lap. The sun’s rays snuck through the thick foliage overhead and played across the ground. Unable to hold back, he kissed her. Damn. She tasted so sweet, and he’d missed her, in the worst possible way. He plundered her mouth as the need to be closer still drove him. Touching her, having her body pressed against his was heaven, a sensation he never wanted to be without. He stroked down her thigh then slid his hand under the blue velvet folds of her gown and caressed her soft flesh.
She writhed against him. “Should we be doing this out here?”
“We’re alone, and I need to touch you, to know you’re back in my arms.” He trailed along her inner thigh and sighed as her heat pulsed, so close. Beyond aroused, he slid a finger inside her and rubbed her tight nub. “I’ll remain alert.”
“Colin.” She pressed her hips higher. “I ache.”
“And I shall ease that ache.” Spreading her legs farther apart, he stroked deeper until she panted for breath.
“Kiss me, please,” she whispered, arching into his touch.
He captured her mouth and allowed his desire for her to soar free. Her heartbeat thumped against his and below, he added another finger and thrust deeper until her channel tightened exquisitely around him. With his fingers alone, he drove her over the edge until she trembled in his arms.
She was all he’d ever longed for, the only woman he’d ever love.
Contentment and peace rolled through him. “My love, a lifetime with you will never be long enough. I want forever.”
* * * *
Annie breathed in Colin’s intoxicating fresh scent as she relaxed against him. “Forever sounds wonderful. A bed even more so.”
“Then we need to return to Holyrood.” He kissed her softly as he straightened her skirts.
“I cannae wait to join fully with you.” The brilliant golden depths of his eyes and the love she saw reflected back at her, touched her soul. She stroked his chest. “I’m sorry for making you ride out here after me. I should never have left my chamber.”
“Aye, and you should have alerted the guards when given the chance.”
“I couldnae let Hugh speak out against you. ’Twas your life on the line.” She kissed his cheek. “How come you didnae free your chief? What went wrong?”
“When we arrived at Lachlan’s cell, he told us he’d received an offer, one he couldnae turn down. For his agreement, the king intends to look into the return of his lands on Islay.”
“You mean the Rhinns?”
“Aye, the ownership of that piece of land has been in dispute for many years. Lachlan also informed us the MacDonalds had been removed from the cells and locked in a secure chamber in the palace. They’ve agreed to the king’s demands.”
“That does no’ explain why you remained?”
“’Tis doubtful the guards will be able to identify us.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “You disabled three of them.”
“No’ the last one.”
“The remaining guard held Lachlan captive, but Lachlan called us Malcolm and Munro, and with our masks in place and our identities hidden, there’s no reason why we couldnae remain.”
“There’s still a risk.”
“A small one, and a risk I was prepared to take to remain with you.” He breathed out, long and deep. “Although Rory is now aware of what happened.”
“And Hugh.”
“Hugh’s words will no’ hold much sway considering your kidnapping.”
“There’s still a risk if you return, even if only a slight one. You and Arthur should continue onto Duart.”
“I cannae leave you now, and dinnae ask it of me.” Arms wrapped around her, he lifted his knees and kept her securely imprisoned against his chest. “No’ when you have a terrible tendency to find trouble.”
“I fear trouble is my middle name. You may well come to regret marrying me.”
“My only regret will be that I didnae marry you sooner.” His husky words held a world of promise and lightened her heart. “Do you intend to be a biddable wife now?”
“Aye, very biddable.” She twined her arms around his neck. “Whatever you ask, I shall do.”
“I’ll hold you to that promise.” He nibbled her lower lip then sucked it into his mouth. “I want you naked underneath me.”
“Aye, please.” She wriggled as tingles raced through her body. “I cannae believe we’re in the middle of the forest, and so far from a chamber with a locked door.”
“That is your fault.” He chuckled and kissed her again.
“’Tis also a mistake I need to rectify.”
“Good.” He eased to his feet and set her down on hers. “We need to return, but first we need to break our fast. Are you hungry?”
“Very. Oh,
and I forgot to tend to your injury.” She smiled as she kissed his bruised chin. “Now, no more nicks and scratches for you.”
“Aye, I’ll do what I can.” He threaded his fingers through hers and guided her back down the trail toward the burn.
At the edge of the meadow dotted with yellow flowers, Hugh stood roped to a large ash tree, and two feet above his head, one of the warriors had slapped a mound of moss into the trunk’s crook.
Rory stood fifty feet back, his feet planted wide as he held his bow and arrow. He smiled at her. “Come here, Annie. You’ve been asking me to teach you how to shoot an arrow for years, and now you may have your chance. I’ve even set the target for you.”
Naughty Rory. At Dunvegan, she’d trained twice a week under Rory’s guidance on the archery field, although it had been Colin who’d first taught her to hunt with the bow from Mull’s treetops while they’d sat on the wooden platform of his tree hut.
She wandered past a crackling fire where a warrior had skinned a small creature and now skewered meat onto sturdy sticks to prop onto a rack to cook. “Are you certain now is the right time to learn, Rory?”
“I’m certain, and ’tis a fine morning with the sun in the perfect position to highlight your target.”
Aye, the sun’s rays glimmered across the sparkling waters of the stream where one of her kinsmen filled several skins with water and plugged the tops. “All right, but I’ll need a smaller bow. Yours looks far too big for me to hold.”
“Jeremy,” he called to his squire, a lad of sixteen who’d grown immensely of late. “Bring your bow.”
Jeremy jogged across from the tethered horses, swung his bow from his back and passed it to her.
“Thank you.” She stepped in beside Rory. “Show me what to do, cousin.”
“Set your feet apart and prepare the arrow.”
“Like this?” She eased her right foot slightly in front of the left then slid the arrow into the notch. “Do I aim for the moss?”
“Aye, and the arrow needs to arch afore hitting its target, so allow for a higher degree of aim.” He guided her hands to the right angle. “That should do.”
There wasn’t a chance she’d hit the target, not when her arrow was directed right at Hugh’s head. She barely held back her giggle. “I see.”
Hugh gritted his teeth.
“Nay, Rory. I think her aim is too high for this distance.” Colin nudged Rory out of the way and with his arms around her from behind, pushed the tip of her arrow lower. “There, that’s better.”
She smothered her gasp. Now her arrow was on a direct target for Hugh’s crotch.
“I cannae believe I’m about to get shot by a woman,” Hugh grumbled as he squeezed his legs together.
“You willnae if she can maintain her focus,” Colin admonished.
“Well, I’m very tired since I was forced to ride through the night, so my focus isnae quite what it should be.” She placed her cheek to the side of the arrow as she pulled the bowstring back. At the last moment, she lifted the arrow tip and let it go. It flew free and arched perfectly as it sailed.
Hugh slammed his eyes shut, and she bounced onto her toes as she followed the arrow’s path. The shaft speared the moss dead center.
“You have too much of a conscience,” Colin grumbled as he strode to his horse and unstrapped his bow from his saddlebags. He returned to her side and readied his bow. “Let me show you how to take the perfect shot, scamp.”
“Let’s make that a double-perfect shot.” Rory smiled as he stood next to Colin and took his position, his bow raised as they both lined up their sights. “Retribution can be sweet.”
Colin’s arrow sailed free first and thumped into the small V of wood between Hugh’s legs, then a second later, Rory’s arrow struck a hair’s breadth above Hugh’s head.
The warrior groaned. “Death may have been more kind than this torture.”
“Death is too easy for you.” Colin tapped his bottom lip as if considering where next to aim. After pulling another arrow from his pouch, he set it in place then released his shaft. It flew and splintered Rory’s arrow in two.
“Nice.” Rory readied for another strike. “Allow me to return the favor.”
“Please do.”
Rory’s arrow speared Colin’s shaft and Hugh hissed in pain. “Have mercy. A man needs his balls.”
“Ah, but if you didnae have them, I’d be a happier man.” Colin prepared his next shot. “As yet I’ve no’ heard you apologize to my wife. ’Tis what I’m waiting for.”
“Aye, I meant to.” Hugh glanced at her. “My lady, I never should have taken you from your kin. Please, would you forgive me?”
“Your actions will never be forgiven.” She rubbed her cheek against Colin’s arm. “Not when you raised a sword against my husband.”
“Good answer, scamp.” Colin released his arrow. It landed a whisper from Hugh’s ear with a thunk.
Rory tossed Colin another arrow. “I’d like to see you match that on the other side.”
“W-wait.” Hugh gulped in a breath. “I give you my word I’ll never attempt such a misdeed again, no’ against any woman.”
“That’s better, much better.” Colin handed Rory back his arrow. “Excuse me. I have to feed my wife. Feel free to continue without me.” He steered Annie toward the fire and spread out a tartan blanket one of the warriors had left there.
She sat and breathed in the succulent meaty aroma wafting toward her as across the river, the sun rose higher over the treetops and bathed them in its late autumn warmth. ’Twas beautiful this part of Scotland, but she missed the Western Isles, the crashing of the ocean’s waves, the squawking seagulls, and children’s giggles as they played along the beach. The isles were stunning with their glistening lochs and bens and moors.
Colin settled in behind her, his legs either side of hers. “What are you thinking that has that wistful look on your face?”
“I long for home.”
“Soon, but no’ yet.” He tugged her back until she rested against his chest. Gently, he twined a lock of her hair around his finger, his warmth fully enclosing her. “You have the most beautiful hair. ’Tis so pale it shines like liquid gold.”
“It does?”
“Aye, and I want to see it lying across my pillow every night.” He selected one of the sticks of meat, tore off a chunk and slipped the morsel between her lips.
“That could be arranged.” She plucked a piece of meat from the skewer and fed him.
In silence they ate as the other warriors wandered across and grabbed some food. A few men remained close to the fire and others strolled down to the stream.
Near the horses, Rory stowed his bow and arrow then ambled across. He perched on a low boulder after choosing a skewer and glanced at her. “We’ll need to leave soon. Do you feel up to the ride?”
“Aye, I’m fine, and I dinnae care to leave Elizabeth worrying for too long.”
“Then we’ll leave once we’ve eaten.”
Colin slid her hair over her shoulder and dropped a soft kiss on her neck.
Frowning, Rory eyed Colin and she eased across and blocked his view of her man.
Rory tapped his foot. “Annie, Colin can fight his own battles.”
“Aye, but my wife is too protective by far,” Colin rumbled over the top of her head.
“If I’m too protective, ’tis for a very good reason.” She nodded at Rory. “You’ve looked after me for three years and for that I’ll be forever grateful, but I’ve chosen the man I wish to spend my life with.”
“Aye, so I’ve seen, although you’ll always have my protection, whether you ask for it or no’.” Rory chewed his meat. “You are more than a cousin to me. You are a sister in many ways.”
She touched her heart. “And I consider you my brother.”
“Sisters can also be rather annoying.” A sly grin spread across his face as he stood. “Let’s leave. ’Tis time to ride out.” He kicked dirt over the fire and extinguished it,
his decision to accept their relationship clearly made.
“Well, that went far better than I expected.” She jumped to her feet and grasped Colin’s hands. “I dinnae know what you were so worried about in speaking to Rory.”
“Aye,” he chuckled. “I’ve no idea.” He stood and adjusted the front ties of her fur cloak, ensuring it was well secured for the ride.
Across the meadow, two MacLeod warriors slung Hugh and Fergus belly-down across their mounts’ saddles. Their return ride wouldn’t be pleasant, but at least they had their lives.
She crossed to Colin’s destrier and he boosted her up then slid in behind her. With his arms around her waist, he grasped the reins and nudged his horse to follow the rest of their party.
With her hands on his black leather clad thighs, she relaxed into the ride as they galloped through the forest and across the grassy moors. Birds chirped high above the rolling fields of heather, and she smiled as Colin sang a gentle tune. ’Twas a Scottish song of bens and burns and of the hearth and home, one she knew well. “It’s been an age since I’ve heard that. My mother used to sing it all the time when she pottered around her kitchen.”
“That’s where I learnt it.” He rubbed his chin over the top of her head.
“I remember those days as if they were yesterday. You used to sit at the table next to your mother when you visited. You’d no’ move until the oatcakes had cooled, then you’d pinch the biggest one afore I could get my hands on it.”
“You didnae need the biggest one when you were so little,” he whispered in her ear.
“And you were too big to argue the point with.”
“I still am.”
“Aye, but I like how big you are now.” She half-turned and grinned at him. The wind whipped his dark shoulder-length hair behind him, the blond tipped ends adding a rakish look she completely adored. “Hopefully you willnae argue with me quite so often anymore.”
“I highly doubt that, unless you suddenly learn how to follow my orders.”
“Orders can be wearying.” She yawned and patted her mouth. The long hours of riding through the night had caught up with her and she was so comfortable.
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