He heard the choked sob of another and quickly place his daughter at Amelia’s breast as she guided Colin to her other breast. He kissed her on the forehead and surveyed his beautiful family. Both babes drank hungrily from their mother as she cuddled them close. At her assurance that she was fine he turned to the men. He secured the bed curtains again as he stepped from behind them. He found a boy, of no more than twelve, kneeling on the floor.
“What happened to him?” He asked the others.
“He ‘eard the babe and fell to his knees. You may be looking at your future son in law, My Laird.” Laird Liam McNeal stepped forward and clapped Henry on the back. The man smiled, but Henry could see the crushing disappointment in his eyes. “He’s James McIntosh, son of Cyril and Amy. Rightful Laird of McIntosh clan, well, what’s left of it,” he said with a shrug of his massive shoulders.
“A worthy lad then.” Henry remembered the overwhelming feelings that had overtaken him upon Amelia’s birth all those years ago as he spoke to Liam. “Your time will come, my friend. Do not lose hope.” He said looking into the eyes of his friend.
“Och I am too old for a wee lass such as ye have there. Nay, I fear I will not be blessed as ye have.” He turned and left the room with a sad shake of his head.
Henry closed his eyes. Many men were losing hope. His people needed a miracle to ensure their survival. Could his tiny children be the answer to their prayers?
He took the boy by the shoulders and probed his mind. He felt his confusion and he felt his daughter. She had reached for her mate.
“Come along boy. There is someone who would like to meet you.” He led the boy to Amelia’s bed side and placed the new babe in his arms. The room was encompassed with such love that it was almost tangible.
“Amelia, this is James. I believe he will be our little Serina’s mate.”
“Serina? I like that, and I think you are right. God help him. I fear she will be a handful. I can feel her mind trying to persuade me already.” She smiled over at the boy who held her child with such care and love. “Are you agreeable with all of this James?”
He looked up at her with tears shining in his green eyes. “Aye, ma’am. I never thought to feel this way. My Mam died when I was born and my Pa soon after. You see and I have never had a family. I have been with Liam for most of my twelve years. He’s taught me how to fight and what it is to be a mon, but I know little about lasses and fine things. I feel blessed that she has chosen me. She is far too fine for me though. I would not accept, but I can’t help but think that it was her choice some how like the changing. She chose.” He smiled and stared in wonder at the beautiful child he held in his arms. “She chose me.”
Amelia smiled at that. “Perhaps she will change things for all of us.”
With that she took the child from James and placed her back at her breast. She watched with fascination as Colin continued to discover different stages of his change. Serina seemed content to be a bairn, for now. Would she ever grow accustomed to this strange new life? Could her children be so very different? Would they find happiness as she had? She glanced at James and knew that her daughter would never worry for happiness. Then she looked to her son. She saw the intelligence glowing in his eyes. Where would Colin find his happiness? Where would he find his peace in a world filled with turmoil and hate?
Henry gathered Amelia close and kissed her head.
“You worry too much. They are both blessed. Happiness will find him when it is time, just as it found me, my beloved Amelia.”
Coming in April 2012
From
Amanda Anderson
Highland Tigress
Book 2 in the Tiger series
Keep reading for and preview to the exciting sequel to the Tiger series.
Prologue
Liam McNeal walked from Stewart Castle. He’d known this journey would be for naught, but he could not refuse The Stewart. Henry Stewart was the head of their people and he’d asked Liam to be present at the birth of his daughter, hoping the lass would be mate to Liam. It had not been the way of it. The lass had chosen a young lad and Liam was still alone.
“Liam.”
He looked up to find Henry Stewart following him.
“Aye, Henry, what is it then?” Liam said testily.
“Come now, Liam. You know there are other lasses here. Perhaps if you stayed to meet them…”
“Nay,” Liam said shaking his head.
In his heart he knew there would be no other for him. Cara McIntosh would have been his mate. He’d known it before her birth. He’d never even seen the lass, for she and her family had been slaughtered mere days after her birth, but the certainty of her worth to him was undeniable. He’d known real despair upon receiving the news of the destruction of his dearest friend’s clan, but soul deep loneliness had over taken him upon learning Cara had also been taken from him. He’d almost succumbed to that loneliness many times since and he and Henry had grown close sharing their despair over their lack of mate.
He looked at Henry now. Amelia had made him a new man. He appeared younger and stronger. He was again full of life and hope for the future. Liam had none.
“She is gone Henry. There can be no other, and you well ken it as I do.”
“Nay, Liam. In your case I do not believe it. You did not even meet the lass. You can not be sure, Liam.” Henry insisted.
“Aye, I can,”
Liam ran his hand through his unruly black hair. He was but thirty four summers. Hopelessness should not have taken him so young. The Stewart had found his mate and he was much older, but Liam knew that without Cara he’d walk alone in this life and he was sure she had already passed into the next.
“We never found proof of her death or her mother. Perhaps Gwyneth has hidden the lass away,” Henry suggested hopefully.
“Nay. Gwyneth would ken my need for word of them. She would have come to me by now or at least left word that the lass should be sent to me.”
“Perhaps she could not. What do you feel Liam? Do you still feel her calling to you?”
“Cara? Aye. I would swear she is still in this world,” he said and rubbed the back of his neck. “Could be that it is only my desire to do so.”
“I do not believe so. If you feel her, search for her.”
“What if she has been…” He couldn’t bring himself to say the words, but the bitter taste of them lingered on his tongue.
“Would it matter to you Liam?” Henry asked concerned.
“Nay,” Liam answered looking into the eyes of the most powerful man he knew. “It would not change the love I feel for the lass.”
“Then search for the answers you need.”
“Why now? We have spoken of this many times. Why do you suggest this now?”
Henry sighed deeply. “There have been rumors of late, rumors of two of our women. They are being sought by the wolves. I believe they are both of importance to you. The information came to me while I was in London and I have been seeking the truth of it. All reports I have received have only strengthened my belief that one is Cara.”
“And the other?”
“Perhaps it is Eva.”
“Ye think my mate and my sister are together then?”
“Nay. They are not. That is the difficult part Liam. You must find them. There is nothing to indicate their whereabouts, but a dark urgency surrounds them both. I fear that both cannot be saved.”
“I cannot make the choice between them.”
“That will be for you alone. I do not envy you your struggles, but I do wish you success in them.
“Where am I to start then?”
“Follow your feelings Liam. Don’t lose hope. My prayers go with you.” They clasped fore arms and Liam continued on his way. He noticed Darren watching him and knew he too had heard the words of The Stewart.
“Liam?”
“Ah, Darren, ye wear the same look of hope that I am beginning to feel. We’ll search till we know. Do as you do Darren and find some
one willing to talk.”
With that Darren began to ready their supplies.
Liam knew that if there was a chance to save both women that Darren would be the one to search most diligently. He would find them both; he just prayed it was in time.
Liam felt eyes on him and was overwhelmed with a sense of urgency to be on his way. He looked up to find Lady Charlotte standing in the window of the castle. She was not of their kind, she was believed to be human, but Liam believed there was more to her than that. She was mother to the new Lady Stewart and she possessed an ageless beauty that reminded Liam of the Fair Folk, but none had spoken that the lady was of that race. Liam wondered though and he knew too that the urgency came from her. Why would she want him to leave?
Lady Charlotte smiled at the burley Scotsman who watched her from the bailey yard. Had she stung his pride for making him think she wished him gone?
“Be still, good man,” she said to his mind. “I only wish to speed you on your path to find your destiny before others may destroy it.”
Liam stared in alarm at her words.
“Yes, Laird McNeal, there is a lass in need of your help. You will find her on the journey to your home. Have a care and let your heart guide your steps.”
“Aye, my Lady. You speak of one. I seek two. Will I find those I seek?”
“All things cannot be seen. Know this, the lass you will save is in great peril, even now, and is of the upmost importance to you and your people. You must hurry.”
“Will ye tell me her name?”
“No, I cannot. You will know her when the time is right. Keep your head and hold fast to your temper. You will need your wits to survive this.”
Liam sighed deeply. “How am I to find one wee lass in all the highlands?”
Liam heard the laughter in his mind. “I will help you all I can. Listen to your heart Liam. Your path will be clear, but you must hurry if you are to reach her in time. Go.”
Liam did not question her; he only quickened his steps and gathered his men.
Lady Charlotte turned from the window and gazed at her daughter and her brand new grand children. She stroked the downy head of Serina, her granddaughter and met the eyes of her new grandson, Colin.
“All will be well Colin. Your future hangs in the balance youngling, but Liam is the fiercest of all the Scotts. He will ensure the safety of those who will give life to your future. Rest easy I will aid him all I can.”
She felt his small mind move in hers. He growled.
“Yes, Colin. I can feel her fear as well. We will pray for those who will shape your destiny, my lad, but it is up to them to make the right choices. You must grow before you can protect those you must. You will be a mighty warrior, but your wisdom will set you apart. Always think first. It will lead you to greatness.”
With that Colin fell fast asleep.
Chapter 1
Cara Kingston felt her death growing near. She could smell the foul stench that always accompanied Ramsey McKenzie. He had come for her. Cara knew that with him rode her own death. She could not understand how her father could be so blind to it. Did he not see that he was practically selling her to Ramsey for an alliance?
Cara knew that if Ramsey did not kill her before she was able to escape that she would do anything to attain her freedom. She would not live with a creature with such evil living inside him. She felt it even now, seeping into her home. Haunting her every thought. The mere thought of his hands touching her body made her stomach churn. She knew if she escaped that he would hunt her, but she knew she could escape into death if he ever caught up to her.
Here thoughts ended when her chamber door swung open to admit Ramsey and her father.
“Stand up Lass.” Her father instructed.
Cara slowly stood and looked into her father’s eyes.
“There’s to be a wedding Lass. Yours. Four days hence you will wed Laird McKenzie and in doing so unite our clans.”
The last was spoken as a reminder of what was a stake if she made any protest, she understood.
“Why so soon father? I will have little time to prepare.”
A low growl filled the chamber, “You will do as I say Lass. Be glad I offer marriage at all.” Ramsey spoke as he raked her figure with his cold black eyes. The little bitch had escaped him once, but she would not escape him again. He felt power rising inside him. He would be whole if he possessed her, if he owned her. She would bring an end to his torment.
Cara shuttered, understanding his meaning. She begged her father with her eyes, but he would no longer meet hers.
“Tis an honor lass. Ye’ll be well cared for. The McKenzies are good to their women.”
“If it is your wish father, then I will not protest the match.”
“’Tis my wish, Cara,” he said in a low voice. “It will be announced tonight. We will dine together and be of good cheer.”
“Aye father. I will strive to bring you honor.”
He raised her chin and looked into her eyes. “Cara, you have brought me much honor and pride throughout your life Lass.”
Tears brimmed her eyes.
Ramsey cut into their exchange. “I’ll have a bath before we dine. I think Lady Cara should see to it for the remainder of our stay. It will soon be her duty and she should begin to learn what will be expected of her.” Ramsey had a strange feeling that he should not wait to have her until after the wedding. He wanted to take her now. He wanted to know if she was even worth the trouble he had gone to secure her. His body stirred as it did in the presents of a woman, any woman. Soon though his body would surrender control and he would no longer be a slave to his lust.
I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek at the next book in the Tiger series, Highland Tigress.
Find this book and other titles by Amanda Anderson on Amazon.com.
Let me know what you think! I am always eager to hear you.
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The Tiger Within Page 7