Highland Defiance (The MacLomain Series- Early Years) (11 page)

“And you couldn’t tell me this to begin with!” Mildred blurted. “Or would that have made too much sense?”

“Everything I do and say makes sense,” she said calmly. Before Mildred could say another word, Iosbail’s cool eyes turned her way. “Are you not a Broun witch? Do you not descend from me?”

Her eyes went dry. Her throat clogged up.

“That’s right,” Iosbail said softly and looked out the window. “Now you know.”

Her earlier suspicions had been absolutely correct. Mildred slowly sat on the bed and eyed Iosbail with a new respect. This was the witch her mother spoke so highly of. Though she apparently ended up with the MacLomains this woman had long been one of her own. And if that was true, she was thousands of years old.

If she
was
who she said she was.

Iosbail’s eyes turned her way, blue eyes turning a deep black. “Do you doubt it for a second?”

Run from the room! Do it!
She said to herself. But Mildred didn’t. Instead she stared right back at Iosbail. To run from her… this… would somehow mean running from Fate.
Worse yet, running from
her
fate.
Where she got her bravery from she’d never know.

“I did. Now I don’t. I think you stink for not being honest up front.”

Iosbail looked at her long and hard. Every second of that long stare, Mildred wanted to cower. But she didn’t. Eventually, something in Iosbail’s eyes gentled and she nodded. “It willnae be long now.”

Even though she had many questions, Mildred didn’t say another word as they waited, perhaps because she wasn’t quite ready for answers to those questions. It was still hard to believe that Iosbail was the woman of whom her mother spoke. The very concept boggled the mind.

“It’s time,” Iosbail said at last. Head held high and shoulders back, she left the room.

Though it seemed a short time passed, the great hall had filled with people. To Mildred’s mind this should be a grand event but as they descended the stairs no head turned. The clansfolk mingled but their eyes stayed suspiciously away from the women descending. It felt forced, intentional. But what did she know of events like this in such a time period? Perhaps this was perfectly normal.

With a loud, deep bellow, Bruce said, “Here.”

But Iosbail was already heading in his direction. Mildred followed, uncomfortable as the thick crowd parted just enough for them to make their way to the area in front of the great fire. If she’d been claustrophobic, this would be terrible…and smelly. Did these people bathe as a general rule of thumb?

Laird Bruce seemed somewhat refreshed, his hair damp, his tartan clean. So at least he changed. Beside him stood a man slightly shorter and believe it or not, far more stocky. Clearly bathed as well, the man’s expression was an odd mix of grumpy and lustful as he watched Iosbail approach. Heavens above, she hoped this wasn’t her great-grandfather distantly removed. Not enough generations could comfortably come between her and this predator.

Why would Adlin allow this union?

Better yet, why would Iosbail?

As if he heard her very thoughts, a tall man merged in beside her. Iosbail didn’t need to look to know who it was.

Adlin.

Bruce’s eyes hardened slightly. Mildred didn’t dare look Adlin’s way.

Apparently Adlin didn’t feel the same because he leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Good to see you again, lass. It’s been far too long.”

Her body warmed not only because of the sound of his throaty whisper but by his very nearness… his heat.

Iosbail cleared her throat and said softly, “Shall we begin my laird?”

Bruce jerked his head yes. Iosbail and the man who must be his brother stepped forward so that they faced one another. Mildred almost cringed. Iosbail was lovely, refined, and proud, her counterpart however, leering, shifty-eyed, sleazy. It was an unnatural match by anyone’s standards.

As if he sensed her discomfort, Adlin moved closer, his presence the first tangible release from stress she’d felt since traveling back in time again. Yet even with him close, she continued to feel uneasy. Why was this happening? Did the clans need the tie
this
much?

Mildred watched as a scrap of tartan bound Iosbail and her betrothed wrists together. She listened as they spoke in a foreign language words that were obviously binding them together as man and wife. She bit her lip when the words were finished and the stranger pulled Iosbail into his arms for what appeared to be a very unpleasant kiss.

The crowd roared to life. Bruce nodded and a dry grin broke over his craggy face. Mildred fell back when the mass of people swarmed forward. Grateful, she let them surround her. Stinky folk or not, she didn’t want to be anywhere near what she’d just witnessed.

“Go get some fresh air.”

Though she knew Adlin had whispered in her ear, when she looked around he was nowhere to be found. But his words lingered as well as the suggestion. Fresh air would be wonderful. Mildred shoved through the crowd toward the door. From this point, it seemed a million miles away. Luckily, the people seemed too interested in moving toward the newly married couple.

And they were a bendy crowd.

Mildred spied the doors and gratefully exited the great hall into the cold air of the Scottish Highlands. Or should she say cool with a bite? Unlike a solid New Hampshire winter, the moisture and nip of the wind felt different, far more intentional and sea born.

It felt
perfect.

The second she walked out the door she was a little freer than she’d been the whole time in the castle. It didn’t matter that she had no real sense of direction.

“But you do,” Adlin said. She didn’t hesitate when his hand lightly took her elbow. All she’d wanted since she’d arrived was a moment alone with him. As if she thought Bruce was still somehow staring her down she didn’t look Adlin’s way.

They didn’t go far.

When he veered off into the stalls, she followed. A few torches burned. Besides the meager light the stalls were empty of humans, only horses. They walked about halfway down before he pulled her into a dark stall. Positioning himself where light cut across half his face, he put his hands on her forearms and asked, “How have you been all these years?”

All these years?
Mildred looked up into his beautiful, concerned face and didn’t know quite what to say. In fact, she was speechless.

Adlin’s large hand cupped her cheek. “I’m sorry that you left so quickly before. It’s hard to imagine you’re back again so many years later.” His tone faltered. “Why are you back, Mildred?”

Caught by the feel of his touch her lips parted, her jaw dropped, but no sound came out. Why did he seem so surprised? Adlin was Adlin. If he was the man whom her mother spoke of he was supposed to know everything. Wasn’t he?

As if he heard her thoughts a certain sort of understanding crossed over his features. His thumb gently caressed her cheek and he leaned close. “You’re here for a reason.” He pulled back slightly as though surprised by his own words. Uncertain, he asked, “When did you last see me?”

As hard as it was to say she whispered, “Yesterday. I saw you yesterday.”

A flicker of confusion crossed his face then vanished as though he were practiced at disguising shock. The moment became not one of romance but one of protection as he cupped her other cheek, leaned his forehead against hers and said briefly, “Please dinnae worry. I will figure this out.”

When he pulled away sharply and began pacing the horse stall, Mildred leaned against the wall, weak from the push and pull of this reality… of Adlin.

None of this made sense. Adlin was supposed to know how to fix this. Yet he seemed confused. With a heavy swallow, Mildred said, “Please just send me home. I don’t belong here.”

As though he’d been caught doing something he wasn’t allowed, Adlin stopped short and looked at her. In that single moment, she saw how much he cared. Perhaps not about her but by her set of circumstances. More than that, she saw remorse. As though he knew he couldn’t make the situation better.

Sudden rage filled her. “Don’t look at me like that! If you’re the man my mother spoke of, you can fix this in a minute. Are you not a wizard?
A powerful one?”

Arms akimbo, eyes suddenly calm when he looked at her, Adlin said in a strange tone, “It seems, my lass, you are beyond even my control.”

Mildred shook her head. “No.” Then she nodded. “You can fix this.”

She ignored the fact that he gazed at her with his heart in his eyes. Yes, he was by far the best looking man she’d ever laid eyes on. But that meant nothing right now. He was supposed to be able to fix this. Not stand there helpless.

“Shh,” he whispered and came to her. He pulled her hands against his chest. “You are not alone.”

Mildred tried to pull away but he held tight. Angry she said, “Not alone. Are you crazed? Not even you understand this. Seems your sister does though. Why don’t you go talk to her and get this figured out so that I can get home.”

Adlin was strong and held her flailing arms in place all while towering over her with that same sad, confused look on his face. His grip only tightened enough to hold her in place. No more, no less. Eventually Mildred stopped trying to flail and looked up into his face.

As if he was waiting for her to calm he said, “Mildred, do you believe in Fate… in Destiny?”

“No I don’t. I believe a person controls their own fate. Nobody else controls it.”

He pulled her closer.
“Would you believe me if I told you that you were wrong?”

Mildred found herself nodding and then shaking her head, mesmerized by his intense gaze. “I think you’d tell me just about anything to keep me calm right now.”

His eyes searched hers, his lips hinted at a smile. “And would that be so terrible?”

Caught in the rich, enticing depths of his eyes she said, “No.”
Then the nagging feeling that she was being led astray by ‘everything Adlin’ resurfaced and she said, “Yes!”

Lord, he smelled good. Like spice and outdoors and something else.

He moved her back against the stall, shaking his head the whole time. “There is such a being as Fate. There is such a thing as Destiny.” His head lowered until their lips were within inches. “I never stopped thinking about you, Mildred. And now you’re back.” His lips came so close that the corner of his met the corner of hers. “Are you here for me?”

The touch of the corner of his lip made her suck in air. She should try to pull away, something. But the warmth of his breath, the protection, the pure need, made her turn her lips to his, to seek them.

When their lips came together it was as though they’d never been apart… as though their lips were made to fit together. She felt as though she was kissing a man for the first time.  Both startled and intrigued she brought her hands to his shoulders. His skin was hard and on fire.

As his lips tilted over hers, her fingers curled, nails digging. Muscled, smooth, knowing, his tongue swung into her mouth. Eager, she met and swirled…relished. He tasted as good as he looked, delicious. Hungry, she stood on tip-toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn’t fight him when he wedged her thighs apart and pushed against her, his arousal thick and wanting against her innocent but eager core.

“Guess he lucked out.”

Startled, she froze.

Adlin made a gesture with his hand and deepened the kiss. Caught off guard, Mildred pulled back and frowned. Nothing had changed. She could still hear men talking right outside their stall.