Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers Book 3) (16 page)

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Authors: Joanne Wadsworth

BOOK: Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers Book 3)

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“Cherub wished for you and Arabel too to enjoy a surprise.” Murdock motioned toward Cherub. “There are also to be three weddings this day. Kirk and Cherub’s as well.”

“That’s perfect.” Isla beamed. “Nothing could make me happier than to stand by both Arabel and Cherub as we wed our men.”

Megan grasped Arabel’s hands. “Welcome to the family, my dear. I’m Finlay’s mother, Megan.”

“’Tis wonderful to meet you.” Arabel hugged Finlay’s parents.

“Mum? Dad?” Iain stood at the front door in black pants and a dark tunic, his confused gaze moving from his mother to his father. “Am I imagining this? Or are you both really here?”

“My father’s here too.” Isla bounded into Iain’s arms and he swung her around. “We’re getting married today, you and me, Finlay and Arabel, and Kirk and Cherub.”

Finlay jogged in and stopped and stared. “Whoa. I turn my back for ten minutes and look what happens.”

Arabel giggled and skipped to Finlay’s side. “Are you ready to flirt with a little more fire, my mate? ’Tis time for us to speak vows afore a clergyman.”

“Always, my sweet. Bring on the fire.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “I can’t wait to marry you proper. No more handfast wife, but a wife in complete and full truth.”

“Then you will all need me if there are to be three weddings this day.” Father John from the priory walked toward them in his brown robes and roped tie at his waist.

Nessa and Gilleoin, and a flurry of their clansmen, spilled into the hall. All cheered as they encircled them.

Kirk held Cherub’s hands in his and gazed into her eyes. “This day I shall wed the woman I love. Thank you for bringing us all together so we could celebrate as one.”

“This is another advantage to being mated to a time-walker. I shall always bring you and your kin together, whenever it is needed.” She reached up on her toes and kissed him. “I love you, with all my heart. Thank you for hunting me down. Your chase has been the most memorable one of my life.”

“I’ll never cease hunting or chasing you.”

“On that note”—Father John cleared his throat—“’tis clearly time to begin.”

Cherub smiled. “Aye, please, go ahead, Father John.”

They all spoke their vows, Isla and Iain first, then Arabel and Finlay, then lastly her and Kirk.

Applause abounded as they all sealed their vows with a kiss.

Cherub clung to Kirk as joy unlike any she’d ever experienced before filled her and overflowed her heart. She’d committed herself to her mate in all ways and he’d done the same with her. This day would mark the beginning of the rest of their lives, a most wondrous joining she’d forever cherish. Giggling, she kissed her new husband again and tasted heaven and all the promises it could bring.

Aye, after more than a thousand years of living alone, her life had now finally begun.

’Twas time to let love reign, and for her to share her duty with the man who held the other half of her soul, just as she held the other half of his.

I hope you enjoyed Kirk and Cherub’s adventure-filled story. Don’t miss the all new spinoff series,
Clan Matheson
. The ‘power of three’ and their mates will be back to work some faerie magic amongst their kind.

For book one in the
Clan Matheson
series, you can grab your copy here.

Highlander’s Kiss, (
Book One
)

Feel free to sign up to my newsletter to catch the release dates for the rest of this new series here.
http://mad.ly/signups/94643/join

If you missed Iain and Isla’s story, you can catch it right here.

Highlander’s Desire, (
Book One
)

For Finlay and Arabel’s story, catch it right here.

Highlander’s Passion,
(
Book Two
)

Author’s Note

Clan Matheson descends from a twelfth century man called Gilleoin, a man who was believed to have been from the ancient Royal House of Lorne. The name Matheson has been attributed to the Gaelic words Mic Mhathghamhuim which means “Son of the Bear,” and the clan chief’s arms carry two bears as supporters. In the twelfth century, clan Matheson settled around the area of Loch Alsh, Loch Carron, and Kintail, and gave their allegiance to clan MacDonald whose chiefs were the Lords of the Isles. Clan Matheson became a large and powerful clan with a force of around two-thousand men, although by the middle of the sixteenth century they’d diminished greatly in size and influence due to the blood feuds raging across the isles at that time. This warring left them to possess less than a third of the original Matheson property on Loch Alsh.

Interestingly, the other main branch of clan Matheson lived near Loch Shin, Sutherland, at this time, and it was when I discovered this piece of vital information that the story I wished to tell of this once mighty clan and the whispers in ancient times of their ability to shift into the form of the bear became clear.

For the purposes of this story, I chose for Gilleoin to have two sons, both when they came of age forced to go their separate ways, one remaining at Loch Alsh and the other traveling farther afield to an area near Loch Shin. Those sons would then lead their own clans, yet would one day once again merge to bring the legend surrounding clan Matheson back to life. It’s time for the whispers to reignite. Clan Matheson are the “Son of the Bear.”

This story is woven with as much accuracy to the period and locations as possible, although any mistakes made are mine alone.

This book forms part of
The Matheson Brothers
series, and each story within it is stand-alone.

Please feel free to search for any of my other works. I simply adore strong heroines, and have a ton of fun matching them with their honorable alpha heroes.

Joanne Wadsworth

I love reading romance, but even more, I love to write it. My characters hound me, demanding their stories are told. I’m happy to oblige, giving them the romance they’re after, provided they can accept a little angst and adventure along the way.

In beautiful New Zealand, I live with my hubby and four energetic children, and adore using the stunning countries of Scotland and the South Pacific as backdrops in many of my books. One day I hope to travel further afield, to visit the Scottish Highlands, America, and everywhere between.

With several series underway, I write historical Highlander romances featuring strong heroines whose paths collide with their delicious Highland heroes, as well as fast-paced YA/NA fantasy romance, and heart-pounding romantic suspense.

There is no greater feeling than seeing my characters come to life, so come and join me...where romance meets fantasy and adventure.

To learn more about Joanne and her works, visit:

Website and Blog

http://www.joannewadsworth.com

Facebook

http://facebook.com/joannewadsworthromanceauthor

Twitter

http://twitter.com/JoanneWadsworth

Goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6469428.Joanne_Wadsworth

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