Page 13 of Forbidden Desire

“I shall go.” Mawnsie turned at my side. “I shall depart at once and send word to our people.”

“Taing do.” I nodded, watching as he collected his weapon. “May the gods grant you haste, Mawnsie.”

“Jeemie,” Aidan’s voice directed me back to the throng. “Should we prepare to fight?”

I glanced around at what we had available. As a hunting party—well outfitted with bows, arrows, and blades—we were capable of defending our fair isle.

“Aye.” I pulled in a deep breath, my feet already moving toward the shore. “Take what you can carry and meet me on the sand. We shall confront this invader and bring them to their knees.”

Chapter Seven

Elodie

IT WAS EASIER THAN I’d thought. Stealing the boat had been a cinch, the deserted shore meaning it was as simple as getting comfortable and helping myself. I didn’t like to think of myself as a thief and would return the boat after I found my sister, but needs dictated I must do what I must do. I needed to cross the water, and if the repulsive vermin, Conrad, wouldn’t help, what choice did I have? Not that I’d have traveled with the cretin, anyway. I was better off on my own.

As if the waves validated my view, they smoothed for me, permitting as calm a crossing as one would ever see this far north. I’d been handling boats for years and knew even tranquil waters could be deceptive, but the strong boat and kind ocean facilitated my path, ensuring I approached the island with little difficulty.

Spirits high, I directed the vessel to the nearest inlet, searching for somewhere to moor until I was ready to leave. I found a suitable root jutting out from an enormous rock, then noticed the approaching men. My heart raced as I took in their sheer size and ferocity. Four looming giants strode toward me, their faces obscured by oversized headgear with antlers bursting from either side.

“Wh-Who are you?” I tried to show mettle but feared my confidence was lost as one stepped toward me. “I was told this island was uninhabited.”

I had been over the point with Tom on more than one occasion and found the original notes Charlie had written when his mother handed over everything to me. I knew there were supposedly no people here, but that didn’t help me with the matter of these menacing islanders.

“Aon eile?” One snorted, turning toward another. “Another lass has landed.” His lips stretched into a grin, his mouth the only part of his face that was visible.

“Who are you?” I repeated, wincing at the tremble in my voice.

“The question, coigreach, is who are you?” Another stepped forward as he spoke. “And what are you doing on our isle?”

Blowing out a breath, I lifted my chin as if I could somehow grow as tall as the odd-looking inhabitants.

“I’ve come for my sister.” There seemed little point in making small talk. I wouldn’t cower to their peculiar spectacle, and if they couldn’t help, I had plenty of ground to cover to find Desiree.

“Piuthar?” He spoke again, but this time his voice was animated. “Your sister?”

“Yes.” Disregarding his intimidating demeanor, I stepped forward. “Do you know her?”

“Desiree.” He smiled, his hands rising to his face and yanking the huge animal headgear away.

“Yes.” My heart skipped a beat at the sound of my sister’s voice, the first and only sign of her existence for days. “You know her?”

My gaze fell upon him properly for the first time, taking in his twinkling blue eyes and the dark blond hair falling past high cheekbones. He was an attractive man; the realization unsettling in light of why I was here.

Come on, El, this isn’t a trip designed to find a man. This is about Des!

“Aye.” He nodded. “She is back at our village.”

“Oh, thank God.”

A rush of relief surged my system, my hands flying to cover my mouth. For so long, I’d struggled in limbo, unsure if she was alive or dead but carried on because I had no other choice. I had to be strong, for Mum, for Des—for everyone—and hadn’t allowed myself the option of considering what I would do if I got here and I couldn’t find her... or if she’d been dead. The recollection of this stranger was the best news I’d received in a long time.

“Is she okay?” I hadn’t noticed my knees folding beneath me, but looking up, I realized I was kneeling in the sand. Brows knitting, I ran my fingertips through the coarse grains, confused at my predicament. It had been a long day, and I hadn’t eaten much, but still, how could I have fallen and not even been aware?

“Aye, she is well.” He tilted his head as if concerned for my welfare. From my vantage, the man was colossal—they all were. “I can take you to her.”

For one lingering moment, our gazes locked, his blue eyes fixing on mine as time stood still. Then, as if piercing its protracted nature, another of the giants stepped forward from behind him.

“Rabhadh, Jeemie.” His voice was a hushed whisper. “Chan eil sinn eolach oirre.”

---