Page 21 of The Runaway Bride and the Highlander
Maxwell sat behind the desk, his mind full of thoughts he struggled to comprehend. While his brother’s mind was on his stomach, Maxwell’s main concern now was Skylar. He had remained silent about her powers in the presence of the council earlier. He had wanted to know their conclusion before they knew anything else about her. It might have swayed their decision one way or another, and Maxwell had determined they did not need to know. Yet now, after the conversation with his mother, he was having doubts.
“I have something tae tell ye about Skylar,” Maxwell began.
Bram lifted his eyebrows, a slight smile dancing at the corner of his mouth. “Och, I already ken ye like her, brother.”
“I dinnae like her,” Maxwell defended, not really certain if the words that left his mouth were true or not.
“Och, aye, all right,” Bram snorted in disbelief. “That must be why ye’ve ignored her like she’s carrying a plague for the last two days. Ye spent one night in her tent, and whatever happened in there, yer feelings have spooked ye. Admit it. And if ye cannae admit it tae me, ye should at least admit it tae yerself.”
“The only thing that has me spooked,” Maxwell replied evenly, trying his best to ignore Bram’s remarks, “is what I discovered about her when we returned earlier.”
Bram now frowned and sat up, looking more intently at Maxwell. “Is she a witch?” he asked eagerly. “Did she tell ye she was?”
Maxwell shook his head. “Nae exactly. But ye were right before in the woods, what ye said about people having special powers.”
“I kent it!” Bram said eagerly, a beam of satisfied knowing on his face. “So, tell me then, what are her powers? Can she read a man’s mind? Can she heal just by touching ye?”
Maxwell shook his head again. “She can see a person’s future.”
“Nae way!” Bram now jumped from his seat in excitement. “She can see the future?”
“She can. It’s why she kent the boy needed our help immediately. I think he wouldnae have made it through the day had we nae discovered him.”
“Ye mean, hadshenae discovered him,” Bram smirked.
A moment passed, and Maxwell did not say any more. Bram paced back and forth excitedly, clearly thinking about this new revelation. He suddenly stopped in his tracks and stared at Maxwell.
“But, if ye kent this before the council meeting, why did ye nae tell them?”
Maxwell smiled knowingly. “Because I didnae want any rash decisions being made. I told them what they needed tae ken for now. Besides, I wanted tae talk it over with ye. There was nae time tae speak tae ye before the meeting. It does make sense now, why Johnson was so desperate tae get her.”
Another realization crossed Bram’s face, clearly showing he had not even thought about that point. “My god, aye,” he gasped. “He’d be able tae see what challenges might be ahead and, even worse, manipulate whatever was tae happen in his favor.”
“Exactly,” Maxwell agreed. “Understanding that,” he continued, “do ye think I should tell the council what we ken?”
Bram didn’t hesitate. “I do, Max. The situation was concerning before, but this new information changes things. It’s too dangerous for them nae tae ken.”
Maxwell nodded, knowing that his brother might have come to that conclusion. He had thought the same himself but needed to ask a person he could trust if he was making the right choice.
“Besides,” Bram suddenly grinned, “her being forced tae stay here ought tae please ye.”
“Och, would ye give it a rest?” Maxwell replied, grinning back at him. “Do ye really think I want some lass getting intae my head and telling me my future?”
“Nae, I think ye’d sooner have her in yer bed than yer head.” Bram suddenly bellowed out a deep chuckle.
“God, could ye imagine?” Maxwell chuckled back. “Having a lass in yer bed who kent what ye were going tae do tae her before ye got tae do it? Where’s the fun in that?”
“Aye,” Bram agreed, “that could affect a man in places it should nae. A man’s sword should be strong and true, not limp and blue.” His laughter only got louder, and Maxwell couldn’t help but chuckle along with him.
The brother’s banter had them laughing for some time afterward, but when they settled down and decided they ought to get ready for the feast, Maxwell couldn’t help but think on Bram’s words.
On his way to his own bedchamber, his mind ran on with thoughts of how he truly did feel about Skylar. What he had learned about her did complicate things, and he was about to attend a feast with his future bride. But Skylar had stirred something within him on that night in the tent, and while it might only have been lust Maxwell was feeling, it still unsettled him.
CHAPTERELEVEN
“I’m going tae kiss ye now, Skylar. Stop me if ye dinnae want it.”
But she didn’t stop him, and she had wanted it. In fact, as she remembered his tender caress on her lips and the lashing tongue that explored her mouth, she had felt at that very moment that she had never wanted anything as much.
