Page 15 of The Highlander's Illicit Bride
“Because I’m a Mackintosh… and with what me faither did tae ye, I suppose I cannae blame ye for bein’ a little wary. But I’ve nay desire tae hurt ye…”
Her voice trailed off and she lowered her gaze, not finishing the rest of her thought. She was about to tell him she wouldn’t hurt him because she was relying on Struan to get her far away from Moy Castle and her father. If he died, she would be alone. And that would not do.
Nay, that would nae dae at all.
So, to show him she was being sincere, Isolde took a bite of everything on the paper in her lap. She pulled a skin of water from the pack and swallowed it all down before turning her attention back to Struan.
“There. Ye see?” she said. “’Tis nae poison.”
He chuckled, but then did share in her paltry meal, taking small bites and satisfying the rumbling in his belly that she could hear. Once they’d eaten, Isolde wrapped up the rest of the food and put it back in her pack.
She had no idea how long their rations were going to last but she knew they needed to stretch them as far as they could. If Struan was unable to secure fresh meat, it would be all they had to fill their bellies with.
As a cold gust of wind blew through the crofter’s hut, Isolde shivered. She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, trying to preserve as much warmth as she could.
She turned back and gasped as Struan leaned forward. The tips of their noses were scant inches apart but his gaze was fixed on her forehead. He reached up and gingerly touched her temple, a small frown flickering across his lips.
“What are ye daein’?” she croaked.
“Ye’ve got a bruise on yer head I didnae notice before.”
“I’m fine.”
“I ken. I just wanted tae check.”
His stormy gray eyes fell onto hers and Isolde drew in a sharp breath. Their gazes lingered and a palpable tension suddenlyfilled the air around them. For the first time, she noticed his lips, soft and full, and found herself wondering how they would feel pressed to hers.
Isolde gave herself a shake and turned away, breaking eye contact. The aftereffects lingered though and she felt an energy, sharper than lightning and hotter than lava, crackling across her skin. She swallowed hard, trying to remove the lump and quell the churning in her belly at the same time.
As another cold gust blew through the open crofter’s door, Struan got to his feet and walked across the room to where he’d left his thick wool cloak. He walked back over and sat down beside her, draping the cloak over both their shoulders, pulling her in tight. She looked at him with a question in her eyes.
“We cannae have a fire and ye need tae stay warm,” he said simply. “’Tis me duty tae keep ye alive until we find me braither.”
The way he said it sent a cold chill down her spine. “And after that? After we find yer braither?” she asked. “What are ye going tae dae with me then?”
They sat beneath cloak, shoulder to shoulder, the heat between them growing like a building fire. The air continued to crackle with tension between them and Isolde had to fight hard to keep her heart swelling so large that it burst out of her chest.
He shrugged. “That’ll be up ae ye. Keep yer promise and help me get me braither back, and I’ll help ye get tae wherever ye want tae go.”
A small smile flickered across Isolde’s lips. Though she had no reason to believe him, she found that she did, that she trusted him. It was odd, given that she did not know him. But she could feel it when somebody was untrue, and she hadn’t gotten a single whiff of that from Struan. She believed he was true to his word; he would not harm her and help her get wherever she wanted to go when her part in this was done.
The trouble was, Isolde had no idea where she wanted to go. Her entire plan had been to get out of Moy Castle—to get away from the marriage and the life her father wanted to force upon her. And if she was being honest, she had never thought she’d get as far as she was. And because of that, she had never planned beyond the castle walls. She had not anticipated the turn of events that had led her to that moment. But there she was.
But now I am out in the open and free. It’s time to come up with a plan.
It was daunting. Terrifying. But at the same time, it was exhilarating. For the first time in her life, she had choices that were all hers to make.
“We should try tae get some sleep,” he said. “We’ll want tae be off at first light.”
“Aye.”
They lay down on the hard packed ground, back-to-back, the cloak covering them both. Isolde closed her eyes and tried to getsome sleep, but the excitement of a future yet uncharted was almost too much for her to bear.
CHAPTER SEVEN
He had to get to her.
Struan felt the heat from the flames upon his skin, making him sweat and squirm. He was surrounded by fire and forced to fight off soldiers who poured in all around him. Chaos reigned and the cries of the wounded and dying rang in his ears. It was a terrible sound. It sounded like the gates of hell had been thrown open and all the demons it held back came rushing out, crowing with glee and malice. The sound of it sent a cold dagger of dread through his heart.
