Page 7 of Claimed by the Clan Chief

“My eyes,” he whispered, lowering his face to hers. He had a sudden urge to kiss her, to find out what her pretty mouth would feel like against his. But she was skittish, like a young deer alone in the woods, and he was sure one wrong move and she’d take off. He’d likely never see her again.

“Your eyes,” she said, biting on her bottom lip.

Damn, his cock was stirring now. “Aye.”

“But… you have one green and one blue.”

“Aye, since I was a bairn.” Was that the problem? His mismatched eyes?

“Don’t you ken what that means?”

“What it means? Nay, lass, was just how God made me. Doesn’t mean a thing.”

She swallowed and shook her head.

“What does it mean to you?” he asked gently, though he couldn’t deny he was frustrated by the strangeness of it all. “Tell me.”

She pulled in a breath. “It means you were touched by a witch. That you can see into souls.”

“What?” He couldn’t help a chuckle. “Touched by a witch? Now my ma had a way with herbs and always a tincture to fix us bairns up with but she was no witch.”

“Not your ma, someone else.” There was a small tremble in her voice.

He frowned. “And is it the witch you’re scared of? Because I’m not scared of witches, not for one moment.”

“You’re not?” She glanced up at him, but quickly looked back down again.

“Nay, I’ve come across one in my life and she was always there for me. From that experience I learned I’ve nothing to fear.” He paused. “Are you scared of witches?”

She shook her head.

“So what’s the problem?” For the love of God, he wanted this woman to speak to him. He needed to ken what was going on. She was an enigma, something about her set her apart from other women of the Highlands. Sure she was pretty, smart too from what he’d seen… but there was something else.

“People with one green and one blue eye can…”

“Go on.” He’d tried to speak gently, but standing in the quiet of the courtyard her voice was so delicate compared to his deep one. He hoped that didn’t scare her.

“They can see into souls. See what a person is really thinking, what they want and need.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You think I can see into souls?”

“You’re the leader of clans, you’re fighting for king and country. There must be a reason you have that position. An advantage you have over others.”

“Aye, there is, I’m loyal to Scotland, and I’m a Highland warrior who just happens to have a thinking mind to go with my brawn. But I assure you I have no soul-seeing abilities.”

“You don’t?”

“Nay, I don’t ken where you got that idea from.”

“It’s an old tale.”

“And it’s wrong.” Gently he tipped her chin, raising her face to his. “Now look at me, look at my eyes, nothing will change. I promise. It’s like looking at anyone else.”

He could tell she was nervous. Her shoulders were tense and her breaths coming quick. But she did raise her face and set her dark gaze on his.

His heart sped up; she was more than pretty, she was beautiful. And in the depths of her eyes he saw a strong, independent woman with a sharp wit and fierce streak.

“What do you see?” she whispered as she gazed upward.

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