Highland Persuasion (The MacLomain Series- Early Years)

Iosbail MacLomain will do whatever it takes to bring Laird Alexander Sinclair to his knees. Even if it means she has to travel through time to eleventh century Scotland and manipulate a king into marrying her off to the enemy. 
What she doesn't anticipate is a bitter rivalry between King Edgar and Alexander Sinclair. It seems the man she just married is by birthright a threat to the throne. Her plans are suddenly hindered when she and her new husband are almost murdered.
Their lives on the line, Alexander and Iosbail are forced to flee across the country. Fraught with risk, adventure and wild, unexpected desire they struggle against overwhelming odds. Only on MacLomain land does justice stand a chance.
Will a true king find shelter so far from his homeland? Can a woman set out for vengeance forgive deeds done wrong?
Better yet, can enemies persuade one another to forgive and perhaps even love?
Find out in a powerful story that leaves no soul untouched...
HIGHLAND PERSUASION.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Highland Persuasion (The MacLomain Series- Early Years)

COPYRIGHT © 2013 by Sky Purington

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Edited by
Cathy McElhaney

Cover Art by
Tamra Westberry

Published in the United States of America

Highland Persuasion

By

Sky Purington

Dedication

This story is dedicated to Phoenix Dow, one of my very best friends.

You will soon grow into a strong, amazing woman.

When you do, rule wisely, my dear.

PREVIOUS RELEASES INCLUDE…

~The MacLomain Series~

The King’s Druidess (MacLomain Series- Prelude)

Fate’s Monolith (MacLomain Series- Book One)

Destiny’s Denial (MacLomain Series- Book Two)

Sylvan Mist (MacLomain Series- Book Three)

The MacLomain Series Boxed Set is also available.

~The MacLomain Series- Early Years~

Highland Defiance- Tale One

Highland Persuasion- Tale Two

Highland Mystic- Tale Three- Coming June of 2013

~The MacLomain Series- Next Generation~

Coming autumn of 2013

~Forsaken Brethren Series~

Darkest Memory.

Heart of Vesuvius

Soul of the Viking- Coming September of 2013

~Calum’s Curse Trilogy~

The Victorian Lure (Calum’s Curse:
Ardetha Vampyre
)

The Georgian Embrace (Calum’s Curse:
Acerbus Lycan
)

The Tudor Revival (Calum’s Curse:
Ultima Bellum
)

~Song of the Muses Series~

Highland Muse

~FREE Reads~

A Christmas Miracle

Prologue

East Lothian, Scotland

1004

“You’ll not have me then.” He whipped a pebble into the ocean.

“Shh, lad.”
Iosbail knelt and closed her eyes. Only a certain prayer to the gods would offer up the best oysters.

“Never once did I leave your side.
All this time!”

“Quiet,” she murmured and ran her hand through the gritty sand and salt water.

Nigell grabbed her arm and pulled her up. “Iosbail Broun, I have been quiet for far too long.”

With a purposefully exasperated sigh, Iosbail said, “You knew from the start that this was but a journey with an end. Ours was never a true romance. I made that apparent always.”

His brown eyes turned sad.
“So heartless.”

“Truthful!” Iosbail shook her head and once more knelt. “I need to collect these pearls. They’re important for what is to come.”

Nigell crouched next to her. “The making of a dress with pearls is more important than a man in love?”

She frowned but refused to let her heart soften. Love was something she was not allowed to feel. It’d always been that way and would always be.

“You rule my clan well, Nigell, and for that I will always be grateful.” She found an oyster and dropped it in her satchel. “But we both know I will return to the MacLomains… that I am now a MacLomain.”

“Nay,” he said vehemently. “You are a Broun.
This
is your clan.”

“Nay,” she replied. “This is now
your
clan, then your son’s after that.”

“And you know how much I appreciate everything you’ve given me, Iosbail.” He squeezed her hand. “But what is a clan without you?”

“A strong clan.”
She met his eyes.
“One that you will rule well.”

“I just wish…”

Iosbail put a finger to his lips and shook her head. “I must be with the MacLomains now and you must be here.”

“But I dinnae ken why.”

“Aye, you do. ‘
Tis the way of things.
My brother needs me.”

“Adlin,” Nigell muttered. “Out of nowhere, a brother you never knew existed.”

“Aye.”
Iosbail looked out on the sea. “A brother I never knew existed.”

What Nigell did not realize was that she’d known of and visited Adlin many times in the past several years. The MacLomain clan knew her well and she them.

Nigell scooped up an oyster and handed it to her.

The moment she took it, Iosbail felt something shift and waver.

Even as she stood the blue sky turned dark and the water turbulent. What strife was this?

Iosbail called on her magic but it was too little too late.

An arrow pierced Nigell’s neck and he fell forward.

Furious and horrified, her eyes rose.

High on horseback, eyes narrowed, the man growled and pulled free his claymore.

Damn the Sinclair Clan.

They’d finally found her.

Chapter One

Cowal, Scotland

One Year Later

“I will change history!” Iosbail declared. “Somehow I’ll make sure the Sinclairs never make their way into Scotland to begin with.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” Adlin responded. “History is not yours to change.”

“Isn’t it?” She scowled and plunked down in a chair in front of the great hall fire. “They’re not due to make their way into this country for nearly seventy more years and already they’re causing havoc!”

“Mmm,” Adlin murmured and paced before the fire. “They found the Highland Defiance.”

Iosbail frowned. The Highland Defiance was a portal of sorts that enabled those with magical abilities to travel through time. While she and Adlin were nearly five hundred year old wizards, they were the only ones of their kind. Not to say others didn’t have magic, they certainly did, but the gift seemed to become less prevalent as the years continued. In addition, the gift was the best kept secret in Scotland. As times slowly changed, so too did the public’s acceptance of the old ways.

“I can still see the look in his eyes after he killed Nigell,” Iosbail murmured.

“Something that does you no good.
Nigell’s son has since led the Brouns very well.”