Highlander's Guardian (13 page)

“Go.” Colin turned her by the shoulders, tipped her onto her belly and slid his sword free. “Now.”

“He has a daughter and the child has no mother. If you kill him, she’ll be without parents.”

“The lass is of no concern to you, Annie.” He pressed a soft kiss on her lips and nudged her to go.

“I grew up without my parents and I dinnae wish for his daughter too as well. Please, be careful.” She had no choice but to leave. “And I mean no’ one scratch, or I’ll be very angry. You dinnae want to see me angry, Colin MacLean.”

“Aye, scamp. I’ll take care.”

She scuttled through the underbrush, hating that she had to leave him.

“Come here, lass.” Arthur stepped out from behind a trunk and scooped her into his arms.

“Put me down. I can find my own way to safety. Stay with Colin.”

“Nay, I have to get you away from here afore I can rejoin the captain. Hold tight.” He lifted her higher against his chest and she seized his shoulders as he ran through the trees. Everything blurred and her head spun.

Colin’s fierce battle cry rang out, and the chilling sound reverberated throughout the forest as her MacLeod kin joined in with his roar. So many men fighting, and all because of her.

As steel rang loud against steel, the grating clang had her shoving against Arthur’s chest. “Put me down here. This is far enough. You have to go back, now.”

“Aye, this should do.” He glanced up into the dense foliage of a tree then boosted her into the safety of the wide bow, her position hidden.

“Go, please. I cannae lose Colin as I lost my parents. I’d never survive it.”

“I’m going. Stay here.” He dashed away.

Colin thrust his sword high and blocked Hugh MacDonald’s swift blow. The urge to kill the warrior for stealing Annie from him throbbed with deadly menace deep inside him. The MacDonalds were a thorn in his side, a constant threat against him and his kin.

“Where is she, MacLean?” Hugh’s gaze glinted with animosity.

“Safely away, so I might end your life and then join her.” He slammed his blade into Hugh’s side.

Grunting, Hugh fell back a step. He grasped his side and eyed the long slice in his steel-studded war coat, a cut that hadn’t quite drawn blood. “She’s agreed to be my wife.”

“Like hell she has.”

“She’s your cousin and ward.”

“Third cousin, and as my ward, I’ve well and truly ensured her future.”

“Fergus,” Hugh shouted.

“Here.” Fergus jumped the low brush and came in beside Hugh. “Rory MacLeod is here with as many warriors as us. The men fight.”

“MacLean must die. He stands in my way.” Hugh twirled his blade and softened his footing. Fergus did the same, the two of them coming around either side of Colin.

“You’re a blood-thirsty lot.” Colin rocked on his heels as battle lust roared through him. “I’ll enjoy ridding Scotland of the two of you.”

“Strong words, MacLean. But futile,” Hugh snorted.

Both MacDonalds advanced.

Hugh struck first and Colin spun and blocked the fierce blow. As Fergus attacked, Colin dropped low, kicked the warrior’s shin and sent Fergus sprawling into a thorny bush.

Fergus shoved to his feet. “A dirty move, MacLean.”

“And what do you call two warriors battling against one?” Colin fought, his claymore clashing against Hugh’s blade and then Fergus’s. Their blows were well-timed as they worked together against him.

“I’m here,” Arthur yelled as he bounded into the fight.

“Is Annie safe?”

“Aye, Captain.” Arthur shoved his back against Colin’s then fought Fergus as he swung his sword. “I tossed her into a tree.”

“She can scramble up and down trees in her sleep.”

“Colin!” Annie shouted his name as she ran toward him, her white-blond hair streaming behind her. “No’ a scratch. Do you hear me?”

“Get back.” Damn it. He had to end this battle before she got any closer. He glared at Arthur. “Next time, tie her down.”

“There willnae be a next time,” Hugh smirked as he struck Colin’s ribs.

Pain ricocheted and rattled his teeth from the brutal blow. Hell. He should’ve been paying attention to the fight and not his wife.

Annie screamed as Hugh swung again.

Colin barely caught the next blow. It knocked him onto his knees, their two blades crashing together a mere breath from his nose.

“You’ll never wed my wife.” Arms shaking, Colin shoved his two-handed sword hard against Hugh’s and heaved to his feet. He sprang forward and fought. Annie needed him alive, and there was no greater incentive than to fight for her and their future together. He slammed his blade into Hugh’s arm and blood spurted.

Hugh gripped his wound and yelled at Fergus for aid, except his man was of no use since Arthur had him on the ground, his knee planted into Fergus’s back as he bound his arms with his leather belt and restrained him.

Colin slid his claymore tight against Hugh’s throat. “You’ve lost the fight.”

“Colin, nay.” Annie clenched her midnight-blue skirts. “Please, I had to watch my parents die, and Hugh too has a child. Let the king decide their punishment.”

“I prefer to hand out my own punishment.” He pressed until blood oozed. “And I believe I shall make it as painful as possible.”

All around the forest stilled as the sounds of the battle ceased. Rory emerged from the thick trees with heaving breaths, his claymore in one hand and battle-axe in the other. Blood dripped from both, as it did from the swords of his warriors who strode in beside him. “There are only these two left,” Rory stated. “The others wouldnae concede to defeat.”

Annie ran to Rory. “I cannae take anymore death. This has to stop.”

“Lass, you should never have been brought into this feud.” He pulled her into his arms. “Your husband has every right now to seek justice for your abduction.”

“He told you about our vows?”

“Aye, but you must speak for yourself. Do you truly love him?”

“I do, with all my heart.” She glanced at Colin. “Please, spare these two men.”

“They intended to kill us, Annie.”

“You’re better than them. You could end Hugh’s life, or you could deliver him to the king.”

Aye, but which should it be? Certainly death at his hand was almost too easy for Hugh. He should be made to suffer, and what with his abduction of Annie, any word Hugh now spoke against Colin would be considered naught but vindictive ramblings. He should be safe against anything Hugh said, but could he take that risk?

“’Tis up to you.” Rory nodded at him as he wiped his axe on the grass and holstered it. “Although, you and your chief will have more sway with the king should you allow him to see justice is done. We’re on the king’s land, Colin. He wishes for the clans to make peace, for Scotland to be united as one.”

More sway wouldn’t hurt, particularly if it aided his chief in his negotiations, and Annie’s pleading gaze, so filled with trust, tore at his heart. For him to take MacDonald’s life in front of her, would dim that light. He lowered his blade. “For my wife’s sake, we’ll take these two in.”

He shoved Hugh facedown into the dirt and one of Rory’s warriors bounded across and restrained him with rope.

Rory called to his men. “’Tis been a long night and we’ve a long day ahead of us, but we willnae leave until we’ve buried the dead.”

Annie sprang into Colin’s arms and he caught her, barely planting one foot back in time to stop them both from tumbling to the ground. “You made the right choice.”

“Aye, because now I have you, scamp, all of you.”

“You’ve always had all of me.” She smoothed one finger over his chin and frowned. “There’s a bruise. When did you get this?”

“Rory didnae take the initial news of our handfast vows well.”

“I should have been there when you told him.”

“You can kiss it better if you like.”

“I’d like very much.” A mischievous glint lit her beautiful blue eyes as she lifted onto her toes and brushed her lips against his.

“The bruise is lower.” He cupped her cheek as longing rushed through him.

“I was getting there.” She kissed a scratch on his neck then nibbled along to his ear. “This could take a while afore I get to that bruise.”

“Then we need more privacy.” He scooped her into his arms and carried her deeper into the forest where they could be guaranteed just that. He sat on the lush grass surrounded by brush and rested back against a thick trunk with Annie in his lap. The sun’s rays snuck through the thick foliage overhead and played across the ground. Unable to hold back, he kissed her. Damn. She tasted so sweet, and he’d missed her, in the worst possible way. He plundered her mouth as the need to be closer still drove him. Touching her, having her body pressed against his was heaven, a sensation he never wanted to be without. He stroked down her thigh then slid his hand under the blue velvet folds of her gown and caressed her soft flesh.

She writhed against him. “Should we be doing this out here?”

“We’re alone, and I need to touch you, to know you’re back in my arms.” He trailed along her inner thigh and sighed as her heat pulsed, so close. Beyond aroused, he slid a finger inside her and rubbed her tight nub. “I’ll remain alert.”

“Colin.” She pressed her hips higher. “I ache.”

“And I shall ease that ache.” Spreading her legs farther apart, he stroked deeper until she panted for breath.

“Kiss me, please,” she whispered, arching into his touch.

He captured her mouth and allowed his desire for her to soar free. Her heartbeat thumped against his and below, he added another finger and thrust deeper until her channel tightened exquisitely around him. With his fingers alone, he drove her over the edge until she trembled in his arms.

She was all he’d ever longed for, the only woman he’d ever love.

Contentment and peace rolled through him. “My love, a lifetime with you will never be long enough. I want forever.”

* * * *

Annie breathed in Colin’s intoxicating fresh scent as she relaxed against him. “Forever sounds wonderful. A bed even more so.”

“Then we need to return to Holyrood.” He kissed her softly as he straightened her skirts.

“I cannae wait to join fully with you.” The brilliant golden depths of his eyes and the love she saw reflected back at her, touched her soul. She stroked his chest. “I’m sorry for making you ride out here after me. I should never have left my chamber.”

“Aye, and you should have alerted the guards when given the chance.”

“I couldnae let Hugh speak out against you. ’Twas your life on the line.” She kissed his cheek. “How come you didnae free your chief? What went wrong?”

“When we arrived at Lachlan’s cell, he told us he’d received an offer, one he couldnae turn down. For his agreement, the king intends to look into the return of his lands on Islay.”

“You mean the Rhinns?”

“Aye, the ownership of that piece of land has been in dispute for many years. Lachlan also informed us the MacDonalds had been removed from the cells and locked in a secure chamber in the palace. They’ve agreed to the king’s demands.”

“That does no’ explain why you remained?”

“’Tis doubtful the guards will be able to identify us.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “You disabled three of them.”

“No’ the last one.”

“The remaining guard held Lachlan captive, but Lachlan called us Malcolm and Munro, and with our masks in place and our identities hidden, there’s no reason why we couldnae remain.”

“There’s still a risk.”

“A small one, and a risk I was prepared to take to remain with you.” He breathed out, long and deep. “Although Rory is now aware of what happened.”

“And Hugh.”

“Hugh’s words will no’ hold much sway considering your kidnapping.”

“There’s still a risk if you return, even if only a slight one. You and Arthur should continue onto Duart.”

“I cannae leave you now, and dinnae ask it of me.” Arms wrapped around her, he lifted his knees and kept her securely imprisoned against his chest. “No’ when you have a terrible tendency to find trouble.”

“I fear trouble is my middle name. You may well come to regret marrying me.”

“My only regret will be that I didnae marry you sooner.” His husky words held a world of promise and lightened her heart. “Do you intend to be a biddable wife now?”

“Aye, very biddable.” She twined her arms around his neck. “Whatever you ask, I shall do.”

“I’ll hold you to that promise.” He nibbled her lower lip then sucked it into his mouth. “I want you naked underneath me.”

“Aye, please.” She wriggled as tingles raced through her body. “I cannae believe we’re in the middle of the forest, and so far from a chamber with a locked door.”

“That is your fault.” He chuckled and kissed her again.

“’Tis also a mistake I need to rectify.”

“Good.” He eased to his feet and set her down on hers. “We need to return, but first we need to break our fast. Are you hungry?”

“Very. Oh, and I forgot to tend to your injury.” She smiled as she kissed his bruised chin. “Now, no more nicks and scratches for you.”

“Aye, I’ll do what I can.” He threaded his fingers through hers and guided her back down the trail toward the burn.

At the edge of the meadow dotted with yellow flowers, Hugh stood roped to a large ash tree, and two feet above his head, one of the warriors had slapped a mound of moss into the trunk’s crook.

Rory stood fifty feet back, his feet planted wide as he held his bow and arrow. He smiled at her. “Come here, Annie. You’ve been asking me to teach you how to shoot an arrow for years, and now you may have your chance. I’ve even set the target for you.”

Naughty Rory. At Dunvegan, she’d trained twice a week under Rory’s guidance on the archery field, although it had been Colin who’d first taught her to hunt with the bow from Mull’s treetops while they’d sat on the wooden platform of his tree hut.

She wandered past a crackling fire where a warrior had skinned a small creature and now skewered meat onto sturdy sticks to prop onto a rack to cook. “Are you certain now is the right time to learn, Rory?”

“I’m certain, and ’tis a fine morning with the sun in the perfect position to highlight your target.”

Aye, the sun’s rays glimmered across the sparkling waters of the stream where one of her kinsmen filled several skins with water and plugged the tops. “All right, but I’ll need a smaller bow. Yours looks far too big for me to hold.”

“Jeremy,” he called to his squire, a lad of sixteen who’d grown immensely of late. “Bring your bow.”

Jeremy jogged across from the tethered horses, swung his bow from his back and passed it to her.