Highlander's Passion (The Matheson Brothers Book 2) (2 page)

He returned his focus to Nessa and whispered to her across time, “Nessa, I’ve caught images of the fire-wielder losing control of her skill. Who is she?”

“Murdock, ’tis good to speak to you again. The fire-wielder is my granddaughter, Arabel. The lass rarely loses control of her skill, and only if her emotions swing too widely, although we’ve certainly experienced quite the upheaval this eve with the arrival of the newcomers.”

“Is there anything more I can do to aid you?”

“If there is, I shall let you know.” The care and concern in her voice shimmered through. “Murdock, Finlay’s bear rides him hard. He is desperate to find his mate.”

“The war approaches and he fears losing her in the coming battle, before he’s even had the chance to find her. The fae village must be saved, Nessa, so that we might once again have hope. Gilleoin’s future shifter line must survive.”

“Aye, I will keep a watchful eye over all. ’Tis time to right the wrongs of the past, and this is our chance.” Nessa touched her heart. “Until we speak again, my friend.”

“Aye, take care.” He touched his heart in return.

Nessa’s image slowly fluttered away and he opened his eyes and released his grip on the rough stone crenellation. Farther along Loch Alsh, where the village had once stood, a sacred memorial standing stone tormented him with its solitary starkness. The loss of his fae kind within the village had been a burden that had consumed him for years, as it had Nessa. The unjust death of the villagers could be no more. Aye, the time to save their people had arrived and clan Matheson must once again rise to its greatest strength. The “Son of the Bear,” couldn’t be allowed to falter.

Chapter 1

Near the ancient House of Clan Matheson, Scotland, 1210, four days following.

Arabel’s skin heated as the fire she held deep within her body raged again for release, now a fourth night in a row. She hurried along the forest trail near the castle with her twin sister at her side and emerged before a pool of water encircled by towering pine trees. Moonlight beamed through the thick foliage overhead and lit the loch’s dark, glassy surface. “Thank you for coming with me, Julia,” she breathed in a rush.

“Should you ever have need of me, I’ll always be here.”

“I’ll need to fully submerge myself this eve. My heat flares too greatly to simply dunk my hands in.” She turned around and gave her sister her back. “Be careful as you unlace my gown.”

“Of course.” Julia stepped in behind her and worked the laces loose. “Oh, you are so very, very hot. Why is this happening now?”

“I wish I knew, as well as why my very soul aches as if I’ve lost someone important.”

“We might very well lose those we love if the MacKenzie isnae stopped.” Julia wiped her brow as she stepped back. “Please, you must cool yourself. These flares must stop.”

“If only there were others with my skill I could go to for guidance.” She was the only one of her fire-wielder kind left, hers one of the rarest of their kind’s skills. Swiftly, she shoved the long sleeves of her gown down then wriggled her hips. The soft layers of burgundy fabric slithered down her legs and swished to her feet. Grasping the folds of her ankle-length shift, she jumped out of the puddle of velvet and dashed across the damp, mossy ground and scrambled onto a large boulder.

The loch deep within the forest, small, private and perfectly round, beckoned with the promise of its cool depths within and its ability to bring her heat back down. With one deep breath, she leapt and down she went, the blessedly cool water closing in over her head. Bubbles fizzed around her, and in the murky dark, she kicked upward and emerged. Steam billowed all around, so thick her sister on the grassy bank became shrouded in the dense cloud that plumed. Treading water, she called out, “Are you all right, Julia?”

“I am. What of you?” Julia flapped a hand through the air as she moved around the pool to a clearer spot, her cheeks rosy and red.

“The water soothes me.”

“I wonder,” Julia said as she plopped onto a rock in her forest-green skirts, her brow wrinkled in concentration, “if the four elements have something to do with your loss of control. Fire is one of them.”

“Mmm, fire, water, air and earth.”

“Your first loss of control also occurred the night the newcomers arrived, the
air
so disrupted.”

“Yet the air has settled while my fire continues to rage. What are they like?” Her sister had been to the fae village over the past few days and met the travelers as she had not.

“Iain is the eldest of the three and never allows Isla far from his side, no’ since she is expecting. She holds both shifter and fae blood and in the future her clan lives here, while the others come from farther across the Highlands.”

“Does she hold an ability?” Her fingers still itched with heat and she waved them through the water.

“One of the strongest, the skill to compel. With her hypnotic voice alone she can command any around her. The last man at the village to hold that ability passed away five and twenty years ago. ’Tis wonderful to know it continues on.”

“What of Finlay and Kirk?”

“They’re causing quite the stir as they search for their mates. The lasses are all quite giddy with excitement, hoping they might be the one. So far no matches have been made.” She leaned forward. “The warriors are identical in every way and ’tis almost impossible to tell them apart.”

She could well understand the excitement. The mated bond was an all-consuming one any couple would wish for. “I hope they find their women soon.”

“So do—” Frowning, Julia rose and narrowed her gaze. “Something’s wrong. Your aura has suddenly changed.”

“For the better I hope.”

“Nay, it now spikes out with sharp tendrils of cold-fire blue. I’ve no’ seen the cold-fire enter your aura since our parents passed away.”

“Are you certain there is cold-fire present?” She touched her chest, the soul deep ache within her having not abated one bit. Such feelings of loss could bring her cold-fire about.

“It bleeds deeper as I speak, which I dinnae like.” Julia walked toward the trail’s entrance. “I’ll go to Nessa for an answer.”

“You’re leaving right now?”

“Aye, she willnae leave our village kin during their time of need.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“Nay, remain. I’ll sail rather than take the forest path, and I’ll send a guard to keep watch over you.” She lifted one hand and disappeared down the trail.

Wonderful. Now her aura was changing too. She hardly needed to burden her sister or their clan with all of her problems when a deadly battle loomed.

Kicking out deeper, she sent rippling waves swelling out. The cooler water continued to wash over her, as did the soul deep ache, an endless throb she couldn’t disperse. Long minutes passed as she swam back and forth.

“Are you Arabel?” A warrior rode free of the forest path, his horse snorting misty air as he hauled it to a stop.

“I am.” She slowed, treaded water. “Who are you?”

“Finlay Matheson. I passed Julia along the trail. She asked me to guard you, said your fire skill had flared.” He dismounted in one easy and swift move.

“There’s really no need to stay. I’m fine.”

“How bad are these flares you’re experiencing?” He slung his horse’s reins over a low branch, knotted the leather then strode toward her, his great plaid secured over his broad chest with a silver pin and belted low at his waist with a leather girdle. Midnight-black hair curled onto his shoulders and his golden gaze met hers with unwavering intensity. He had the eyes of a shifter, just as Gilleoin and his sons, Kenneth and Ivan, did. So mesmerizing.

“Naught that the cool water cannae disperse.”

“I see.” His biceps flexed as he palmed the hilt of his mighty sword. “I’m intrigued by your skill.”

“Julia wonders if the four elements of fire, water, air and earth are involved in the flares.”

“The vortex that hauled us through did so within mere minutes. The air was thick and swirling fast.” He propped one booted foot on the boulder next to her discarded gown. “I can’t see any heat emanating from you.”

“Mayhap I’ve cooled sufficiently.” She swam toward him and at waist-depth, slogged through the water and joined him on the grassy bank. “Do you mind checking?”

“Not at all. Tell me what to do.” He extended one hand as if wishing to take hers and she shook her head.

“Nay, you must no’ touch me unless all is well.” She lifted her hand and turned it palm over. “If you will, bring your palm closer to mine, but halt at the point where you feel my heat. That will give me a good indication if my fire still flares too strongly.”

Slowly, he lowered his hand until it hovered a little above her own. “There’s no heat that I can sense, although being a shifter, my blood runs hotter than most.”

“Then touch me.” Her words whispered out, and far too breathy. “I mean—”

“It’s all right. I know what you mean.” Grinning, he picked up one of her long golden locks and curled it around his finger. “Your hair is now dry, as is your shift, so you must be emitting some heat.”

“I dry my clothing with merely a thought. I am never wet for long.” She shuffled closer, drawn by the spark in his golden eyes. “Where exactly do you live in the future, Finlay?”

“I live far across the Highlands toward the east near Loch Bear. Ivan, Gilleoin’s second-born son, weds Bethia and becomes chief of his own clan at Ivanson Castle. Bethia doesn’t hold any fae blood, which is why Ivan’s line is shifter alone as Kenneth’s is not. I’m one of Ivan’s direct descendants.” Eyes twinkling, he caught her hand and brought her palm to his cheek. “Mmm, you feel lovely and warm, just how you’re supposed to.”

“Are you flirting with me?” Surprise took her. No man ever had.

“Are you aware I’m here to find my chosen one?” He kissed her fingertips.

“All the lasses are.” A flare of heat pulsed from her and she jerked back and broke their contact. “Oh, my apologies. Did I burn you?”

“Not at all.” He held out his hand for hers again. “Allow me to touch you.”

“’Tis best I return to the water.”

“Then if you’re returning, so am I. That water looks heavenly.” He kicked off his boots. “I’ve also got a very playful bear who longs for a dip, that’s if you don’t mind sharing that water.”

“You cannae swim with me. I’m a fire-wielder. Where there is fire, there is hot water.”

“I love hot water, or cold. It matters not.” He knelt at the loch’s edge and swept one hand through it. “This isn’t hot at all, a little warm, but not hot.”

“It will be far hotter if you hop in with me.” Her heat had flared when he’d touched her and she didn’t doubt it would do so again if he came too close. “I truly dinnae need a guard even though my sister asked you to watch over me. Your brothers must surely need you.”

“I left them behind. I felt a desperate urge to return early. They’ll be here first thing in the morning so for tonight, or for however long you need me, I’m yours.”

“Your mate could right now be at the castle and in remaining here with me, you might miss out on meeting her.” She walked backward into the water and a tiny puff of steam rose. She was still too hot, but at least she was cooling.

“Possibly, but that’s not going to deter me from guarding you. I gave Julia my word I’d remain.” Sword belt unstrapped, he propped his weapon against the boulder then divested himself of his wrist daggers before unpinning his kilt.

Oh goodness. He was now clothed in naught but his white tunic that fluttered against him mid-thigh. She fanned her flushed cheeks at the sight of his strongly muscled legs. Never had a man unclothed himself while she watched on. She sank lower and kicked away. “Have any within your clan ever discovered that there is no mate when you come of age?”

“There are a good dozen unmated men who’ve been searching for their chosen ones and have had no luck in finding them.”

“What if they never find them? Or you never find yours?”

“Should that happen then I will find the strength to move on. My parents and brothers would never allow me to wander too far from my clan. They hold me to the present and always will. You appear to be a strong swimmer.”

“I am.”

“Good, because my bear truly does wish to play and you’re the only possible playmate in sight. Catch me if you can.” He dove and disappeared beneath the night-shrouded waters.

Twirling around, she searched for his shadow within the loch. There wasn’t even a ripple on the surface to mark his movement or a bubble to prove he’d released even the tiniest mouthful of air. She hadn’t played in the longest time and even as dangerously alluring as he was, she couldn’t help but dive after him. She kicked hard as she scoured the bottom of the loch for him. He had to be down here somewhere, and her lungs were near to bursting so his surely must be too. Ah, there. A hazy streak of white. His tunic. That had to be him. She clamped a hand around his ankle and he twisted around, his hair swirling about his face as he beamed at her. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist and kicked them both upward. They emerged in a burst of bubbles and she gulped in air. “I didnae realize you intended to swim at the bottom of the pool.”

“I had to test your strength.” He tightened his hold on her, kicking for them both. “You don’t seem hot at all to me.”

“Hold onto me any longer and I will surely burn you.” She slipped out of his arms, tossed her feet in the air and went under. As she kicked across to the far side of the pool, a heated wave rippled out from her. His touch had her emotions rising and her excitement building. Never had she played with a man in this way before. ’Twas delightful, naughty even. Underwater, she swam then surfaced when she made the boulders bordering the far side. Clambering onto the closest one, she made it just in time as Finlay shot to the surface in a spray before her.

Grinning, he shook his dark head and sent drops flying. “So that’s how you intend to play, is it?”

“You are very slow under the water.” She shoved a wave of water at him and giggled. “Show me your bear, Finlay, since you insist he’s the one who wishes to play.”