Plight of the Highlander (The MacLomain Series: Next Generation Book 5) (4 page)

Colin’s hand slid into hers.

But Valan was not about to be influenced by Colin’s possessive gesture. He held his hand out to Torra. “Might I have a dance, lass.”

Torra bit her lower lip and started to shake her head, but Valan implored once more. “Please. Just one dance.”

Gods, what an uncomfortable position to be in. Yet it was one she’d enabled and with good reason. For that alone, she would comply. This all
had
to work out. “Aye.”

Colin’s hand squeezed hers moments before she pulled away. Eyes meeting his, she said, “Then a dance with you as well, Laird MacLeod?”

Jaw set, he had little choice but to nod. “Aye, to be sure.”

They might be lowlanders, but the Brouns were as merry in celebration as any highland clan she’d been around. But despite the lively pipes, Valan pulled her close, mayhap eager for private conversation more than anything else.

As she had with Colin, she had only ever shared a brief kiss with the Hamilton. And while she thought it rather special at the time, it didn’t nearly burn her alive like Colin’s kiss. Both men had been kind, fun, and most assuredly interesting yet passion existed with one and not the other.

Valan studied her face for an uncomfortably long moment before he finally said, “I want to know why you saved my life.”

Of course he did. She owed him an explanation at the very least. “Because I…we, need your help.”

“Who is
we
?”

“My clan. The MacLomains.” She swallowed and met his eyes. “I have a good idea of how to defeat your Da, but cannae do it without you.”

“Ah, you assume I would
want
to help defeat my Da.”

“Do you not?” she said, surprised.

Valan again gazed at her, his expression unreadable. “So you only saved my life so that I might aid you in ultimately being with Colin.”

Her mouth turned dry. What an awful assumption. But was not part of it truth? Though tempted to avert her eyes she would not dishonor him in such a way. He deserved honesty. “I saved you…no, we all saved you so that we might defeat a monster together. So that many under his tyranny might be free and once more thrive.” She pleaded with her eyes. “You know of your Da’s nature, Valan. ‘Tis the verra reason you fled the Hamilton clan.”

“‘Twas not the main reason,” he reminded. “While I didnae want to be part of his evil ‘twas not the ultimate push that made me go. Nay,” he whispered. “‘Twas the betrayal of my best friend.”

Right. Colin MacLeod.

Torra couldn’t help but look away from the sadness in Valan’s eyes. And she couldn’t help the murmured words that slipped from her lips. “I’m so verra sorry.”

“Aye, so you said back then.” Though he held her close, she felt the distance. “I loved you, Torra.” He tilted up her chin so that she had no choice but to meet his eyes. “And still do. For that reason alone I will help
you
however I can.”

Bless the gods.
Her lower lip trembled when forced into his gaze. Not from desire, but pure thankful emotion.

“I believe I was promised a dance?”

Valan’s regard slowly turned to Colin. “Was that a whole turn of the pipes then? Doubtful.”

“‘Twas turn enough.”

Torra didn’t miss Iosbail’s narrowed eyes on them as she strolled by.

“We will talk more soon, aye?” Torra said softly to Valan.

The Hamilton’s eyes lingered on hers before he at last nodded. “Aye, we will.”

When she was pulled from his arms into Colin’s, she didn’t miss the way Valan’s hand held hers overly long. No matter how many years had passed, it seemed his lingering desire for her would not easily be put to rest. The men eyed each other for a long moment before Colin spun them into the crowd and away from his nemesis. Just like that, her body sizzled with heightened sensation, from her weakening knees right up to her poor pounding heart.

“Torra,” Colin murmured. A strong arm wrapped around her lower back and he pulled her close. When his large hand cupped the side of her neck, her eyes slid shut. There was positively nothing like being close to this man. She still recalled waking earlier this same day, before they’d arrived in Keir’s chambers. Because of Grant’s magic they had been spared a few moments alone at the oak.

It was the first time she’d seen Colin in four long years.

Torra would never forget the joy in seeing his face for the first time beyond the fire. The way a tear had slid down his cheek when he looked at her. Years might have passed since they’d last seen each other in person, but it didn’t matter. All they felt was still right there in their entwined gazes.

“Please tell me we willnae be separated again,” he murmured.

Torra’s eyes shot open and locked with his. Her words pained her even as she said them. “I cannae say such.”

His eyes closed briefly before once more finding hers. “Then we will make the best of the time we have.”

It seemed they had been doing this for far too long. Yet he was always willing to take what little time offered. She’d given him nothing sustainable, nothing but a few words of love. Still, he never gave up. And through his strength she found hers. “We
will
see Keir Hamilton defeated.”

“Aye, lass,” he agreed softly, his grey eyes afire with passion. “It cannae be any other way.”

“Nay,” she whispered, lost in his gaze. “It cannae be.”

Too vividly did she recall the first time she’d laid eyes on Colin. It had also been at the Highland Defiance.

She’d only ever gone there to meet with Valan so was caught off guard when she’d nearly walked right into Colin. It was like a bolt of lightning hit her the moment their eyes connected. Mayhap it was the power of her dragon blood or just the inborn instinct of woman but she knew…

He was meant for her.

How many lifetimes they’d followed one another she’d never know just that they had…and would, again and again. Butterflies had fluttered through her stomach as she stood staring at him. Never before had she laid eyes on such a handsome and far too large Scotsman. Yet no sooner was she admiring him did guilt crash down.

Because of Valan Hamilton.

Though she had by no means promised herself to him this was their spot. Where they came to escape the difficult lives they led. Being so instantly attracted to another man seemed incredibly wrong. But when she went inside and joined the jubilant crowd, her eyes soon sought out the warrior she’d nearly bumped into outside. And when her eyes found him, it was to discover his eyes already on her.

It had been in those first few moments that the Broun lasses had approached her.

Though she’d never seen Bradon and Malcolm there, she had surely met those that were theirs. Leslie, Cadence and even Sheila. Though she didn’t know who they were then, when she met them years later, Torra understood evermore the complicated weave that was created by this very trip back in time to see Iosbail Broun now. Everything had to have a beginning and oddly enough, even though all else had already happened…

This was it.

This travel back in time would ultimately launch all that would happen between the Brouns and MacLomains for many generations to come. Time travel and its idiosyncrasies were never-ending.

“Sometimes I wish we were back there,” Colin said softly, pulling her from the past into the present.

Naturally he followed her thoughts. She’d never once barred her mind from his. Save those parts that would keep him safe. “Me too. With all my heart.”

Torra was surprised when conflict darkened his eyes. “I never meant to hurt him.”

They’d had so little time to talk of the harm done to Valan because of their actions. “Nor I.”

Yet hardness soon filled Colin’s eyes. “But even then, it didnae give him the right to do what he did.”

“He acted out of emotion,” she reminded gently.

A vein pulsed in Colin’s temple. “‘Tis too much of a coincidence that Valan met you after his Da had his eyes on you for so long. Then Valan told Keir of our love. He did such knowing full well how evil his Da was.” His lips thinned. “So much endless harm has come because of such, including us being torn apart for so long. To my mind, that makes him just as sinister as Keir.”

“But he’s not and you know it.” Even though Valan’s actions had long angered her it was time to move on, to see past the pain. Or at least she was trying. Torra touched Colin’s cheek. “What would you have been capable of had the lass you loved turned eyes to your best friend?”

His turbulent emotions became a fraction less intense.

“Anything,” he ground out.

Then Colin shook his head, so much pain in his eyes. “Yet he had to know the harm it would put you in. That in itself is unforgivable. Especially since he claimed to love you. I dinnae see any goodness in such actions…I dinnae see
love
.”

Nor did she but jealously and hurt made people do truly awful things. “What’s done is done. You must find forgiveness, Colin. The anger you keep inside only hurts you further. And your pain is mine.”

“I sometimes think that you possess too much forgiveness, lass,” Colin said. “But even though I dinnae ken it, ‘tis half the reason I love you.” His eyes drifted over her shoulder and she knew he looked at Grant. “But what of the things he did to the MacLomains because Grant sided with me? Do you so easily forgive that as well?”

Torra had already shed too many tears over this. “Aye, I have or ‘twould have ruined me.”

“Have you
truly
then?” He frowned, incredulous. “Even though to punish Grant and no doubt
you
he sought out Colin and recruited him to become an assassin. Because of him you and your clan lost your brother for three winters.”

Colin felt her pain as if it was his own.

He hadn’t meant to be so blunt, but she needed to remember the cruelty Valan had inflicted upon all of them. Or did she? It was hard to know. For years, they’d been separated because of simple jealousy. It seemed so trivial. He understood she was trying to bring things together to defeat Keir but that Valan needed to be part of this was a knife in his side.

So Colin focused on here and now, eager to clear her face of distress. He ran his thumb gently along her temple. “We will see this through, lass. If you need him alongside then so be it.”

Torra met his eyes. “He hurt us. No doubt he did.” Her voice turned hoarse. “We both have to see this as what love can make people do. While you sacrificed yourself, he lashed out. ‘Tis the only way we can move forward.”

Colin again cupped her neck, running the side of his thumb over her throat, wishing he could soothe the pain within. “We knew of his band of assassins and that they killed only those truly bad. ‘Twas unfortunate that he sought out your brother even if it ultimately led to all of this.” And though it was hard to push the false reassurance past his lips he’d say anything to placate her. “If you feel we need Valan then we do. He had goodness about him and a hatred for his Da that can only ever be a boon.”

A tremble rippled beneath his touch as she looked at him.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“You’ve naught to thank me for.” He pulled her head against his chest. Bloody hell, what was he to do with all of this? Before Torra came into his life, he knew nothing of love, nothing of true devotion. Now…well, now he was truly lost.

Colin remembered the moment he met her as though it were yesterday.

And what had led up to it.

He and Valan had met at a Sinclair celebration a year before Colin ended up with Keir. They’d had much in common with their Da’s being chieftains and difficult fathers to say the least. Not only that but they shared a love for battling and lasses. Naturally, such passions sparked an instant friendship. Soon enough, Valan began bragging about not
many
lasses but just
one
. Apparently he’d met her when traveling through time. None could compare to her beauty. None could compare to her grace. None could compare period. He’d heard it all. So, unbeknownst to his friend, he’d finally decided to follow.

What harm could it do?

Little did he know.

Though Colin had not known time travel existed he wasn’t overly surprised. If magic existed then why not the ability to travel through time? According to Valan, it was something often done by wizards. In fact, he’d met many time travelers when he went wherever it was he went to see his lass.

Yet when Valan stood at the massive, odd rock formation in a field overlooking the ocean then vanished, Colin was still amazed. He’d never seen magic quite like that. Curious, he followed his friend several more times, listening, watching and learning the murmured words that allowed Valan to vanish into thin air.

Eventually, Colin ventured alone to the massive window overlooking the sea. Hopping up, he stared down at the raging ocean far below. Whenever his friend went wherever he did, it was by hopping over the edge and muttering the same few words. Was Colin curious about Valan’s lass? Sure. But that had nothing to do with his greater curiosity.

This spot and where it led.

Strong in magic, he couldn’t help himself.

He jumped.

Not into a raging ocean but into something far different.

He still recalled the sharp pain and odd sense of losing reality. Twirling, fast, disorienting, he didn’t like it. But it fast faded and he fell not into the ocean but to the ground. Though his arse hurt for a moment and the forest swirled in his vision, things righted themselves in no time.

Colin soon realized it was fortunate that he was a MacLeod. It seemed he’d ended up on land not that far north of his castle and clearly still occupied by his clan. When he came across a few kinsmen, he asked the year, claiming he’d taken a bump to the head. The men were in their cups so easily gave the answer.

It was 1007 and just through the woods was the Highland Defiance.

So he’d traveled back 242 years in time.

Not daunted in the least, he found the whole concept fairly interesting. He eyed the Highland Defiance on approach. It hadn’t changed much through time. Still occupied by the MacLeod clan as an outbuilding for defense, it was tall and square. Where it was stone in his time, it was still made of wood in this era. He knew little of its history save it was supposedly built by Adlin MacLomain himself a very long time ago.

Celebrations had been underway and the MacLeods were merry. He saw no reason not to join them. Eager for a skin of whiskey, he was nearly to the peddler when Torra spun and almost walked into him. That moment would be forever etched in his mind. Beautiful beyond compare, he swore his heart literally stopped beating. But it wasn’t just her beauty that froze him in his tracks and made speech impossible.

Nay, it was what he saw in her eyes.

To this day, he didn’t understand it but there had been instant familiarity. It was as if he’d looked into her enchanting gaze a thousand times before. Time ceased to exist. The world seemed to stop. In that singular moment, he’d fallen unexplainably, irrevocably in love.

Torra’s gentle words pulled him from memories of the past.

“You’re far away, my love,” she murmured.

“Never from you,” he said softly. “Just remembering our time at the Defiance.”

A warm smile bloomed on her face. “They were verra good times.”

Captivated as always by her appearance, he flattened his palm against her lower back determined to keep her body tight against his. But as it had always been when near her, the fire in his blood started to boil and his groin tightened. Well aware of his arousal, her cheeks flushed and her eyes took on a dewy quality.

“Gods, I want you so much, Torra,” he said, a low groan settling deep in his chest.

“Aye,” she whispered.

While he clearly saw her mutual desire, he also saw the stark fear.

Unable to keep hope and desire from his voice, he said, “You mentioned that one of the kings is of your dragon blood. Has he told you anything of what might happen if we lie together?”

“Nay, but I have not asked,” she said, response wobbling some.

“Why, lass?” He circled his palm over her back, eager to soothe.

Her eye color teetered between green and blue as emotion churned. “I’m not sure I can handle the answer if ‘tis unfavorable.”

“But ‘tis a question that must be asked,” Colin encouraged. “Naðr Véurr was part dragon and he had offspring so ‘tis hopeful.” He dusted the backs of his fingers down her cheek and looked deeply into her eyes. “Even if he doesnae give you the answer we seek I willnae leave your side.”

Her brows pulled together and a small frown curled her lips. “I willnae have you live a life of abstinence because of me. ‘Tis foolish that.”

He cupped her cheeks, forcing her to meet his eyes. “I have not lain with another lass since we met and willnae lay with another as long as you live,” he said a little sharper than intended.

Torra drew in a rushed breath. “I would not have faulted you for taking a lass.” She rubbed her lips together tightly. Something she only did when fighting back unexpected emotion. “‘Tis unnatural for you to be without such.” Then she exhaled, determined it seemed to see her thoughts through. “I’m surprised Keir didnae force lasses on you in light of our repressed love and his desire for me.”

“Oh, he tried,” Colin said honestly. “There was always a whore sent to my chamber.” He shrugged a shoulder. “But ‘twas not hard to turn them away. As you know, most of Keir’s whores were imprisoned as well. So like Grant did in his later years with the Hamiltons, I’d invite the whores in then spend the time simply talking with them. None complained and all became friends. ‘Twas easy enough then for us to tell all we’d lain together when in fact we’d but shared a few skins of whiskey.”

“Ah, so yet another thing you and Grant had in common. A unified desire to free Keir’s slaves,” she said.

“Aye, but of course.” Yet he was not quite finished with this discussion. “Besides, there are ways a lad can take care of himself.” He gave her a pointed look. “Still, I urge you to speak with Naðr sooner rather than later. Can he not hear us now?”

“Likely,” she muttered. “It just seems so personal. ‘Tis not fair I’ve got to ask another if ‘tis safe for me to…” The rest of the words trailed away on a sigh. “But I will.”

“‘Twill be well worth it,” he promised, voice thickening.

“Aye, if he gives me the answer we want to hear.” She lightly traced his tattoo. “Truly terrible if not.”

Something about the way she said those last words nearly made him come undone. She wanted it as much as he. It was becoming more and more difficult to ignore his now throbbing arousal. Yet he couldn’t help but ask, “Have you never…” He paused a moment, wondering how to convey what he meant to say without making her uncomfortable. “Have you never tried to relieve your carnal desires on your own?”

Just the thought of her touching her own body turned his boiling blood to a raging inferno.

Torra’s eyes widened some but to her credit she didn’t look away. When she spoke, her words were so soft he had to lean in closer to hear them.

“Nay. I feared too much what might happen….that I might not be able to repress the dragon.”

Before he could respond, she clenched the front of his tunic and shook her head. “We need not speak of this further.” Her caring eyes stayed on his. “There are other concerns that weigh on my mind. I’ve had little time to speak with you since your Da and sister died.” She cupped his cheek. “I am so verra sorry.”

Now this was a conversation switch that well-tempered his desires. Uncomfortable, he frowned. “As you said earlier, what is done is done. ‘Tis nothing you need worry over.”

Her eyes dampened. “How can you say such? I know how much both meant to you. Even your Da such as he was. ‘Tis normal that you mourn for them.”

Colin closed his eyes and breathed deeply through his nostrils, willing away not only immense sadness but seething rage. When his eyes once more met hers, it was with assurance. “Gods know I loved Nessa, but her soul was too easily tainted by Keir’s influence. In the end, she had all but embraced evil.”

“You must not focus on that but on who she was before Keir. Colin, she did everything she did to help keep you safe. She acted under Keir’s guidance to keep you free of both magical and physical torture.” She ran the tips of her fingers down his jawline. “As you did what you did because of your love for me. ‘Tis the goodness you must remember, not all that followed.”

“‘Tis easier to hate than love,” he murmured. “There is less pain in it.”

And while he meant to leave it at that being with Torra, looking into her eyes, kept him talking. “Did you know she was not yet dead when I took her from the wolf that had ravaged her?”

Sadness saturated Torra’s eyes as she waited.

“There were few words left in her, but she told me something in the end.” All he could see was his sister’s torn up body. The sadness and humanity in her eyes in those final moments.

He clenched his jaw, fighting brutal emotions. “She’d gone to my Da when he was sick and told him that I’d never willingly defected. In the end, he knew all. Why I’d left, everything. ‘Tis half the reason the MacLeods declared me chieftain after his death though I’d seemingly betrayed my clan. In those last days, he’d convinced most who’d stayed with him that I remained true to them.”

“Gods above.” Torra wrapped her arms over his shoulders as best she could with their height difference and rested her cheek against his chest. “Though ‘tis hard ‘tis good this.”

Colin wrapped his hand into her hair and hung his head, relishing the silky texture of her locks against his cheek. Though heartbroken by all the strife that’d ripped his family apart, Nessa had given him a great sense of peace in the end. His Da had not gone to his grave thinking his son had abandoned him. And Nessa had at least not died alone. She’d been in Colin’s arms when the final death rattle gurgled in her chest.

He held no particular animosity toward the MacLomains for their part in her death. Nay, the blame lay with the man who had caused all of this. Keir Hamilton. He’d see him rot in eternal hell before everything was said and done. And he was amongst many who felt that way.

Colin held Torra in his arms for a long time, finding comfort in her presence, in the support she offered without saying a word. Only when Iosbail’s words rang over the crowd did he lift his head, thoughts torn away from deep musings.

Standing on a trestle table with a mug held high, Iosbail cried, “My kinsmen, my clan, the bonfire has been lit beyond the castle walls. ‘Tis the Beltane and all know of our traditions. Let us commence first to the courtyard for the battling then to the fire for the lusting, aye?”

Colin couldn’t contain a chuckle. It didn’t matter in the least to the Broun that wee bairns might be about. But then he’d heard much about Iosbail Broun. Wild, free-thinking, slightly crazed, she’d never been held back by convention. And her clan seemed to love her all that much more for it. He suspected when the celebrations were well underway, the bairns were tucked into bed far from their clan’s matriarch and her loose tongue.