e betrothed.” Malcolm was bluffing but he did not know what else to do. Hopefully, the Earl did not know who the lass was.
He shook his head slowly, his vivid green eyes boring a hole in the laird. “Ye are mistaken, Maclean. The only lass that has passed by here was MY betrothed. I am thinking ye thought ta steal her.”
“Ye be certain of that, m’laird?” Malcolm’s eyes rounded as he noticed the Earl’s lion glowing just before he reached up to rub the irritation. Magic! He kens who she is alright.
“Aye! There be nae mistaking my lion’s mate. Mayhap ye did nae see the mark?”
“Mayhap.” Malcolm knew they were no match for thirty guardsmen. He would have to retreat for the moment. “Well, if ye be certain, m’laird ...”
“I am.”
“Very well. I bid ye good eve then.”He jerked his reins back, spinning his horse about and left the way they had come.
With a gesture, two of his guard followed the band discreetly, assuring that they left Lucian’s lands.
Chapter Three
Arianna slowed her mount about half a league away. She was certain that the Highlander they had jumped over would not allow Malcolm to follow.
Rubbing her throbbing temple, she tried to collect her thoughts. Who was that man? I know him from somewhere. I felt it when he looked into my eyes. She sighed. One thing was certain...there was no going back to the present. Even if the gate stood , she knew that the world was destroyed.
The sound of hoofbeats invaded her thoughts as the Earl of Dunbar caught up with her. Surrounded by his men she turned to gaze up at her savior as he sidled up to her. A gasp escaped her as her neck began to burn. He reached out, brushing aside her fiery hair, exposing the glowing lioness on her neck. Startled, his eyes darted to hers.
“I was told ye were dead, Arianna! Where have ye been?”
The pounding in her head grew thunderous as she slip ped into a black void. The wild ride had been more than she could stand. Lucian caught her, transferring her onto his lap , as she fell limp.
“Ian, take her mount,” he barked. Searching for injuries, he felt a lump on her scalp but no blood. Good! Tis nae serious. We will go t a the abby t a tend her and continue on in the morn.
Ian pulled up beside him with Shalizar in tow. “Who is she, m’laird?”
Lucian grinned widely, pleased with the results of this day. Holding her close had eased the burning pain on his neck assuring him that her’s had eased as well. Stroking her cheek with his thumb, he responded absently.
“This is m e long-lost betrothed...Arianna MacGregor...returned ta me.”
He studied her from his place on the bench. Lucian didn’t know what to make of her strange clothes. He had never seen anything like them before. He shook his head. One thing is for certain...they reveal too much of m e betrothed! He growled with displeasure. It did not matter. By morn Ian will have returned with proper attire and then they will be immediately wed. It was supposed to have occurred three years ago. He refused to wait one more day, especially with Maclean sniffing about her skirts!
Lucian gave Arianna an appreciative appraisal as his eyes lazily ran the length of her supple form. She had grown into a stunning woman. Fiery red hair fell past her arse thick and luxurious. Long dark lashes graced her cheeks as she slept, hiding ceruleun eyes as deep as the sky. Her skin glowed from many hours spent in the sun and across her pert nose was a light dusting of freckles.
His gaze faltered as it fell across her lips. Lips that held a promise of untold pleasures to come. A smile teased his mouth as he remembered their meeting. What spirit the lass has! I saw nae fear in her eye as she leapt over me...only concern. I ken of nae man who w ould attempt such a feat! Where ver she has been these past years...they have trained her well.
There was a scratching at the door just then . The Earl rose silently and slipped out to the corridor where Ian stood with
He shook his head slowly, his vivid green eyes boring a hole in the laird. “Ye are mistaken, Maclean. The only lass that has passed by here was MY betrothed. I am thinking ye thought ta steal her.”
“Ye be certain of that, m’laird?” Malcolm’s eyes rounded as he noticed the Earl’s lion glowing just before he reached up to rub the irritation. Magic! He kens who she is alright.
“Aye! There be nae mistaking my lion’s mate. Mayhap ye did nae see the mark?”
“Mayhap.” Malcolm knew they were no match for thirty guardsmen. He would have to retreat for the moment. “Well, if ye be certain, m’laird ...”
“I am.”
“Very well. I bid ye good eve then.”He jerked his reins back, spinning his horse about and left the way they had come.
With a gesture, two of his guard followed the band discreetly, assuring that they left Lucian’s lands.
Chapter Three
Arianna slowed her mount about half a league away. She was certain that the Highlander they had jumped over would not allow Malcolm to follow.
Rubbing her throbbing temple, she tried to collect her thoughts. Who was that man? I know him from somewhere. I felt it when he looked into my eyes. She sighed. One thing was certain...there was no going back to the present. Even if the gate stood , she knew that the world was destroyed.
The sound of hoofbeats invaded her thoughts as the Earl of Dunbar caught up with her. Surrounded by his men she turned to gaze up at her savior as he sidled up to her. A gasp escaped her as her neck began to burn. He reached out, brushing aside her fiery hair, exposing the glowing lioness on her neck. Startled, his eyes darted to hers.
“I was told ye were dead, Arianna! Where have ye been?”
The pounding in her head grew thunderous as she slip ped into a black void. The wild ride had been more than she could stand. Lucian caught her, transferring her onto his lap , as she fell limp.
“Ian, take her mount,” he barked. Searching for injuries, he felt a lump on her scalp but no blood. Good! Tis nae serious. We will go t a the abby t a tend her and continue on in the morn.
Ian pulled up beside him with Shalizar in tow. “Who is she, m’laird?”
Lucian grinned widely, pleased with the results of this day. Holding her close had eased the burning pain on his neck assuring him that her’s had eased as well. Stroking her cheek with his thumb, he responded absently.
“This is m e long-lost betrothed...Arianna MacGregor...returned ta me.”
He studied her from his place on the bench. Lucian didn’t know what to make of her strange clothes. He had never seen anything like them before. He shook his head. One thing is for certain...they reveal too much of m e betrothed! He growled with displeasure. It did not matter. By morn Ian will have returned with proper attire and then they will be immediately wed. It was supposed to have occurred three years ago. He refused to wait one more day, especially with Maclean sniffing about her skirts!
Lucian gave Arianna an appreciative appraisal as his eyes lazily ran the length of her supple form. She had grown into a stunning woman. Fiery red hair fell past her arse thick and luxurious. Long dark lashes graced her cheeks as she slept, hiding ceruleun eyes as deep as the sky. Her skin glowed from many hours spent in the sun and across her pert nose was a light dusting of freckles.
His gaze faltered as it fell across her lips. Lips that held a promise of untold pleasures to come. A smile teased his mouth as he remembered their meeting. What spirit the lass has! I saw nae fear in her eye as she leapt over me...only concern. I ken of nae man who w ould attempt such a feat! Where ver she has been these past years...they have trained her well.
There was a scratching at the door just then . The Earl rose silently and slipped out to the corridor where Ian stood with
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