The Seduced Read Free Page A

Now, it was a reminder of all they had lost.
    Innes walked through a hidden postern door and out of the safety of the castle. They had only one man standing watch at the gatehouse, but she didn’t want anyone to know where she was going.  
    A cool wind whipped around her as she walked across the land, reminding her in not so subtle a fashion that winter would soon be upon them. Their food stores were alarmingly low. The men who would be out hunting were now dead thanks to her youngest brother.
    Donald had always been impetuous. He’d always been jealous of Alistair as well, but he seemed to realize that Alistair would be the one to lead. Over the past few months, however, Donald had become increasingly argumentative. He questioned Alistair’s every decision and command.
    Then, to her horror, he began to sway some of the remaining younger men to his side, claiming he would set things right one way or another. Donald’s idea of setting things right was to attack the Sinclairs. Unfortunately, that idea turned into action.
    It was a stupid, thoughtless move. The Sinclair clan wasn’t only large, they were powerful. Their laird had several castles on his land being held by commanding, formidable men.
    Donald thought he could attack Ravensclyde to see how strong their new lord – Ronan Galt – was, but he and his men had been put in their place quick enough.
    How she wished that had been the end of it. Donald and his remaining men returned to the castle to heal and lick their wounds, and her brother swore to both her and Alistair that he would never attempt to oust Alistair again.
    Yet, three days ago, he’d done just that.
    Innes continued over the rocky landscape and up a steep hill. She had to lift her heavy skirts on the way up. Thunder rumbled as dark clouds rolled in. The air was heavy with the scent of rain.
    She hurried down the opposite side of the slope hoping to beat the rain. Half way down, the sky opened up and drenched her. Innes didn’t slow as she reached the valley and took a quick left into a grove of trees where the cave was hidden.
    Once inside the cave, she stopped to catch her breath. Innes wiped away the wet strands of dark hair sticking to her face.
    Just yesterday, she had been to see the warrior as she had every day since Donald had begun to push against Alistair’s rule. But last night, she found no rest as her thoughts jumbled into what was happening and the possible outcomes.
    She didn’t need a torch to see the way. She knew where every stone was, where every hole lay. Her heart began to pound and her stomach twisted into knots when she walked down the narrow, twisting tunnel that eventually opened up to a small cavern.
    A slab of stone sat in the middle of the cavern, and upon that slab slept the warrior. Magic had kept him ageless and sleeping for two hundred years, just as magic kept the torches spaced evenly along the walls lit.
    She didn’t know what had happened to put him in such a situation. Her mother hadn’t known either. The truth of that part of the story was forgotten long ago– or never stated.
    Innes walked around the man. He looked so peaceful, so content. Through the years, she had come to him often and spoke of her worries and her dreams. Without realizing it, he had helped her get through some of the worst times in her life.
    She had always thought him handsome with his long, wavy mane of golden hair and his rippling muscles. But a few years ago, she began to...long to touch him.
    The first time, she barely laid a finger on him before she snatched her hand back. Eventually, she came to need to feel his skin beneath hers, no matter how innocent the touch.  
    Innes walked to him and rested her hands upon his upper arm, feeling the strength, the hard muscle beneath her palms. Feeling his warmth.  
    She took a deep breath and slowly released it as she let her gaze wander over his face. Unable to stop herself, Innes caressed her finger over his wide forehead and down the