Enchanted Lover (5 page)

"Yes it is. Is it not, Asilinn?" Jared
grinned while he waited for her response. She had no recourse for the moment.

"The gown is beautiful."

"And you will wear it for our wedding?"

"Aye."

He was practically leering at her now. Wynne was in
shock.

"Thank you, Milord," Wynne mumbled.

"Get your things, Wynne. We must away. If
Asilinn is to wear your daughter's gown for the wedding, we must find her
another traveling garment. I wish to leave in an hour."

"Aye, Milord." The woman flew off to do his
bidding. Asilinn frowned at him and followed Wynne into the cottage.

Asilinn returned to Jared's side a short time later
garbed in another of Wynne's daughter's shifts. The jade green color matched
her clan's colors, which she wore draped around her shoulders.

Jared took her hand and led her down a path towards a
nearby barn. When they were out of earshot of the villagers, Jared turned to
her. "You have a knack for peacemaking that will insure our success."

"Dinna think because I cooperate I go willingly
to become your wife."

"I'd never think that." His eyes sparkled
as he stifled a grin. "I have something for you."

Asilinn bit back a sharp retort as a sandy-haired boy
led a dapple-gray filly from the barn. It was a fine horse, better than most in
her father's stable.

"I was undecided at first," Jared said,
"but Ailleagian insisted."

Asilinn stroked the soft nose of her horse. "Has
she a name?"

“Faileas, unless you choose another."

“And is she to be Ailleagian’s shadow as I am to be
yours?”

“Perhaps, consider Faileas a wedding gift."
Jared's jaw set defying Asilinn to deny his claim on her.

Asilinn surveyed the faces of the men watching them
and decided this was not the moment to argue with the Laird of Dunbocan.

They were invited to eat with one of the villagers.
The thick, lamb stew, and coarse, stone-ground bread tasted better to Asilinn
than any meal they had eaten thus far and she ate heartily. Jared seemed amused
as he watched her.

“Last supper?"

She shot him an angry glare. The Dragon of Dunbocan
was determined to have her. She remembered her dream and sucked in her breath
fighting to stop the image from reappearing. Jared was watching with those
prying eyes.

“What troubles you, Asilinn?"

“Nothing." She was thankful he didn't press her
further.

When they returned to the cottage Wynne was prepared
to go. The three of them began the last leg of the journey.

The MacLean now kept to a more traveled route.
Passersby greeted him warmly then cast questioning glances at Asilinn. Wearing
her clan’s colors wrapped around her shoulders, she held her head high and
acted as if it was normal to be traveling with the MacLean laird.

She noticed Jared's eyes perused each person,
checking them carefully for their reaction. Most people seemed confused and
dared not question what their laird was about. Jared volunteered nothing,
deflecting the queries of those who sought to engage him in conversation.

As they grew nearer to Dunbocan, Jared veered off on
a little traveled road that fell away to a footpath. They seemed to wind
endlessly through the moors until he pulled up beside a thatched-roof cottage.
Several horses waited outside the small structure. When they approached, three
men strode out to meet them. Two of them bore a close resemblance to Jared, kin
no doubt. One of them looked at least ten years older than his laird; the other
appeared to be near Jared’s age. The third man had red hair and was generally
more rumpled in appearance.

“Well I see you have done the deed," the older
man said, giving Asilinn a brief inspection. “Tales of her beauty were not
exaggerated."

Jared laughed. “Lady Asilinn, Wynne, I'd like to
present my first in command, Morven MacLean, my cousin." Jared motioned to
the other two. “Morven’s brother, Liam, and Keith.”

“My pleasure," Morven said. The other two nodded
but Asilinn noticed Liam’s dark eyes inspected every inch of her and he didn’t
seem to care who noticed.

Jared shot Liam a look of displeasure. His young
cousin straightened and turned away with a deep sigh. “Do you support me now?”
Jared asked. “I'd like to know who my enemies are.”

“I'll never be your enemy or Lady Asilinn's when she
is your wife," Morven assured him.

“I support you as well, Milord,” Keith said.

“And you, Liam?”

Liam turned to face them his black eyes lit with
anger. “There are those who will risk all to bring you and your peace plan to
an end, but I am loyal to you, regardless of what you may think.”

“We were attacked on the trail. I'm sure they meant
to kill Asilinn before she could become my wife."

“Perhaps you should go inside the walls of Dunbocan
this evening.”

“No, I'll ride in tomorrow not sneak in like a thief
in the night.”

Liam shrugged. “If that be the way of it, it would be
best if we stood guard this evening.”

After the women settled into the cottage, the men
took up positions outside. Asilinn could hear their voices when Jared spoke
with them, but she couldn’t make out the conversation.

Later in the evening Asilinn heard Jared come in. He
stood in the firelight his face weary and unguarded for perhaps the first time
since they'd been together.

Pushing back her cover, she rose and walked toward
him. She could feel the heat of his observation, but she forced herself to move
closer, stopping a few feet in front of him.

“Milord, I ask you once more to release me from this
madness," she pleaded. "There is too much hatred for our people to
set aside."

“'Tis too late, Asilinn. Tomorrow you'll be my wife.
Dinna question me again.” Jared's eyes moved over her in the fading firelight.
“I'll do all in my power to keep you from harm in the bedlam that is about to
transpire."

Asilinn bit her lip and touched him lightly on the
arm. "I believe you will," she murmured, for at this moment she did
not question his sincerity.

“You will be my downfall or my destiny," he
whispered, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips in a soft caress. He
lingered overlong as his warm lips seared her flesh. She pulled away and went
over to her bed. He sank to his pallet still watching her through the darkness.

Jared's hushed voice woke Asilinn from her troubled
sleep. "Wake up," he whispered, bending over her. "Wynne will
help you dress."

Asilinn looked up into the depths of his eyes and
breathed a tremulous sigh. She pulled herself up to a sitting position and
started to mouth a protest. He placed his finger firmly across her lips.

“Dinna cross me, Asilinn. You'll be my wife by
nightfall." Asilinn quivered and a faint smile curled his lips.

As Jared exited the cottage, Wynne flew to Asilinn's
side. Her fingers rapidly untangled the braids of the day before. The freed
hair cascaded over Asilinn's shoulders in a wild jumble of golden curls—it was
much like her mother's hair. And now she was doomed to relive her mother's
fate. Her dream had foretold it.

“Oh Milady, yer hair is like spun gold," Wynne
gushed.

Asilinn rose and discarded her shift with a shiver,
allowing Wynne to slip the fresh gown over her slender form. The surcoat hugged
her curves as Wynne tightened the side laces. Asilinn's hands slid over the
soft fabric and the delicate golden threads woven across the bodice. This was
her wedding gown. Her day of reckoning was at hand.

As they went out to meet Jared, Wynne handed Asilinn
a thick slice of bread. She waved it away. "I cannot eat."

“It will be some time before you get anything else,
Milady. I beg you to try."

With a woeful smile, Asilinn bit off a piece and chewed.
She finally managed to swallow a few mouthfuls.

Asilinn saw Morven look up from tending the horses
when she walked out into the chill morning air. Jared stood a few feet away his
gaze transfixed on her.

“This innocent pearl will dazzle even the most
hardened heart," Morven said with a laugh.

A dark scowl clouded Jared's face. He strode over,
picked Asilinn up, whisked her into his arms, and carried her toward the horse.
She could feel his muscular chest against her and his steaming breath on her
hair. There was anger in him she could not fathom. His closeness brought back
the vivid vision—it was a premonition of what was to come. Asilinn shuddered
when her eyes met his.

Wynne said something to Morven. Asilinn barely heard
the exchange. She was held captive by Jared's smoldering gaze. Fire danced
through her veins making her pulse pound with a reckless rhythm. Would this man
ravage her tonight as her dream predicted? Unable to bear the thought she
blinked to free herself from his spell.

Jared placed her on Faileas. His stern expression
gave no clue what brooding thoughts had angered him when she first came out of
the cottage. His hand lingered in hers for a fleeting moment then he squeezed
her fingers as if in reassurance. He handed her the Innes colors. "Wear
them with pride, Lady Asilinn," he said.

She threw the wrap around her shoulders and looked
down at him, his strong jaw, and the hypnotic jade of his eyes. She would be
his before the next day dawned. Asilinn knew it as surely as she lived and
breathed. And the brief picture of the future her gift had given her sent
shivers to her heart.

Jared left her side and gave the order to mount. She
fell in beside him as they headed toward Dunbocan Castle.

The trail led upward across the moor until they
crested the ridge. Asilinn was unprepared for the view she was afforded when
she looked out over the valley below. Dunbocan Castle seemed to float above a crystal lake like a ghost fortress. The early morning fog bank made the whole place
ethereal. It was an island in the mist hovering over and reflecting in the
still waters of a looking glass.

An involuntary gasp escaped her and Jared turned to
her with a smile. "Dinna tell me you're impressed with Dunbocan?"

"You know 'tis breathtaking," Asilinn
snapped. "That does not mean I'm glad to be here."

He laughed an act that softened his features into a
kinder perspective and gave her the faintest glimmer of hope. If he meant to
keep her for his wife, perhaps he would not be too rough with her. His voice
interrupted her thoughts.

"Dinna let Dunbocan's beauty seduce you into
believing your way is not fraught with danger. It will be some time before we
can be assured the peace is successful."

She wanted no part in his peace plan yet he acted as
if the decision was made. Even if she too craved an end to the killing, how
could she lay with her enemy?

"Come Asilinn, 'tis time." His voice
reached through the fog of her innermost thoughts and brought her back to
reality. She rode alongside him as they approached Dunbocan Castle.

In the distance, peasants moved back and forth on the
bridge connecting the castle to the mainland. The massive gates were open and
they carted their wares to the market set up just inside the walls. Word spread
quickly when Jared came into view. A crowd gathered when Jared and Asilinn rode
together toward the entrance. The gawking stares unnerved Asilinn, but she gave
no clue to the gathering throng. Instead, she pulled herself up straighter and
nodded demurely to the people they passed.

By the time they reached the market a sea of
wondering faces surrounded them. Jared held up his hand and the entourage
stopped in the center of his clansmen.

"I present Lady Asilinn Innes." He extended
his hand to Asilinn. There was a flurry of jeers, but Jared scowled and
silenced the culprits. "Today I shall take Lady Asilinn for my wife and
end forever the feud between the MacLeans and the Innes Clan. The wedding shall
take place this afternoon at Dunbocan Chapel.”

A dirty man in peddler's garb spit in Asilinn's
general direction. Jared rode over and knocked him to the ground then wheeled
Ailleagian to face the angry crowd. "I will tolerate no disrespect toward
Lady Asilinn! She is not a prisoner. She will be my wife and bear my children.
The blood feud will be ended by our union." His emphasis on the word
‘will’ made Asilinn blanch.

Jared cast a stern eye across the assembly daring any
to repudiate his claim. Satisfied no others would show their unhappiness, he
addressed them again. "All are invited to celebrate with us."

The people were gaping at Asilinn as if she had three
heads. Not a single friendly face looked upon her. Faileas danced excitedly
when the crowd pressed too close.

Jared moved in and slipped his arm around her. He was
prepared to lift her to his lap if need be, but the horse settled and Asilinn
regained control. He gave her a nod and urged the horses forward until the
people separated, letting them pass to the next gate of the castle.

They moved inside the gate to the innermost part of
the fortress. Now they were within Jared's inner circle of clansmen.
Fierce-looking, Scottish warriors watched their laird when he led Asilinn into
their midst.

"Protectors of Dunbocan, I give you Lady Asilinn
Innes, most prized daughter of Laird Angus Innes, stolen from her father."
A roar went up from the gathering. At first Asilinn wasn't sure whether it was
approval or disapproval, but soon the cheers became apparent.

"I'd like to have seen the old goat's face when
he realized his daughter was gone," one warrior shouted.

"The perfect insult," another added.

Jared held his hand up to still them. "This was
not meant to sting Laird Innes. I plan to marry Lady Asilinn and stop this
blood feud with the Innes clan. You will give your lives to protect her as you
would give them for me." There was a moment of uncomfortable silence.
Jared pointed to a blond man in the crowd. "Kyle, how many of your kin
have you lost to this bloody war?"