Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers Book 3) (6 page)

“Thank you, Effie.” Nessa closed the door behind the servants after they filed out then leaned against the door in her bronze skirts, her red locks wisped with gray coiled high upon her head. “And how is my favorite time-walker this day?”

“As well as can be considering I spent the night with Kirk.” She uncloaked and hugged her friend. “What of you, Nessa? How do you fare?”

“I’m completely intrigued and dying to know all that occurred last eve. Come and eat while we talk.” Nessa grasped her hand, walked to the side table, pulled out a chair for her and perched in the one opposite her as she sat. When she stayed here at the castle, they always broke their fast together, just the two of them. ’Twas a special time, one of the rare moments when she wasn’t alone as her duty so often demanded.

“Well, Kirk’s shifter senses led him directly to me, although I’m no’ surprised.” She lifted the small bowl of honey and swirled it over top of hers and Nessa’s hot oats then slid a spoonful into her mouth. Delicious, and just what he needed to warm and fill her belly. “I’m sorry I first asked you to do the impossible last eve and keep him from leaving the keep.”

“There wasnae a chance I could halt him. He whipped right by me, so eager to begin the chase. He’s been looking for you for such a long time.” Nessa patted her hand. “You must understand. The ‘power of three’ willnae be at their strongest until each have joined with their chosen ones, which means you must consider allowing the bond to take.”

“I have to admit I now feel so torn.” She bunched her hands in her lap, twisted her fingers in her skirts. “I spent the entire night in his company, even took him into the skies. I’ve never allowed myself such a frivolous time with another.”

“He’s your match in every way and all yours if you will but open your heart to him.” She gestured toward the window where the sounds of steel clanging and warriors grunting echoed toward them. “Kirk will be driven to see to your needs, to aid you in all that you do. He will also never be at peace until the two of you have completed the bond and joined as one. You must accept your destiny is about to change. You need never be alone again, Cherub. Take a step of faith and accept what should be.”

“I cannae deny I want him.”

“Then give yourself the future you both deserve.” With a heartfelt smile, Nessa stirred a teaspoon of honey into her steaming tea. “And so says the wise seer.”

“Aye, very wise, but there is also pain in living an endless life as I do. Kirk is so close to his brothers and there would be desolation as Iain and Finlay aged and passed away and he did no’. That is the kind of pain I have come to accept for myself, but ’tis also the kind of pain I would never wish on another.”

“Yet that should also be his choice to make and not yours.” Nessa sipped her hot drink. “I’ve known you for a very long time, adored each and every one of the days we’ve been friends. I would hate to think I might have missed out on all the years that have passed between us simply because you feared the pain you’d experience when the end must inevitably come for me. I know, deep in my heart, that even when I am no longer here to watch over my people, that you will be. Iain and Finlay will feel the same way with Kirk. He will always be there for their children, grandchildren and so forth throughout the ages. ’Twill be a blessing for them to know their brother will be able to watch over their closest when they cannae.”

“I never considered that.”

“Aye, you’d also be giving your mate the chance to make a wonderful difference, to bring joy to those who continued to live on. His brothers will forever remain alive in their offspring’s memory because he will still be here to impart his memories of them.”

Nessa’s heartfelt words rang deeply in her soul. She blinked away hot tears, selected a bacon slice from the trencher and chewed it. “I will consider your advice and wise words.”

“Then that is all I could ask for.” Nessa nodded. “Oh, we must also speak of another matter that has now arisen. I had a vision this morn surrounding the Chief of MacKenzie. It appears our enemy willnae stand down even though he lost the recent battle at the village. He still desires control of the waterways between us and Isle of Skye and covets Gilleoin’s land at the tip of Loch Alsh. In my vision, he spoke of finding a woman from the village afore it was to be burnt to the ground. I’ve no idea who that woman is, but he’s now sent his captain to find and bring her back. I’ve informed Gilleoin of what I’ve seen and he’s left to increase the patrols at the village and along the coastline.”

“The MacKenzie is a snake.” The man would always desire more than what he owned and controlled, his thirst for domination all that drove him. “I’ll keep an eye on him too, although I’ll need you to remain alert for any further visions.”

“Of course. I’ll keep you informed should I have any.” Nessa quirked a curious brow. “And in what way shall you keep an eye on Colin MacKenzie?”

“By the usual means.” She’d snuck into the MacKenzie’s keep from time to time to ferret out information. Caring for her kin meant ensuring their continued safety and survival and she did so by whatever means was necessary.

“You intend to visit him?”

“I will, but I’ll ensure he isnae aware I’m there.”

“Aye, you are impossible to detect, to capture, or to contain.” Nessa stood and knelt at the tub, swirled her hand through the water. “This is the perfect heat. Come. Have your bath afore the water cools.”

“I long for a hot bath.” She kicked off her slippers, tossed her fur cloak over the top of the dressing screen and shed her gown before stepping into the tub. After sinking into the glorious water, she rested her head on the rim and allowed thoughts of Kirk to roll through her mind. Nessa had told her she needed to allow the bond to take. What if she did? For a moment, a true sense of peace spread through her and wonder filled her heart and made her soul sing with hope.

“Oh goodness. I truly do want him, Nessa.” She leaned one elbow on the rim and looked at her friend. “So much I’m not sure I could walk away from him a second time should we meet.”

“You spent the entire night with him, which means deep in your heart, you’ve already allowed a certain level of the bond to take. Even the Fae Angel of Love deserves to have her own chosen one. If you claim him, just as he wishes to claim you, then you need never be alone again. He is the only one you will ever be soul bound to, and you cannae allow this chance to claim your new destiny pass you by.” Nessa knelt and lathered the soap. “Allow me to aid you in detangling your hair. It’s been whipped into a mighty mess from your travels last eve. Dip down and wet it for me first.”

“Kirk is such a temptation.” She slid under the water then emerged with a sigh. “He even showed me his bear.”

“His bear has been so antsy since his arrival.” Nessa worked the suds through her hair then bade her to rinse the bubbles out. After she had, her friend gently detangled her locks, separated her hair into sections and ran the comb through it.

A thunderous roar reverberated from beyond the curtain wall and echoed all around.

Nessa rose and glanced outside, hands curled around the edge of the windowsill. “Kirk’s gone, and likely into the forest to shift.”

“I hate the thought of causing him such pain, and honestly, to have a lifetime with him at my side and aiding me in my duty, would be a dream.”

“A dream you could make a reality if you so desire it.” Nessa passed her a folded drying cloth from the side table. “You should speak to him again afore you make your final decision.”

“What would I do without you, Nessa?” Smiling, she hopped out of the cooling water and dried herself, donned a shift then picked up the pale blue gown the maid had left and eased it over her head. The soft satin folds shimmered over her hips and swished to her ankles.

“The same could be said for me. What would I do without you? Here, allow me to lace your stays.” Nessa turned her by the shoulders and cinched her gown together. “You must come and meet Isla and Arabel as well. Iain and Finlay’s mates are a delight and mayhap if you see them and how happy they are, you’ll see that Kirk would offer you the same level of happiness. He is a man of his word.”

“Even though I brought Isla through the portal, as well as Kirk and his brothers, I did so without any of them knowing I was there. ’Tis always best that way, otherwise explaining myself leads to far too many questions when their journey isnae about me but about their quest.” She slid the matching slippers on, pinched her cheeks in the looking glass and with her ability to command her element, waved the warm air from the fire through her pale locks and dried them. From the side table, she fetched her favorite silver pins embedded with diamonds and fastened one on each side and once done, nodded at Nessa. “I’m ready.”

“As am I.” Nessa opened the door.

She cloaked herself and followed the seer into the passageway. Even though so many within the castle held fae blood, she still preferred to come and go as much as possible without being seen.

She strolled down the winding stairs and entered the great hall devoid of almost a soul. A maid cleared the trenchers away from the trestle tables, while another maid shooed a large brown-haired dog guzzling scraps, outside.

At the dais, two young women chatted and sipped tea. Isla and Arabel. She’d never mistake either of them. A wide smile graced Isla’s face, and her richly colored red gown with its white silk edging the sweetheart bodice, highlighted her flushed cheeks.

“’Tis good to see Isla and Arabel so happy.” Cherub touched her heart. Isla had denied the mated bond for five long years, remaining on the run each time the full moon had arisen. As a fae-blooded shifter who held the skill to compel, Isla had managed to keep one step ahead of Iain in his fierce chase. Thankfully though, the two of them had come together and accepted their destiny. They’d completed the bond and in doing so, Isla had conceived a new merged line between hers and Iain’s shifter clans. That had been the moment when the prophecy Nessa had spoken at the birth of Gilleoin’s sons had flared into glorious life. The prophecy shimmered through her mind.
Gilleoin’s sons will separate when they come of age and rule their own clans, yet there will come a time far in the future when a mated bond forms between the two clans. Only then must Gilleoin’s descendants once again merge, and the ‘power of three’ be unveiled.

That unveiling had then allowed her to open a portal in the future and bring the travelers through. All was as it now should be. Iain and Isla were together, and so too Finlay had found Arabel and completed the bond. Aye, and now it was Kirk’s turn, if she but allowed their bond to take.

She sighed. Nessa was most certainly right. Those who were mated were brought together for a reason and even she couldn’t deny the depth of need rolling through her. Her soul rejoiced at the thought of joining with Kirk, and curled up with distaste at the thought of leaving him behind.

“Nessa!” Isla waved out as she stood, her long brown locks swaying. She nabbed Arabel’s hand and hurried across the hall toward them.

“Good morn, my dears.” Nessa hugged Isla then Arabel.

“Good morning to you too.” Isla pressed her palm to her heart. “Arabel and I have a great need to speak to you, in private if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. The chief’s solar is free since Gilleoin’s ridden out.” Nessa motioned them into the antechamber at the side of the hall. “Whatever is this all about?”

Isla walked inside and sat in the padded chair near the unlit fireplace. “Arabel and I have a very secret mission we wish to embark on, one we need your aid in ensuring its success.”

“Well, I do love a good secret mission.” Nessa closed the door.

Still unseen, Cherub perched on the corner chair near the window. The room held the chief’s large wooden desk, a tall chest with ornately carved feet and intricately styled doors, as well as an array of chairs and benches placed around the perimeter of the room. A fresh breeze blew in through the open window and brushed over her skin.

“This is far more than just a secret mission.” Arabel crouched before the hearth, lit one fingertip with her fae fire-wielder skill and set the wood ablaze. She rose and rubbed her hands together, the white ribbon at the top of her sapphire gown fluttering. “’Tis a mission of great need as well.”

“Then do tell all,” Nessa urged as she glanced from Arabel to Isla.

“Arabel and I intend to wed our mates.” Isla leaned forward, hands planted on the tartan draped over the arms of her chair. “But to do that we need a clergyman. There’s also a catch. Iain and Finlay aren’t to know what we’re organizing. We wish for it to be a surprise.”

“Oh, I also love surprises.” Nessa grinned.

“Wonderful, because we need your aid in finding a clergyman.”

“I can most definitely aid you with that.” Nessa nudged the quill and ink bottle sitting on the chief’s desk into the center then leaned against the edge. “The nearest priest would be Father John at the priory. I could send a guard to fetch him, and provided he was free to travel, you could be wed to your men afore the week’s end.”

“That sounds per—”

The door swung open and Iain strode in.

Isla raised a brow. “Well, hello, my big bear. Have you finished your training for the morning?”

“We finished early. Kirk’s in need of aid, and it appears there can be no further delay.” Iain crossed to her, gripped the sides of her armchair then bent and rubbed his nose against hers. “He’s just changing then he’ll join us. He shredded his clothes just before when he was forced to shift. His bear rides him hard and demands the return of his mate.”