Mark of the Highlander (The MacLomain Series: Next Generation, Book 1) (8 page)

McKayla swallowed hard. She supposed her cousin had a point.

“The hands are holding the heart facing you,” Caitlin commented.

Once more swirling the Claddagh ring on her finger she asked, “What does that mean?”

Caitlin’s cunning eyes met hers. “That your heart is already taken. If a potential suitor kisses your hand he’ll know it immediately.”

Pressure tightened in her chest as she looked at the ring. Her heart wasn’t taken. Or at least it hadn’t been for some time. Swirling the heart so she wouldn’t have to look at it, McKayla asked, “Are you really a witch?”

“Kinda sorta,” Caitlin said. “I can manage parlor house tricks but nothing nearly as profound as Ferchar.” She sighed. “Again, I’m so sorry for not telling you. I guess I’d hoped none of this would affect you.”

“But you don’t seem all that shocked that it did.”

“No,” Caitlin said. “I guess I’m not. I mean it hit me out of nowhere and though the rings were supposed to tie together the last great Broun/MacLomain loves I couldn’t help but think in the midst of all that magic…really? If something as simple as the flu can mutate and survive why can’t something as simple as love mutate and survive as well? Because love, like all determined things, will find a way. We just tend to complicate it. Wish we’d stop doing that.”

McKayla couldn’t help but smile. “Only you could compare the flu with love and come out ahead.”

Her cousin grinned and shrugged. “I’ve learned to see things in the best light possible. Everything serves a purpose. Everything happens for a reason.”

“It better,” McKayla said on a yawn. “If not, I’ve no idea what to tell Fate about how I lost both a warlock and a shape-shifter in one lifetime.”

“Oh, you do bounce back well!”

Not really. But she wasn’t about to let Caitlin worry about her much longer. With a small smile she said, “‘Tis what we Brouns do, aye?”

“Give or take,” Caitlin said. “But I still worry about how much you’re really ready for.”

She was about to respond when another voice overrode hers from the bedroom door.

“Dinnae worry, lass. She’s now in verra good hands.”

There was never a stranger moment than when a medieval Scottish Highlander walked into her twenty-first century bedroom.

Trevor…no, Colin, sat slowly in the chair Caitlin had abandoned after she was sure McKayla would be all right alone with him. A long, uncomfortable silence stretched as they eyed one another. He appeared much as he had in her dream. Except now his eyes were even more startling, clearer to her vision somehow. Nowhere near green, as he had assured earlier, they were a sharp almost disconcerting shade of pale bluish green. She supposed they were turquoise. With the same black brows and lashes she remembered from before, his eyes certainly had a way of pinning a person.

The pure strength radiating off him struck her almost as acutely as his piercing gaze. It was something that he’d never seemed to possess when in the form of Trevor. Or maybe that wasn’t entirely true. Trevor had a strong presence around others. Perhaps he just seemed softer with her because they were so close.

Trevor…Colin.

It would take a very long time to wrap her mind around this one.

When he finally spoke his deep voice and brogue again caught her off guard. “You have a right to hate me, lass. More than I hate myself for how much I’ve deceived you.”

He was right. She did. Pulling her knees up against her chest, she said, “I don’t think I could ever hate you.” McKayla cast her eyes down, discomforted by looking at a stranger while speaking to her best friend. “But right now I’m feeling a lot of anger…and confusion, even fear. If my cousins hadn’t seen the same things I saw and Ferchar and Caitlin hadn’t confirmed all of this, I’d think I’d gone crazy.”

“‘Tis a lot to take in all at once,” Colin agreed. “And is only bound to become…”

When he trailed off she looked up. “Become what?”

“Far more confusing and mayhap even frightening. But know that I’ll never leave you alone. I’ll protect you with my life if necessary.”

Alarmed, McKayla eyed his tartan, the build that was clearly a warrior’s. “It’s unlikely I’ll need much protecting. If you haven’t noticed there are no warring clans here. Only in my book.”

“Aye, in your book. About a time and place that I call home, love. A place that I must return to so that I might face all the havoc I’ve created.”

Worried, McKayla pulled her knees tighter against her chest. It would be one thing to watch Colin go. She might relax a great deal. But to watch Trevor? The thought made her panic. “What exactly did you do? What are you facing? And again, what does this have to do with protecting me?”

She pushed back against the headboard when he stood. Upset but determined he said, “McKayla, ‘tis me…Trevor, your best friend, once your lover. Allow me to sit next to you, offer comfort.”

Sizzling flame erupted beneath her skin when he said lover. It was impossible to imagine she’d lain with…
him
, the overwhelming Scotsman standing over her. When her eyes started to lower to where they shouldn’t she immediately brought them back to his face, mortified.
Damn.
There was no doubt that she and Trevor had chemistry. Would the same hold true with Colin? She bit down on her lower lip and did all she could not to envision it. Pretty hard not to considering she’d written love scenes about just such a man.

He cleared his throat. “McKayla, please. At least let me hold your hand.”

“You expect too much,” she replied swiftly.

“Rest assured that this will be the least of it.”

“The least?” she said weakly but quickly regrouped. Colin certainly had more nerve than Trevor. Or she was finally meeting the man he’d always been. “You have a funny way of trying to endear yourself to me right now.”

Without her permission, Colin sat on the bed. Though she tried to pull it away he took her hand. Larger and rougher than what she was used to, she closed her eyes and tried to control her thundering heart. So this is what a weapon-calloused hand felt like.

“McKayla,” he whispered.

When she opened her eyes it was to a magnificent man staring at her with desire. Was it as Caitlin said…did he truly love her? Though he’d pushed her away, had Trevor remained interested in more than just friendship? It seemed likely based on the look in his eyes now. She started to snatch her hand away but stopped. Despite her anger, she didn’t want to wound him further. At least not right now. She cleared her throat. “Please answer my questions.”

“Aye, I suppose I better.” He shook his head. “Some would say mine is a long story but after spending time in the twenty-first century, I’ve learned better than most how to simplify.” He gave her a careful look. “Are you ready then?”

McKayla doubted she’d ever be ready but nodded regardless.

“I was born in the Christian year twelve hundred and twenty-six. Born too early, some said the gods were in a rush to get me here and that I’d serve a greater purpose than most. The way I see it, my early arrival just put my Ma through more worry than needed. But there I was, bairn of Iain and Arianna MacLomain. Bairn to the former chieftain and in line to become laird after Ferchar’s nephew William.”

The author in her couldn’t help but ask, “Wouldn’t William’s son become laird next?”

“Typically, but Adlin MacLomain made it clear that Iain’s son was to rule for a time. Aye, William’s son would get his chance in due time.”

“And Adlin, of course, was obeyed as he’d all but birthed your clan.”

“Aye, lass. If Adlin had stipulations before he left, they were heeded.”

“So did you become chieftain or is William…still alive?”

“William lives,” Colin responded with a deep frown. “And none too pleased with me, I’m sure.”

Intrigued despite the remarkable circumstances she’d been thrust into, McKayla said, “Clearly, so is Ferchar. What did you do to upset him besides the obvious?”

Colin scowled, obviously recalling the paralyzed state Ferchar had inflicted on him. “That’s a loaded question, lassie. But my guess is I upset him by fleeing on the day William declared he wished me to take over.” He shrugged, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. “Then there were the verra
reasons
I left.”

“Reasons? Plural?”

“Aye.” Colin slowly entwined their fingers, the action so subliminal she barely noticed…until she did. The motion kicked her heart into high gear again. He seemed to notice the affect he was having on her because his next words were huskier than before. “I didnae want to lead the MacLomains quite yet. Only twenty-five winters, I craved excitement beyond the everyday life of overseeing a castle and leading men into battle. I wanted more.” His words grew almost too soft to hear. “Then there were the lasses.”

The romance writer in her could only imagine the amount of lasses Colin would attract. Too many for her taste. She experienced a distressing mix of curiosity and jealousy. “I’m sure you handled the lasses just fine.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and again shook his head. “Nay, I left one at the altar and the other—” His eyes met hers. “In Cape Cod.”

Her heart nearly skidded to a halt. It was an easy thing to forget she still spoke to the man she’d always known as Trevor, that they’d spent so much time together. Here. Not there. He’d been here with her while simultaneously being there? “How?” she started but answered her own question. “Time travel. All this time you’ve lived two lives.”

Before he could speak she asked, “Did you really move to California? Or is that a lie too?”

“Nay! I did. But I dinnae spend much time there.”

McKayla got irritated with herself when tears welled. She hated being sensitive. For this reason she always wrote about strong heroines. Women who could handle themselves no matter what life dished out. Seems reality was a bit different because the idea that Trevor could have remained in a relationship with her but didn’t, hurt like heck. All the while, his shape-shifting self was traveling back and forth having one hell of a time. 

“You dinnae ken,” he murmured.

Before she knew it he pulled her onto his lap. A surprisingly solid lap. Not giving her a chance to speak he cupped the back of her head so that she wouldn’t turn away. “I only left you because I knew I’d have to go back to Scotland. It was not only dangerous but unfair to keep you in my life, McKayla. Gods know I love you, lass. Since the moment I laid eyes on you and every moment since.”

Senses overwhelmed by both his nearness and words, she only shook her head.

“Do you remember when we first met?” He didn’t give her a chance to respond. “You were sitting on the beach writing.” His thumb sifted through her hair. “Your hair glistened in the sun as though covered in diamonds. I never expected you to glow like you did. Or look like you did.”

McKayla wiped away a stray tear, grateful no more followed. “You introduced yourself by saying, “I could make you a laptop that sand won’t damage.”  Mckayla chuckled. “I remember thinking that was the worst pick up line I’d ever heard.”

He grinned. “But effective, aye?”

Wow, was he extra hot when he smiled. Her eyes went to his sumptuous lips. Though overly aware of their closeness she was feeling more and more comfortable with
Colin
. “You were good looking enough to get away with it.”

“Was I?” he asked, flirting. “If you’re not careful I might get jealous of…well, myself.”

It was hard not to smile. “You would have every reason to be.”

Colin seemed sobered in an instant. “I am still the lad you fell in love with, McKayla. What we had…
have
… means everything to me. More than I ever thought I’d find in this life. More than I ever wanted until I realized how powerful it could be, how
important
.”

“Then why not stay here in New England with me?” She didn’t care if she sounded petty or selfish. “Why not leave Scotland behind altogether? You wanted to leave behind your obligations to your clan anyways, right?”

Colin’s free hand clenched slightly. “Nay, I would never abandon Scotland. She’s my lifeblood.” His eyes roamed her face. “But neither would I abandon you. Or willingly put you in harm’s way. ‘Tis why I fled. I should have ended our friendship. But I couldn’t. And now I’ve brought more harm than good.”

“You say you need to protect me.” McKayla wasn’t sure she wanted the answer, but she needed to know, so she pressed on. “Why, Colin?”

Darkness settled over his features and for a moment his gaze grew distant. “When I left my clan three years ago, it was with fierceness in my heart. Restless, reckless, I craved excitement. While the battling gave me some, it was never enough. Something else lived inside me. A craving I didnae ken.”

A shiver of warning rippled through her but the desire to know more prevailed. “And?”

“I did something verra foolish.” His clouded gaze turned her way. “Not long after I left the clan I joined the ranks of a rather clandestine brotherhood. One that did unspeakable things for what they considered a greater good. Being a wizard and shape-shifter with a taste for violence I was a favored addition to their ranks.”

McKayla could feel his muscles tighten beneath her. Her question when it finally came was barely audible. “What did you do?”

His distant gaze seemed to clear when he looked her straight in the eyes, obviously wanting her to understand. “I became an assassin. I killed not for money but to alter the paths of destiny, of fate itself. Through the limitless magic provided by my brotherhood, I changed the course of people’s lives.”

Her mouth dropped open. Unable to move, she only stared at him. Was he serious? Deadly, it seemed, based on the unabashed way he looked right back. Uncomfortable but determined to understand more she asked, “So you murdered not for money but to…help people?” She pulled back. “Do you know how insane that sounds?”

“Insane,” he breathed. “Something I’ve been called way too many times.” For a second he sounded so contrite she thought he’d set her aside. Instead, he pulled her closer. “I willnae pretend to look back on all I’ve done with a sense of rightness and conviction but willnae look back on it as insanity either. I thought I was doing good. I thought I was helping people. ‘Twas only recently that I began to realize that the path I’d chosen wasn’t exactly what I thought.” His determined eyes met hers. “I willnae say I’m sorry.”

Brows furrowed, she searched for the Trevor she knew. “So while we were together, first as
lovers
then as friends, you were traveling back to medieval Scotland to murder innocent people?”

Colin’s brows shot up. “Innocent? Not one of them was that. These were men who molested their bairns, who killed for the sake of bettering their stations, who manipulated and stole from the poor. Nay, not one was undeserving of my blade.”

Child molesters? Shoot. Now killing them sounded pretty darn good. Still. How to make sense of all this? She decided to focus on the obvious. “So what made you realize you were on the wrong path with this brotherhood?”

“Which brings us to why I said I’ll always protect you,” he murmured, his arm locking tighter around her, barring all escape. “There’s something I need to tell you, lass.”

“Obviously,” she said, trying to ignore the feeling of dread welling inside.

“Do you remember the cave in which you awoke during your lucid dream?”