The Highlander's Stolen heart (Macinnes Sisters Trilogy) (30 page)

~~~

Emma kept her arm around her sister, fearing that any moment she would faint, she turned so pale.

“It cannot be. It just cannot be,” Heather kept saying. “Why? Why would he want me?”

They both shivered at the possibilities.

“Do you have the ring I sent you?” Heather asked.

Emma nodded.

“Give it to me,” she said. “I feel so vulnerable when I am not wearing it, and right now I could use some strength.”

Emma slipped it out of her pouch and Heather slipped it around her neck, giving it a squeeze before tucking it beneath her blouse.

There was sudden movement in the camp. More warriors poured out of the woods and every one of their faces was painted white.

“Oh God, Emma, he is come for me,” Heather said, grabbing onto her sister as they stumbled to their feet.

Emma wished they could run, at least have a chance of escape, but ghost warriors surrounded them. There was no place for them to go.

One large warrior stepped forward and beckoned with his outstretched hand. “Come, we leave now.”

Both women stepped forward, clinging tightly to each other.

“No,” the warrior commanded. “Only you.” He pointed to Heather.

They clung even tighter to each other.

“I go where my sister goes,” Emma said her tone threatening an or else, though she knew not what the or else would be.

The warrior shook his head. “Only Heather.”

“No,” Emma shouted at him, frantic to keep her sister safe, but not sure how she could. She feared Heather being taken from her again, never able to find her.

The warrior stepped forward.

“Touch her and you die,” Rogan roared.

Emma watched as her husband fought to control his stallion, the animal pawing the ground and appearing as angry as Rogan and just as intimidating. She had to smile. Never had he looked more the mighty Highland warrior astride his steed, ready and fearless of the battle ahead.

He guided his horse down the rise, his men following behind him.

The ghost warriors remained as they were, not moving an inch. It was as if they had frozen in place. They made no move even as Rogan drew closer. They kept a tight knit circle around Emma and Heather, and Emma feared her husband would have to battle his way through them.

Rogan kept his eye on the large warrior, standing a few feet away from his wife. He still was not close enough to stop him from reaching out and grabbing Emma. He had been shocked to see Heather next to Emma, though pleased. He hoped to rescue them both, though wondered if it would be possible. After all, this was a trap, but for who or why still went unanswered.

They were only a few feet away when it happened. The big warrior rushed at Emma and Heather, and the other warriors rushed to close the circle. Then in mere seconds, almost in the blink of an eye, the ghost warriors vanished into the woods as if they had never been there at all. And they left only Emma behind.

It took Emma a moment to realize what had happened and when she did, she let out such a furious scream that the horses startled and the MacClennan warriors cringed.

Rogan rode straight for her, dismounting before his horse came to a complete stop and tried to pull her into his arms.

Emma refused to be comforted. She pushed her husband away and screamed, “Heather, I will come for you. Patience and I will come for you. I promise.” Her scream grew to a fury. “And you, Dark Dragon, hurt my sister and I will see you dead. Do you hear me, I will see you dead! On that you have my word!”

A mist began to creep down the hill, claiming everything in its path. The horses grew skittish as it settled around their feet, as if they feared it touching them. The warriors drew their legs up fearing the same.

Thunder suddenly rumbled over the land like an angry beast and the dark gray sky seemed to grow darker. The thunder grew louder, cracking and rolling in thunderous roars.

One of the warriors cried out, “A beast approaches.”

Rogan turned a furious warning glare on him and the warrior froze, frightened more of Rogan than the beast. He then turned back to his wife. “They are on foot. We ride after them.”

She nodded, grateful he was a fearless warrior.

Before either of them moved, one of the warriors cried out, “The Dragon.”

Everyone turned to look. There on the rise, the mist licking at his feet stood a figure shrouded in black, the wind blowing at his cloak, making it appear as if he had wings.

Emma stared. The figure in her dream had come alive and was standing before her very eyes.

A ghost warrior suddenly appeared a few feet away from them.

“You will hear from your sister again, but if you dare follow, then you will never hear from or see your sister again.” He disappeared as fast as he had appeared.

Emma turned to her husband and collapsed in his arms in tears.

~~~

The wind and rain blew fiercely and Rogan was glad they were tucked safely away in the castle. He had had food brought to their room so they could sup in private, Emma having suffered bouts of tears since arriving home hours ago.

“He is a monster, letting me see my sister and then taking her from me,” Emma said.

“It was his plan and one that worked well,” he said, handing her a goblet of wine. “He let you see that she was unharmed, though warned that harm would come to her if you tried to follow and showing himself as he did was meant to instill fear so we would keep our distance. It worked, for stories now spread about the incident and many in the clan want no trouble from the vengeful Dark Dragon.”

“The look on my sister’s face when I told her it was the Dark Dragon who abducted her haunts me. She had not known. He had never made himself known to her. I can only imagine her fear now.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Rogan hunched down in front of his wife, snug in a chair by the hearth. “If he intended to harm her, he would have done so by now. She appeared well cared for and the ghost warrior did say that you would hear from her again. So evidently, the Dark Dragon intends to allow her to communicate with you.”

“But it is what he wants from her that worries me,” Emma insisted.

“We still have to hear from the King,” Rogan reminded. “He may be able to intervene and bring an end to this.”

Emma shivered. “Seeing him on that rise as he had appeared in my dream, makes me doubt that anyone would be willing to go up against him.”

“I would,” Rogan said without hesitation.

She rested her hand against his warm cheek. “I do not want to exchange your life for my sister’s.”

“You have little faith in me, wife,” he said, taking her hand and placing a gentle kiss on her palm.

“I have all the faith in the world in you, husband, but faith will not help you when you face an army of the Dark Dragon’s warriors. I thought I was prepared and hoped that perhaps Heather and I could fight them off until you reached us. But they moved so fast that I did not even see them move. There were a few steps away from us and in an instant they were on top of us, and in the next instant they were gone. I did not even feel them separate Heather and me. How do you fight warriors you cannot see move?”

Rogan had to admit she was right. He had seen it with his own eyes and not believed it.

“We will find a way,” he assured her.

“That we will, for I will not leave Heather in the claws of the Dark Dragon.” She yawned, not wanting to sleep, yet yearning for the oblivion it would bring, if only to ease her worries for a few hours.

Rogan did not bother to tell her that she needed sleep. He simply scooped her up out of the chair and carried her to bed. He intended to leave her to sleep, but she reached her hand out to grab his arm when, after tucking her in, he turned to walk away.

She realized as soon as she was in his arms that she much preferred to seek the solace he could offer, rather than the oblivion of sleep. “Make love to me.”

Rogan did not think to deny her. He undressed, climbed into bed, and took her in his arms.

Emma stared out at the woods. She had been coming here daily since she had last seen Heather about a month ago, hoping that a ghost warrior would once again show himself and lead her to her sister. Though life went on, she could not shed the guilt of failing to rescue Heather.

Rogan had insisted on accompanying her and the times he could not, he sent one of his warriors with her. She had managed to evade the warriors more often than not. Today was one of those days, and she was grateful for it. She desperately needed time alone, if for nothing else than to mourn her two sisters’ absence.

She missed them so very much, though she could not say she was not happy in her new life. Her husband was wonderful, and she had made good friends with Ina and Murdina. She smiled. Murdina and Angus were inseparable, and while Angus still enjoyed his ale, it was far less than before. Everyone in the village was wagering when the wedding would be. Ina was certain she was with child, since she was a few days late in bleeding. She insisted she could feel a babe nestled in her and no one could tell her otherwise. Liam was worried she would once again be disappointed. But Emma had learned to trust a woman’s instincts, they were rarely wrong.

Emma said nothing of her own suspicions that she was with child. She wanted to be certain so as not to disappoint anyone.

The land was flourishing along with the clan and all was good, but would be far better if her sisters where here to enjoy it with her.

She walked a bit more, taking note of seedlings she intended to replant in the garden as soon as they were strong enough to move. Then she started back to the keep, meeting up with her husband as she stepped from the woods.

“When are you going to take pity on me and learn to obey me?” he said.

She hooked her arm around his. “I do obey you.”

He laughed. “When it suits you.”

“It suits me now to spend the rest of the day with my husband.”

“That is good, since I was going to order you to do just that.”

Emma patted his arm. “You see what a remarkable wife I am, obeying orders you have yet to issue.”

“I agree you are a remarkable wife,” —he lowered his voice— “in so many, many ways.”

Emma leaned in close. “Perhaps we should explore those ways, especially since I missed exploring them this morning.”

Rogan slipped his arm around her waist. “Let us hurry before someone stops us.”

They made it to the steps of the keep when Liam called out to them.

They turned reluctantly.

“A message from your father,” Liam called out to Emma as he ran to them. “Your sister Patience has returned home and she is well.”

Emma squealed with delight. “Patience is home and safe.” She flung herself at her husband and hugged him tight. “I cannot wait to see her. I will have the servants pack. We will leave immediately.”

“On the morrow,” Rogan said firmly and was surprised when she did not argue.

“Aye, on the morrow,” she said and turned to hurry off.

Rogan grabbed her arm, stopping her. “You will not sneak off without me. We will leave together tomorrow. I will have your word on it.”

She kissed his cheek. “You have my word, husband. We will leave together tomorrow.”

Rogan watched her hurry up the stairs and into the keep.

“She obeys you well... this time,” Liam said, grinning.

“That is what I’m afraid of.” Rogan shook his head. “Just when I thought things had settled to a relative calm... they start all over again.”

THE END

Look for Patience’s story
Highlander’s Rebellious Love
available fall 2014

Single Titles

San Francisco Surrender

Rebellious Bride

The Buccaneer

Tame My Wild Touch

Playing Cupid

Whispers on the Wind

Series Books

Wyrrd Witch Series

The Wedding Spell

Magical Moments

Magical Memories

Remember the Magic

The Irish Devil

Irish Hope

Isle of Lies

Love Me Forever

Dark Warrior

Legendary Warrior

The Daring Twin

The Bewitching Twin

Taken By Storm

The Highlander’s Bride

Sinclare Brothers’ Series

Return of the Rogue

Under the Highlander’s Spell

The Angel & The Highlander

Highlander’s Forbidden Bride

Warrior King Series

Bound To A Warrior

Loved By A Warrior

A Warrior’s Promise

Wed To A Highland Warrior

Highlander Trilogy

Highlander Unchained

Forbidden Highlander

Highlander’s Captive

Rancheros Trilogy

Untamed Fire

Renegade Love

Third book yet to be titled

Sexual Appetites of Unearthly Creatures Novella Series

Sexual Appetites of Vampires

Macinnes Sisters Trilogy

The Highlander’s Stolen Heart

Highlander’s Rebellious Love
, Fall 2014

Highlander: The Dark Dragon
, Winter 2015

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