To Steal a Highlander's Heart (2 page)

He
gave Caraid a light kick with his heels. He needed to get to Glencolum as quickly
as possible. And it was not fear of the Campbells catching up that drove him.

***

Tèile
grimaced as she wriggled in the saddle bag of the Highland warrior. It was hot
and cramped and certainly not fit of for a faerie. And they were making quick
progress. Far too quick. Before long they would be back at the keep and around
others. The boorish humans would never allow them a chance for love to blossom.
If only she was allowed to meddle with their hearts. Unfortunately human hearts
were beyond the reach of faeries. But no matter, she would implant a few dreams
next time they slept. First she needed to slow them down.

Peeking
out of the top of the leather satchel, she glanced at the skies. No sign of
even the slightest rain. The clear sky with its puffy white clouds was
sickeningly devoid of interesting weather. Well, she would soon change that. A
few muttered words and the grey clouds rolled in.

Ha,
let’s see if that would not slow them down.

Alana
watched the sky darken with apprehension. This day had gone from mildly
confusing to outrageously strange.
Kidnapped, thrown from a horse, kidnapped
again
. And now it looked as though they were about to be caught up in the
most sudden storm she’d ever witnessed in her three and twenty summers.

“Morgann…”
She shifted so she could see him out of the corner of her eye.

He
glanced down, pinning her with his powerful gaze.

“There
looks to be a storm.”

“Aye,
I can see that.”

“Should
we not stop?”

“And
where, pray tell, should we stop?”

“I
know not. But I dinnae want to get wet.”

And
she wanted a chance to escape again but she wouldn’t mention that part. Ach, her
first taste of freedom in years and she’d been kidnapped. She certainly wasn’t
going to let herself be taken prisoner. The MacRaes
hated
the Campbells.
Who knew what was in store for her? But for the moment her head hurt too much
to put up a real fight and she really did not want to fall from the mount
again. Let him think she would cooperate for the moment. Mayhap he would let
down his guard and give her a chance to escape.

Fat
heavy drops began to fall, pattering against the grey rocks strewn across the
hills and soaking through her clothing. Morgann cursed into her hair but continued
to push his mount on through the valley as the leaden clouds converged about
the mountains, washing the scenery with ominous shadows.

In
the distance the heavy rumble of thunder sounded, making Alana shiver. The
steady rainfall leached through to her skin, increasing the quaking of her body
until her teeth chattered and Morgann cursed once more and eased her into his torso.

His
chest provided some warmth. More than she wanted to think about really. She’d
always admired him when they were younger but she did not need to be nursing an
attraction to him while he kidnapped her. If he succeeded in taking her back to
Glencolum Keep, the tension between the two clans would ignite and Highland
blood would paint the hills red.

Nay,
that could not be allowed to happen. Her father suffered with his health. No
longer a great Highland warrior, war surely meant death for him. Alana loved
him dearly, in spite of his flaws. Da was determined to still be seen as a man
of great strength and power and who could blame him? But his warmongering ways
spelled trouble for their entire clan. Since that day eight summers ago, life
had been fraught with danger and she’d been confined to the keep.

A
shudder wracked her again and she acquiesced to the warm strength of Morgann’s
body. She needed to try and retain her strength if she wanted to escape his
clutches. And
of course
she wanted to.

She
tensed.
Did he just hiss?
She squeezed her eyes shut and tore them open
once more, hoping the strange fog of—
of need?—
had gone.
Concentrate.
Taut muscles rippled against her back as he guided the horse skilfully between
the rock-strewn hills.
Not on that, Alana!
She blew out a heavy breath.
She needed to think of anything other than the sensation of a powerful male
body flattened against her.

Well,
she had taken a hit to the head. And it had been a while since she’d spent time
in the company of any man other than her kinsmen. None were as handsome as
Morgann to be sure.

Ach,
handsome as he was, he was still abducting her.

She
stole a peek over her shoulder. Of course, he’d always been attractive but she
had never envisaged him turning into this… this beast of a man. Had the years
changed everything? He’d certainly lost his playful countenance she remembered
from their time together. Was it just hidden or gone? His dark eyes now had a
haunted look to them. But what did she expect after what her father had done to
him? She still regretted not being able to speak with him afterwards. Still
regretted not getting the chance to tell him that she believed in him.

The
heavy boom of thunder grew closer, echoing across the valley and Alana shrank
back into Morgann’s hold.

“Ach,
we must stop,” Morgann muttered in her ear, making her jolt as his breath
whispered over her. “The ground is soaked. I risk hurting Caraid.”

Alana
sniffed. Wonderful. He cared more for the horse’s welfare than hers. Still,
she’d not complain. Mayhap she could at least talk him out of taking her to his
keep. Or just escape. Morgann did seem very determined and that brooding look
in his eyes made her stomach twist in apprehension.

They
approached a jutting rock at the base of a mountain and he directed Caraid over
and slid from the saddle. Alana prepared to jump down but before she made a
move his large hands were upon her, gliding her down his body. A rush of blood
pounded through her head and their gazes connected for the merest moment. As
slight as it was, the instant made her stomach flutter and she suspected those
eyes would haunt her dreams for many nights.

“Rest
awhile under that rock while I—”

As
Morgann turned from her to grab the mount’s reins, Alana slipped past. She
hadn’t even planned the move, but now seemed as good a time as any. She made to
run but something snagged her gown and she slipped on the wet ground, landing
face first into the mud. She rolled and fought to come to her feet, but it was
Morgann that had a hold of her skirts.

He
cursed as she wriggled and struck out at him with a foot. “Be still,” he
commanded as he attempted to seize her leg.

“Nay!”
she shouted as she planted her foot in his middle and scrabbled away. “I’ll no’
let ye take me.”

But
he was swiftly upon her, this time using his full weight to pin down her legs.
No matter how much she thrashed, she was no match for his brutal strength.
Morgann slid up her until she was trapped completely beneath him.

“Damn
ye, Morgann,” she hissed as he pressed the breath from her with his body.

Alana
swiped at him but he curled a hand around one wrist, then the other, making her
wince, and trapped them above her. Heavy breaths blew across her skin as he
glared at her, nostrils flaring.

She
gulped and gave another wriggle. The strongly clenched jaw, the anger in his
eyes made her stomach tighten. She didn’t know this man, she realised. The
playful friend she had once known had been replaced by a dangerous warrior. One
intent on capturing her.

“Let
me go,” she said feebly, biting back a whimper as her wrist throbbed. She
attempted to draw her hands from his grip. “Yer hurting me.”

The
grip tightened. “Cease yer fighting, lass. Yer going nowhere.”

“Never,”
she spat. “I’ll no’ let ye use me as a pawn in yer power games.”

“Ye
think this is about power?” He laughed dryly. “Alana, I have no wish to take
land or start wars. But ye must come with me. ‘Tis the only way.”

Tired
and confused, Alana relaxed against his hold. If he didn’t wish to barter her
for a chance at some of her father’s land, then what did he want with her? What
other reason was there for taking an enemy’s daughter? Revenge mayhap?

“What
do ye want me for then?”

“Will
ye cease fighting me if I explain?”

“Aye.”

The
hold around her hands released as he watched her closely. But she knew better
than to fight him. It didn’t mean she’d stop trying to escape. Nay, she just
had to choose her moment more carefully. The warrior was obviously determined
to take her.

She
made the mistake of holding his gaze as he made to climb off and her chest
tightened. He paused and they stared at each other. Emotion simmered behind his
gaze, the anger gone, and Alana couldn’t tell if the emotion was targeted at
her or something else. All she knew was the feeling of having his strong weight
on top of her, his gaze boring into her, stole all sensible thought and turned
her into one quivering mass of sensations.

Endless
moments stretched on as she waited for Morgann to look away, to break the
connection, but he stared brazenly on as his gaze trailed over her face. What
did he see? As she gaped up at him, the irate warrior dissolved into a flesh
and blood man and she recalled how much she used to adore him. When Morgann was
banished from her father’s lands, she’d been heartbroken at losing her friend,
but with the blazing sensation of having him flattened against her, she
remembered it wasn’t just the loss of his friendship that hurt her so. She’d
always silently hoped Morgann would play a bigger role in her future.

But
that didn’t change the fact he was taking her against her will and she would
not go meekly, regardless of what she once felt for him. She wouldn’t put
herself and her clan in danger all because they’d once been friends. If only
she could ignore the sensuous pull of his lips or the darkening of his pupils
as a rough finger drew a path over her cheek.

A
crack ripped across the sky and they both jolted. Pushing to standing, Morgann
helped her up and grimaced as he eyed her. Aware of the mud coating her, she
swiped a hand across her face as her cheeks heated. Tilting her head up, she
hoped the rain would at least be useful for something and not only rinse away
some of the dirt but also cool her down. The way the man made her skin blister
was extremely disconcerting.

Morgann
muttered a curse, drawing her attention back to him as he raked a hand through
his hair and yanked some rope from the leather pouch hanging from his saddle.
As he turned back to her, rope held out, Alana shrank away.

“Ye
cannae mean to tie me up, surely?”

“‘Tis
clear ye cannae be trusted. I’ll no’ have ye escaping me again.”

She
pressed herself back as he approached her cautiously. “I thought ye were going
to tell me of yer plans, not tie me up. If I’d have known ye planned that, I’d
have fought harder.”

“I
dinnae doubt it. Why do ye think I agreed to tell ye?”

Licking
her lips, Alana darted her gaze around, looking for an escape. If he tied her
up, all hope would be lost. “So ye dinnae plan to tell me aught?”

“I
dinnae take pleasure in this, Alana, but I’ll no’ see ye harmed.” He grabbed a
wrist as she attempted to dodge his reach. “I just need ye for a while.”

Why
did those words send a flutter of excitement to her toes? She tried to run past
him and tear herself from his grip but a strong arm came around her waist and
held her back as he coiled the rope around one wrist.

“Ye
say ye dinnae want to hurt me, yet ye intend to tie me up like a common
prisoner?”

As
he opened his mouth to argue, the mare whinnied and they both turned to see her
rear.

“Damnation!”
Morgann dropped the rope and snatched at the reins but it was too late, the horse
bolted. He immediately gave chase and Alana watched for a moment as he sprinted
after the frightened mare.

She
stole a quick peek at the skies and uttered a thank you. Hopefully she could
evade Morgann in the rocky landscape and find her way home. They hadn’t journeyed
too far though she’d never travelled these lands unaccompanied and the last
time she’d visited Morgann’s home was many years ago.

And
she was definitely on
enemy land.

Nerves
beat in her chest but she shoved the sensation aside and fell into a run. She deliberately
followed the base of the mountains, snaking in and out of the protruding rocks,
some bigger than a cottage, having tumbled down the peaks long ago. If he
managed to catch up with his mount quickly, then mayhap the rocks would hide
her for long enough to gain some distance.

The
rain continued to fall and her plaid grew heavy and cumbersome. It provided
little warmth now it was soaked so she unpinned it and let it fall from her
shoulders. Aye, mayhap she risked freezing to death but she didn’t plan on
being out in the wilderness for long. Soon she’d be back home by the warmth of
a fire. She thrust a hand out and used a rock to help her navigate the slippery
surface of the mountain, stifling a shudder.

Aye,
just think on that, Alana
.
A warm fire. Heavy blankets. Some heated wine. An unbidden image of Morgann
pressed on top of her, warming her in other ways burst through her thoughts.
Where had that come from? She was old enough to know of the pleasure that could
be shared between a man and a woman. And wise enough to realise that it would
likely be extremely pleasurable sharing that with Morgann but she’d never had
these sort of heated imaginings before, only simple ideas more suited to that
of an inexperienced maiden.

Alana’s
foot slipped from under her and only her grip on the rock stopped her from
falling into the mud again. She made her way higher up the mountain after
glancing at the valley below. She saw no sign of Morgann. If he caught up with
his mount, he would stick to the valley paths and with any luck wouldn’t see
her so high up.

What
a fool she was for stepping outside the keep. Da had been right. Since the rift
between the two clans, both families’ lands were dangerous. She just never
expected Morgann to be the one to attempt such an exploit. If she was very
unlucky, other Glencolum men would be prowling the lands and she may end up in
even bigger trouble. None would treat her with much more care.