"And where exactly do youwant to go?" Izzy asked as she tried to keep the excitement from her tone. But there was no point. Any excuse to escape the gray stone walls of the keep was good enough for her.
"I'd liketo take ye to the loch today. Mind ye, we daenae have to swim, but it's such a lovely day, I thought, why waste it?"
"Oh my,"Izzy gasped as Aaron pulled the reins back to stop the horse on the top of the bluff. It was as if heaven had opened all the world for Izzy to see. The great valley below was speckled with cottages and ribbons of smoke drifting into the azure sky. She turned to the left to catch the sparkles shimmering off the water. If she didn't know better, she would have thought the crater was where the stars went during the daylight hours.
"I don't thinkI've ever seen anything as lovely. Are you sure we're still in Scotland? I never would have thought a place like this existed."
"Glad ye like it,"Aaron said over Izzy's shoulder. His hot breath caressed her neck as he spoke, causing little bumps to race to her fingertips. "Me faither took me here when I was a lad. He told me the only way to become a man was to climb to the top of the needle."
Izzy followedAaron's finger as he pointed to the jagged cliff that stuck out of the ground just like a needle.
"You climbed to the top?"
"Aye,"Aaron answered, his body rumbling against her as if he were purring. Her head started to spin as he pulled the reins to the left to start the trail for the loch. "Many times. The last time I went up there, I was tryin' to impress a wee lass."
"Why does that not surprise me?"she mumbled as they made their way down the slope of the hill. Aaron's arm curled around her, keeping her from tumbling over the horse's head. "And did it work? Did she fall head over heels due to your mighty strength?"
"Daenae ken yet,but ye'll have to tell me once I come back down."
"You're not seriously thinkingof going up there? You could get killed."
"Well,suppose that's part of the challenge. Better to die for a purpose than to die for malice or rage. I think I'll take me chances with the needle."
Izzy body tensedas they stopped at the base of the cliff. She tilted her head back to take in the sheer size of the cliff. It stretched to the heavens, and for a moment, she wondered if they hadn't stopped at the base of Olympus.
"You're not goingto just leave me here alone, are you?"
"Ye're nae alone.I'm here."
"Not if youfall to your death."
"I daenae understandthe problem here; if I fall, ye'll be free to wed another."
"No,"Izzy said throwing her leg over the saddle, and she slipped to the ground. She landed hard and stumbled into him. Aaron held her up, refusing to let her go. Her breath hitched as she steadied herself.
"Are ye all right?"he asked, refusing to let her go just in case the mossy ground proved to be too slick for her. Izzy didn't trust herself to let him go. She clung to him like the lifeline he was.
"I'm fine,"she answered as she tested the terrain around her with the tip of her toe.
"Mm,"Aaron grumbled with an arched eyebrow as she pulled back from him. She felt his gaze on her as she smoothed the wrinkles from her skirt. "That's a lot higher than I remember."
"Don't tellme you're planning on backing out now after all the commotion you just made about going up it."
Aaron rubbedthe back of his neck as his eyes narrowed. "And what will ye give me if I reach the top?"
"What do you want?"He eyed her with such scrutiny that it made her regret asking such a question.
"Let's see here,"he answered. "I want a kiss."
Izzy glancedto the sky to reassess the height. She folded her arms over her chest and gave a nod. "I'll give you a kiss if you reach the top."
"Done."Aaron darted for the cliff. Izzy's chest tightened as he climbed higher and higher up the face of the cliff. He moved with speed and precision showcasing just how well he knew the crag and nooks of the needle. Izzy stepped back, raising her hand to her brow to shield her eyes from the sun.
"Aaron?"she called, her voice barely rising over the wind. Terror ripped her apart as she realized she had lost sight of him. Even if he had made it to the top, there was no way for her to see him from where she was. Racing to the edge of the loch, Izzy turned to find Aaron dangling from the last peak of the needle. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him dangling so precariously over the edge. "Don't fall. Don't fall. Don't fall."
The words cameout like a rushed mantra as she rooted for Aaron to pull up to the top. She clamped her hands over her mouth to stifle the gasp as she witnessed Aaron's plummet into the placid waters of the loch below. Her scream rippled through the valley as she charged for the other side of the loch, hunting the waters for any sign of Aaron. With each passing moment, her chest tightened. Panic engulfed her as she scanned for any bubbles or signs of Aaron disturbing the water.
"Aaron?"she called out as panic jabbed at her, threatening to pummel her to the ground. Where was he? The water had practically stilled from the time he dropped into it. And now, with the depths unclear, Izzy pulled her cloak from her shoulders ready to jump in herself to save him.
