He pushed her down onto the pallet, coming down on top of her. “I think ye have quickly learned how to entice a man.” He kissed her neck again, slowly lifting her skirts and running his hands over her bottom.
Alana gasped when his fingers touched her. He laughed at her whimper of pleasure and wrapped her in his arms and thrust deep. “Iain!” Alana gasped.
“Ye tempt me as no other,” he gasped back.
They surged hard against one another for a few moments, and then Iain flipped her over. Alana wrapped her legs around his waist and cried out in a shocking release. He grunted in satisfaction, moved harder, and gasped in his own climax.
Alana held on to him, hard. Tears arose. She had missed him so much. She kissed his shoulder. She had never been as grateful that they were no longer at odds. She must never allow anything to come between them again!
He kissed her cheek. “Are ye crying?” He sounded surprised.
“No.” She caressed his broad, strong back. Then, “Yes. Just a little.”
He held her in his arms, and his embrace tightened. “Dinna cry,” he whispered.
“I am so grateful,” she whispered back, “that we are no longer at odds.”
His gaze was searching. He released her slowly, sitting up. “Bruce is waiting. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Alana sat up, adjusting her clothes as she did so. She nodded. “Hurry.”
He smiled at her, eyes darkening. “Impossible wench.” Alana felt her smile fade after he left. She took up one of the furs, wrapped it around herself and hugged her knees to her chest.
She was deeply in love. Iain had forgiven her, that much was clear, and they were lovers again. But now what?
She had been successful in warning him of the Christmas Day ambush. When she had learned of Buchan’s plans, she hadn’t had to think twice about what she must do. She could never let Iain be surprised and attacked, she had had to warn him—to protect him.
She now realized the extent of what she had done. For all intents and purposes she had spied on her uncle and her father, even if that had not been her deliberate intention. She had purposefully betrayed them. She had revealed their war plans to their enemy.
Buchan would imprison her as a traitor if he ever found out. Or he might do far worse. He would be within his rights to hang or behead her for treason, if he so chose. Having seen his temper, and knowing how he felt about his own wife, she thought he might choose to execute her.
Had she chosen sides in this war without even realizing it? She had wanted to protect Iain, not betray her own family! But now the betrayal was done. And having betrayed Buchan, how could she ever return to Brodie?
Dismay flooded her. Brodie was her home. It had belonged to her mother! She tried to think of a plausible excuse for leaving Brodie, but her mind was blank. The best she could come up with was that she had decided it was time to meet her sisters. Would Godfrey believe that? Would Duncan? Would Buchan?
She could probably convince Godfrey of almost anything. As she thought of her sisters, there was more dismay.
Bruce was possibly planning a marriage for Iain to Alice, while Buchan hoped for a marriage to Margaret. She did not think Iain would ever betray Bruce. But if Buchan was defeated, as she was certain he would be, Alice was ripe for the plucking. How would she stop him from marrying such a great heiress—her own sister?
The answer was simple. She could not force Iain to heel. He was a powerful and ambitious man. When the day came where Buchan was defeated, and he was presented with Alice as a bride, he would accept her if he wished to do so—there would be no stopping him.
Alana covered her face with her hands, her elbows on her knees. Her visions thus far had always come true. Buchan would be defeated; Bruce would reign supreme as King of Scotland. And her father was going to die....
What of her last vision? She would have to warn Iain that Buchan was going to try to kill him. At least she hadn’t seen the final blow, or his head being severed from his body!
Alana did not know what to do. She was just a bastard daughter who had been forgotten, a warrior’s mistress who could be cast aside at any time, and a witch most people feared. She could not depend on her father or her family, she knew that, and as much as it pained her, she really could not depend on Iain, either. Where did that leave her?
She would have to take care of herself when the time came, when Buchan disowned her, when Bruce became Scotland’s one true king....
And all she had was Brodie. It was all she had ever had.
She sat up straight. Brodie would be hers. Bruce was very pleased with her now.
Alana stood abruptly. She had risked everything to warn Iain—and Bruce—of the ambush. She must collect her reward from Robert Bruce.
Alana stepped to the tent flap and opened it slightly, peering outside.
Meg rushed over. “Are ye hungry, my lady?”
