“Of course it wasna what I intended, Mackay! I knew what I was doing. I would have veered away at the last moment soyoucould fly over the cliff, the devil take you and all your kind!”
Alec knew she meant it, her cheeks bright pink and her gaze furious as she glared at him over her shoulder, the wind whipping her hair.
Silky red tendrils lashing at his face while he held her all the tighter, not sure at all what she might try to do next.
Her slender body beneath the thick woolen cloak stiffened with outrage as flush-faced Mackays and Sutherlands surrounded them to escort them up the hill, none of them uttering a word as if still astounded by what had just transpired.
So was Alec, his heartbeat only now slowing to a steady cadence while thankfully, Rowen had ceased her struggles and her muttered curses at the thunderous look Hamish threw her.
“Daughter, will you shame your clansmen this day? A pledge of peace has been made tae our king,yourking, and by God, you will honor it!”
At her father’s sharp reprimand, Alec felt Rowen slump against him for the barest moment, only to stiffen again and lift her chin high.
Still, he swore he felt her trembling as they approached the castle, the massive gates flung open to receive Mackays and Sutherlands alike as had not been done for years.
Fearsome warriors from both clans riding side by side…sworn enemies, and yet united under one king’s banner.
* * *
Rowen refusedto meet Alec Mackay’s gaze as he cut deftly through the ropes binding her wrists and those around her waist, the indignity of it all making her face burn with resentment.
Instead she focused upon the imposing square keep with its one tower, turf-roofed outbuildings, and gray stone walls surrounding the bailey.
Her prison, which made her cheeks flare even hotter.
She hated the place already. Yet even more she hated the strapping blond warrior who would soon become her husband, his hands encircling her waist to help her down from the saddle.
“I can dismount myself, Mackay,” she muttered, tears smarting her eyes that her father had rebuked her so vehemently in front of their enemies, though she blinked them away. “Leave me be?—”
“Enough, woman, will you shame yourself further? If you think I want this marriage any more than you, then you’re woefully mistaken.”
Alec had bit out the words so low that Rowen doubted anyone else had heard them, his hands strong as he swung her down and rather abruptly, too, making her gasp as her feet hit the ground.
“Welcome tae your new home, lass. Och, forgive me. Was I too rough?”
Again, Alec had spoken so low that she doubted others had overheard—and if they had, would it matter?
Her father was still frowning at her and Laird Donald Mackay was staring at her with disapproval like most of the other men dismounting from their horses, even her red-haired older brothers, well, three of them anyway. The one closest to her age, Errol, threw her a look of caution, which made her bristle though she knew he didn’t like what was happening to her any more than she did.
Errol alone had given her hope that mayhap she would find a way out of this loathsome union, his hastily whispered words last night at their overnight camp giving her some much-needed comfort.
“You willna have tae suffer long, Rowen. We canna kill him outright and break our sworn vow tae King Robert, but there are many ways tae make a death appear an unfortunate accident. Dinna lose heart, sister. I promise we’ll find a way tae make you a happy widow.”
A happy widow. That thought so pleased Rowen she almost smiled, but Alec taking her by the arm made her look up at him and glare instead.
The man as tall and strapping as her brothers, though mayhap he surpassed them by a few inches. Yet he was as blond as her family was red-haired, a light stubble along his jawline that appeared golden in the sunlight breaking through the clouds.
He stared at her, too, her breath quickening at the deep hue of his eyes, unlike any she had seen before. A dark gray tinged with blue like the color of slate…and appearing at that moment just as hard.
“This way tae the chapel, lass.”
Rowen bristled again as he swept her along with him, her family and Alec’s father falling in behind them while most of the other warriors remained in the bailey. The only other one accompanying her was Gaira, her childhood nurse and kinswoman, who rushed up behind her so suddenly she stepped on the hem of Rowen’s swirling cloak.
“Och, forgive me!” came Gaira’s breathless apology as she fell back a bit but still hastened along, her thin hands clasped together. “A blessing on your wedding, sweeting, a blessing!”
The excitement unmistakable in Gaira’s voice, Rowen had no time to retort for how Alec was hurrying her into the keep that smelled of roasted meat and other savories, her stomach growling hungrily.
She already knew her father and brothers and their men had no intention of staying the night, but mayhap they would eat first. She didn’t even want to think of what would happen after they left the castle and she was alone with Alec…dear God, help her.
