Page 2 of Highlander’s Burning Touch

Deva peeked through the bushes and spied the lad, sauntering through the clearing as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Hoping fervently that he would be safe, Deva gawped.

She was just near enough to catch a glimpse of his soft-toned olive face. Fastening her eyes upon him, Deva devoured him greedily. This was the first proper look she had gotten, and it did not disappoint.

Even from this far back, she could see he was no ordinary rider. From the cut of his cloth and the patterned blue tartan he was wearing, it was clear that he was a man of some standing. And now he came closer into view, she could see that she had been right.

In the lad’s hand, a fine sgian-dubh glinted in the errant sunlight. By the looks of it, it was made of silver, and the deep colors of the base suggested rubies and diamonds.

But it was in his face that his nobility shone. She didn’t know how, but there was something in that thick brow that suggested breeding.

And when he turned, she could see she was not wrong. The strong jaw and the firm contours of his nose combined to produce a striking profile. Further down, the plushness of his lips only confirmed his outline. At once soft and determined, they combined a haughty masculinity with just a hint of the feminine.

Inside her, something pulsated, sending a little jolt down below. It had been there from the first moment that she had seen him, making her sizzle and burn.

Then, Deva pulled herself up. This was not the time or the place for such thoughts. And she had other things to think about. Like staying alive.

“Get doon!” Allyth said again, dragging Deva from the spot they were standing in and further back, “I think they’ve spied us!”

A few moments passed as Deva, and her maid hid nervously in a shallow ditch. Pressed hard into the mud, Deva hardly dared breathe as the men charged past, without so much as a glance in their direction.

Inside, Deva felt her heart thunder. When it was certain they had gone, she hoisted herself up out of the ditch, tearing at her skirts and catching her hair in the process. Too bad she had spent all night in curling papers, but never mind. The only thing that mattered was that he had gotten free.

Deva emerged from the swamp, more mud than human, just in time to see him wandering along the glade, his beautiful face completely lost in thought.

Knocked for six, Deva gave a low whistle.

He hadn’t even noticed them! Not only was he unharmed, but the man hadn’t even realized that he was being used as target practice!

Deva could barely contain herself. She was in that strange place, hovering between laughter and tears, in near hysterics.

Then, Allyth snapped her out of her thoughts.

“We should go, Miss,” murmured her maid, and then she hesitated, “I wouldnae usually insist so, but yer father’s nae goin’ tae be pleased if we dinnae get back safe an’ sound…!”

“Och,” huffed Deva, “Father doesnae care for me… I’m nae but a prize to his highest bidder!”

A stab of anger ran through Deva, but her face stayed calm. Although she was not happy about the situation, she had just about reconciled herself to it. Being married off would get her out of the MacLean keep and away from her father.

“I’m sure that’s nae true,” murmured Allyth, but from the way that she shifted her eyes away, Deva knew she had hit her mark.

Warming to her theme, Deva continued, “Well, aye, it’s nae completely true, they’re nae even bidding for me, just throwing clumps o’ dirt in the air, or whatever…”

Allyth’s eyes cut into hers with a flash of mischief. “It’s a twenty-pound lump o’ granite, Miss! Nae a lump o’ dirt!”

Although her words sounded serious, they were shot through with satire. Now that the men had passed, Allyth’s mood had restored. “An’ there’ll be a jousting contest too…. So, whoever wins will ha’ truly proven he is a man!”

Deva darted her a glance. “Nae, he’ll ha’ proven he’s a daft lummox who lifted a twenty-pound lump nae-one wants…” she said, acerbically, “If he thinks that’ll impress a lass, then he’s a bigger lump than the thing he’s throwing!”

Allyth grinned before leading them back out onto the main passageway that led into the MacLean lands.

“An’ worse still, I’m to be this ninnyhammer’s glittering prize!” Deva concluded, with a quick glance up to the skies. The men on their horses had passed, and now the biggest risk was the weather. Undoubtedly, it was going to rain.

Beside her, Allyth tugged her urgently, also mindful of the weather.

“All I ken is that I’m to get ye back to the keep in one piece, else my life is nae goin’ tae be worth living,” said Allyth, “The men are coming for the tournament, an’ ye have to welcome them in as the hostess, that’s if we can drag ye out o’ this bush an’ make’ ye presentable in time!”

“The tournament!” said Deva, “It’s all I hear. Well, maybe I can wait to be auctioned off as the glittering prize…!”

But even as she said this, Deva was well aware that her skirts were ripping, her arasaid muddied and her hair, literally, dragged through a hedge backward. Some glittering prize.