Page 46 of Highlander’s Burning Touch

Of course, his own horse was much the same, but it gave Niven the excuse he needed to call it a day.

Not that he really wanted to. But if he didn’t draw the line now, who knew what would happen when they reached the hunting lodge. Which was why this was so hard.

Internally, he cursed Rory for making him come. Uncertainly, Niven bit on his lip and turned to Deva.

Keeping his voice as cold as the air around them, Niven dropped his eyes as he spoke.

“Nae, it’s nae use, Deva. We cannae go on like this... Come, I will ride ye back to the keep.”

Chapter Fifteen

“How long, Allyth? It seems like forever?”

Deva sat in the window seat facing out across the land. The entire glen was engulfed in a giant snowstorm, which had lasted days.

“I dinnae ken, but he said it would take some time to reach the clans,” said Allyth. She was braiding Deva’s hair as they talked.

Mournfully, Deva looked out over the hills.

“But what about the wedding?” she said. Even talking about it made her stomach prickle up. Rory was kind, but the mere thought of their marriage turned her inside out.

It wasn’t right. And in the short time they had spent together, she was pretty sure he felt that too. Little surprise that he had taken what felt like every opportunity to disappear from view completely.

Looking at her uncertainly, Allyth continued braiding her hair whilst her eyes wandered outside. “Master instructed that it, um, be delayed for a short while…”

Immediately, Deva’s eyes were upon her. “Why?” she demanded fiercely.

It had been weeks. In all that time, it felt like Deva had done nothing but wait.

Rory was notable by his absence in the castle. Although he was considerate, he was increasingly distant. Deva felt irritation bubble up inside of her.

“He, um, wants ye to have longer to get used to yer surroundings,” said Allyth, looking uncomfortable.

“Longer?” snapped Deva before feeling bad. She was really taking it out on the wrong person. It wasn’t Allyth’s fault that Rory had made himself scarce. But all the same, it irked her that he couldn’t even tell her himself.

“I ken, miss,” said Allyth sympathetically. “But he means well. He wanted to tell ye himself, but there’s something afoot with the clans, an’ he had to hurry!”

Deva cast her eye over the snowy hills. She somehow couldn’t imagine him doing much hurrying out there in this.

Sighing, she was just about resigning herself to another dull day of needlepoint when a knock came at the door.

“Niven?” Instantly, Deva sat up. With a brief glance to Allyth, who took the needlepoint from her, Deva glanced quizzically at him.

She hadn’t been expecting to see him. In fact, since their disastrous trip out, she had got the distinct impression he was avoiding her.

Their one outing had been an oddly mute affair – a trip to the Macaulay hunting lodge. However, they’d had to abort before ever getting there due to the weather.

At least, that was what Niven had said. Deva was pretty sure he just didn’t want to go there with her. Maybe it evoked memories of their week in the cottage together. Perhaps he didn’t trust himself with her. Deva knew she didn’t either.

Niven smiled shyly. She could tell that he didn’t want to come too close, but all the same, there was a spark that flashed in his eyes. An instant buzz weaved its way through her, tingling intensely in the base of her spine.

“The laird requests to meet ye,” said Niven, unexpectedly. He strode into the room and stood before her.

Deva feasted her eyes upon him. Even in this bleak light, he was the most beautiful that she had ever seen him. Niven’s wavy brown hair bounced down his back, shining with light and illuminating his face.

A shiver raced through Deva. He was burning her with his eyes. Niven’s warm brown eyes connected and announced something to her. Something she had yearned for but never believed would come.

“Meet, but, where, I thought,” began Deva. Now she was confused.