Page 13 of The Cursed Highland Bride

“I am a fighter,” she admitted. “I cannae stand by and watch terrible men do terrible deeds without fighting back.”

“Ye are stronger than I expected ye tae be,” Dunn admitted. “I did nae believe a lass who was raised in a nunnery could hold such a wildfire within her soul.”

“Some things we are simply born tae.”

The weight of her words hit Dunn square in the heart. He himself knew such a burden and was surprised to find that she did as well. “And some we choose for ourselves,” he murmured as his lips gently caressed hers in a whispery kiss of promise. Pulling back, he turned to nod at Tor. “Let us away from this place.”

“Ye are just going tae leave them here?” she asked, gesturing toward the bodies strewn about them.

“Aye, we will leave them tae the ravens. They deserve nae more than that from me.”

“Where are we going?” his bride asked, relaxing into his body for the first time since they had mounted his horse at the castle.

“We are going home.”

* * *

Northern Mainland Scotland

Katarina, Dunn, and Tor traveled until they came to a boat awaiting them on the shore. Lifting her off of the horse, he allowed her to stretch her legs before escorting her to their newest mode of transportation. A man came out of a nearby house to take the horses. “We thank ye, Ian,” Dunn called out to the man, who waved in response and then disappeared into the stables with the horses.

Katarina climbed into the boat and sat down. Having been on a ship when her family had traveled to England, that was all her experience of traveling via water. This boat was significantly smaller—it was more of a fishing vessel, with a small mast and sail to propel it forward. The brothers worked as a team and had the boat underway in no time at all.

Dunn sat down next to Katarina, allowing Tor to steer their path through the waters. Drawing her into his arms, he rested his chin on top of her head. “Sleep,” he murmured into her hair. “Ye will need yer rest for when we arrive. I will nae allow any harm tae befall ye.”

Somehow in that moment, she knew that he spoke the truth. Nodding her acceptance of his protection, she closed her eyes and let the gentle rhythm of the sea and his heartbeat lull her to sleep.

* * *

Orkney Islands, Scotland

When Katarina awoke, she found herself still wrapped safely in her husband’s arms. “We are nearly there,” he murmured, pointing out across the water to a castle on the cliff’s edge. A beach lay at the bottom with a long path that led its way up the cliffside to the castle above. Men stood on guard, not only atop the castle walls but along the cliff’s edge and the beach as well. It was a formidable sight. A chill passed over her as she realized that not only was she being transported to another fortress against her will but an island at that.

“This is yer home?”

“Aye,” he answered, pride evident in his voice. “We will be safe here.”

What she saw as an intimidating prison, he saw as a beautiful sanctuary.

When the boat hit the beach, several men came forward to assist them. Dunn leaped from the boat to the ground, then reached in to lift Katarina out, setting her down beside him. Two more men came forward with horses and handed them to Tor and Dunn. “Yer sister anxiously awaits yer return, my laird,” one of the men informed him, looking Katarina over from head to toe.

Dunn nodded. “I will speak with her.”

Mounting one of the horses, Dunn reached down to pull Katarina up onto the horse in front of him. “Ye have a sister?”

“Aye.”

Dunn, Tor, and Katarina climbed the cliff path in silence, each with their own thoughts. Still wearing the blood-stained clothes from earlier, she hoped that their grisly appearance did not cause further suspicion to fall on her, as she was already feeling the heavy weight of her secret arrangement with Laird Morgan.

I cannot let any of them suspect the truth. I cannot allow myself to care for these people.

When they reached the top of the cliff, guards met them at the gates. “My laird,” each man greeted in turn as Dunn passed, respect for their laird blazing in their eyes. All of them harbored evident respect, pride, and even affection for him. When they looked at her, curiosity mixed with reservation bordering on hostility seemed to be the primary emotions. Stopping in front of the castle doors, Dunn dismounted, then turned and lifted Katarina from the saddle. Tor followed suit.

Katarina had a hard time imagining a man such as her husband having a sister. She wondered if the woman looked as intimidating as her brothers. Entering the hall, they were met by an excited young blonde woman with blue eyes who was clearly their sister. She immediately embraced her brothers, whispering in Dunn’s ear. “Grandmaither is here, and she is nae pleased.”

The expression that crossed Dunn’s face was one of tired resignation. “I will speak with her.”

“First, ye must introduce me tae my new sister.” Turning to Katarina, she smiled sweetly. “I am Adamina.”