Page 71 of The Cursed Highland Bride

I should have left with my sisters when I had the chance, but I could not leave these men to fight and die for me alone.

Katarina looked over her shoulder at Alistair Morgan, unconscious and tied to the back of his horse. Dunn had knocked him out with the hilt of his sword after they had left sight of the stronghold to make Morgan more pliable. His rage had been quite vocal and vicious toward Dunn, Katarina, and their entire clan. He had even cursed and maligned their ancestry before being put out of everyone’s misery with a smack to the skull.

Dunn did not speak to her the entire ride. She used her own body to press against his wound in an effort to stave off further bleeding. It was not easy, as they rode hard and fast toward the place where they had left their boats. Katarina had been surprised to see Ian among the number of men that had come for her. He very seldom ever left his family or his horses. She was grateful for all who had agreed to come for her and her sisters, but she was terrified of the consequences that they would endure for their actions against Morgan and his people.

When they reached the boats, Katarina slid off the back of the horse and ran to help her sisters. The men dealt with the horses and transferred Alistair Morgan to one of the boats. “Ian, ye and yer family will be in danger if ye remain here,” Dunn pointed out to his clansman.

“It is my duty, my laird. I cannae shirk my duty, but if ye would take my family with ye until this is over, I would be grateful,” Ian answered firmly, his expression and stance showing that he would not be moved from his post.

“I will gladly take yer family under my care, but my warning still stands. I dinnae want tae lose ye tae the likes o’ the Clan Morgan in retaliation for us taking their laird. Yer wife has already lost her brother. She should nae be forced tae lose ye as well.”

“I thank ye for taking my family, but I will remain here. If I see aught amiss, I will come tae ye and tell ye myself.”

Dunn nodded. “Ye are a good and loyal man, Ian. I am proud tae call ye my kinsman.”

The two men clasped arms, then parted ways. Ian gathered his family to bring them to the boats while Dunn did the same with his men. Katarina helped her sisters into one of the boats and turned to watch her husband as he oversaw the return to Orkney. She gauged his movements for any sign of slowing because of his wound but found none. He was stronger than any man she had ever met. She prayed that the blade had not done any permanent damage.

Turning, Dunn caught sight of her watching him and stopped what he was doing to walk over to her. Picking her up into his arms, he carried her over to one of the boats and sat down in it with her in his lap. He still had not said a word to her, but his eyes held hers. The rage and anger that she had seen before were gone. In its place was a longing that broke her heart. “Marry me,” he whispered, his words barely a breath.

“We are married,” she reminded him. “And you have enough women as it is without me.”

Dunn shook his head. “I dinnae want any other woman but ye. What ye saw with Esmerelda was the breaking o’ a curse that she placed upon me months past. It was nae more than that. What she and I had was long over before ye and I wed. I swear tae ye that, should ye agree tae be my wife o’ yer own free will, ye will never be forced tae face the shame o’ it ever again. I will find them all suitable husbands and will nae touch a one o’ them ever again.”

Katarina stared at him in shock. It had never occurred to her that Esmerelda would have tied her curse to a parting kiss, but it made sense, given the original cause for it. Had it been any other man telling her such a tale, she would not have trusted it, but with Dunn, she knew in her heart that he spoke the truth. “And my sisters? I will not leave them again.”

“Yer sisters will be my sisters. Our home will be their home.” Dunn tipped her chin up so that her eyes met his. “Marry me, my love, nae because ye have been forced tae do so but because ye wish tae do so. I love ye, lass. I did nae believe such a feat tae be possible, but ye have claimed my heart and soul. The only thing that I ask o’ ye is that there be nae more secrets between us. Let us be truthful with one another in all things from now until death do us part.”

Tears streamed down Katarina’s face. “Are you certain?”

“I have never been more certain o’ anything in my life. Marry me, Katarina Buckland. I cannae live without ye.”

Katarina let out a sob of joy and threw her arms around his neck. “Aye, I will marry ye, Laird Dunn Leòideach,” she spoke in the soft Scottish accent that she had adopted on their first wedding day. She spoke in the language of his heart.

Crushing her to his chest, he kissed her. “My love, my heart, my soul, my wife,” he murmured against her lips when they came up for breath. “My life.”

* * *

The journey back to Orkney was spent in discussions of the future and whether they would even have a future once the king learned of what they had done to the Clan Morgan. When they arrived back upon the shores of their island home, they were greeted by Adamina upon the beach. “Katarina!” she cried out as Dunn lifted his wife from the boat and set her down upon the ground. “Oh, Katarina!” She threw her arms around her sister-in-law and squeezed her tight. “I feared that we might never see ye again!”

“I would nae have returned home without her,” Dunn reminded his sister, smiling at the reunion.

“I am glad to be home,” Katarina admitted with a smile. “These are my sisters, Leonor and Idalia. Leonor and Idalia, this is Dunn’s sister, Adamina.”

Adamina greeted each girl with the embrace of family. “Now they are my sisters as well.”

Katarina smiled, and the girls embraced once more. Dunn smiled at the sight, then turned to help Ewan drag Alistair Morgan out of the boat. Morgan had regained consciousness and was loudly cursing them all. “Shut yer mouth, Morgan. Ye will get nae sympathy here.”

“Ye brought him here!” Adamina practically shrieked in dismay.

Tor walked over to hug their sister. “We had nae choice. He was the only way that we could retreat safely.”

“Morgan must be brought tae justice for what he has done,” Dunn said, frowning down at the man who had caused them all the greatest pain of their lives. “He has taken too much from all o’ us. He has taken both o’ our parents, our grandfaither, and nearly all o’ Katarina’s family. He will pay for his sins, even if I must go against the crown tae achieve it.”

“Let us pray that the king and his regent see reason,” Ewan replied. “As much as we would all like tae see him dead, it is the crown that must deal with him or else we risk everything that remains tae us.”

Dunn nodded. “Aye, Ewan speaks the truth. As much as I would love tae see this vermin lying dead at my feet, it must be the crown that sees tae his punishment. I will nae have our people be brought tae naught for vengeance.”

“How long have we tae wait until we ken what the crown will do?” Adamina asked, concern wrinkling her brow.