Page 7 of The Highlander’s Gypsy Temptation

The last shred of hope for redemption had just flown out of the window. He was a terrible person and he doubted there was anything that he could ever do to make up for it.

“Show me yer birthmark, lass,” he said to her suddenly, completely ignoring her question.

“What?!” she whispered in shock, almost choking on her words. “What birthmark? I know not what you are talking about.”

“Dinnae feign stupidity. I ken that ye have a birthmark. If ye dinnae show me willingly, unfortunately, I will be forced to look for it meself,” he growled angrily.

“You wouldn’t dare!” her eyes rounded in shock as she stared him down. Bran took a step toward her threateningly, waiting for her to break and show him of her own free will. He had never been violent or forceful with a woman and he did not want to add that to his list of sins if he did not have to. But he would be a fool to believe the seer’s words and not check it for himself, as much as he didn’t want to.

“Well?” he asked after another threatening step, but she raised her chin at him in defiance. Bran’s eyes steeled over, and he marched towards her, defeated. I hope the Gods will forgive me. He grabbed hold of her legs and pulled them close to stop her from moving. His eyes roamed over every visible part of her body, but he saw no mark there.

Bran heaved a heavy sigh and took one of her legs in his hands. “Well, I guess I will have tae pull these up, lass, dinnae fret, I’ll but have a quick look. And if ye tell me where exactly I should be looking, we can finish with this quicker.” He reached for the bottom and started to pull it up when she screeched and began to wiggle in his grip.

“Would ye just hold still and let me—" Her free leg shot out, and she kicked him in the chin before he could finish his sentence. Bran let go of her other leg and stared at her in shock, noting that she mirrored his expression. He growled and made to grab her legs again, but she screamed and kicked out at him, wiggling her legs around to stop him from getting hold of them again.

“No!” Idalia’s knee connected with Bran’s thighs when he lurched forward to lift her shirt. She winced when he groaned in pain and collapsed beside her, her eyes filling with fear of what he would do to her when he got back on his feet.

“I will never show you my birthmark!” she cried out when he began to approach her once again. Bran stopped and stared at her, chest heaving, with an angry look on his face.

“Ye must nae realize it yet, but ye have nae choice in the matter. I must find it; I have nae choice.”

“Wait!” she yelled as he advanced towards her once again. Bran’s brows raised as he waited for her to speak, hoping she had finally seen the wisdom in showing it to him herself instead of him forcefully looking. “I’ll tell you where it is, but under one condition.”

Bran was wary. He could not help but wonder what it was she could want. Although they had been speaking for only a short time, he knew she was smart and would want something he might not want to offer. Still, he nodded. Having her show him the mark willingly was better than the alternative.

“I’ll tell you where it is only if you tell me who you’re taking me to.”

Bran studied her. Despite her actions, he could see the fear in her eyes as she waited for him to answer. He wished he did not have to tell her, yet he sighed and nodded slowly. She was going to find out sooner or later, so he might as well tell her.

“It is on my stomach, just below my navel.” Despite how he was feeling, Bran was amused when her face turned red as she blushed all over. She was so full of contradictions.

“Unfortunately, I will need to see it for myself,” he said, getting on his knees gently. His fingers grazed her skin as he lifted up the shirt she wore as a disguise and pulled the trousers a little lower on her waist. He stared at the mark painting her skin, itching to touch it, but he stopped his hands. August had been right after all. It did look like a red crescent moon.

Bran felt stirrings in his gut as he looked at her. He felt a strong surge of attraction for her in that moment. He looked up at her and saw the look of embarrassment on her face. Her eyes closed when she saw him regarding her. She was beyond embarrassed; she was mortified, and she had good reason to be so. Bran let go of her shirt and let it fall over her exposed skin before sitting opposite her. He looked up when Idalia cleared her throat, and he saw that she was looking at him.

“Now you have to answer me. Who is behind all of this?” Bran closed his eyes. He had known she would not let it go, and he had prepared himself for it, but still, he could not quell the shame that filled him at the thought of telling her whom he worked for.

“August Raymond,” he had simply. His hand clenched into fists when she gasped and let out a whimper filled with fear and rage. He looked up at her and saw the look of hopelessness in her eyes. Suddenly, every hope he had of ever redeeming himself was lost to him.

CHAPTER THREE

“I do not believe you. I do not believe that the man who was brave enough to risk his life to save me, would turn around and take my life from me.” Idalia shook her head in refusal. “You cannot do this. You are not that kind of man.”

Bran laughed. It was a hollow sound filled with regret and self-loathing. “Ye ken nothing o’ me. I am that man. For the sake o’ my...” He stopped himself before he could mention his daughter. His expression hardened. “I will be whatever kind o’ man I need to be. If August Raymond wants ye in exchange for something that I need, then he shall have ye.”

He watched as shock filled her eyes.

“You are not the man your family believes you to be if you truly mean what you are saying.”

“Aye, now ye ken the situation. Yer fate is sealed. It is time ye accepted it.”

“You have changed,” she whispered, suddenly losing her fire.

“Aye, I have.”

“Why did you pretend not to know me?”

“It would have made it easier for me tae deliver ye tae August Raymond if I did nae ken who ye are. Now, I am forced tae admit that I am trading the life o’ Lady Katarina’s sister for me own ends. I will ne’er be able tae go home, ever again.” A thought crossed his face. “Did yer sister find ye? Is she safe?”