His hands caught her head, focused her eyes.
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“Marry me, Tara.”
Tears caught behind her lids, “Really? You’re not asking because your dad...?”
“Ian has nothing to do with this. There is always a choice.”
Her world shifted. Everything, which was off balance only minutes before, settled, much like dirt after an earthquake.
“Yes.” Was there any other answer? “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
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Chapter 16
The night was pitch black, not even a wayward star could be seen peaking through the clouds, sitting layer upon layer on themselves. The evening brought with it a cold, which settled into her bones, making her feel every aching joint and muscle. The leg she had broken from throwing herself into the vortex was almost healed.
Grainna thought of the night she returned to her homeland and the time of her reign. She was never one to believe in luck, but had no other word for how she escaped notice from Tara, Duncan and Fin. Rain and thunder met them when they had arrived, disguising her presence, and giving her a chance to flee.
The first days had been a scalding reminder of how harsh living in the sixteenth century was. Being immortal had its advantages, otherwise hunger would have weakened her body and claimed her existence.
Gypsies had found her and with little effort, Grainna willed their minds to take her with them.
To her, gypsies were nothing but a pack of filthy thieves who could not be trusted. Their knowledge of the land, and the people in it is what she sought.
Once her body recovered, she would leave their side.
Without boundaries or markers, the caravan took to the west.
“Why have we changed direction?” she asked.
“We skirt outside of MacCoinnich’s land, our presence there would not be tolerated.” The driver 184
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spit a long dark stream from his lips. “Laird Ian would not allow our type anywhere near his people.
Grainna’s eyes leveled in the direction they were leaving. “Does MacCoinnich have sons?”
“Aye, three, Duncan, Finlay, and Cian.”
Vengeance formed into a ball of heat in her chest. Swallowing hard, Grainna studied the landscape in an effort to memorize her way back.
The men who helped Tara escape would pay.
She settled back in her seat. Her weariness was fueled by a lack of sleep and pain. In her weariness, she plotted another’s demise.
In the end, she would have her revenge. With every breath, she felt her strength returning. The forest was rich with the elements of her past spells, giving her all she needed to once again rule over this land…and destroy those she didn’t want in it.
****
Long summer nights drifted slowly into autumn. Leaves started to fall and a bite in the air brought with it a hint of a change in the weather.
The priest was due to arrive in less than two weeks. His time at the MacCoinnich’s Keep would be filled with more than one exchange of vows. Two other couples had been handfasted over the year since the priest had been there. To no one’s surprise, Haggart and Celeste asked the priest to wed them as well. Tara’s rooms were moved next to Duncan’s. An adjoining door made their path each night less obvious to anyone watching the halls. Duncan often teased Tara about her ruse to keep their intimacies from the servants. “They are not stupid, my love. To them, we are married.”
They sat in front of the dark fireplace in Duncan’s room for the second lesson. Her first on calling a flame had ended within ten minutes of starting when Duncan developed other ideas on how 185
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to make heat that night. His sexy beard had grown in enough to be soft and welcoming, making him even more irresistible to Tara.
“I never said they’re stupid. I look at handfasting as a fancy engagement. Once we’re married, I’ll move everything in here.” She sat cross-legged on the floor, her eyes shut like he had suggested.
“Do you think they don’t notice your bed isn’t slept in?”
She peered at him out of one eye. “If they do, they don’t say anything. Now, can we get on with this? You promised to show me how you do it.”
He shook his head at his crazy wife.
Soon to be crazy wife. She corrected him.
Crazy beautiful wife, with plump moist lips, lips I need to kiss. He moved in to make good on his threat.
“Oh, no you don’t! You promised.” She put a hand up and stopped him from coming closer. “As soon as you show me this, you can do...that.” She smiled, and closed her eyes again.
“Promise?” He teased.
“Yes. But no cheating. It has to be me lighting the fire this time. No twitchy fingers from you.”