The Highlander's Forbidden Bride(88)

“I would have thought her freed once her father died, but now, knowing how he treated her, I understand what you mean.”

Septimus joined them. “We have a good trail, and Piper and Evan move ahead to keep us on the right one.”

“Then let’s not waste another moment,” Ronan said, and followed the two men.



Carissa knew that the farther away from her men and Sinclare land they traveled, the more difficult a rescue would be. She did believe that Cregan wouldn’t harm Addie. It made no sense for him to do that; after all, she was leverage in his game.

“Do you really think he’ll come for you?” Cregan asked, pulling his horse up alongside her. “Or will he come for his mother and surrender you for her?”

Addie laughed. “You don’t know my son. He will see us both released, or you will die.”

“Shut up, old woman,” he snapped.

Addie ignored him. “Then there’s Hagen to deal with. He’ll rip you limb from limb for taking me.”

It was Carissa’s turn to laugh. “She’s right about that. I’ve seen what happens when he’s enraged, which isn’t often, but when it does.” She shook her head. “Not a pretty sight.”

“A worthy opponent, since my rage is much like your father’s, Carissa,” Cregan said. “And I’m sure you recall his.”

How could she forget it? Mordrac had been an uncontrollable madman when enraged. No one could speak to him, let alone speak reason to him. One warrior who’d tried lost his life quickly enough. After that, no one spoke when Mordrac flew into a rage, and all scattered, none wanting to become a target of his fury.

She had learned to avoid him at those times, and if she couldn’t, she had learned how to agree with him unless it meant someone’s life, then she spoke up—often suffering the consequences.

“Your silence and obvious deep thought tells me you recall,” Cregan said.

“A madman is often hard to forget,” Carissa said.

“Your father was no madman,” Cregan said. “He was a brave and powerful warrior.”

“He was a fool,” Carissa argued, “as are you for taking on the Sinclares.”

“She’s right about that,” Addie agreed.

“I have no intentions of taking on the Sinclares,” Cregan said. “You were promised to me, documents were signed, and I have the right to take you.”

“I have given myself to another,” Carissa said, hoping once he heard that he would not want her any longer, but he simply smiled.

“It matters not,” he said with a shrug. “What I want is children born of you and me, children of Mordrac’s bloodline. And I will have it.” He rode off.

Once he rode away, Addie whispered, “Do you think he would let you go if he discovered you weren’t Mordrac’s daughter?”



Ronan was hunched on the ground, studying the tracks and shaking his head. “How many men and horses do you think were here?”

“Several horses and three more men,” Piper said.

“I don’t know how we failed to detect their presence,” Dykar said, to show his annoyance.

“You couldn’t have,” Piper said. “We had to have seen them but for some reason thought them no threat, and—” She paused and turned to glare wide-eyed at Evan.

“Monks,” he said before she could. “We spotted three monks, and they seemed no threat.” He looked to Dykar. “I told you about them.”

Dykar chastised himself. “I am a fool.”

“It matters not,” Ronan said. “What concerns me more is that Cregan may very well have split his men up purposely.”

“Which means they’ll all come together, and we do not know how many we will face,” Dykar said.

“Leave a man here,” Ronan ordered, “and make certain he advises Cavan of this matter. We continue on.”



“That’s a good idea,” Carissa whispered. “If I can get Cregan to believe I am not truly Mordrac’s daughter, he would not want me any longer. But it would have to be a believable tale.”

“Why don’t you tell him that your father captured your mother in a raid on a village?” Addie asked.

“It has been whispered that is what happened though my father saw it differently. Strange as it may seem, I think that my father believed my mother loved him. But somewhere he must have realized the truth, for he often commented that hate endured while love never lasted.”

“Love endures,” Addie said softly. “I can attest to that, as I am sure you can.”

“I have loved Ronan from the moment I laid eyes on him, and never has my love for him weakened or faded throughout this whole ordeal.”