Highland Defiance - By Sky Purington Page 0,22

throat clogged up.

“That’s right,” Iosbail said softly and looked out the window. “Now you know.”

Her earlier suspicions had been absolutely correct. Mildred slowly sat on the bed and eyed Iosbail with a new respect. This was the witch her mother spoke so highly of. Though she apparently ended up with the MacLomains this woman had long been one of her own. And if that was true, she was thousands of years old.

If she was who she said she was.

Iosbail’s eyes turned her way, blue eyes turning a deep black. “Do you doubt it for a second?”

Run from the room! Do it! She said to herself. But Mildred didn’t. Instead she stared right back at Iosbail. To run from her… this… would somehow mean running from Fate. Worse yet, running from her fate. Where she got her bravery from she’d never know.

“I did. Now I don’t. I think you stink for not being honest up front.”

Iosbail looked at her long and hard. Every second of that long stare, Mildred wanted to cower. But she didn’t. Eventually, something in Iosbail’s eyes gentled and she nodded. “It willnae be long now.”

Even though she had many questions, Mildred didn’t say another word as they waited, perhaps because she wasn’t quite ready for answers to those questions. It was still hard to believe that Iosbail was the woman of whom her mother spoke. The very concept boggled the mind.

“It’s time,” Iosbail said at last. Head held high and shoulders back, she left the room.

Though it seemed a short time passed, the great hall had filled with people. To Mildred’s mind this should be a grand event but as they descended the stairs no head turned. The clansfolk mingled but their eyes stayed suspiciously away from the women descending. It felt forced, intentional. But what did she know of events like this in such a time period? Perhaps this was perfectly normal.

With a loud, deep bellow, Bruce said, “Here.”

But Iosbail was already heading in his direction. Mildred followed, uncomfortable as the thick crowd parted just enough for them to make their way to the area in front of the great fire. If she’d been claustrophobic, this would be terrible…and smelly. Did these people bathe as a general rule of thumb?

Laird Bruce seemed somewhat refreshed, his hair damp, his tartan clean. So at least he changed. Beside him stood a man slightly shorter and believe it or not, far more stocky. Clearly bathed as well, the man’s expression was an odd mix of grumpy and lustful as he watched Iosbail approach. Heavens above, she hoped this wasn’t her great-grandfather distantly removed. Not enough generations could comfortably come between her and this predator.

Why would Adlin allow this union?

Better yet, why would Iosbail?

As if he heard her very thoughts, a tall man merged in beside her. Iosbail didn’t need to look to know who it was.

Adlin.

Bruce’s eyes hardened slightly. Mildred didn’t dare look Adlin’s way.

Apparently Adlin didn’t feel the same because he leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Good to see you again, lass. It’s been far too long.”

Her body warmed not only because of the sound of his throaty whisper but by his very nearness… his heat.

Iosbail cleared her throat and said softly, “Shall we begin my laird?”

Bruce jerked his head yes. Iosbail and the man who must be his brother stepped forward so that they faced one another. Mildred almost cringed. Iosbail was lovely, refined, and proud, her counterpart however, leering, shifty-eyed, sleazy. It was an unnatural match by anyone’s standards.

As if he sensed her discomfort, Adlin moved closer, his presence the first tangible release from stress she’d felt since traveling back in time again. Yet even with him close, she continued to feel uneasy. Why was this happening? Did the clans need the tie this much?

Mildred watched as a scrap of tartan bound Iosbail and her betrothed wrists together. She listened as they spoke in a foreign language words that were obviously binding them together as man and wife. She bit her lip when the words were finished and the stranger pulled Iosbail into his arms for what appeared to be a very unpleasant kiss.

The crowd roared to life. Bruce nodded and a dry grin broke over his craggy face. Mildred fell back when the mass of people swarmed forward. Grateful, she let them surround her. Stinky folk or not, she didn’t want to be anywhere near what she’d just witnessed.

“Go get some fresh air.”

Though she knew Adlin had whispered in her ear, when she