Highland Defiance - By Sky Purington Page 0,23

looked around he was nowhere to be found. But his words lingered as well as the suggestion. Fresh air would be wonderful. Mildred shoved through the crowd toward the door. From this point, it seemed a million miles away. Luckily, the people seemed too interested in moving toward the newly married couple.

And they were a bendy crowd.

Mildred spied the doors and gratefully exited the great hall into the cold air of the Scottish Highlands. Or should she say cool with a bite? Unlike a solid New Hampshire winter, the moisture and nip of the wind felt different, far more intentional and sea born.

It felt perfect.

The second she walked out the door she was a little freer than she’d been the whole time in the castle. It didn’t matter that she had no real sense of direction.

“But you do,” Adlin said. She didn’t hesitate when his hand lightly took her elbow. All she’d wanted since she’d arrived was a moment alone with him. As if she thought Bruce was still somehow staring her down she didn’t look Adlin’s way.

They didn’t go far.

When he veered off into the stalls, she followed. A few torches burned. Besides the meager light the stalls were empty of humans, only horses. They walked about halfway down before he pulled her into a dark stall. Positioning himself where light cut across half his face, he put his hands on her forearms and asked, “How have you been all these years?”

All these years? Mildred looked up into his beautiful, concerned face and didn’t know quite what to say. In fact, she was speechless.

Adlin’s large hand cupped her cheek. “I’m sorry that you left so quickly before. It’s hard to imagine you’re back again so many years later.” His tone faltered. “Why are you back, Mildred?”

Caught by the feel of his touch her lips parted, her jaw dropped, but no sound came out. Why did he seem so surprised? Adlin was Adlin. If he was the man whom her mother spoke of he was supposed to know everything. Wasn’t he?

As if he heard her thoughts a certain sort of understanding crossed over his features. His thumb gently caressed her cheek and he leaned close. “You’re here for a reason.” He pulled back slightly as though surprised by his own words. Uncertain, he asked, “When did you last see me?”

As hard as it was to say she whispered, “Yesterday. I saw you yesterday.”

A flicker of confusion crossed his face then vanished as though he were practiced at disguising shock. The moment became not one of romance but one of protection as he cupped her other cheek, leaned his forehead against hers and said briefly, “Please dinnae worry. I will figure this out.”

When he pulled away sharply and began pacing the horse stall, Mildred leaned against the wall, weak from the push and pull of this reality… of Adlin.

None of this made sense. Adlin was supposed to know how to fix this. Yet he seemed confused. With a heavy swallow, Mildred said, “Please just send me home. I don’t belong here.”

As though he’d been caught doing something he wasn’t allowed, Adlin stopped short and looked at her. In that single moment, she saw how much he cared. Perhaps not about her but by her set of circumstances. More than that, she saw remorse. As though he knew he couldn’t make the situation better.

Sudden rage filled her. “Don’t look at me like that! If you’re the man my mother spoke of, you can fix this in a minute. Are you not a wizard? A powerful one?”

Arms akimbo, eyes suddenly calm when he looked at her, Adlin said in a strange tone, “It seems, my lass, you are beyond even my control.”

Mildred shook her head. “No.” Then she nodded. “You can fix this.”

She ignored the fact that he gazed at her with his heart in his eyes. Yes, he was by far the best looking man she’d ever laid eyes on. But that meant nothing right now. He was supposed to be able to fix this. Not stand there helpless.

“Shh,” he whispered and came to her. He pulled her hands against his chest. “You are not alone.”

Mildred tried to pull away but he held tight. Angry she said, “Not alone. Are you crazed? Not even you understand this. Seems your sister does though. Why don’t you go talk to her and get this figured out so that I can get home.”

Adlin was strong and held her flailing arms in place all while towering