more she spun the more clansfolk joined, men, women and children alike.
Adlin again whispered in her ear. “Would you like you dance?”
She thought of when they’d danced the night before. “If I do, will you look at me this time?”
Before she knew it he had her spinning around the fire, their bodies close, his promise in her ear. “I’ll never stop looking at you.”
For a split second she thought he also said, “and for you.”
But it must’ve been her imagination because when her eyes met his, nothing else existed but the two of them. No words. No doubt, there was nothing but them, together here and now.
Mildred had never been more consumed in her life. Taller than most in the chamber, Adlin’s tartan wrapped over a dark tunic, his wide shoulders and slim waist built perfectly for his plaid. Black boots made up his ensemble, a great platform for his quick moves. It was no wonder he owned the admiration of all women.
None of that mattered though. She felt no jealousy as Adlin pulled her against his body until she didn’t know where she ended and he began. As they moved, the scent of his body hit her nostrils. Musk and spice. All male.
People laughed. The fire roared.
They danced.
She laughed. Wickedly, freely, she laughed.
Seconds, minutes, hours passed.
Not nearly soon enough, Adlin whispered in her ear, “Time for you to come with me, love.”
Following him proved to be the turning point in her life.
Chapter Seven
The steps were thin and narrow.
But her heart was full.
“Walk with care. We go to the top.”
Mildred walked up the steps, Adlin right behind. Torches jutted out over her head. Each arrow slit window was placed about every fifteen feet. The higher they climbed the more the wind whistled a constant breeze that reminded her how very cold it was outside. With no hand railing this walk seemed extremely treacherous. She made a point of not looking down.
“I’m right behind you,” Adlin reminded, his hand skirting her outer hip.
Mildred tried to ignore the way his hand felt on her body and continued to concentrate on the odd climb. At last, she realized that there was nothing left but a brick wall.
“There.” Adlin steered her to the right down a short hallway.
Tentative, she walked down the dark, stone hallway until she entered a small room. Inside the chamber she found not a square room but one hexagonally shaped. Instead of more arrow shaped windows, there was one oddly shaped window. It was round with an x shape inside, much like a too-symmetrical cross on a pedestal. Beneath it was a long, rectangular shape with Celtic symbols inscribed in it. The whole thing looked rather like a large mystical key hole.
To the left was a burning fire, to the right a full bed with a curved headboard protected by long, white curtains of sheer fabric. The whole thing seemed rather out of place.
Adlin took her hand and pulled her close to his side, nodding at the strange window. “It’s called the ‘Highland Defiance.’” His arm wrapped around her midriff. “Only the greatest loves end up in her presence.”
“Really?” Mildred asked, truly awed.
“No,” Adlin smelled her hair. “’Tis actually a thing of war.”
Mildred frowned and turned in his arms. “That window doesn’t seem a thing you should joke about.”
Adlin’s eyes left the window and found hers, his expression one of respect and relief. “Then I’ll be truthful. The Highland Defiance is one of magic.”
Mildred felt the floor vibrate and knew that Adlin was upset. “Tell me more.”
As if he’d rather not look her in the eyes when he spoke, he tucked her head beneath his chin. “A long time ago, when I first arrived in Scotland, it was not in Cowal but here, at the tip of Scotland, a place of power no human could understand. This place started as one of peace and love, of new beginnings.”
His heartbeat increased against her ear.
“I never saw it becoming what it did.”
Mildred waited, knew that she had to.
“Even then mankind didn’t get along. I tried to start a peaceful clan but people are always at unrest if they don’t find control in their own thoughts and beliefs. And my way of ruling didnae agree with all, mostly because they wanted to rule themselves.”
Mildred listened, waited.
“I soon learned that I could not stay here. Many agreed with me and would follow but I asked them to stay behind, to hold true to the Scotland I envisioned.”
She pulled back and looked at him. “So