Highland Defiance - By Sky Purington Page 0,53

home will avoid heartache.”

Not sure why she said it, despite not wanting to leave him, Mildred said, “Are you in the habit of letting people down?”

“I let nobody down.” He took her hand and led her toward the Defiance.

“Nobody but yourself.” Mildred couldn’t fight his pull. “And me.”

When Adlin turned back, she hid her shock. Gone was the kilt. He now wore long white robes. With a wide swipe of his arms the world vanished. They stood alone in a world devoid of anything. His arm came around her waist and pulled her close. He smelled the same, spice and musk and Adlin… but everything about him was far more intense.

His mouth came next to her ear. “This is who I really am, Mildred. I am over five-hundred years old and more powerful than you can imagine.” He breathed deeply. “Do you think for even an instant that I dinnae know what’s best for everyone?”

Without fear, she put her cheek against his and whispered, “Do not think with your heart but with your mind. You owe me that. You had an agreement with Iosbail, right?”

Adlin held on tight, his body hard and unforgiving against hers.

“Please Adlin. Stay true to your word, whatever that is.”

He held her in that strange white light for what seemed several long minutes before he pulled back, expression tortured. “You deserve better than this.”

Mildred nodded. “So do you and Iosbail and all who will be affected by the decision you’re about to make.”

Adlin’s brows lowered. He hadn’t expected her to say that. She hadn’t expected to say it. But if they’d all come this far, there had to be a bigger picture.

It seemed the strange new world he’d brought them to waited with baited breath. At long last, he nodded and light faded. In a blink, he once again wore the MacLomain plaid and they stood before the Defiance.

“This,” he said so softly she barely heard, “is why I’ll always love you.”

Despite all odds, he’d listened. Why so quickly and easily, she’d never know.

When they turned Iosbail stood with her legs spread, eyes wild and finger pointing at Adlin. “This is why a Highland lad should never think with his cock! Bloody bunch of bastards, every single time,” she muttered.

With a sharp spin she hopped to the base of the Defiance. “Time to go. Bruce is already here.”

Chapter Eleven

Mildred looked at the Defiance and waited.

Not nearly the size of the one they’d been at earlier, this window seemed much more the judge. Arms crossed over her chest, hands nervously clenching her arms, she stood in front of the fire. How could one magical window have so changed her life? Heavy frown, she began to pace. Yet, had the Defiance changed her life? No. Adlin had. Everything about him had transformed the way she looked at life.

When Iosbail entered, Mildred stopped.

After Adlin’s sister placed a dress on the bed, she turned and eyed Mildred as warily as Mildred did her. Iosbail cut to the chase. “I dinnae blame you, lass.”

“You shouldn’t. I saved your hide back there,” Mildred returned. Yes, Iosbail had lived a very long time and was her ancestor but that didn’t mean she should be less than honest.

Iosbail looked at the floor for a moment then her eyes locked on Mildred’s so hard it felt like the holding ceased to exist. “I will say this to you, Mildred, because as a lass, you deserve to hear it.” Iosbail stepped closer and the air thickened. “Never, not for a second, should you ever put who you think you are in the hands of a man. You define you. Not them.”

Mildred was about to agree but Iosbail turned and left the room.

No ‘thank you for keeping Adlin on track’ was to be offered. Who knows, maybe it irked her ancient ancestor that her brother had listened to a mere mortal over her. She supposed it would remain a mystery.

One fact remained. Iosbail was a hard, difficult woman.

For all she’d thought she and Iosbail had come far, they’d actually only traveled five seconds in two days. Not so far at all. Adlin’s sister was obviously bitter and even better at being evasive than her brother.

But Mildred knew why she was here.

Determined, she crawled into the crimson velvet dress and combed out her unruly hair. She pinched some of the colored juice provided onto her lips until they were a full, inviting red. When at last she left Adlin’s chamber with a servant it was with her shoulders