The Condemned Highlander (Highland Intrigue Trilogy 2)

“What have I done, Brogan? If I had not been so stubborn and wed you when I was told, Bliss would not be in danger.”

“And the curse would not have the chance to be broken,” he said, his arm going around her. “Fate brought us together for a reason, Annis, and I for one am glad she did. But that can wait for another day. You came to save Bliss and that is what we will do.”

“And save you,” she said, another tear trickling down her cheek to be scooped away by his tender touch. “I will save you as well.”

Brogan stared at her a moment and his words surprised him. “If you break the curse and free me, Annis, I will do the same for you. I will free you from this unwanted marriage.”

Her heart slammed in her chest, and she thought it shattered into a million pieces. The pain she felt at that moment left no doubt in her mind—she loved Brogan. And there was no way she wanted to lose him, a sobering thought for sure.

“The choice is yours to make. I will leave it to you,” he said and kissed her gently. “That does not mean I will not try to persuade you to remain my wife.”

“And you think you can do that—persuade me?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

“Easily, my ghràdh,” he said with a chuckle.

“That’s a challenge I accept,” she said and stepped away from him to continue along the path to the village.

“A warning. You have no chance against my charm,” he said as he rushed up behind her. “But enough of that. Tell me what the witch had to say.”

Annis detailed her conversation with the witch about the curse.

Brogan stopped just before they reached the village. “The MacWilliam bairn does live?”

“So says the witch and the old woman with the limp will point us to her. ‘Find the lass and all will come to pass’ is what she said. How, I do not know, and I am not going to concern myself with that right now. First, we must find this woman.” He nodded agreeing, but Annis wondered what he truly thought since his father had lied to him about killing the MacWilliam bairn.

Annis also shared the witch’s warning. “She also told me to beware, that there are those who will try to stop me that they have other plans. She told me to see them for who they are. Though it will not be easy since she cautioned that they hide behind lies, sprout meaningless words, and remain in the shadows.”

“She speaks of people who say and show one thing and mean another. They are not easy to recognize. And what other plans could they have? Many want the curse broken and all the suffering that goes with it finally laid to rest, so they would have no problem with our quest.” He shook his head. “It makes no sense.”

“She told me in time, all will be revealed. For now, the quest takes us to find the older woman with a limp.”

Brogan took both her hands in his before she could walk away. “I am going to tell everyone we are wed. More protection will be afforded to you that way.” He kissed her before she could protest. “The decision is not open for discussion.”

“What if in the end I choose not to stay wed to you?” she asked, the suggestion alone a troubling thought.

Her words were like a punch to his gut, and he tried not to let it show, but he did not think he was successful. “We will face that if the time comes.”

She had caught the hurt in his eyes though it vanished fast. Did he care enough for her that he actually wanted her as his wife? She thought him a good man, so wouldn’t he be a good husband to her? And though she didn’t know much about love, she had to admit, at least to herself, that she was falling or had fallen in love with him. If she had found love, would she be foolish enough to let it go? There was time to see how they would fair together. Time to see if what she was feeling for him could be… something she did not want to lose.

14

They entered the village and Brogan gathered everyone around.

Brogan kept hold of her hand as he spoke. “I have news. We thought not to share it at first, but with all that has gone on, Annis and I believe it is best you all know.”

Annis was pleased he included her in the decision.

“What I am about to tell you remains here with the group until otherwise told,” Brogan said, glancing around and pleased to see everyone bobbing their heads.

“We can keep a silent tongue,” Seward said with pride and ‘ayes’ rang out in agreement.