Highlander Unchained (Highlander Trilogy 1)

It struck her then what her living here would mean. It would say to all that she was in service to the lord of the keep.

“This is your home now,” Sloan said and waved her forward.

Her legs trembled so badly that she didn’t think she could move. All she could do was stare at the cottage and all it represented. How in such a short time could she have gone from being ignored by most and unwanted by a man to being the main fodder of gossip and being a kept woman?

“Are you all right, Dawn? You have gone pale,” Sloan said.

She took a breath and she could see the pity in Sloan’s eyes when there was no sound to be heard. She hated when anyone pitied her. Her mum had taught her that pity never did anyone any good.

Deal with your lot with strength and courage and you will know no pity. Her mum’s words rang clear in her head and gave her the courage to toss her head up and march forward.

Sloan followed, though stopped just before they reached the door. “Cree will be here to see you shortly.”

Dawn turned to him and nodded. Then she smiled and bowed her head in thanks. There was no point in being rude to him. He followed Cree’s orders as did all.

Sloan returned her smile, and looked about to say something then stopped, nodded, turned and walked away.

Dawn lifted the latch on the cottage door and walked in. It wasn’t until a good wind wiped past her stirring the fire in the hearth that she hurried to close the door behind her. She stood eyes wide and mouth agape. The room was twice the size of her cottage with a table and four chairs in front of the hearth. A narrow table sat against one wall and on it sat wooden bowls and crocks while beneath sat stacked baskets. A long bench sat to another side with pegs above it along the wall. Two cloaks hung from the pegs, both wool one dark green, the other dark blue and lined with fur. Before she did anything she hid the pouch with her cherished possession behind the baskets until she could find a better place for it.

She was surprised to see another doorway, though no door blocked its entrance. She wandered over and entered coming to a stop just inside the room. It was a fairly good-sized room with a bed that could hold two people and a flat-topped chest at the foot. The lit hearth kept the room more than comfortably warm and the wooden shutters on the lone window were closed, the latch firmly in place.

The fire’s light flickered across the bed and Dawn stared at the fresh bedding and the lovely wool blankets not to mention the two overly stuffed pillows. It was much too elegant for her and much too large.

The thought startled her. Of course the bed was too large, it was not meant for her to sleep in alone. Actually, it wasn’t meant for sleep.

She took a quick step back and bumped into something solid. She turned even more quickly and scurried back away from Cree, the size of him filling the doorway.

He glared at her for a moment then walked straight for her. He still wore all black and his size so over powered that he appeared the devil himself rushing at her. When he reached her, he simply grabbed her cloak pulling it off her shoulders.

“You’ll not wear rags anymore.” He rolled it up and tossed it into the fire. It caught and burnt quickly.

She inched her way toward the door not feeling comfortable with him in such an intimate setting.

He scowled when he turned and saw what she was doing. He walked over to her, took hold of her arm and shoved her in front of him and through the doorway. He let her go once in the other room.

“You will live here now.” He stared at her, a spark of passion glinting in his eyes.

She gave a nod not knowing what else to do. It was a command after all and she had to obey. Her life was not her own; it belonged to him and as Sloan reminded; all in the village belonged to him.

He did not like the frightened look in her eyes; he had seen it there too often, though he had to admit it was tinged with courage. Even though she feared, she fought it and bravely battled through whatever ordeal she faced.

She had done that in the hut and what disturbed him was that there were times he wished he was back there with her, just the two of them. When he had stepped into the other room it had given him that sense of confinement with her and he had found himself growing aroused at the thought. Could he have that here with her, the feeling of being locked away from everything, only having each other? He had found certain contentment with her, though he did not understand it and did not want to try. He did however wish to experience it again and that was why while she slept he had issued orders to have her moved to this place, though Sloan believed it was because he had no choice but to make Dawn his mistress.