Highland Intrigue - A Prequel

“Be grateful,” Cadell chided. “It could be worse for the both of you. At least you favor each other.”

“I do not favor her,” Brogan snapped sharply.

“And I certainly do not favor him,” Annis said with a wince as if it hurt to even think it.

Brogan nodded at Annis. “Besides, she has a weak stomach and will faint far too often with as much blood as I spill.”

“Maybe if you stopped acting like a spoiled arse, you would not spill senseless blood,” Annis retaliated.

“Annis!” Elysia warned, tugging at her sister’s arm.

Cadell grinned and filled a tankard with ale to enjoy while watching the two spar.

“And perhaps if you did not go dictating to men how to build a structure you would still be able to learn something from them,” Brogan said, taking a step toward her.

Annis sprang forward. “Learn something from men who are too embarrassed to admit that a woman knew more than the lot of them put together, so they shun her? And I am generous calling them men. They are nothing more than weak fools—much like yourself.”

Brogan stepped closer until their bodies almost touched. “A fool maybe, but weak I am not. And this fool will keep his distance from you.”

Annis turned a wicked grin on him. “And yet here you stand nearly plastered against me.”

Brogan swore beneath his breath and stepped away from her. “You are the most…most…”

“The word you search for is intelligent—something I doubt you are accustomed to in a woman,” Annis said and heard her sister Elysia groan.

Cadell laughed and saluted the couple with his tankard before taking a generous gulp.

“Bliss!” Elysia called out when her sister entered the room with Lawler.

Bliss hurried to her sisters. “All is well. You are both safe and free to wed whoever you choose.”

“Is this so?” Brogan demanded of Lawler.

“It is,” Lawler confirmed.

Cadell sprang to his feet. “This can’t be so. It was agreed upon.”

“A better deal was struck,” Lawler said.

“Better deal?” Annis asked, worry turning her eyes wide as she looked to Bliss. “What did you do?”

“What I had to do,” Bliss said, fighting to keep her calm with what was about to come.

Elysia paled. “Good Lord, Bliss, what did you do?”

Lawler smiled. “She married Lord Rannick.”

“No! No! No!” Elysia cried. “You cannot wed him.”

“Elysia is right. The thought is utter nonsense. I will wed Brogan,” Annis said, looking to him and hoping he would agree and help save her sister.

“Annis is right,” Brogan said. “Rannick is not fit to wed anyone. Annis and I will wed and be done with it.”

“Then it is done. We will wed,” Annis said, sending Brogan a grateful look.

Lawler shook his head. “You don’t understand. It is done. Bliss is now Lord Rannick’s wife. The documents are signed, the seal affixed, and the ceremony complete. And Annis and Elysia are free to wed any man they choose.”

Elysia collapsed down on a bench, her legs turning far too weak to hold her.

Annis stared in disbelief at Bliss, at a loss for words.

“Why not wed Annis and Brogan anyway?” Cadell asked as if what Lawler had agreed to made no sense.

“Bliss does this willingly,” Lawler explained.

“What difference does that make?” Cadell asked. “We could have two wives with only one more to find.”

“And find them we will, but Lord Lochlann will be more than pleased with the woman we have secured for Lord Rannick. She is a fine healer who promises to help heal Lord Rannick and promises to do her best to deliver an heir to the Clan MacClaren and do it all willingly and without complaint.”

Cadell smiled. “Lord Lochlann will be pleased to hear that.”

“You cannot do this, Lawler,” Brogan said. “Rannick isn’t fit to be a husband to any woman and you know it.”

“What I know is that I was tasked with finding a wife for Lord Rannick and I found her, and she is a far better woman than I expected to find. She will do well for Lord Rannick. And as I said, it is done and it cannot be undone,” Lawler said and turned a gentle smile on Bliss. “Now gather your things. We leave within the hour.”

“No!” Elysia shouted, jumping up from the bench.

Bliss hurried to wrap her arm around her sister. “Come, we do not have much time.” She reached her hand out to Annis and she grasped hold of it.

The three left the keep, holding tight to each other as they made their way to their cottage, paying no mind to the stares they received along the way.

Tears fell as Bliss began to gather what few personal items she had. She had lived in fear of losing Annis to Brogan and having to face a moment like this. A moment when it felt as if her heart shattered completely, the pain of parting so terrible. The only thing that consoled her was that her two sisters would not be forced to wed men who would bring them nothing but pain and suffering.