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Authors: Lauren Marrero
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Andreu."
She looked from one man to the other and frowned, not seeing any resemblance. Though both men were large and muscular of frame the similarities ended there. Where Cairn’s jaw was square and strongly cut, Andreu’s was more delicate, his overall features more refined and classically handsome to Cairn’s ruggedness.
Hadran had told her Cairn’s brother was not related by blood; rather he was the son of Cairn’s stepmother from her first husband. When the lads were fostered together they became fast friends.
"Milord," she mumbled. She wished he wouldn’t stare at her so, as if Verena was some curious new beast they happened upon. She forced herself to meet his inquiring gaze.
"It seems this adventure has yielded many surprises," he said with surprising gallantry, taking her hand to place a light kiss on her knuckles. "I look forward to hearing about them—and you."
"How is your shoulder?" Cairn interrupted.
"Awful. I expect it to hurt for some time, but there is a skilled healer in my grandfather’s village."
Cairn glanced significantly at his brother and taking the hint Andreu left to finish saddling his mount. It was time to tell Verena the truth.
"I want you to join me and my clan in Scotland."
Verena gulped, almost giddy with excitement. This was what she had been waiting for. Owen had his doubts, but Hadran knew Cairn would take her back to Scotland and the old man was always right.
A true Englishwoman would be terrified to find herself surrounded by Scottish warriors. Returning with them to Scotland would be unthinkable. So Verena allowed her eyes to go huge with fright, staring at Cairn as if he meant to ravage her.
"I … I cannot," she stammered. "My grandfather—"
"I promise you shall safely reach him, but I cannot risk your capture now. I will keep you safe in my homeland until I can escort you to your family."
After the days they had shared together she knew Cairn would do his best to protect her. It was strange to be the recipient of such esteem. Of course Owen would protect her too, but that was different somehow. That knowledge didn’t cause a warm tingling of excitement in her belly.
"You said we would part at the crossroads. You said you would let me go."
"Gundy’s men still comb this forest and they have probably seen us together. I must take you to Scotland."
"I won’t tell them anything."
"If Gundy wants you to talk, you will talk. What do you think will happen once he knows what you have done? I will not allow you to be captured and I will not risk more men on foolishness."
"My freedom is not foolishness!"
Verena turned to run, but before she could take more than a step Cairn’s heavy arms encircled her, lifting her off her feet. She made a show of struggling against him so he believed she was in earnest. His heavy hand clamped firmly over her mouth so she couldn’t scream. Soon her hands and feet were bound with rope; a rag was stuffed into her mouth.
Andreu appeared and carried her to a small stallion where she was dumped unceremoniously in front of Cairn in the saddle. The animal sidestepped nervously when Verena was placed on his back, uncomfortable with her foreign, struggling weight.
"Easy Drago."
The animal was truly the dragon Cairn named him with a fiery temper to match. It was a beautiful creature—strong, healthy, well cared for and much nicer than anything Verena had ridden. His brown velvet coat was broken by patches of white on his face and forelocks. With one hand Cairn stroked the animal’s neck. The other arm encircled her like a band of iron.
"If you continue to struggle he will throw us both. Someday perhaps you will understand the necessity of my actions."
How could a voice be so gentle and yet so stern? Cairn sounded calm and reasonable. His voice had not changed from the soothing tone he used on the horse, but there was an unmistakable command in his words and she dared not disobey. It was enough that she had suffered a knife wound for
She looked from one man to the other and frowned, not seeing any resemblance. Though both men were large and muscular of frame the similarities ended there. Where Cairn’s jaw was square and strongly cut, Andreu’s was more delicate, his overall features more refined and classically handsome to Cairn’s ruggedness.
Hadran had told her Cairn’s brother was not related by blood; rather he was the son of Cairn’s stepmother from her first husband. When the lads were fostered together they became fast friends.
"Milord," she mumbled. She wished he wouldn’t stare at her so, as if Verena was some curious new beast they happened upon. She forced herself to meet his inquiring gaze.
"It seems this adventure has yielded many surprises," he said with surprising gallantry, taking her hand to place a light kiss on her knuckles. "I look forward to hearing about them—and you."
"How is your shoulder?" Cairn interrupted.
"Awful. I expect it to hurt for some time, but there is a skilled healer in my grandfather’s village."
Cairn glanced significantly at his brother and taking the hint Andreu left to finish saddling his mount. It was time to tell Verena the truth.
"I want you to join me and my clan in Scotland."
Verena gulped, almost giddy with excitement. This was what she had been waiting for. Owen had his doubts, but Hadran knew Cairn would take her back to Scotland and the old man was always right.
A true Englishwoman would be terrified to find herself surrounded by Scottish warriors. Returning with them to Scotland would be unthinkable. So Verena allowed her eyes to go huge with fright, staring at Cairn as if he meant to ravage her.
"I … I cannot," she stammered. "My grandfather—"
"I promise you shall safely reach him, but I cannot risk your capture now. I will keep you safe in my homeland until I can escort you to your family."
After the days they had shared together she knew Cairn would do his best to protect her. It was strange to be the recipient of such esteem. Of course Owen would protect her too, but that was different somehow. That knowledge didn’t cause a warm tingling of excitement in her belly.
"You said we would part at the crossroads. You said you would let me go."
"Gundy’s men still comb this forest and they have probably seen us together. I must take you to Scotland."
"I won’t tell them anything."
"If Gundy wants you to talk, you will talk. What do you think will happen once he knows what you have done? I will not allow you to be captured and I will not risk more men on foolishness."
"My freedom is not foolishness!"
Verena turned to run, but before she could take more than a step Cairn’s heavy arms encircled her, lifting her off her feet. She made a show of struggling against him so he believed she was in earnest. His heavy hand clamped firmly over her mouth so she couldn’t scream. Soon her hands and feet were bound with rope; a rag was stuffed into her mouth.
Andreu appeared and carried her to a small stallion where she was dumped unceremoniously in front of Cairn in the saddle. The animal sidestepped nervously when Verena was placed on his back, uncomfortable with her foreign, struggling weight.
"Easy Drago."
The animal was truly the dragon Cairn named him with a fiery temper to match. It was a beautiful creature—strong, healthy, well cared for and much nicer than anything Verena had ridden. His brown velvet coat was broken by patches of white on his face and forelocks. With one hand Cairn stroked the animal’s neck. The other arm encircled her like a band of iron.
"If you continue to struggle he will throw us both. Someday perhaps you will understand the necessity of my actions."
How could a voice be so gentle and yet so stern? Cairn sounded calm and reasonable. His voice had not changed from the soothing tone he used on the horse, but there was an unmistakable command in his words and she dared not disobey. It was enough that she had suffered a knife wound for
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