Read Online To Bewitch a Highlander (Isle of Mull series) by Lily Baldwin - Free Book Online Page B

disrespecting his family, his position, and his clan. He could not ignore reality or pretend as though things were different—she was a MacLean, comely perhaps, but still a MacLean.
    With gritted teeth, he resolved to honor his duty. He would find her pendant but would not return it to her tonight. Ronan knew that were he to enter the cave again before dawn, he would not be able to deny the heat of his desire. Images of her long, flowing hair cascading down her slender back and resting against the swell of her buttocks came unbidden to his mind. He shook the image from his head. He could never see her again. It was that simple. In the morning, he would send two of his trusted warriors to retrieve her and bring her to the outskirts of MacLean territory. It was a solution that prioritized his family and his responsibilities. And yet, regret and longing gnawed at his belly, spreading throughout his body like bracken over the hills.
    He would never see Bridget again. He closed his eyes and conjured her face so that he might savor her loveliness one last time. But his musings were interrupted as his horse brayed loudly and ground its hooves deep into the earth, coming to an immediate halt. Ronan fell forward and off to the side, the muscles in his legs strained to keep him atop his mount. He leapt to the ground, grabbed the horse’s bit and stared the beast in the eye.
    “What the hell happened?” he snarled.
    The horse whinnied and tossed its head. Ronan released its bit and rubbed a soothing hand through its mane.
    “Hush, boy. What’s the matter with you? You nearly launched me to my death.” Ronan looked around and saw that the Cillchriosd Stone was just up ahead. Then his gaze was pulled toward a dark heap on the ground not twenty strides away. Ronan narrowed his eyes and saw the MacKinnon plaid and telling black curls.
    “Aidan”, Ronan cried as he hurried to kneel at his friend’s side. Aidan lied on his stomach with one knee bent as if trying to crawl forward.
    “Aidan,” Ronan rolled his friend’s limp body over and saw that he was breathing.
    “Thank you Jesus and Mary, you’re alive.”
    No thanks to him.
    If his horse had not stopped, then Aidan would have been crushed beneath the animal’s stride. Bridget had preoccupied his thoughts, proving once again the destructive nature his desire. Daydreaming was not a privilege afforded the future laird of the MacKinnon.
    “Aidan can you hear me?”
    When Aidan did not respond, Ronan began to check the extent of his wounds. He had not suffered any fatal blows. There were no punctures from blades, but he had been thrashed nigh to death. One eye was swollen shut. His face was smeared with blood and dirt, and bruises were forming from his skull to his legs.
    “Who did this Aidan? Wake up so I can find the bastards and beat the life out of them.” Ronan gently shook his friend. “Aidan, wake up. You must wake up.” Aidan stirred and slowly opened his one eye. He lifted his head but winced and fell back.
    “Don’t worry, Aidan. You’ve been flattened alright, but you will live.”
    “I thought I was in heaven”, Aidan whispered through cracked, dry lips. “There was an angel with golden hair and dark eyes smiling at me.”
    “You aren’t in Heaven, Aidan. You are right here on Mull,” Ronan said.
    “I know I can’t be in Heaven. You would never get past the gate,” Aidan chuckled. “Oh damn that hurt. No more jokes—that felt like a hot poker jabbing my side.”
    “You have some broken ribs”, Ronan said.
    “Those bastards were certainly thorough.”
    “Who did this, Aidan?”
    Aidan tried again to raise his head but fell back. “To hell with sitting up. Just leave me, Ronan. Let me stay here and wait for the angel to come back. She was sweet to look upon. I’m sorry friend, but I would rather die in her arms than yours.”
    “You aren’t going to die”, Ronan said dryly.
    “If it meant seeing her face again, then I would wish to die.”