Page 9 of Highlander’s Lesser Evil

Relief swept through him. He’d only just met the woman, and it startled him to think of how much power she had over him. Yes, he most certainly needed to make her his before she caused trouble by turning those eyes on someone else. It was a wonder that men weren’t stampeding to the loch to ask for her hand in marriage.

“Since ye stayed on Loch Moran after the edict that all residents who stayed will be under my protection, ‘tis my duty to look after ye. The others wish for me to marry one of ye. I shall marry ye, Gemma, and then no MacSeaver can touch ye.”

He expected that beautiful smile, even tears of gratitude, but when those lips curled, it was an even more outrageous laugh that fell around him, and this time, it didn’t sound like music.

“Trust a man to think he needs to make a woman his possession to save her!” she said as tears rolled down her cheeks. Wiping them away, she finally gained control of herself. “My desire to not marry Fletcher MacSeaver is out of repugnance, but my desire to not marry Graeme is the same reason that I will not marry you. I have had an entire year away from my father, away from any other man’s threat. I will not give that up. Find someone else in the clan to marry. There are women here more beautiful than I and far more willing to marry you.”

Words escaped him. He wanted to command that she marry him. She might be English, but she was living on his land, and thus belonged to him. He could feel that in his very bones.

But then, it was his father’s voice in his head, telling him to take what he wanted, that had him gritting his teeth.

“Very well, then,” he said hoarsely. “Enjoy the rest of the evening.” Turning, he walked away only to find his next target watching him closely.

“She turned ye down as well?” Graeme asked with a chuckle. “I never thought I’d find an English lass so fetching.”

“What are ye doing here, Graeme? Ye were just here last month.”

“I thought I had a free pass to come whenever I liked.”

“Aye, which is why I am not throwing ye out. I have done nothing to harm any of the people here, so why doonae ye just admit that ye want this land back.”

“I want the land back,” Graeme said instantly.

Theo growled, and the man smirked. “I cannae go up against the king without having all the Highlands against me and lose my people, so I cannae take the land by force.”

“Is that supposed to help me relax?” Men who knew that they were doing wrong didn’t care if that action came with an infusion of power, and that was exactly what the loch was. The waters, the land, held the power to save his people.

“The missive of the king was clear. These people are to be protected. If ye fail to do that, then I can request that the king give me the land back, and I will do what Fletcher could not—protect it.”

Theo raised an eyebrow at the younger man. Most didn’t speak so open against their laird. That was telling about Fletcher’s state of mind, although Theo wasn’t certain about the relationship between Graeme and Fletcher. Graeme was heir, named by the king and Fletcher, but reports said they didn’t spend much time together.

“And since ye arenae laird, how are ye going to keep Loch Moran from falling back into the hands of the man ye swore fealty to?”

Graeme visibly flinched and clenched his jaw. “Fletcher MacSeaver is an old man, weakened by the betrayal of his wife, but he is still my laird, and I would not overthrow him like some men I know.”

“Ye doonae know me or my life, but I wilnae let ye take the loch from me.” Theo tried not to let his rage wash over him. “And ye will stay away from Gemma.”

“The English lass? She has spirit, but ye have not to fear to me. I doona force lasses, so if she comes to me, it will be because she wants to.” Casually, he grinned and looked over his shoulder. “Now there’s a lovely lass over there. Blonde. Young. Naive. Perhaps she is more yer speed.”

Graeme’s laughter stayed with Theo after he walked away, and so did Theo’s fear as he looked about at the small group happily feeding his men.

The fear that Graeme was right. He wouldn’t protect these people, just as his father had never protected his.

The next morning, Gemma woke up late, but she wasn’t worried. After last night’s communal dinner turned into dancing and music and festivities, all of Loch Moran would be sleeping late. Her head swam from last night’s ale, something she’d only learned to enjoy here in the Highlands.

Maybe a little too much.

Groaning, she sat up in bed and shrieked when she realized she wasn’t alone. Standing in front of her loom was the laird of the MacDougals.

“Get out,” she groaned as she sat up and rubbed her head.

Turning his head, he studied her. “I came to make certain that ye made it home safely when ye finally left. Ye left yer door standing wide open.”

“Maybe I was leaving it open for someone.” Is this man a morning person? Now there is definitely no way we could ever marry!

He ignored her. “I closed it and returned this morning to see how ye were fairing. I had no idea the English could drink that much, especially one with such a tiny body.”

“That is the last time you get to talk about my body.”