Page 18 of Highlander’s Bride

She was pretty sure it wasn’t a wooden stick.

He held the reins on either side of her, and it was clear there wouldn’t be any escape. She’d been contemplating the whole way how she could slip out of his grasp, and she had tried elbowing him in the stomach. But she was still weak from her high sugar levels, and he’d just grunted and chuckled, congratulating her on her attempt but warning her that he’d tie her hands if she tried it again.

“Sorry, lass,” he said, surprising her with the softness in his voice again. “I’m nae in the habit of kidnapping women. But as much I’m nae enjoying being marrit to ye, I dinna have a choice.”

“There’s always a choice,” she mumbled. “Your damned clan are all a band of kidnappers, aren’t you? I screamed my throat out as you carried me out of the castle, and no one lifted a finger to stop a man carrying a woman clearly against her will.”

He shifted behind her. “’Tis called loyalty, lass. And again, I am sorry for causing ye distress. I promise as long as ye stay in the estate and dinna try to escape, I wilna do such a thing again. And, of course, ye have my full protection.”

She shook her head. “Wow. How noble of you. But I can’t promise to stay put, Raghnall, I have to get back to Eilean Donan.”

But as she said that, doubt crept into her mind… Did she really have to return immediately? If it would take days until the pile was cleared, and that vision she’d had of herself, dead and being carried by a Highlander at Eilean Donan… Actually, being away from the castle for a while probably wasn’t a bad idea, especially since she still had her insulin pens.

Besides…minus the kidnapping and her anger with Raghnall, she was actually kind of excited. In just one day, she’d experienced the most adventure she’d ever had in her life. Part of her had always craved adventures, had always wanted to live a full life—a normal life.

A life where she could ride a horse, where she could do anything and be anyone.

Where she could be herself.

Exactly how she’d felt in front of the church in Dornie, marrying this man.

“Because of that rock?” said Raghnall. “Why do ye need to get to it?”

Could she tell him the truth? The truth she didn’t understand fully herself. The truth that sounded insane.

Just like her psychic abilities would sound insane.

Yeah. There was a lot about her he didn’t know…a lot no one knew. Would it be so bad if she told him the truth and dealt with his reaction later?

Gosh, it had been so much easier when she’d thought she was dreaming.

“Because what Amhladh said is true.”

Behind her, his chest stopped moving. “What, that old story about the faerie rock and going to a different time?”

His voice was tense, taut like a guitar string. Did he believe her or not?

Her fists clenched around the horse’s coarse mane. “Yes.”

“Lass, do ye want to tell me ye’re a stranger from another time?” His voice was cold and hard, like the sword on his belt—which she suddenly became very much aware of.

She wanted an adventure, right? Here she was, right in the middle of it.

She might not even die of diabetic shock. This man behind her might kill her before she had a chance.

But there was no backing up now. She had made her bed, all she had to do was lie in it. And she may have avoided dangers to her health because of her parents, but she wasn’t a coward. “Yes. I am from another time.”

Silence hung between them. After a while, as the horse continued walking forward and Raghnall still said and did nothing, Bryanna turned to look over her shoulder at him.

To find him staring straight at her, his black eyes wide but his gaze hard.

At least he wasn’t laughing at her or ridiculing her. “That’s why I need to get back there,” she pressed. “I need to return home.”

He winced and shook his head. “Lass, dinna take me for a fool.”

“Trust me, Raghnall Mackenzie, I think many things of you, but a fool isn’t one of them.”

“Do ye expect me to believe faeries exist and there’s magic and ye really are from another time—which time would that be exactly?”