Page 21 of Katie's Highlander (Highland Protector 3)
A stinging prick and then a warm trickling sensation down the center of his chest told him that his father—his own sire—was so determined t’see this rite done that he’d drawn his own son’s blood.
“Now is no’ the time for words to yer lass, boy. Not yet.” Still clutching Katie’s hand in his left, Emrys returned his scowling focus to Katie but kept the point of the knife to Ramsay’s throat with his right. “Well?”
Willing Katie to understand, Ramsay locked his gaze with hers and gave her the barest shake of his head.Katie couldna possibly ken how important a no answer was to this particular question. It meant a great deal more than merely playing along with an old man’s delusions. Surely, the druid clans wouldna hold her to it under the circumstances. None of them had observed this ancient custom—at least not in this century.
AndAthairhad forced it by drawing blood.
If she pledged fealty to Clan MacDara and more important, to Ramsay himself, she was pretty much part of the family, whether she realized it or not. Centuries ago, many a druid clan marriage had started this way. Especially for those directly descended from the chieftain. ’Twas the old way of joining souls.
“Tell him no,” Ramsay forced out through clenched teeth, jerking his chin upward asAthair’sblade nicked his throat again.
Eyes rounding as she stared at the knife, Katie quickly nodded. “Yes. Yes. I pledge my fealty to Clan MacDara and to Ramsay especially. I owe him much since he saved me.” She raised her voice. “Don’t hurt him anymore. You’ve got my pledge—for life.”
Deep inside, in the darkest innermost space where his soul resided at his very core, Ramsay felt a distinct twitch. Something akin to a key turning in a lock or a door being unbolted. He swallowed hard and struggled to pull air into his lungs. It wasna painful—yet. But instinctively he knew, from those verra depths of his soul he knew, that damntwitchwould vex him in the long run if he didna properly heed it.Hell’s fire, goddesses—I beg ye, save her from this. Save me.
Emrys accepted Katie’s answer with a dip of his head. “It is good, then.”
His attention shifted to Ramsay and while continuing to hold Katie’s hand tightly in his left, he slowly returned the athame to his belt, then held out his right hand to his son. “Come Ramsay. Take the hand of your betrothed and accept her oath with yer kiss. Make her yer wife.”
“Athair.” Ramsay frantically searched his memory for everything he’d ever been taught about this long-forgotten rite. He barely remembered any of the details since the ancient custom had pretty much fallen out of use—at least as far as this century was concerned.
“Ye would dishonor this woman?” Emrys scowled at him with the same look that had struck fear in many an adversary over his father’s years as chieftain and had also kept his sons in line. Emrys lowered his hand to the athame again.
“Nay,Athair,but…” Ramsay finally remembered the one thing that might extricate them from this mess. “Surely, the oath canna be true and lasting without our guardian’s blessing?” Ramsay turned and glared at Dwyn standing flanked by his brothers and sister. “Stop this,”he mouthed. “Stop this for her sake.”
“Dwyn!” Emrys bellowed. “Come forward and speak the blessing.”
“Aye,” Dwyn said as he hurried across the clearing and took his place at Emrys’s side, smiling like a fool first at Ramsay and then at Katie.
Emrys regally turned to Dwyn then tilted his head toward Ramsay. “Ramsay willna accept this woman’s fealty and seal their sacred oath without yer blessing.”
If only she’d faint…Ramsay stole another look at Katie. She’d grown quite pale but patches of red on her fair cheeks gave a hint that perhaps her anger was rising. She’d fainted once before when he’d pulled her out of the wreck. Even if she’d fake a faint, ‘twould get them away from Emrys long enough to allow the old man t’forget all about this mess and allow poor Katie to escape.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, that strange twitch deep inside Ramsay shifted again like a great beast struggling to awaken.I dinna wish her to faint. If she’s bound t’me—even without her knowledge of the old ways—‘twould give me a chance t’win her…maybe.
And when she leaves?His sense of survival, annoying as a festering splinter, prodded his heart and mind like a never-ending echo of doom.
Ramsay shrugged away the feeling. If she left, then she left. What of it.‘Twould be no matter.But his heart knew his words held little meaning.
“Aye,theiroath,” Emrys repeated holding out a hand to Ramsay and lifting it as though daring his son to refuse. “Dwyn shall give his blessing and call down the blessings of the goddesses. Dinna bring shame upon this fine lass who has been through so much t’stand here at yer side.”
“Um…”
Katie’s voice trembled—not from fear, but as a sign she’d had enough. Ramsay had heard that tremble once before. Back at the auto repair shop. When she’d lost her temper. He pulled in a deep breath and readied himself to defend her ifAthairbecame even more deranged. Strength of the druid rite or no’, he’d see that Katie wasna hurt.
“Mr. MacDara, don’t you think we’d better be getting back? Mrs. MacDara is going to worry, and we can’t have that.” She shifted in place and took on the tone of one speaking to an unruly child. “It’s getting late. Come on. We’re finished here. Why don’t you get in the Jeep and we’ll take you to the café for a bite to eat? Pie…and ice cream. How about that?”
“Enough!” Emrys shook his grizzled head with a hard jerk. His voice echoed with the thunderous voices of druids long past, the power he’d called down from the goddesses. “M’son wants ye as his own.” He thumped his chest with his free hand. “I ken the truth of it in my ancient heart. I’ve seen it in the smoke and the goddesses swear it, as well.” Emrys’s voice softened as he continued. “Ye must forgive him. He’s hesitant because of the demoness.”
“Demoness?” Katie repeated, the word coming out of her mouth in a high-pitched squeak.
“Aye.” Emrys nodded slow and hard. “A vile woman determined to destroy him, but he overcame her with the help of our guardian.” He turned to Dwyn and acknowledged the demigod with a respectful bow.
The lass surely thinks we’re all mad.Ramsay shifted at Katie’s side. ’Twas plain as day. The only way to end this catastrophe was to do asAthairbid.And it could be the only kiss I e’er get from the woman after this kerfuffle.
Ramsay gave Katie a look that he hoped like hell she’d understand. “I’m ready,” he said in a voice that sounded a lot stronger than he currently felt.
Emrys took Ramsay’s hand and cut across it. With a slow ceremonial flourish, he turned to Katie and sliced her palm just enough to draw blood then he placed her hand under Ramsay’s and held the two of them tightly together.“Ullachadh sin anaman a dhol còmhla.”
