Page 17

–Broderick–

I KEPT MY expression neutral and waited with bated breath as my mother read the scroll Dugal Sutherland handed her about the supposed pact between our clans.

Was my fated mate destined to be with the laird of my rival clan?

Would I lose her now I had found her?

Without a doubt, using the magic of her distant unicorn bloodline, my mother’s eyes shone golden as she fingered the parchment and read it over, sensing everything she possibly could about it before slowly resting it on the table. After her gaze lingered on it for several long moments, the magic faded from her eyes, her gaze rose to me, and she sighed, voicing the last words I wanted to hear. More than I expected from her, to be sure.

“’Tis legitimate, son, and should be heeded.”

“Why?”

I ground out before I could stop myself, but I needed more than that.

“Why should it be heeded when ‘tis the first we have heard of it, and ‘tis clear mine and Aspen’s dragons are drawn to each other? Meant for one another?

It had been torture when it was revealed my rival wore the same dragon sword tattoo as my mate in the same area, no less, and now this? Was it not enough he gazed upon her with such blatant desire because he smugly assumed he had the king’s backing? That he acted as if she were already his when she was no such thing?

“All I can tell ye with absolute certainty is these markings must be heeded,”

my mother said softly, her inner dragon brushing against my mine in comfort.

“Otherwise...”

When she let her words linger, I knew she only saw the worst for our clan if I didn’t concede.

I shook my head. “Nay.”

“Aye,”

she said, giving me a look that said she meant business, and I, as not just her son but her chieftain, needed to heed her.

It also meant all hope wasn’t lost.

“What does this mean precisely?”

Aspen asked tentatively when mine and my mother’s eyes held for a long, strained moment.

“It means in Scotland’s time of need ‘tis my fondest hope for ye to help keep peace betwixt my two most powerful clans,”

the king said gently, resting his hand over Aspen’s on the table, showing more compassion than most would, given his position.

“Dugal’s wife isnae a dragon, and he cannae dissolve the marriage as ‘twould be sacrilege, so ‘tis my hope, as ye are both dragons, that ye will agree to be his mistress.”

He shook his head.

“’Twill not mean ye have to be intimate right away as 'tis a difficult thing for ye to be sure.”

If it weren’t for my love of king and country, and most especially my people, I would have thrown Aspen over my shoulder right then and there and taken her as far away from this absurdity as possible. Truth told, I was about to stand and see it done because she was that important to me, but her gaze shot to mine, and she spoke first.

“No, Broderick.”

She swallowed hard and shook her head, giving me such a serious look I knew she’d be a force to be reckoned with when she became the lady of this castle because she would, no matter what it took.

“I need to see this through,”

she spoke softly but firmly, her gaze remaining on my face as if she struggled to look away before she showed admirable courage and returned her attention to the king.

“I agree to your terms but have a condition of my own.”

There was no missing Robert’s relief or amusement that she would barter with him. One eyebrow swept up.

“And that is?”

“Until I say otherwise, if I ever say otherwise, because I don’t like the idea of being the other woman or betraying Dugal’s wife, I’ll be his mistress in name only,”

Aspen replied.

“That will keep me with the Sutherlands instead of the MacLeods, giving them what they want.”

“Nay,”

Dugal exclaimed, not caring how pitiful he sounded in his callousness toward his wife, but then I saw his lust for Aspen with my own two eyes, however discreet he thought he was being.

“The pact is clear enough. She is to make up for the four brides kept from my clan, so she will fulfill a bride's duties and bear me offspring, just as my wife has.”

The king crossed his arms over his chest again, and all went silent as he mulled over everything before finally coming to a conclusion.

“I will grant yer request for now, Aspen,”

he said.

“After six fortnights, however, we will revisit this conversation and see where ye stand with Dugal.”

So, only three short months? That was ludicrous.

“And if my mind hasn’t changed?”

she wondered.

“’Twill,”

Dugal muttered under his breath, clearly not pleased with Robert's decision.

“We will discuss that when the time comes,”

Robert replied diplomatically, considering this gave Dugal hope on several fronts.

Though I sensed her fear and unease at what she faced, Aspen hid it well, seeming to give the king's counteroffer some thought before agreeing, much to Robert's relief once more. Again, it took everything in me to allow this, but I knew by the way my mother had looked at me, there was more to this than met the eye and not to give up hope.

“Excellent,”

Robert said, issuing Aspen a thankful, if not compassionate, smile before standing, prompting the rest of us to do so as well.

“Now that’s settled, I could use a good night’s rest, Laird MacLeod.”

He gestured at Dugal.

“I would verra much appreciate it if ye saw Laird Sutherland to a chamber as he will be departing with Aspen on the morn.”

His brow lowered, his implication not lost on anyone.

“Naturally, Aspen should be spending the eve in her own chamber with a proper chaperone. A chamber, I'm quite sure ye've seen her comfortably settled in since her arrival, Laird MacLeod.”

What he was saying is she should not be in my bed henceforth.

“Of course,”

I managed, doing my best not to clench my fists. I lowered my head to the king in respect and gestured for a servant to show our guests to their chambers.

“Verra well.”

Robert’s gaze swept over everyone.

“Then I bid ye a good eve.”

“Mayhap ‘twould be best if Aspen were shown to her chamber now?”

Dugal suggested testing my patience when he addressed the king.

“After all, would it not be unseemly for her to remain here alone without me present?”

“Mayhap if ye were marrying,”

I ground out again before I could stop myself.

“Nonetheless, I agree,”

Robert said.

“’Tis best Aspen be looked at as a Sutherland rather than a MacLeod, so ‘tis more appropriate if she retired for the eve as well.”

Wanting to keep her close for as long as possible, I went to argue that, but Aspen spoke before I could, clearly wishing to ease any further tension.

“It’s okay,”

she said, showing me the strength I needed to see when she looked at me.

“I’m tired anyway.”

“I’ll see ye to yer chamber,”

my mother said.

I nodded at Mother, thankful she could be there for Aspen when I could not. After everyone left, except me and my brethren, I refilled my whisky and downed half of it in one long gulp, never so frustrated.

“’Twill be all right, son,”

my father said softly.

“As ye know, fated mates sense each other more than most, so I know yer mother sees a glimmer of hope. There is something the Sutherland laird is not telling us. Something connected to the pact that will reveal itself soon enough.”

“But not before Dugal takes Aspen to a castle and clan she doesnae know,”

I grunted, finding little relief in my father’s words.

“Ye must remember this too was a castle and clan she didnae know with a laird who wasnae particularly welcoming to her,”

he pointed out.

“But she persevered because she is strong and resilient.”

“Aye,”

Kenneth agreed, giving me a look of reassurance.

“’Tis unlikely the king will want ye following her north as I sense ye intend to do, so I will go in yer stead and follow from a distance.”

“Which only gets us to Sutherland Castle if ye’re lucky enough not to be intercepted.”

I shook my head and sighed.

“’Tis what happens beyond those castle doors that worries me.”

“Ye forget the MacLomains dinnae have strife with the Sutherlands,”

Kenneth countered.

“So I cannae see there being an issue and mayhap ‘twill comfort her, aye?”

“Aye.”

Lucas looked at me with the same frustration I felt.

“He’s right. He’s the best option and will likely be ignored by most Sutherlands as he’s known to wander about.”

As much as I loathed the idea of not following myself, I nodded in agreement.

“Fine, then.”

Narrowing my eyes, I couldn’t help but ruminate aloud and voice my biggest concern.

“Who’s to say Dugal keeps his word and abides by their agreement when Robert’s not around? Who’s to say he doesnae take advantage of Aspen because there’s no one to stop him?”

Terrified by the possibility, I shook my head.

“Not among his own people.”

“’Twould only be a matter of time before the king found out, as I cannae see Aspen being quiet about it,”

my father assured.

“And that is the last thing Dugal wants.”

He made a good point, but still. All I could do was envision the worst without anyone there to protect her. Without me there to protect her. Even so, I kept my worries to myself and stayed on for a time without drinking too much to keep my wits about me. Eventually, my cousins retired, leaving me alone with my father, who was fully aware of what I intended to do.

“Take great care, son,”

he said into my mind lest our words somehow be overheard.

“If Dugal finds out ye visited her chamber this eve, it could verra well bring the king’s wrath down on our clan.”

“I’m well aware,”

I replied, but had to see her one last time and assure her all would be well. Nothing would stop me from comforting my mate. Not the entirety of Scotland or the love of my clan.

“Dinnae worry. I will behave accordingly.”

As we both knew, behaving meant no intimacy because that would be far more risky, given Dugal was a dragon and could hear or sense it if Aspen became too riled. I could use magic to protect her, but it was impossible to know how dependable that would be if I lost myself to her touch, which was bound to happen.

So when I finally bid my father goodnight, assuring him I would take care, I kept that firmly in mind as I made my way through the hidden hallways toward her chamber. At least I kept that in mind until I caught her scent and inhaled sharply, sensing the worst, given our situation.

Stop now, I warned myself, trying to rally every bit of strength I could muster, but the closer I got, the more I knew I was in trouble. How else could it be when the worst thing possible just happened?

Aspen was in heat.