Page 4 of Highland Heroine (Brides of the Highlands #3)

L eaves crunched underfoot as Moira led Brodie away from the keep, her red hair escaping her braid as if it had a mind of its own. They walked through the field where the battle had taken place, arriving at a clearing, surrounded by ancient pines.

“Here,” Moira whispered, stepping into the open space. She looked around for the enemy and realized Brodie was doing the same.

Finally, Brodie nodded. “Aye, perfect for quiet.”

“Quiet isn’t what I need!” Moira exclaimed, pacing with pent-up frustration. “I should be training alongside our clans!” How could he not understand her need to be part of the defense?

She clenched her fists, tensing up with duty instilled by her family and McAfee lineage.

Brodie stepped closer, offering silent support. “Ye are a warrior, Moira. Yer family knows this—’tis the enemy who should fear being unaware. Ye’ve trained for years to become as strong a swordswoman as ye are. No one thinks ye are less than what ye are.”

His words sought to ease her worries without dismissing them, grounding her in the face of uncertainty.

“What use is a warrior who can’t wield her sword when it matters most?” Moira asked, seeking solace in his gaze. Surely, he would understand that as a warrior himself.

“When the time is right, yer little band of warriors will attack again. Strength lies in knowing when to draw your blade and when to wait. Ye did good at the last battle by taking the Stewart’s army unawares.

” Brodie replied, closing the gap between them.

“If ye try the same thing again, it will be expected. Yer time will come. And when it does, nothing will be able to stand against ye.”

“I’ve not always been certain of me place in this world,” he admitted quietly, the words weaving a new layer into their bond. “I’m the son of a laird, but I’m the third son, and only the seventh son will inherit. I need to make me own way.”

Moira watched him and saw something raw and unguarded in his eyes, a side of Brodie few had seen.

“Growing up among brothers who wielded claymores effortlessly, I fought with them, but I always felt that I wasn’t strong enough,” he said, bending a fallen twig. “It took years to discover different kinds of strength.”

Moira had a hard time believing anyone could beat this man. He was like a rock, carved from a Highland mountain. “Is that why ye lurk in shadows, McClain?” Moira teased, but her heart filled with respect for him.

“Perhaps I know when to bide me time,” Brodie replied with a half-smile before stepping closer. “And you? Are ye an eagle, ready to swoop down on your prey?”

“A wolf,” she said boldly. “Loyal to her pack and ready to defend it.” As she grinned at Brodie, she was struck by his handsomeness. Perhaps that was why she was drawn to him so completely.

“A fine match we make—a serpent and a wolf,” Brodie chuckled.

“But the serpent must be swift to keep pace,” Moira challenged.

“You underestimate the cunning of the serpent,” he retorted playfully. “He may surprise ye with his speed.” His arm moved quickly, pulling her to him and looking down at her.

All at once there was nothing in Moira’s world but Brodie.

His eyes, dark and intense, held her gaze captive. In that moment, the world fell away, and all that existed was the space between them, charged with an electric current that set Moira’s heart racing.

Brodie’s hand, calloused from years of wielding a sword, gently cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing the delicate line of her jaw. Moira’s breath caught in her throat as he leaned in closer, his forehead resting against hers.

“Moira,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. “I’ve fought it for so long, but I can no longer deny what me heart desires.”

She trembled in his embrace, her own feelings threatening to overwhelm her. “Brodie, I…”

He laid a gentle finger across her lips, silencing her for just a moment. Then he lowered his head and brushed his lips lightly across hers before finally just leaning in and capturing her mouth with his.

Moira melted into Brodie’s kiss, her lips parting beneath his as a soft moan escaped her throat. His strong arms encircled her, pulling her flush against his hard body as the kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more demanding.

Moira threaded her fingers through Brodie’s thick, dark hair, holding him to her as if she feared he might disappear like a figment of her imagination.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Brodie rested his forehead against hers once more, his eyes closed as he savored the feel of her in his arms at last. “I have wanted to do that for so long,” he murmured roughly. “But I never dared hope…”

“I never dared hope either,” Moira whispered, her voice trembling with the depth of her feelings. “I thought me duty to the clan would always keep us apart.”

Brodie’s hand slid down to the small of her back, holding her close as if he couldn’t bear even an inch of space between them. “I would have waited forever for you, Moira.”

Moira’s heart soared at his words, a joyful laugh bubbling up from her throat. “And I’d have waited for you. We’ve wasted too much time denying ourselves.”

She leaned up and captured his lips once more, the kiss filled with promise and a newfound sense of freedom.

The troubles of the clans, the machinations of their enemies, all faded away. In this moment, nothing existed beyond the circle of their embrace, the mingling of their breaths, the racing of their hearts.

When they parted once more, Moira gazed up at Brodie, her eyes shining. This day hadn’t turned out as expected, but she was thrilled.

He took her hand in his, raising it to his lips to press a fervent kiss against her knuckles. In that fleeting moment, the weight of impending battle lifted as they found solace in shared laughter in the middle of the Highlands’ wilderness.

The wind carried the scent of pine and earth as Moira led Brodie deeper into the forest. Their footsteps softened by the moss-covered ground.

“I was raised among warriors,” Moira began, her voice steady. “My da’ never treated me any differently than the other warriors. It’s only been since we’ve been full-grown that he’s worried about our safety.

“Granny was just as fierce,” she continued, touching the rough bark of a tree. “She taught me to be strong, like the oak.”

“You carry their strength within you,” Brodie replied, admiration in his tone.

“Sometimes, I wonder if it’s enough.” Her gaze met his, searching. “The world outside doesn’t always value what we McAfees hold dear.”

“Then let them be blind,” Brodie said firmly. “You’ve no need to prove yourself to those who cannot see.”

Moira unsheathed her sword—a sleek blade that gleamed silver against the green backdrop.

“Come now, let’s see how well ye handle that sword, McClain,” she challenged, her tone shifting to playful competitiveness.

He had helped her to hone her skills, and she had beaten him at sword fighting at the last Highland Games.

Of course, she’d beaten everyone at the last Highland Games, thanks to his help.

“Are ye asking for a dance or a duel?” Brodie asked, drawing his own weapon with fluid grace.

“Perhaps a bit of both,” she teased, assuming a fighting stance that was elegant and formidable.

They circled each other before striking. Their swords sang as they collided, echoing through the trees. They moved together, building trust and understanding between them.

“Ye’re holding back,” Moira accused lightly.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Brodie countered with a grin. “Just enjoying the view.”

They broke apart, panting and laughing. There was shared exhilaration in their eyes and recognition of each other’s skill and camaraderie forming with each clash of steel.

“Ye fight with the heart of a lioness,” Brodie admitted, lowering his sword.

“And ye, Brodie McClain, have the stealth of the serpent ye claim to be,” Moira responded, her smile softening.

Moira paused on a moss-covered stone, catching her breath. The crisp Highland air stung her lungs, but it felt refreshing.

“Tell me, Brodie,” she asked, “what dreams do ye have for the future?”

Brodie leaned his sword against a tree and joined her. “I dream of peace,” he said sincerely. “And ye, Moira?”

“I wish to be judged only by me courage and skill as a warrior,” Moira replied.

Their conversation flowed naturally, discussing childhood escapades and hopes for clan unity. Each word strengthened their bond—a future where McAfee and McClain stood united as kin.

“Yet,” Moira confided, “I fear I’ll never be seen as more than a girl playing at war.”

Brodie turned to her. “Moira, yer mettle outshines many who call themselves warriors. Don’t let others’ views blind ye to the respect ye’ve earned.”

“Thank ye, Brodie,” she said with a warm smile. “For seeing the warrior in me when others may not.”

“Always. Now, shall we?” He gestured to their swords.

Together, they returned to training, now infused with a deeper understanding—an unbreakable bond forged in steel and solidarity.

After their training session, Moira sat on a rock and felt the sun bearing down on her. It was almost winter, but the sun still warmed her. She leaned back, fiery hair cascading over rough bark.

“Peaceful,” Brodie whispered.

“A rare thing.” Moira sighed, eyes lingering on the glistening water. “Especially with another battle looming.”

“Perhaps moments like this remind us what we’re fighting for,” he said, dappled sunlight playing in his gaze.

“It’s possible,” she replied, her eyes connecting with his.

Brodie produced a handmade necklace from his pouch—a braided leather cord supporting a wooden pendant carved with interlaced swords and a shield symbolizing unity and protection.

“Ye made this?” Moira asked, voice filled with admiration.

“With me own hands,” he confirmed proudly. “I hope it brings ye protection.”

She draped the necklace around her neck, sensing its significance. Expressing gratitude, she met his tender stare, feeling an unspoken connection deepen between them.

Moira fastened the necklace, the wind carrying distant sounds to their Highland sanctuary. In silence, their bond deepened amidst nature’s serenity.

As the pendant’s warmth mixed with the Highland breeze, Moira turned toward Brodie. Their gazes locked, and time seemed to pause.

“Moira,” he whispered. He reached out, tucking a curl behind her ear, his touch sparking a flame within her.

Leaning into his caress, she felt his hand trace her jaw before resting at her neck. The air between them crackled, charged with pent-up passion.

“Our siblings have married one another. I would like to court ye. Not because they’ve married but because I feel that we are meant to be,” he murmured, truth reflected in his deep brown eyes.

Driven by fierce determination, Moira closed the gap between them. Their lips met in an intense kiss that swept them up like a crashing wave. She tasted highland mist and sun warmth on his skin as their bodies melded together.

When they finally parted and reality returned, they faced their situation—two warriors from different clans bound by duty yet connected by powerful love.

“Moira,” Brodie said firmly, “whatever may come, I pledge myself to ye.”

Pride and resolve filled her chest. “And I vow to ye, Brodie, that naught will tear me from yer side. In battle or in peace, we are one.”

“Side by side,” she echoed.

“Until the end,” he affirmed.

As dusk set in, Moira and Brodie found comfort in the wilderness surrounding them. “Standing on the precipice of another fierce battle, yet all I can see is ye,” Moira whispered.

Brodie’s thumb traced circles on her hand. “And I can’t imagine standing here without ye, Moira. Ye’ve given me hope where there was only strategy and survival.”

Their eyes locked, and for an instant, the world around them stilled.

“Ye know we must return soon,” Brodie said softly.

“Aye,” she replied with a nod. “But for now, let us just be Moira and Brodie—just two souls intertwined by fate.”

He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her in a tender embrace. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.

“Whatever tomorrow brings,” Moira murmured against his tunic, “I will carry this moment with me.”

“And I will carry it as a guiding light,” Brodie replied, his breath warm against her ear.

They stood together in silence, sharing resolve and mutual understanding. As nightfall enveloped the land, they reluctantly loosened their embrace. Their hands lingered upon each other before exchanging a look that conveyed unity.

“Come,” Brodie said, offering a small confident smile. “Let us return to face what may come, knowing that together, we are unstoppable.”

Moira nodded. She didn’t want to return and give up her private time with him, but she knew he was right. Hand in hand, they walked back toward their clans and toward a future of both peril and promise.