Enchanted Lover (6 page)

"Two brothers and a son," Kyle replied.

"And you, Tristan?"

"Three sons, Laird," Tristan answered.

"Ross?"

"My father and my brother, Laird."

Jared looked out over his clansmen. "The toll is
too great and for what? If we fight, it should be against the English dogs that
seek to rob Scotland of her freedom, not against each other. Lady Asilinn is
the key I shall use to unlock the chains of war and give us peace. Our children
will unite the clans of MacLean and Innes as one blood. Who of you will support
us?"

Ross began his cry of support. Soon all Jared's men
joined in. Tears sprung in Asilinn's eyes when she realized the full weight of
her purpose in being here. Much could be gained if this plan succeeded.

The cheering mob was interrupted when a black-haired
beauty flitted gracefully out of the main portal of the castle. The girl ran to
Jared, who pulled her up on Ailleagian and kissed her on the cheek.

"Skye, this is…."

"The Innes bitch," Skye blurted out.
"She'll kill you in your sleep."

Jared looked at Asilinn. "My sister, Skye."

Asilinn studied the girl who sat in Jared's lap
scowling at her. She had her brother's magnificent eyes. She was young, maybe
in her twelfth year. Her height made her appear older at first glance. Asilinn
arched her eyebrow and addressed the errant young girl.

"I take issue with your accusation. If I decide
your brother needs killing, I'll run him through while he's wide-awake. I dinna
hide my true feelings under cover of trickery and deceit," she said
coolly.

The girl's face darkened like threatening storm
clouds. Jared gave Skye a look silencing any further insolence. When he glanced
back at Asilinn, his gaze seemed to search for something deep within her, but
what?

"And will you be using your dirk, lass?"
Jared asked with a grin.

Asilinn's heart fluttered in her chest. The man knew
her every thought past and present. "I dinna have my dirk, Milord,"
she reminded him.

Jared ignored her jibe and turned his attention back
to Skye. "Have they seen to the new room arrangement?"

"Aye, it was near impossible to drag furniture
up those winding stairs, but Flanna has a bed prepared there. It will be all
you really need to start." Asilinn's face flushed. Skye’s eyes sparkled
mischievously.

"You are incorrigible, imp." Jared let his
sister slide gently to the ground. Jared dismounted and helped Asilinn down.
"Let me show you your new home." Jared guided Asilinn through the
massive, oak door.

They entered a huge hall that was obviously a
gathering place for the warriors. A large, stone fireplace blazed at one end of
the chamber taking the chill off the air. Jared led Asilinn up a winding staircase
to the main reception hall. As they walked in a young servant girl ran to offer
Asilinn a plate of bread in salt.

"Welcome to Dunbocan, Lady Asilinn," the
girl said. She held forth the traditional offering to newcomers.

Asilinn picked up a piece of the coarse, stone-ground
bread and dipped it in the salt, tasting the morsel. "Thank you," she
murmured.

Another servant arrived with mead as Jared guided
Asilinn into his main reception hall. Taking up a goblet, Asilinn drank a hefty
draught of the heady, honey-sweetened wine and felt it burn down through her.
Perhaps the fiery liquid would steel her for what lay ahead.

The chamber they were in was at least two stories
high, maybe three. It was much grander than her father's castle. A balcony ran
around the room allowing observation from the upper level. Tapestries decorated
the walls and high above the balcony hung a series of portraits.

Seeing where her gaze wandered, Jared smiled.
"My father was patron to several artists."

"Well worth their keep," Asilinn commented,
continuing her survey of the hall.

A heavy, walnut chair sat on a raised platform at one
end of the chamber. The intricate carvings on the back of the chair caught
Asilinn's attention. A muscular warrior was depicted slaying a dragon without benefit
of armor. Rather fitting for the Laird of Dunbocan, she thought, especially
after the incident on the trail.

A second more delicate chair sat to one side. It was
there Jared directed her to sit. She listened stoically while he gave orders
for the wedding preparations and feast. Many of Jared's clansmen had come into
the room with them and laughed heartily when he told the tale of Asilinn's
abduction. Determined not to show her fear, she forced herself to ignore their
spirited responses to his story.

In a short while, he would take her for his wife and…
and what? Rape her? A shiver of dread shot through her. Could she make herself
cooperate with him? Would he force her if she resisted? She had foreseen it
herself—in her dream, her naked body writhed beneath Jared while he made her
his. Asilinn closed her eyes trying to maintain her composure.

One thing was sure. It was too late for some magical
reprieve. Even if her father was right behind them, he could never storm the
walls of this fortress before Laird Jared MacLean put his plan into action.

A thin man with stringy, dark hair entered the hall.
"You did not rush to greet us, Osred. Is all in readiness?"

The man looked into Jared's eyes then cast his eyes
down submissively. "Aye, Milord," he murmured.

Jared seemed annoyed by the man's presence.
"Lady Asilinn, I present Osred, counselor to the MacLean clan. He advised
against our upcoming nuptials but he has been overruled." Osred's dark
eyes flashed with a brief hint of fire before he bowed to his laird and
Asilinn.

"Milady," he said with a smooth nod.
"I hope your stay here will be pleasant.” Addressing Jared, he continued.
"Laird, please forgive my doubts. Lady Asilinn is surely the fairest
creature in all Christendom. I now see why you had to have her for your wife.
Friar Hogan will perform the ceremony as you requested."

Jared's eyes blazed at Osred's remark. "If Lady
Asilinn was the ugliest hag in all of Scotland this marriage would still be
taking place. This is not a union of lust, though since I've met my betrothed I
must admit to a fierce attraction." There was a brief ripple of laughter.
Jared silenced it with a single glance. "This is a union of clans that
transcends any one man's desire. Do not belittle it by suggesting it is a fanciful
whim!"

"I apologize, Milord, if I have offended you
with my careless tongue." Osred stiffened.

Jared stood up rather abruptly and offered Asilinn
his arm. She rose and took it, still determined not to show her trepidation.
When they had cleared the hall, Jared let out his breath in one long sigh. He
looked down at her and gave her a smile while his free hand lightly caressed
her cheek.

"I pray I'm doing the right thing. I wish no
harm to come to you, yet I have brought you to a pit of vipers." He moved
his arm around her back and guided her up a wide staircase to the balcony. An
attractive, russet-haired woman came out of a room nearby. She rushed to Jared,
threw her arms around him, and kissed him on the mouth.

"Welcome home, Milord." She pressed herself
to his chest. "Will you have need of me this evening after you have
initiated your virgin bride?"

Jared pushed her from him. "Glenna, I have no
need of your services."

Asilinn bristled. "Mayhaps you should keep your
whore, Milord. Your bride has no desire to share your bed. Seek your pleasures
elsewhere."

Jared's teeth clenched giving his jaw a tremor that
made him look so fierce Asilinn shivered. He jerked her into his arms and
pressed his lips to hers, insistently seeking entrance to the warm well of her
mouth with his tongue—her lips gave way. His entry was swift and sure. He
suddenly gentled his kiss, lingering with soft strokes of exploration.

Asilinn was rocked by the sheer sensation of his
assault on her senses. Her struggle ceased as her body reeled in the magic of
what he was doing to her. When he eased his tongue out of her mouth and ended
the scorching kiss, she leaned heavily against him flushed from head to toe and
barely able to catch her breath.

Jared turned his gaze to Glenna. "I'm sure I
will not find my wife lacking in any way. Sometimes innocence is preferable to
the well-traveled path." Glenna spun around and strode back into her room.

Asilinn could hear his heart thundering beneath her
ear as he held her and softly stroked her hair. "What spell have you cast
over me, sweet Asilinn that I feel so much from so little?"

"I dinna understand your question, Milord."

"You will."

Without another word, he released her and took her up
the narrow, winding stairs into the tower. Pushing open the door, he led her
inside.

There was a stone fireplace in the center of the
large square chamber. It was open on two sides allowing the heat to warm the
space more efficiently. The chamber had been thoroughly cleaned. It had a
thick, woven rug on floor. Pine boughs and lavender were placed around the room
to freshen the air. In one corner, there was a huge, curtained bed. There was
little other furniture save a heavy-looking desk and chair. Colorful tapestries
hung on the walls.

Jared walked over to the bed and carefully inspected
it. He turned to her. "I've moved our chamber to the tower in order to
feel more assured of your safety." He took her hand and led her to one of
the tapestries. Pulling it back, he showed her a secret door hidden in the
wall. "This leads down to a series of tunnels beneath the castle. No one
else knows of it save Skye and she would never reveal its existence."

"Why do you show me this, Milord?"

"The tower is the safest bastion in the entire
castle." He studied her expression as she caught his meaning.

"You expect further attempts on my life?"
Her voice quavered involuntarily.

“If I am not here and you fear for your safety, go
through the secret door and hide in the small room on the other side. You can
bolt it from within.”

"Please, Milord. It is not too late to release
me from this fate. I beg you reconsider."

"I did not think things would be this difficult.
I'm sorry it will be hard for you, but there is no turning back." He swept
his arm to display the room. "Do what you will with our chamber. The furniture
here shall remain. Anything you wish to add from other rooms in the castle or
have made is welcome." His eyes swept over her hungrily. "This will
be our chamber as man and wife," he added in a seductive whisper.

She dropped her eyes from his burning gaze feeling
naked under his perusal. "I know nothing of men," Asilinn said.

“An asset in a bride.” He brushed an errant curl from
her face. “I'll teach you what you need to know."

Once again, her vivid dream ran before her eyes and
she struggled to keep tears from falling. “I cannot….” Her voice broke and she
choked back a sob.

“Dinna be afraid, Asilinn. I wilna hurt you if you
cooperate."

Jared turned to go. "I'll send Wynne to help you
prepare. Wear your colors over the gown." With that, he left her alone in
the huge chamber.

Asilinn slumped into the chair and wept.

By the time Wynne appeared at her door, Asilinn had
composed herself. Her wedding would occur within the hour and she was
determined not to present a fearful, tear-streaked face.

Despite Asilinn's best efforts to hide her feelings;
she knew the servant saw her strained demeanor. To Wynne's credit, she did not
comment upon it. Instead, she began working over Asilinn's shining tresses. She
covered them with a sheer veil held in place by a jewel-encrusted headdress.
The cap fit over the crown of the head in a loose chain arrangement with
precious stones dangling from its ends.

"Skye told me this was her mother's and Laird
Jared wishes you to wear it for your weddin'," Wynne explained while she
labored to make everything perfect.

"It would appear Laird Jared gets whatever he
wants." The older woman stopped what she was doing and looked at Asilinn.

"Another man would have raped you on the road to
insure his plan. I wonder if you are worthy of his affections."

"His affections?” Asilinn bolted from her seat
and whirled to face the woman. "I am no more than an alliance to him. I
sat while he and his men laughed over how easily he succeeded in kidnapping me.
They scorn my father with their insults! I'll never go willingly to the Laird
of Dunbocan!"

Wynne went rigid then relaxed her stance with a slow
grin. "My lord will tame you like he did the dread black beastie he now
rides. Tonight he'll wipe away your innocence. You will be his until he decides
he does not want you anymore." She pointed her finger at Asilinn's chest.
"Laird Jared will have you for his wife with his babies at yer breasties.
Better to be goin' along, Milady."

"I wilna be his. And if he chooses to force the
issue tonight, he'll have a fight on his hands. I cannot win, but he'll be
punished in taking his pleasure." Wynne started to laugh. "You find
humor in this?"

Wynne leaned against the desk and tried to recover
from her mirth. "Laird Jared has a reputation with the ladies. After one
night with my laird, you will be eager to do his biddin', especially in his
bed."

Asilinn’s fists knotted until her knuckles turned
white. "Aye," she grated through clenched teeth. "I had the
pleasure of meeting one of his paramours this morning. I'll pray he finds me
lacking and chooses to seek her out in my stead." Wynne just smiled.

“I’m afraid that won’t suit my purpose, Lady
Asilinn.”

Asilinn whirled around to find the King of Scotland
lounging in the open doorway. How long had he been listening? She gave a quick
curtsey. “Highness.”

King Robert the Bruce was studying her now, his dark
eyes intense in their perusal. “You’ve grown up, Asilinn.”