Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

A tavern in the village next to Castle MacMillan. Present day…

The tavern was full of boisterous noise, but none of the group seemed to mind. A week before Effie and Edan's wedding, they were spending some time away from the castle to enjoy a drink and a little fun.

Caitlyn sat beside Effie, listening to the conversation she was having with their cousin, Kieran. The son of their father's brother, Kieran was strong and mighty. His arms and body were covered in tattoos, reminders of the battles he had fought and won. His hair was long and blonde, and his eyes were gray.

His parents had been slaughtered when Kieran was only a boy of seven. Her father had taken him in, and he had grown up with them, more like an older brother than a cousin. As the war leader of Clan MacMillan, Kieran was trying to explain why her father was concerned about Effie's upcoming wedding.

"Ye have tae understand, Effie," Kieran said, sitting straight in his chair, and wearing the same serious expression that donned his face on most days. "Yer faither worries fer yer safety and the safety o' the clan."

"It's a wedding, Kieran. Nae a battle," Effie defended.

"Aye. A wedding where anyone could infiltrate the castle posing as one o' the MacLachlan's."

Effie was not convinced. "Och, ye're being ridiculous."

"He has a point, Effie," Edan interjected. Edan and Darach sat across the table, listening with interest. "Yer faither's only doing what he thinks is best. Laird MacTavish has caused nae end o' trouble so far. Dinnae be so na?ve tae imagine, after all he's put yer clan through, that he'll nae try tae ruin this union."

The wedding had already been put off for far too long. Edan had been made to attend to some business connected to his extended family, forcing him to travel to Spain. He had been gone for nearly eleven months. Laird Brendan MacTavish had upped his advances, determined to take over the MacMillan Clan, and this union was, in part, a way to deter the greedy laird. When the MacMillan and MacLachlan clans joined forces, they would be a formidable opponent.

"Fine. Well, ye can choose tae think o' all the things that might go wrong." Effie tilted her chin defiantly. "I, on the other hand, came here tae have some fun. Can we nae dae that instead?"

While Caitlyn was the more serious of the sisters, Effie enjoyed having fun and did not take life too seriously. As beautiful as her sister was, with her long dark hair, and thick eyelashes that fluttered around deep blue eyes, Effie's reputation for getting herself into trouble was only surpassed by her kindness, and her willingness to help another in need.

"I agree," Caitlyn said. "We can have such doom and gloom while sitting at home in the castle."

"The lasses are right," Edan declared, jumping up from his chair. "We're meant tae be having a good time. Right. ‘Tis me round." Edan turned and headed for more drinks, leaving the other four to continue the conversation.

"Yer faither is only trying tae be practical, Effie," Darach said.

"Darach!" Effie and Caitlyn cried at the same time.

Kieran chuckled at their indignation, and turning to Darach, he lifted an eyebrow. "Maybe ‘tis time we changed the subject, me friend."

Darach gave a dismissive shrug and lifted his tankard from the knotted and stained wooden table. He was both taller and broader than his older brother, but far more serious. His dark intelligent eyes betrayed the fact that his mind never stopped working, and for as long as Caitlyn could remember, he was always three steps ahead, which made playing chess with him a losing battle before it had even begun.

Edan returned with drinks for all. After placing down tankards of ale for the men, he gave Effie a glass of whisky, and with a broad smile, handed Caitlyn her glass. "And for the only one among us who doesnae drink, a glass o' elderberry."

Caitlyn rolled her eyes at his snide remark and took the glass. "Thank ye, Edan."

"Aye, thanks, braither," Darach said. His appreciation was mirrored by the others.

Lifting the glass to her lips, Caitlyn took a long draw. But as she went to swallow, a strange and potent taste hit the back of her throat, and Caitlyn found herself spitting the drink out all around her. Across the table, Edan fell into hysterical laughter, slamming his hand on the solid wood in delight.

"What the devil is wrong with ye?" Caitlyn screeched, glaring at Edan as he sat across from her. "What's in this?" She lifted the glass she still held in her hand.

"Och, I might have asked the barman tae add a wee dram o' whisky." He could barely speak through his laughter. "I thought it might bring ye down from yer high horse."

But Caitlyn did not find his antics funny at all. She never had, and that wasn't going to change any time soon. Pushing herself from her seat, she edged around the table. "Ye are a child, Edan MacLachlan. Naething but a child." She then turned and stormed away.

She didn't get too far before she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. When Caitlyn turned, Effie was stood there, looking apologetic. "Dinnae let him ruin the afternoon, Caitlyn. Ye ken what he's like."

"I dae," Caitlyn hissed back. "He's an idiot. I still dinnae ken what ye see in him."

"Please, Caitlyn. Dinnae fight with him. Our wedding is only a week away, and I cannae imagine a future with me sister and me husband at each other's throats. I ken ye dinnae hate him?—"

"Dinnae I?" Caitlyn glared back at her. "Yer betrothed acts like a child, even as a man o' nearly thirty years of age. I surely hope ye can knock some sense intae him when ye finally dae marry."

Effie dropped her gaze, and Caitlyn quickly realized that perhaps, she had gone a little too far. "I'm sorry, Effie. He just drives me mad," she growled. Taking a deep breath in, she tried to calm herself, and looking at her sister a little more gently, she continued. "I'm just away for some fresh air. I'll come back tae the table in a wee while."

"All right," Effie said with a nod.

Walking outside, Caitlyn could still hear music trickle out of the tavern. She didn't want to stray far, and turning the corner, she walked into the alley at the side of the stone building. Leaning on the wall, she took a deep breath in, still shaking with frustration.

Calm yersel', Caitlyn.

With the constant of her inner thoughts reminding her of all the tricks Edan had played on her over the years, it was far easier said than done. It was bewildering to believe that the same man was actually a laird over an entire clan. And yet, she had witnessed the strength and fairness of his rule herself. The MacLachlan Clan not only loved him, but they revered and respected him.

Aye, well. I'll bet he doesnae play silly tricks on those people.

The frustration was slowly waning, when Caitlyn felt a strange sensation creep across her skin. She looked about, but saw no one, although she felt like she was being watched. After Laird MacTavish's efforts these last six months, it was probably unwise for her to be out there alone. Pushing herself off the wall, she was about to return to the others, when a man turned the corner and drunkenly swayed towards her. Clearly, he had just left the tavern himself.

"I ken ye, dinnae I?" he said, struggling to form his words as he closed in. "I ken yer face."

He was at least her father's age, but the crevices of his skin betrayed a man who had spent more time in the ale house than anywhere else. White frizzy hair framed a grubby face, and black teeth, those that were left, jumped in and out of view as he spoke.

Caitlyn shook her head. "I'm afraid ye have me confused with another, sir. I dinnae ken ye at all." She side-stepped to try and get around him, but as drunk as he was, he matched her step, and blocked her path.

A stench of ale and old body odor reached her now that he was so close. It took all her strength and manners not to screw up her nose. Torn, stained clothes hung off his frame, and though he looked as thin as a whippet, he was tall.

"Och, ye dinnae have tae be running away, lass. I only want tae talk tae ye."

Seeing her escape blocked, Caitlyn backed up and found herself trapped. The alley was narrow, and with him in her way, she had nowhere to go.

"As I've told ye," Caitlyn continued, now trying to sound far more confident than she felt. "I dinnae ken ye. Now, let me by."

The drunkard continued with his approach, closing the gap between them. The stench of his odor made her gasp for air.

"What's yer hurry, lassie?" he sang, a smirk dancing on his lips.

There was no one else about, and Caitlyn now regretted leaving the others and putting herself in such a stupid position. Trying to remember the things Kieran had told her about protecting herself, she forced a smile to her lips.

"Disarm them first, Caitlyn. With that beautiful smile, it willnae be hard."

Seeing the closeness of the man, she then planted her two feet firmly on the ground. She pictured Kieran standing in front of her, telling her exactly what she should do.

"Now, ye lift yer two hands and grab his shoulders. Dae it tae me," Kieran had instructed, tapping his shoulders. Caitlyn had gripped Kieran's muscular shoulders, though her hands hardly covered their full size. "Good. Now, drive yer knee intae my groin as fast as ye can."

"I cannae dae that tae ye," Caitlyn had balked.

Kieran had placed his hands, one on top of the other and held them in front of himself for protection. "Dae it, Caitlyn. Dae it with all the force ye can muster."

"How about a little kiss, lassie," the old man crooned. He took another step forward. A thick tongue slipped out of his mouth and ran along his dry, cracked lips, as though he were about to eat.

Terror ran from the soles of Caitlyn's feet to the top of her head. She had to do it now, before this man lay a finger on her. She lifted her hands to grab his shoulders, when suddenly, the man spun around at great speed. By his expression, he was as surprised as Caitlyn, but his mouth dropped when he saw the dark face of Edan who now glared at him.

"What the hell dae ye think yer playing at?" he barked. "Get away from her before I give ye a bloody hiding." Edan shoved the man with such force, he nearly fell forwards, and like a rat, he scurried up the alley and turned the corner toward the tavern.

Edan then turned to her with a terrified expression. "Are ye all right, Caitlyn?" Did he hurt ye?"

Even though he had just saved her from what could have been a dreadful ordeal, Caitlyn could not help but feel frustration rising. She had been ready to save herself, and the fact that Edan did it before she got the chance, only irritated her further, for some strange reason. It was just a natural reaction after all the years of his constant harassment.

"Och, as if ye care how I am?" she hissed.

Edan stared at her as though he could hardly believe her words, but then, his face relaxed. With a steady gaze, he said, "I dinnae hate ye the way ye dae me, Caitlyn. Fer all my teasing, I would never wish any harm tae come tae ye. I care about ye. I'm surprised ye dinnae ken that by now. After all the years we've kent each other, ye dinnae really ken me at all."

"Aye, ye care fer me so much, ye broke off me engagement. Ye sent away the only man I ever cared about. In fact, ye threatened him tae the point that he left and never returned."

Edan frowned and looked confused. "What are ye talking about?"

Caitlyn's eyes flew wide. "Ye deny it?" she said incredulously. "Ye have just conveniently forgotten what ye did tae me and Aengus?"

At the mention of his name, Edan nodded. "Och, that."

"Aye, that. I've never forgiven ye fer that, Edan. And I never will. I dinnae care that ye're marrying me sister, or that ye'll soon become me brother-in-law. I willnae forgive ye. Ever."

Edan shook his head. "I ken ye dinnae understand, Caitlyn. But I didnae like the man. I assure ye, it was fer the best."

Maybe it was because she was still a little shook up from being accosted by a dirty drunkard, or maybe it was because she had thought far too many times of Edan's arrogance in what he had done, but something within her just snapped.

"It was never yer decision tae make," Caitlyn shrieked. "He was marrying me, nae ye. Neither ye nor me faither nor anyone else, fer that matter, had any right tae take that away from me. Ye've done naething but make me life hell from the day and hour I met ye. But ruining my childhood wasnae enough fer ye, was it, Edan? Ye continue tae interfere and make me life a misery even now."

While at first, Edan's eyes had widened at Caitlyn's attack, by the time she had finished, his eyebrows had knotted together as he scowled at her. Taking a step toward her, his face not an inch away from her own, he hissed, "There are many things ye dinnae ken, Caitlyn. ‘Tis best fer ye tae accept what happened as a good thing. Ye havenae any right tae speak tae me like this."

With the two of them clearly angry, neither of them seemed to know what to say for several minutes. Caitlyn tried to calm herself, and in that time of consideration, realized that the least she ought to do was show her appreciation for Edan's timely arrival.

"Fine," she said a little brusquely. "We should get back inside. And fer what it's worth, I thank ye fer what ye did."

Edan opened his mouth to answer, when a noise behind him caught their attention. Caitlyn imagined the drunk was back in hope that Edan had left her be. But as they both turned toward the sound, two huge men appeared out of the shadows. Grabbing Caitlyn, Edan shoved her behind him and stood protectively between her and the approaching men.

"What dae ye want?" Edan demanded.

But neither of the men replied, and without a word, the first launched his fists at Edan. While Edan defended himself and battled back, the other side-stepped the fight and grabbed Caitlyn by her arm. His thick fingers dug painfully into her soft skin. "Argh. Let me go," she screamed.

Edan fought with great strength, while Caitlyn, still trying to pull herself free, kicking and swiping at the man who held her captive, watched on in terror, praying that Edan could overpower the man he fought. While throwing heavy punches, Edan threw a glance back to see where Caitlyn was.

"It's all right, Caitlyn," he yelled breathlessly. "I'm going tae save ye in a minute."

Edan continued to battle, but the huge man he fought did not relent. He was several inches taller than Edan, though both men looked as strong.

"Let me go," Caitlyn screamed again.

Edan was struggling to fight off one man, there was no way he could battle two of them alone. If she could get someone in the tavern to hear her, they could fetch Kieran and Darach.

"Help! Somebody help us," she screeched.

Immediately, she felt a huge hand slam over her mouth. Her lips crashed into her teeth, and a second later, the coppery taste of blood sat on her tongue. His hand didn't stop her from trying. But she knew her muffled cries were useless.

"Get it done," her captor bellowed.

"He's fighting fer her," the other growled back. "I'll have tae kill him."

Caitlyn's eyes flew wide at those words. "Nnn," she screamed, though her cry was barely audible.

"Nae. He'll nae want that. We'll just have tae take them both."

"Fine."

Caitlyn's panic had reached epic proportions. Fear swirled with confusion about who these men were. Why were they attacking her and Edan? And, where were they taking them? She was still struggling against the immovable strength of the man who held her, when she felt a heavy, sharp pain at the back of her head. An overwhelming nauseous feeling came up from her stomach, her legs buckled beneath her, and everything around her seemed to blur.

Before she collapsed completely, she felt the strong arms of her captor around her body, halting her from hitting the ground. Thrown over his shoulder like she weighed nothing at all, her head lolled from side to side, and as the blackness edged in, the last thing she saw was Edan falling to the ground.