Forbidden (43 page)

Catalin sighed. “Twins, for certes. You will
have three to spoil now.”

“Da?” Gregory wriggled his little fingers at
Ranald, demanding he come to him.

“Aye, Little Man?” Ranald chuckled, swung
Gregory up in his arms to the child’s favorite spot—cheek to
cheek—and hugged him close. Gregory liked nothing better than to
kiss his father’s cheek. His scarred cheek, for he would grab the
braid at his temple and place drooling kisses over every scar.
“Have ye told Granda all yer secrets? Hm?”

Ranald could not believe the change in his
father since the siege of Hunter Castle. They spent most of the
year at Hunter, but every third month they returned to Raptor for a
fortnight. Though father and son still clashed wills, Chief Broccin
held his temper in check when Gregory was about.

Hearing horses clattering over the
cobblestones of Hunter Castle’s barbican, they looked toward the
castle entrance.

“Ah, mayhap the scouts have word of Raik.”
Ranald kissed Gregory’s soft curls and handed him to Catalin.

o0o

Catalin watched Ranald and his sire hurry to
the courtyard, while she and Gregory followed at a leisurely pace.
Pray God they would hear good news about Raik, for no one had seen
him for over a month. Why must men play such dangerous games? That
is what it was when they crossed the borders and dared to raid each
other’s cattle.

This time, she feared the game had turned
sour.

In his last foray, Ranald had received word
his cousin was wounded. His three companions lost track of him in
the dark, for they only did such foolishness during the darkest
phase of the moon. They had not seen him ride away, but they could
not find him after the raid. What puzzled her was Raik most often
preferred to raid the de Burgh’s. Yet when Catalin sent a message
to Letia, she replied she’d not seen Raik.

Mayhap the men today knew. Hearing shouts,
she held her hand up to shield her eyes, for the castle’s entrance
faced the sun. Her face spread in a wide smile. Though the man
getting off his horse moved stiffly, there was no mistaking
Raik.

Catalin hugged Gregory close and hurried
across the courtyard, anxious to learn of Raik’s adventures...

-o0o-

THE NEXT INTRIGUING ROMANCE
IN

Sophia Johnson’s Raptor Castle
Series

Each tale in the series has an unusual and
exciting plot that will surprise you.

Book 2.
Seduced
–
Find out what
sexy
adventures kept Raik behind locked
doors!

Book 3
.
Ruthless
–
When a Highlander determined to honor his oath discovers Muriele,
not even Ranald can protect her from Magnus. An
intense
cat and mouse game.

Book 4
.
Surrender
–
Elyne has to admit Ranald warned her that spying on naked warriors
would some day be her undoing. Her downfall is Graemme, Magnus’
younger brother!
Sensual and humorous.

Visit me at
www.sophiajohnson.net
to
read more about each intriguing tale.

In loving memory of my Dad, Albert Edward Johnson,
Sr.,

who introduced me to Alexandre Dumas.

Reading The Man in the Iron Mask,

The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three
Musketeers

primed my imagination for historical romance.

If he was with me today, he would argue they

weren’t romances, and rightly so.

But to me, they were historical

romances in a grand way.

Many thanks to Lori Devoti and the rest of
the Debitudes (the original Kensington debut authors) for their
encouragement and help in showing me how to break into epublishing,
and to the Nuts of the Round Table, my critique partners.

Thank you Delle Jacobs for your patience in
designing a cover that will carry through with the Raptor Castle
Series.

I very much appreciate and thank Jessica
Trapp for her review and edit of
Forbidden
. Her time away
from her own writing was a gift of kindness

Dear Readers,

I started Book 1 of the Raptor Castle Series
with an unusual hero — a monk forced from his abbey to sire
children. You can’t get a story more original than that, can
you?

Ack! Don’t suck your teeth. It really did
happen. I’ve always been fascinated with the clan Macpherson and
its motto: Touch not the cat bot (without) a glove.

During the reign of David the First,
Gillicattan, a significant figure, became captain of the clan
Chattan. He sired two sons.

When he passed away, his eldest son took over
but died without issue. Gillicattan’s second son, Murdoch was the
Abbot of Kingussie in Badenoch.

The duty of leading the clan devolved to
Murdoch. After obtaining a dispensation from the Pope, the Abbot
became head of his family and captain of the clan Chattan. He
married a daughter of the thane of Cawdor and sired five sons.

The modern name Macpherson literally means
son of the parson.

o0o

As in the Blackthorn Trilogy, please keep in
mind that it is not always possible to use only words appropriate
to the time. Also, Raptor Castle was quite close to the border. I
kept the dialect down to few characters. Ranald and Broccin
(Scottish) would not speak like Catalin and Letia (Northumbria), so
you will find differences in speech patterns for them and for other
characters.

Relax and let your imagination take you into
this tale of love through the ages.

Sincerely,

Sophia

SOPHIA JOHNSON is well versed in the medieval
period and supports her research with lengthy trips to Great
Britain. As a child in Key West, she would sit beneath a coconut
tree and daydream while she listened to the sound of the waves and
enjoyed the briny smell of the ocean. She wondered what life would
be like if she awoke one morn to find she had traveled back through
the centuries?

Her parents were avid readers and passed on
to their children their love of reading about far away places.
Throughout her life, Sophia always had her nose in a book when she
had free time. One day, her daughter and son-in-law came to visit
and brought in a computer.

When she asked what they were doing, they
told her, “We want you to stop reading and start writing your own
stories.”

So she did!

Her Tag Line is “Love Through the Ages,” the
theme of her novels.

www.sophiajohnson.net

Winner Laurel Wreath Award; Winner of 2nd
place in More Than Magic & Beacon Awards; Finalist in Golden
Quill Awards.

“TOP PICK! Phenomenal!!...touched me in a way
that no other book ever has. It is a heart stopping and surreal
story that had my imagination taking flight.
Always Mine
was written by a woman who obviously knows her romance and has
exactly what it takes to melt her reader’s hearts and remind them
what true love is all about.”

—Romance Readers at Heart

“5 Hearts! Sophia Johnson continues to amaze
me with her writing and intense story telling…
Always Mine
is not a novel that is a light read; it is a very emotional
well-rounded loved story that will warm the toughest and doubtful
romantics…She keeps me riveted and enthralled, counting the days
until her next novel.”

—Mystic Castle Historical Romance Society

“4.5 Red Roses! …
Always Mine
delves
into the deep rooted passion of two souls who love each other so
completely it goes beyond the physical realm…sparks fly between the
21st century Brianna/Lydia and the medieval warrior Damron.
Damron’s befuddlement at Brianna’s odd words that he knows are
meant to demean him is hilarious! Time travel fans don’t miss
Always Mine
!”

—A Romance Review

Finalist Colorado Award of Excellence.

“A heart-stopping love story wrapped in an
enchanting mythic legend.”

—Virginia Henley

“TOP PICK! Sophia Johnson writes the perfect
book with just the right balance of all the elements that make a
romance what it is. Sassy, smart, charming and overflowing with
sexual tension and good old fashioned humor…”

—Romance Reader at Heart

“5 Stars! I can’t resist Ms. Johnson because
I know I’ll not be reading another cookie cutter historical
romance… (Her) ability to successfully distinguish each book in the
Blackthorn trilogy but link the three together keeps the trilogy
refreshing…
Midnight’s Bride
is tenderly romantic,
hysterically funny and deeply passionate. A delightful read in
every way, the Blackthorn Trilogy is terrific!

—Joyfully Reviewed

“5 Stars! Ms. Johnson’s witty dialog provides
some very amusing reading, so much so that I lost myself in the
tale…then there is the smoldering passion waiting to be unleashed
in the ruggedly handsome Mereck; every woman’s fantasy. Each of the
Blackthorn books have a different temperament governed by its
marvelous characters; which causes me to eagerly await more
delightfully delicious stories…”

—Donna Zapf from Single Titles

Finalist Holt Medallion and the Maggie
Awards

“Very Intense…”

—New York Times Bestselling Author Susan
Johnson

“4 Stars!
Risk Everything
has every
element of a classis Johanna Lindsey: biting repartee, steamy
sexual tension, a bold heroine and powerful hero and a rugged
backdrop that suits the characters and their story. Johnson knows
how to spin a tale that entertains and engages..

—Romantic Times

“TOP PICK! Sophia Johnson really knows how to
tell a story. There is Depth and intrigue, a wonderful plot, and a
beautiful love that took my breath away…had me wishing that it
would never end, and left me gladly awaiting for the release of
Sophia Johnson’s next book.”

—Romance Readers at Heart

“5 Stars! One of the very best Historical
Romances I have ever read. I cringe at the thought of anyone
missing out on this book…It has strong characters full of honor and
dignity. Lots of action, adventure, romance, and betrayal…(it) will
grab your attention on the first page and never let go, reach for
this title.”

—Huntress Review