My Tempting Highlander (Highland Hearts #3) (16 page)

Granny rushed forward, steadying Mairi as she helped her through the doors and over to a bench waiting in the entryway. “Sit here. I’ll have one of the lads fetch you some water and an oatcake. How long has it been since you’ve eaten?” Granny flicked her hand at a wide-eyed serving boy waiting just past the arch. He immediately bobbed his head and took off at a dead run.

Mairi pressed shaking fingers to her forehead, leaned forward, and closed her eyes. “Too long. I didn’t eat before the jump because I was too pissed off at Ronan.” Mairi sucked in deep breaths and put her head between her knees. She knew better than to go so long without food. She’d learned that lesson back in college. But food just never seemed that important. It was simply an annoying necessity that took entirely too much time.

Granny chuckled as she accepted a metal tankard from the lad and held it down in front of Mairi. “And why were you angry with Ronan? Judging from the look in the man’s eyes, he’s clearly smitten with you.”

Mairi sipped at the cool water, pleasantly surprised at the refreshing sweetness. She knew Scotland had the purest spring water in creation, but the water of the past tasted even better than that of the future. “Ronan wasn’t honest with me the first time we met.”

“You’re saying he lied to you?” Granny seemed surprised as she slowly lowered herself to the bench beside Mairi. “I find that…interesting.”

Mairi wrapped both hands around the cool metal cup and took another sip. “No. He didn’t really lie. It was more like he just didn’t tell me everything he knew. He led me to believe he was from the future instead of telling me straight off about the curse and the fact that it was the real reason he came from the past to get me.”

“I see.” Granny rubbed one hand across Mairi’s shoulders and urged her to take another drink. “Lie by omission. So that’s Ronan’s only sin against you?”

Mairi straightened, studying Granny closer. What was Granny getting at? A chilling shiver stole across her. The atmosphere of the entryway hall suddenly felt…off. “Yes. Lie by omission. But now he’s finally fessed up and everything’s all straight between us. No more secrets.” Mairi finished off the water, savoring the last of the cool sweetness. “Now all I have to do is heal his mother and his friend. The curse will be broken. All will be good between the Sinclairs and the Fates, and I will have fulfilled my destiny and be free to go on my merry way.” Perhaps she was being a bit overly flippant, but the present situation seemed a lot more palatable when listed in such simple terms.

Granny’s thin gray brows ratcheted up to her silver hairline. “Really? You’re certain of all this?”

“What are you getting at?” Mairi leaned back against the stuffed tapestry cushioning the detailed carvings along the back of the dark wooden bench. Whenever Granny said
really
that way, it usually meant she knew a hell of a lot more than she was letting on.

“Nothing.” Granny smoothed her hands along either side of her head then patted the heavy gray braid knotted into a neat bun at the nape of her neck. She rose from the bench and smiled down at Mairi. “After you’ve both eaten and had time to rest, we’ll send Ronan to fetch his mother and Graham and get on with the ceremony.”

“Fetch his mother and Graham?” Mairi steadied the empty pewter cup on the bench beside her. “And what ceremony? Is there some ritual or something I have to do to break the curse?” She didn’t like Granny’s tone and she liked the wicked glint in her eyes even less.

“You said you came here to heal Ronan’s mother and his friend and to break the curse.”

Mairi nodded. “And it’s my understanding from Ronan that both of them were staying here until he returned with me.”

“Oh no, gal.” Granny shook her head as she held out a hand to help Mairi up. “Graham was never able to leave Draegonmare, and his mother returned as soon as Ronan left. She didn’t feel at ease with Ronan not here.”

“Didn’t feel at ease?” Mairi waved Granny’s hand away as she stood. How the hell was she going to get back to the future in just a day or two if Ronan had to travel halfway across Scotland to gather up the necessary participants for this increasingly more complicated task?

Granny spared her an irritated look and motioned her around the corner through the arch into the great hall of the keep. Mairi paused just beyond the archway. Her jaw dropped at the vastness of the room.

A massive fireplace took up one entire stone wall. The dark gray slate of the hearth was so wide that logs in excess of four feet long could easily be fed to the flames. The floor of the hall was lighter gray slabs of stone covered with a thin layer of pale dried rushes. A raised dais at one end of the long room held a heavy table stained dark from years of use. The intricately carved spindles topping the chairs lined behind the table clearly denoted the spot as the chieftain’s place and the seats meant for his honored guests. A colorful tartan with an embroidered crest created a regal backdrop for the head table.

Mairi moved deeper into the room, noting the narrow trestle tables and benches running the length of the space. These seats were strategically placed along either side of the room so the chieftain could easily see all who sat before him.

Arched doorways interrupted the carefully aligned chiseled blocks fitted together to set the great meeting hall off from the other rooms of the keep. Mairi’s gaze traveled upward to the heavy beams stretching in neat rows across the vaulted ceiling. Stained black from years of smoky fires, the roughly squared poles resembled dark rib bones from some strange prehistoric beast.

“This place is impressive,” Mairi murmured as she slowly turned and took in the grandeur of the hall. She knew what Granny was doing. The sly old woman excelled at changing the subject when the conversation didn’t go her way.

“Now tell me again why Ronan’s mother left? Surely she knew I’d be here soon. And I thought she was sick. People don’t travel when they’re
gravely ill.
” What the hell was going on? Why was it so damn hard for people around here to tell the truth—the
whole
truth? Mairi clenched her teeth and did her level best to maintain control. She couldn’t let weariness and the strange sense of uneasiness that had plagued her since they arrived get the best of her. Battles with Granny demanded a clear head.

Granny slowly meandered deeper into the hall, her face drawn in a sad, thoughtful expression. “Yes. This place is wonderful. Isn’t it a shame it will be reduced to rubble in just a few centuries?”

Mairi’s spirits sank partly because Granny still evaded her question but mainly because Granny had triggered even more troubling memories. At one time, Mairi had avidly studied Scotland’s history. After all, not only had the Sinclairs originated in the Highlands of Scotland, her sisters and grandmother had traveled to Scotland’s past to live out their lives. But the vivid accounts of injustice and cruelty took to tormenting her dreams and shadowed her waking hours. The stories hit too close to home. The bloody history of Scotland’s suffering shook her to her very soul.

“I can’t think about that, Granny.” Mairi took in a deep breath, savoring the cozy warmth of the crackling fire and the mouthwatering aroma of roasting meat. “It’s our curse to know what’s going to happen and have our hands tied against changing it.”

“Well said.” Granny looped her arm through Mairi’s and led her to a bench angled in front of the fire. “Now. As to your question about why Ronan’s mother left even though she wasn’t well.”

Mairi braced herself. Granny was actually going to answer a direct question? She didn’t just do that. Suspicion heightened Mairi’s senses.

“This place is not safe, Mairi. There’s a darkness attempting to rise—an evil scratching at our door.”

Mairi shivered as she rose and moved closer to the fire. Granny could’ve gone all day without saying that. It only confirmed the strange uncomfortable eeriness she’d felt since arriving. “Eliza said as long as the curse is intact, the evil isn’t really trapped in hell. Is that true?”

Granny stared down at the floor, nodding so slightly that Mairi almost missed the subtle movement of the old woman’s head. “I’m afraid so—until the curse is broken, that evil could spring the hinges of hell at any moment.”

Ronan eased into the room then closed the door softly behind him. The low burning fire hissing and sputtering in the hearth cast a warm inviting glow across the quiet sitting room. A single taper flickered among the crooked branches of an iron candle stand centered on a small round dining table placed in front of the hearth.

Moving silently across the wood floor, Ronan plucked a tankard from the assortment of food and drink filling the table. He unstoppered the bottle of wine with his teeth and filled the cup to the brim. Life was finally good. His woman slept in the next room and soon, verra soon, the damnable curse would be broken and he and Mairi could enjoy their life together.

Ronan pinched off a chunk of waxy cheese, popped it in his mouth, then washed it down with a healthy swig of wine. He frowned down at the nibbled crust of brown bread and bit of cheese left on a small saucer in front of one of the two chairs. He worried after his dear sweet love and the purple shadows of weariness ’neath her eyes.

She had already retired upstairs by the time he and Gray had finished their inspection of the stables. Granny had said not to worry. Mairi was known to stretch herself too thin. All she needed was a bit of food and a warm bed.

A warm bed. Their bed. Ronan set the mug back on the table as his gaze settled on the open door leading to the bedchamber. Not a sound came from the darkened room. Mairi had found her sleep quickly. The day had truly drained her of her strength.

If he had an ounce of honor in him, he’d leave her to her dreams. Ronan brushed his hands free of crumbs and slowly walked across the sitting room then came to a stop at the bedchamber door. Honor demanded he let her rest, let her recharge for the challenging days ahead.

Ronan drew in a deep breath. The faintest hint of soothing lavender tickled across his senses. He hardened immediately. ’Twas Mairi’s fragrance. Forevermore, whene’er he smelled that sweetness, his Mairi and the pleasure in her touch would come to mind. The beguiling scent had flavored his every gasping breath after he’d spilled his seed inside her. He’d hardened again while still buried in her wetness, nuzzling his face in her fragrant hair whilst resuming the ancient dance, slowly sliding in and out until she’d clutched at him and shuddered with another release.

Ronan shoved his plaid out of the way and fisted his aching cock in one hand.
Leave off,
he silently willed his stubborn member. Mairi was exhausted. She needed her rest. He had to be patient and leave her be. His cock throbbed, growing ever harder as Ronan pulled a slow, scrotum-tightening stroke. He suppressed a groan as another hint of lavender caressed him. Where was the harm in watching Mairi sleep while he satisfied himself? His beautiful lass could stay among her dreams while fueling his aching desire.

He stroked again, pulling so hard he rose to the balls of his feet.
Lore a’mighty,
what he wouldna give to bury himself in the hot sweetness waiting between Mairi’s legs.

“Come to bed and I’ll take care of that for you.” Mairi’s sleepy voice echoed through the darkness paired with the rustling of moving bedclothes.

Ronan yanked on his cock again.
Lore a’mighty.
Her invitation had nearly made him come. “Forgive me,” he groaned, still rooted to the spot beside the door. “I know ye need yer rest, but damn if the verra scent of ye doesna make me ache to be inside ye.”

A flint sounded, then a spark, followed by the warm glow of a single candle beside the bed. Mairi settled back into the layers of pillows piled against the headboard. The flickering candlelight turned her ivory skin golden. Completely nude, Mairi slowly spread her legs wide and trailed one hand down between them.

Partially sitting, with her legs bent and her heels buried in the mounds of the feathered bed, Mairi gyrated her hips as she dipped a single finger in and out of her glistening wetness. She cupped a breast with her other hand, twisting and turning the taut nipple between her fingers. She slid another finger inside herself, arching her back as she rocked against the plunging rhythm of her hand.

Ronan sucked in a sharp breath and stroked faster, staggering slightly to one side.
God’s beard.
If he didna sit, he’d surely fall flat on his arse when he came.

A breathless moan escaped Mairi. Head thrown back, spine arched, she shuddered as her fingers plunged ever faster in and out. She bucked and rolled from side to side, her hand feverishly working between her legs.

“I can take no more.” Ronan strode to the bed, rolled Mairi to her stomach then lifted her to her knees. “I must have ye and I must pound into ye now.”

“Do it,” Mairi gasped as she rocked back against him. “Take me now.” She moaned as she gathered the pillows up beneath her chest.

That was the only invitation he needed. Ronan grabbed hold of Mairi’s hips and buried his aching cock into her burning wetness. Excruciating pleasure shuddered through him as the deep hot well pulled him in and sucked him even deeper. On his knees, Ronan hammered into Mairi until the sound of their slapping flesh echoed through the room.

A roar escaped him and he jerked forward—scrotum pulsing and body pumping, he spilled himself into the clutching hot wetness. He straightened with the slamming orgasm, yanked Mairi back hard against him, and finished spilling into her. With a shuddering groan, he collapsed to the side, taking care to keep himself well buried in the pleasure of Mairi’s warm wet nest.

Mairi pulled his arms around her and nestled her bottom tighter against Ronan. “I hope I didn’t shock you,” she murmured as she cupped his hand around her breast.

“Ye nay shocked me, love,” Ronan panted. “And I canna wait to see what ye might do next.”

Mairi’s seductive giggle bubbled through the darkness. “Only time will tell,” she whispered as she wiggled deeper into his embrace.

Mairi cinched the wide leather belt tight about her waist then smoothed her hands down the rough weave of the heavy wool of her kirtle. Thank goodness for the soft linen chemise against her skin. Wool made her itch. Mairi straightened the full, cream-colored sleeves of her tunic and wiggled her toes in the soft doeskin slippers.

“Ye brought nary a stitch o’ clothes wi’ ye?” Coira yanked on Mairi’s belt and adjusted the gathers falling down the back of her skirt.

“I didn’t think I was going to be here longer than a day or two.” Mairi sidestepped Coira’s fussing hands and plucked a still-steaming bannock from the cloth-covered basket on the table. She pulled away a chunk of the hot bread and popped it in her mouth. Chewy and crunchy at the same time. Sweet and kind of oatie. Mairi followed it with a sip of warm, honey-flavored tea.
Now, this is my idea of a fine continental breakfast
.

“Yer no’ stayin’?” Coira fixed Mairi with a look as though she’d just confessed to murdering the chieftain. “But yer kin are here. How could ye no’ wish to be here with yer clan?”

“It’s complicated.” Mairi couldn’t really go into details about why she wished to return to the future. Not with Coira. One never knew when a seemingly innocent comment of a future event or convenience would chunk a rock into the ripples of time and accidently create a tidal wave—and the Sinclairs were already in enough hot water with the Fates for that very thing.

Mairi brushed her hands free of crumbs then patted the ridges of her intricately braided hair. Coira was a true artist with a comb. “Do you have any idea where Granny and my sisters are this morning?”

Coira bobbed her head as she flitted about the room, tending the fire and setting everything in order. “Aye, mistress. They bade me bring ye to the solar after ye dressed and had a bit to eat.” Coira hovered beside the table, frowning down at the basket still holding an untouched bannock. “Ye nay touched the clotted cream or the honey and ye have another wee bit a bread to eat.” She pointed to the chair beside the table. “Sit and eat. I’ll no’ have Cook tellin’ the mistress I let ye go without proper nourishment.”

“I don’t have time to sit and eat.” Mairi rested one hand atop the iron latch of the chamber door and urged Coira to follow with a flick of one hand. “Now come on—show me the way to the solar.”

Coira’s freckled face darkened with a stubborn scowl as she lifted her chin. “I’ll no’ be showin’ ye the way to the solar ’til ye eat.” Her dark skirts lightly bounced as the toe of her boot impatiently tapped against the stone flooring.

Mairi stomped over to the table, snatched up the remaining bannock, and shoved it into the side pocket sewn into the folds of her skirt. “I’ll take it with me. I’ve eaten one and I’ll eat this one later. Now, you can either show me to the solar or I’ll find it myself.” The last thing she needed was another bossy person in her life. Mairi returned to the door, yanked down the latch, and pulled it open. She turned back to the now red-cheeked Coira and asked, “Well? Are you coming with me or not?”

“Lore, if yer no’ just like yer sisters.” Coira pushed past Mairi and stormed into the hall. “Follow me to the solar, mistress.”

Mairi swept into the hall, pulling the door firmly closed behind her. She hurried to catch up with Coira. She patted the fuming maid’s arm as they walked down the narrow hall. “Thank you.”

Coira shot her a sideways glance, then rolled her eyes and smiled. “And just like I am wi’ yer sisters, I’ll no’ be able to stay angry wi’ ye overly long.” Coira giggled. “I shall truly be sad to see ye leave with Chieftain Sutherland. MacKenna Keep could do wi’ a bit more laughter these days.”

Mairi swished her heavy skirts from side to side as they made their way down the winding corridor. What a strange new sensation. Layers of linen and wool and not a stitch of underwear. She found it mildly disconcerting. Going commando in a thick pair of leggings or skinny jeans was one thing. Panty free in a knee-length tunic and a floor-length overdress in the thirteenth century was a different deal entirely. Thigh-high stockings kept her legs warm but that’s where the undergarments stopped.
No panties equals easier access for Ronan.
Her cheeks heated with the risqué thought, other parts of her body tingling with awareness.

“Ahh…yer thoughts are with yer chieftain.” Coira’s singsong voice bubbled with a teasing giggle.

Mairi couldn’t resist a satisfied grin, her cheeks warming even more. “Maybe.”

“Maybe, my sweet arse.” Coira giggled again as she led Mairi down a short flight of winding steps and into another hallway.

Soft laughter and the high-pitched voice of a small child echoed from the open doorway up ahead.

Mairi’s mood lightened even further when she stepped into the room situated on the east side of the keep. Morning sunlight streamed in from a series of tall narrow windows covered with some sort of thin film. Mairi walked over to the windows and lightly trailed a finger down the glowing membrane stretched across the openings.

“Oiled parchment.” Trulie hefted her ungainly body up from a pillowed chair and waddled toward her sister. “We can’t talk about glass just yet,” she whispered as she looped her arm through Mairi’s. “It’s a bit too early in the century.”

Mairi nodded as she patted Trulie’s hand. “I understand.”

Little Chloe skipped across the woven carpet and bounced to a stop in front of Mairi. “How ye be dis fine mornin’, Auntie Maywee?”

“I’m very well, thank you.” Mairi squatted down to Chloe’s level. She slid one hand into the small pocket embroidered on the front bib of her kirtle and teasingly patted the outside of the pocket with her other hand. “I didn’t get to give you the present I brought you. May I give it to you now?”

Chloe clapped her dimpled hands and bounced back and forth from side to side. “Ye got me a pwezzie?”

“Of course I brought you a prezzie.” Mairi pulled a necklace free of her pocket and slid it over Chloe’s head. “I made this just for you.”

“Oh, lookie.” Chloe cooed and danced in place as she lifted the string of multicolored wooden beads up for closer inspection. “Lookie! A doggie.” The tip of her tongue peeped out one corner of her mouth as she fingered one of the larger wooden beads. Mairi had carved a droopy-eared dog with a happy face and his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth. The dog sat with his short tail curled upright as though he were waiting for permission to wag it.

“And look.” Mairi selected another bead farther down the strand and held it for Chloe to see. “Here’s a kitty.”

“Ho ho,” Chloe chortled. “Dat looks like Gwanny’s kitty, Ki’met.” Her tiny face grew suddenly serious and her bright blue eyes rounded even more as she leaned forward and whispered, “Ki’met gets willy mad when ye pull her tail.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Mairi laughed as she rose and patted the top of Chloe’s silky head. “So do you like it?”

“What do you say, Chloe?” Trulie settled her fingertips on Chloe’s shoulder.

“And lookie, Mama, dis one looks just like Oren!” Chloe held up the largest bead of them all, fashioned into an exact replica of her owl.

Trulie smiled and nodded toward Mairi. “I see. Very nice. Now, what do you say?”

Chloe held both hands up to Mairi and puckered her lips. “Bend down. I gib ye a big moochie t’say tank ye bewwy much.”

Mairi laughed as she bent and received a loud smacking kiss. Chloe lightly patted her cheeks and repeated, “Tank ye, Auntie Maywee.”

“You’re most welcome.” Mairi smiled as Chloe spun and bounced back across the room to Granny, holding up the carved wooden beads of her necklace for Granny to admire.

“Come and sit.” Trulie pulled her toward the ring of heavily pillowed furniture hemming in the warmest part of the room. “It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever. It’s time we had a good visit. Chatting through the fire portal just isn’t the same as having you right here.”

“Has Ronan said if he’s sending a runner to fetch his people or are the two of you just going to wait until spring?” Kenna used one foot to keep the cradle beside her chair rocking as she held her other fussing son in her arms. “Winter is no time to travel across the Highlands. Take it from someone who knows.”

“I’m not sure. We haven’t really discussed the logistical aspect of healing his family.”
Wait until spring? Spend all winter in the thirteenth century?
Um…no.
Mairi shook away the uncomfortable misgivings gnawing inside her and held her hands out to Kenna. “Here. Hand him over. Maybe I can help.”

Kenna blew out a weary sigh as she settled fretting Caedan in Mairi’s arms. “Good luck. Neither Granny nor Trulie has been able to get rid of the colic. I think the Fates are punishing me for sins in a past life.”

“You were a crabby baby in this life,” Granny observed without lifting her gaze from the low wooden frame holding taut a bit of loosely woven linen. With her glasses slid down to the end of her nose, she carefully pulled colored threads up through the cream-colored weave. “Your poor mother wore out her finest slippers walking the floor with you. Perhaps the Fates are giving you a taste of your own medicine.”

Some things never changed. Sinclair women always bantered whenever they gathered. Mairi smiled down into the wriggling baby’s red face. She’d missed this precious part of being a Sinclair.

Cuddling fussy Caedan closer in the curl of her arm, she peeled back the layers of cloth swaddled about his body. He kicked and squirmed even more, drawing his little knees up to his belly then grunted and stiffened his body. A series of muffled popping farts sounded, then for a brief moment the baby relaxed.

“Poor little guy.” Mairi smoothed a hand over his distended little belly. “He’s got a terrible case of gas.”

“He is his father’s son,” Kenna drolly noted.

“So you’re saying the honeymoon doesn’t last forever?” Mairi couldn’t resist an evil grin as she settled on the bench beside Kenna, turned the baby to his belly, and settled him across her knees. Ever so gently, she bounced the child while rubbing his little back. A subtle warming surged through Mairi’s fingers as she released the tiniest bit of healing energy into her nephew.

“You’ll find out.” Kenna stilled the cradle at her side and settled back into the cushions. “It might last a bit longer for you, though. I adore Colum, but Ronan is definitely more refined than my cinnamon bear.”

The baby across her knees growled out an enraged cry and flayed his tiny fists. “So much for healing the colic.” Mairi lifted the grumbling babe to her shoulder and rose from the bench. Walking with a rhythmic bounce, she gently thumped the baby’s rump as she paced about the room.

“I told you it wouldn’t work.” Kenna yawned, rubbing the back of her neck as she rolled her shoulders. “By the way, are you and Ronan going to tie the knot immediately or wait until his people get here?”

Mairi stopped walking and stared at her sister. Had lack of sleep twisted Kenna’s ability to reason? “Tie the knot? Are you crazy? We just met.”

The baby at her shoulder bobbed his unsteady head and growled.

“Sorry, Caedan.” Mairi resumed patting the baby’s butt in time with her bouncing walk. She angled closer to Kenna as she paced. “We just met,” she repeated, emphasizing the
just.
Why would Kenna ask such a thing?

“You did tingle. Right?” Trulie asked. She shot Kenna a silencing look then pushed Chloe’s fisted hands down to her tiny lap. She shook a warning finger at her daughter. “If you put those beads in your mouth again, I’m going to take them away.”

Chloe pooched out her bottom lip and clutched the beads to her chest. “No, Mama.”

“Well?” Trulie patted Chloe’s arm and turned back to Mairi. “Tingle. Was it there or not?”

Mairi glared first at Trulie then turned her attention back to Kenna. There appeared to be more than one conversation going on in this room and she was only privy to one of them. “So, you’re telling me you both tingled the first time you touched your husbands?”

“Oh absolutely.” Kenna nodded. “And I never tingled once when I was Ronan’s wife, so he’s definitely meant for you.”

“Kenna!” Trulie stomped her foot and lobbed a pillow at her sister.

Little Chloe’s mouth rounded into a shocked O as she stared up at her mother as though Trulie had just turned into a raging banshee.

Wait…what?
Kenna had been married to Ronan? Mairi shook her head. Surely, she hadn’t heard that right. “Um. Could you repeat that…and embellish it with a few more details?” Mairi stopped walking again, completely ignoring the unhappy wail coming from the babe at her shoulder. Ronan hadn’t said a word about being married to Kenna. When the hell was someone going to let her in on that little tidbit of information?

Kenna suddenly sat much straighter and glanced nervously across the room at Granny.

“You dug yourself into this hole, gal. Best get to diggin’ yourself out.” Granny adjusted her spectacles with a wrinkling of her nose as she pulled a russet-colored thread up through the tapestry.

Kenna rose from the bench and scooped her squalling son out of Mairi’s arms. “It was nothing,” she said as she tucked the babe up under the light shawl spread over her shoulder and put him to her breast. “Really. It was a marriage-in-name-only kind of arrangement. Absolutely nothing happened.” She nervously shrugged one shoulder and settled back into her seat. “It was really nothing at all.”

“If it was really nothing at all then why are you having so much trouble explaining it other than repeating, ‘It was nothing’?” Mairi struggled to keep from shouting that Kenna sounded as though she were trying to convince herself instead of Mairi.

“It was never consummated. Ronan was searching for the Sinclair woman to marry and break the curse. He just messed up when he thought it was me.” Kenna smiled a hopeful smile as though she were a student who’d just finished reciting her verses in front of the class and was waiting for the teacher’s approval.

Without Caedan’s wails ricocheting off the walls, the sunlit room grew uncomfortably quiet. Mairi stared at her sister, still not believing what she’d just heard and struggling to decide which statement bothered her most. Searching for the Sinclair woman to marry to break the curse? Kenna and Ronan. Married. Supposedly unconsummated. Marry to break the curse. So, did that mean…?