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Was there a part that bored or that you didn't really like in the book?

Even a character, a scene, or anything. You could say no if nothing bothered you.

Which was the part you liked most in the book?

Even a character, a scene, or anything that you enjoyed.

Which plot do you prefer? *

• A Highlander and an English Lass touch an enchanted object at the same time and it causes them to switch bodies with each other.
• MMC and MFC fall in love only to find out they are cousins.
• English MFC finds out she has a twin sister who was raised in the highlands and goes after her, but ends up kidnapped by the MMC, who is an enemy of her sister's clan.

Would you like to read a story where one of the MC or one of the supporting characters is a historical figure? *

• Yes I would. I think it would be nice to see how it is adapted, even if it is not 100% accurate.
• No, I prefer to keep just the period without any historical figures with an important role in the story.

Anything else you'd like to share?

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Two months later…

Tad turned the sand timer over in his grasp once again, as he had been doing for many minutes at a time as he sat in the corner of Laird Alec’s study. All around him, the brothers were talking, speaking of what Dunn had recently found out on his scouting missions, though it amounted to little.

“Tad?” Bran called him.

“Hmm?” Tad answered distractedly, his voice deep as he turned the sand timer over in his grasp again.

“What dae ye think?”

“I think there is something more ye all need tae ken.” He watched the sand as it dripped through the hourglass, deep in thought.

Often the lot of them gathered together to discuss the safety of the two clans. These days, Kira, Ilyssa and Catreena joined them too, so it was unusual for none of the women to join them today. Yet Tad intended to take advantage of the matter. He didn’t want to frighten his sister by revealing so soon what she someday would have to be put on her guard for. It seemed wiser to let the brothers, particularly Bran, know first.

“What is it?” Bran asked, sitting slowly down in the settle bench opposite him.

Tad stopped turning over the hourglass, raising his gaze to meet Bran’s. The other brothers were now all keenly paying attention, looking toward him. Evander perched on the corner of Alec’s desk, flexing the tattooed muscles of his arms as he folded them. Behind him, Alec sat back in his chair. Dunn leaned on the back of Bran’s settle bench, lazily scratching the strong scar that stretched across his eyes .

“I had a letter from the king this morning.”

“The king?” Dunn repeated. “What can he have tae say?”

“He has news.” Tad winced, knowing it was awful news he had to bear. He was hardly delighted about it himself and in truth, was deeply angry at the king for making such a decision. Naturally, it was not something he could ever admit openly to the king. “Cillian Grant has been released from the dungeons of Edinburgh castle.”

“Tell me ye are wrong,” Evander said, standing off the desk.

“This has tae be an error.” Alec held out his hands, dismissing the fact avidly. “It cannae be true.”

“Kings make deals all the time,” Dunn scoffed, clearly not hesitating to believe it.

Bran was the only one who had not spoken. Tad looked at him, seeing the same resigned fear that he knew was showing on his own face.

“That is exactly what has happened,” Tad said, nodding at Dunn’s words. “A deal has been made. I could tell the king until I am blue in the face that Cillian Grant isnae a man tae be trusted, that he shouldnae be laird of the Grants, that he tried tae kill ye Bran, that he would have killed Ilyssa fer refusing tae marry him, and yet –”

“And yet there’s nay law against attempted murder in court,” Bran grunted, shaking his head. “Only assault. Then, it is merely our word against Cillian’s.”

“Exactly.” Tad nodded. “Reading between the lines of the king’s letter, I fear that Cillian offered him loyalty and riches for his release.”

“Loyalty. Are we nae all loyal tae the king’s crown?” Alec said.

“In the wake of the latest uprisings, I’d argue all the king wants is a loyal laird. One whose allegiance can be bought unreservedly. Now, a clan laird whose allegiance has been bought with his life? Aye, most persuasive.” Tad nodded slowly.

“Ever the politician, our king.” Bran spoke with quiet resentment. “Ilyssa will have tae be told.”

“She will.”

“I’ll tell her.”

Tad was tempted to argue, but in the end, he nodded. He had seen quite plainly the last couple of months just how devoted Bran and Ilyssa were to one another. It had to be either him or Bran who told her, and if Bran was so intent on doing so, then Tad would let him.

“She will go intae a rage,” Tad warned him.

“I’m used tae her rages.” Bran smiled.

Tad had a feeling he knew exactly how Bran’s and Ilyssa’s arguments were mended. As much as he was happy for his sister, he didn’t particularly want to think about Bran bedding her.

Tad stood and turned the sand glass over in his grasp again. He moved to the nearest window and looked out across the horizon. From here, he could see the distant hills of his own clan. The two adjoined together, close allies both in land and in friendship.

“This is nae good news,” Evander said with a deep and sorry sigh. “Dae ye think he’ll try tae take revenge?”

“Aye.” Bran was the first to answer it. “I dinnae doubt he will.”

“Then we’ll have tae be ready fer his act of vengeance, in whatever form it may come,” Alec spoke up. “Bran, we’ll have tae increase the guard on Ilyssa.”

“She’ll take well tae being a prisoner,” he said with wryness, and they all laughed at the idea. “Dinnae worry. I’ll guard her meself as well as the soldiers. She’ll ken it’s necessary.”

As the brothers discussed the best way to guard the castle and the women, Tad had other thoughts as he stared out the window.

Cillian had more than one reason for wanting vengeance. Yes, maybe he would come after Ilyssa again, but maybe not. She was married, therefore out of his reach.

Maybe he’ll avenge himself on me instead.

Tad was the one who had called the king against the Grant clan after all. He was also the one who had killed Laird Gilroy. It was entirely possible that Cillian would fix his vengeance on Tad.

Then another thought crossed his mind.

Tad turned his gaze away from the mountains and down to the open lawn in front of the castle. Across the grass, he saw Kira sat amongst growing daffodils, picking up the beautiful blooms and inhaling their sweet scent. Ilyssa was at her side, fussing over her as she was now carrying a child. Catreena was walking toward the pair of them, carrying a tray of drinks and sweetmeats.

Cat.

Tad’s eyes traced over Catreena. She was most inconvenient, growing more and more beautiful by the day. Had she been any other man’s sister, Tad was certain he would have taken her to bed by now, pleasuring her, distracting her from her animosity toward him by showing her what else they could be doing with their time, but she was off limits.

I can never cross that boundary.

There was the age difference too, not to mention her hatred of him, and the fact that he had bedded so many women she looked at him like he was a diseased rat.

Still, as he gazed at her now, a protectiveness rose in his chest.

“Ilyssa isnae the only one that Cillian could target,” Tad spoke up, breaking into the brothers’ conversation who all looked toward him.

“Who else?” Alec urged him on.

“Bran, that’s undoubted.” Tad nodded toward his friend. With difficulty, he tore his gaze away from Catreena and turned to face the room fully. “Me, fer I am the one who killed his faither and went tae the king. And Catreena.”

“Catreena? Why Catreena?” Bran said, sitting forward sharply, his usual fatherly nature toward her visible at once.

“Because she was there, she was a part of it. Catreena was the one who kenned where tae find the pair of ye that morning. And she is young, beautiful, and unwed.” He sighed deeply, looking around at the faces all staring at him. In their own way, there were similarities between the brothers, as well as differences, but right now they all looked startlingly alike as they looked at him. “I fear every single one of us could be in danger.”

“Then we’ll be ready for him.” Alec stood hurriedly. “Evander, ye and I need tae talk over the guarding of this castle. Dunn, we must speak of what more ye can find out in yer scouting. Bran, ye and I must make as many friends as we can with the other clans in the meantime. With friends, we are stronger, and he is less likely tae attack us.”

As the brothers talked about their preparations, Tad turned and looked out of the window once again.

His eyes found Catreena in the grounds. She had just passed a drink to Kira and sat back on her haunches. She looked up at the window where he stood, as if she had sensed him looking, her glower plain.

Ah, ye detest me so much, Cat.

He winked at her, wondering if at this great distance she could see him. Her cheeks pinkened as she glowered and looked away from him again.

If only I was permitted tae charm ye, Cat, but nay. Ye will always be forbidden tae me.

With one last longing look, he turned his back on her.

The End.

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