“Tell me what you saw.” Broderick gestured at a small table with food and drink that, at some point, had magically appeared. “Have you broken your fast yet?”
“Aye, when ‘twas still morn and fasts were still worth breaking,” Kenneth said, amused when he pointed out the late-day sun. “But then I suspect you were too busy to note the new day.”
“To say the least,” I admitted, my gaze lingering on Broderick’s muscular, tattooed upper half before I grinned at Kenneth and shrugged at Broderick when he seemed surprised by my honesty. “Well, it’s true, isn’t it?”
“Aye,” he grunted, clearly wishing he were back in bed with me rather than urging Kenneth to share whatever news he brought because chances are we weren’t going to like it. “Tell us what’s happened.”
“The king is heading this way, to be sure,” Kenneth reported grimly. “And not looking too happy.” The corners of his mouth tugged down. “Whilst he was ordered to remain at your border, Laird Dugal Sutherland was traveling with him, so he isnae far off.”
“Bloody hell.” Broderick shook his head. “That means the king wants him close in case he should call upon him.”
“Which means he probablyisgoing to call on him to come here,” I deduced softly, burying my fear because Broderick didn’t need that right now. He needed me to be strong. “Should I assume that’s something he can do even though it’s your land?”
“’Tis best to let the king think all land is his,” Kenneth replied. “Otherwise, ‘tis seen as disloyal, and that is the last thing the MacLeods need.” He shook his head. “Any of us, for that matter, because an affront by the MacLeods could just as easily beconsidered an affront by their closest allies, the Hamiltons and MacLomains.” He shrugged. “’Tis a different day and age than even a generation ago, what with English enclaves within our borders now. If you’re not loyal to our king, ‘tis assumed you're loyal to the Sassenach king, and that’s a risky venture.”
“No doubt.” I remembered my history. “Made no better, I imagine, by the defensive treaty Scotland signed with France a few years ago because God knows the English and French are hit and miss.”
“Aye,” Broderick concurred, impressed I understood the trying times. “Now the English-held zones are under attack all the more, and tensions are escalating yet again.”
“If my memory serves,” I said, “those would be the important castles of Berwick, Jedburgh, Lochmaben, and Roxburgh. All with English garrisons controlling southern Berwickshire, Teviotdale, and large areas in Annandale and Tweeddale.”
“Verra good.” Kenneth nodded at me with approval. “’Tis the general area where Tavish and Sloan are right now.”
“All things considered, I can see why the king doesn’t want any of his clans squabbling with each other, never mind two of his most powerful,” I commented, unsure how Broderick intended to handle this because I wasn’t catching it in his thoughts. Likely because he had yet to figure it out himself.
“Yet clans squabble all the time,” Broderick muttered, pouring a cup of water and handing it to me before pouring himself one. “Many thanks for bringing this news to us, cousin. We will be down after we have eaten.” He perked his eyebrow at Kenneth. “Should I assume you told Lucas and my parents?”
“Aye,” Kenneth confirmed. “All has been readied in preparation for a royal arrival.”
“Verra good.”
Kenneth nodded at us once and made to leave but hesitated as if debating whether to share more.
“What is it, Kenneth?” I asked softly, certain it had to do with me.
“Whilst I hesitate to mention it, as astral projecting is not always as accurate as it could be—” his tone turned grim once again when he looked at Broderick— “you should know those traveling with the king spoke of a mark on Dugal Sutherland. Wings cut through with a sword and gem.”
Saying nothing more, he left us to make of that what we would, and it wasn’t good. How could I possibly be meant for another? That made no sense, given how strongly I felt about Broderick. Something I knew my inner beast agreed with entirely.
“I dinnae intend to let you go anywhere because I'm certain youaremy fated mate,” Broderick ground out as I got out of bed, obviously frustrated by the whole thing until he sensed the nervousness I’d been trying to hide and closed the distance. “I mean that, lass.” He reeled me against him and tilted my chin until our eyes were aligned. “Marry me straight away so the Sutherland no longer has any say.”
“There you go again with an off-the-cuff proposal.” Trying to calm him as much as he tried to calm me, I managed a wobbly smile. “While more than tempted to accept this time, I don’t need to be from this era to know doing that will cause just as much, if not more, trouble with Dugal Sutherland and undoubtedly the king than if you simply refuse to hand me over.”
“Yet ‘tis trouble I’m more than willing to face if—”
“No.” I put a finger to his lips and shook my head. “I won’t cause strife for you and your clan. There’sgotto be another way.”
“At least promise me ye’ll become my wife so we’ve a leg to stand on.” Trying to go around my humanhalf to convince my inner beast, his dragon eyes flared. “The king cannae dispute it if you have agreed to it.”
“Maybe, but wouldn't that cause just as many problems as us flat-out getting married?” I sighed. “We’ve got to do this right so it doesn’t put your clan in danger. They have to come first, and you know it.”
Even though he was truly troubled, I felt the spark of pride in him that I would think this way when most in my position would not.
“Then we will wait to hear the king out.” He shook his head once, making himself clear. “If he backs Sutherland in his claim all because of an old prophecy and a marking, then I will at the verra least see you returned to the twenty-first century until we can be together.”
Although we both knew I could counter that with a variety of possibilities, including the fact the Sutherlands might very well be able to follow me there, not to mention cause trouble for the MacLeods because they let me go, I nodded at him in return to comfort him if nothing else.
“Agreed,” I murmured, pulling his lips down to mine before we wasted any more time discussing what could possibly happen until we knew more. Fortunately, my kisses were distracting enough he made a deep rumble of pleasure and walked me backward until my legs hit the edge of the bed.
