Page 2 of The Highlander’s Untamed Lady

“You might as well come out,” Diana called. The cold air burned her dry throat, an intense reminder of her thirst.

Not a sound came from the forest in front of her where Hera stared, nor to the side where Zeus's golden eyes were fixed upon her with his unwavering patience.

A masculine voice gave an indiscernible shout from somewhere she could not see. Diana flinched in spite of herself and darted her gaze through the darkness of the forest. Where the bloody hell was he?

Hera's jaws snapped and her breath fogged hot and greedy in the icy air. Diana put a hand to the thick fur of the wolf's hackles where the hair stood on end.

“Who are you?” Diana asked aloud. “Why aren't you coming out? Are you afraid?” She couldn't help the twist of her lips as she spoke. Of course, whoever was in the woods was afraid – at least they should be if they had any sense.

A man appeared suddenly, stomping through the woods with all the grace of a lumbering bear. And indeed he was tall enough to be one. Diana regarded him from the low hem of her hood, seeing him while keeping him from seeing her.

There wasn't much to make out of the man from the distance. Dark hair to his shoulders, a lanky body in a kilt he'd wrapped around his hips and pulled over his shoulders. He had his large hands held in the air, palms out, and eyed Hera. “I'm no' armed.”

He spoke with the thick brogue of the Highlands. At least he knew English. Many of his kind didn't speak anything but Erse.

Diana swept her fingers over Hera's back. The wolf immediately ceased her growling. Her glare, however, did not abate.

The man smiled, his teeth white against the shadow of his whiskered jaw. Nice teeth. Especially for a full-grown man. “See? That's no' so bad, is it?”

“Who are you?” Diana demanded. “And what do you bloody want?”

If he was put off by her language, he didn't show it. He shrugged and shifted several feet closer. “I came here for ye.”

Hera began to growl once more. This time Diana did not stop her.

So Father had finally done it. “You're here to kill me,” she surmised.

“With no weapons?” He lifted a dark brow.

Diana narrowed her eyes. “If you can't do it without weapons, you aren't even good enough to try.”

“Good thing I'm no' here to kill ye.” He lowered his arms and strode closer, a gesture so relaxed, so obviously unthreatened, she felt the prickle of her own hackles going up.

“What are you here for then?” Her tone was sharp with impatience. She hated that she had to play to his game. “And where are the guards?”

“I'm here to bring ye home with me.” He closed the space between them and put a hand up to Hera. Her growl faded into a whimper. The wolf flicked a nervous pink tongue over her nose and pranced her front paws against the ground with obvious anxiety.

Diana stared at the man for a long moment, glad her face was masked by the massive hood so he couldn't see how her mouth opened and closed wordless for a quick moment. He was tall, and he loomed over her. Dark whiskers covered his strong jaw.

“To take me home with you?” Diana wanted to meet his eye, but didn’t want to sacrifice the advantage of being hidden to do so. “What the hell are you referring to?”

“I am Evander Mackenzie, laird of the Mackenzie clan.” He bowed low as if his name carried some significance she ought to recognize. “And I've come to collect ye, my bride.”

***

Evander Mackenzie didn't like that he couldn't see the woman he would marry. He gave in to the pull of curiosity and bent toward his betrothed. With the shapeless mantle around her and the hood pulled low, he could discern nothing of his intended. Not that it mattered. He'd marry her if she was covered in warts and passed wind like his grandda.

He wouldn't mind a bonny lass. However, given that no other man had wanted her hand in marriage, beauty was not likely.

Diana Stuart bent her head lower, keeping her face in the shadows. A feat easily done on such a dark day.

Aye, she was ugly, or she'd show him her face with the confident, goading pride all beauties wore. She shifted slightly on her feet and lunged. At him.

He staggered back, unprepared for an attack. Her fist caught him in the face and a hard, sticklike thing raked down his arm before snapping. Diana loosed a string of curses. The lady was unlike any other Evander had ever heard.

She put two hands on his chest and shoved with the force of a large woman. He caught his footing, but the moment it took him to do so was all she needed to flee with the gray wolf at her side.

Frustration burned through him. He hadn't expected this.