Gazing down at Knock Castle from the crag high above it, Malcolm prayed for good fortune. His father would not take the news well and he would need to act with diplomacy. Looking around the battlements, he was surprised so few men were outside. He prayed Sheona was in her chamber unharmed. He didn’t know what he would do if he found even one mark on her fair skin.

“Where do you think everyone is?”

Keith shook his head. “I do not know, but I do not think they are inside stitching bluebells on handkerchiefs.”

“We will proceed directly to the great hall. If the loyalties are truly split between my father and me, we will need to flesh out those on our side.”

“Agreed.”

They descended toward the castle. Malcolm was on high alert, expecting an attack at any moment. To his surprise, they rode right up to the stable, tossed the reins to the stable boy and strode into the castle unchecked.

“This makes no sense, Malcolm. Really, where is everyone?”

“I have no idea.”

He heard shouting coming from the direction of the great hall. He ran the remainder of the way and the sight that met his eyes was most unexpected. The hall was full of his clansmen yelling at one another. Malcolm elbowed his way through the men until he reached the table where his father had his hand around Hamish’s throat.

Malcolm reached in and peeled his father’s hands away from his friend’s throat. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”

“Well, well. It seems you have decided to return to us.”

“Father.”

“Where have you been?”

“I come from Inverness and I have news to share. Where is Sheona?”

His father’s brows drew in toward one another. “She is missing.”

Malcolm’s stomach dropped. “What do you mean? Was she not guarded in her chamber?”

“Aye, that she was. One moment she was there and the next she was not.”

His father seemed odd all of a sudden. Moments ago, he was furious with Hamish, now he appeared almost sheepish.

Malcolm raced up the stairs and threw open the door to the chamber in which she’d spent her first night. He scanned the room and even looked underneath the bed. She was not there. How could she simply vanish like that?

Laughter filled the chamber. Like before, he couldn’t quite locate the source. It grew louder until Keith and others joined him, before it ceased altogether. What the hell was going on?

“We need to search every chamber, every nook and crevice of this castle until she is found.”

Keith immediately assigned men to search certain areas and report back to Malcolm. When the chamber was empty, Malcolm sat on the bed. Where was she? He had missed her terribly since their parting. All he wanted was to find her and take her to bed—bury himself in her sweetness throughout the night.

Feeling useless, he left the chamber in search of his father. He didn’t have to look far. The elder MacDonald sat alone by the hearth in the great hall. Something must have happened, for he seemed like a great deal of the mettle had gone right out of him.

“I have news, Father, that you will need to hear, if you will listen.”

Malcolm’s words brought back the man he’d come to despise. His sneer returned, masking any former softness he might have previously displayed.

“I have no interest in your news, Malcolm. You defy me at every turn. You do not belong here.”

This man at least was more predictable than the one from moments before. This man was the reason he’d travelled to Inverness.

“You will hear my news and you will prepare to surrender to George Gordon as soon as he arrives. You will go with him and enter into peaceful negotiations with the Earl of Argyll and the MacLeod.”

The look of shock that crossed his father’s face was almost humorous. Clearly, he had not expected that.

“How dare you! You went to the Privy Council and spoke on behalf of the clan, didn’t you? There’s no other way you could have made such an arrangement.”

His father raised his hand to strike him, but Malcolm blocked it. “Don’t even try it.” Four of his clansmen stood behind him.

“You will defy your chief and stand against him?” His father’s face turned crimson.

“Take him to his chamber. You will stay there until Gordon gets here.”

“I will do no such thing. You are not laird here! I am!” His father struggled against the men but he was not strong enough to break free from their hold.

“Until this matter is resolved, the Privy Council insists that I act as chief. You are not a protector anymore, you are a destroyer and if you are not stopped, there will be nothing left to protect.” He could not back down. As difficult as it was to challenge his own father, he’d been left with no choice. This was the only way. Malcolm turned to leave the hall.

“You are weak! If the MacLeods are not stopped they will take everything like they took her.”

The comment stopped him. He turned back to find his father did not struggle any longer. The melancholy expression returned to his face. “Took who?”

“Your mother. It was a MacLeod who was responsible for her death. I have proof and Rorie MacLeod knows it. That’s why he sent Margaret.”

As far as Malcolm recalled, his mother had fallen from her horse and died in the subsequent weeks from her injuries.

“Why did you never tell me this?”

“Because you would never listen. A peace treaty with the MacLeods will never hold. They will take any and all opportunity to attack until there is nothing left to attack.”

“That is not true, Father. These talks will resolve it and with the council’s backing, we can work toward rebuilding—we all can. Hundreds of lives have been lost to this feud and I do not wish for one more.”

Malcolm turned toward the stairs, took a few steps, stopped and turned. “Take him upstairs Hamish. Be sure he is guarded. I have to find my wife.”

* * *

Peeking through the crack in the door, Sheona let out a deep breath when she discovered the chamber was empty. The voices she’d heard moments ago frightened her. She was certain they would find her at any moment.

She pushed the door open and stepped into the room. She’d leave the door open in case anyone returned, but at the moment she needed to figure out how to get some food and water. She’d had neither since the evening before and was ravenous. Hiding was exhausting business.

She cursed the MacDonald for being such a brute and she cursed Malcolm for bringing her here in the first place and leaving her. She sat on the bed for a moment. It was soft and inviting and much more appealing than the cold stone she’d spent the night curled up on. Her hands were grimy and her gown was stained. She needed to clean up, but could do neither without alerting someone to her presence.

Frustration took hold. She flopped backward onto the bed and sighed. She was so tired. Maybe if she just closed her eyes for a moment.

Soft lips grazed her neck, trailing a delicious line down toward her chest. Sheona moaned and turned her head for better access. More insistent kissing followed a growl and she noticed her gown being tugged up. What?

Her eyes flew open. Malcolm was on top of her. The sight of him with desire-filled eyes took her breath away. He was back? She opened her mouth to ask him where he’d been, but he sealed it with his own, nipping, probing, taking, and demanding.

Sheona’s mind swam. She wanted him so badly, but she needed an explanation—she deserved one. She turned her head away from him, breaking the kiss.

“No, Malcolm.”

His breathing was heavy, his body tight with passion. He would be frustrated, but she didn’t care.

“I have missed my wife and I want to show her how much.”

She turned back to gaze up into his eyes. “You left me. Without any way to defend myself and I have been at risk.”

“Has anyone harmed you?”

“No, but not for lack of trying.”

“Who?”

“Your father. He wanted—” She would curse herself if she wept in front of him. He would not get the satisfaction of knowing how much his abandoning her had hurt.

“I had no choice, Sheona. I had to take an opportunity and had no choice. I left instructions for Hamish to protect you.”

She scooted out from underneath him and off the bed. “You know as well as I do that Hamish cannot contain your father. I was left with no one to protect me from him.”

He stood as well, the bed between them. “Did he touch you?”

She shook her head. “No, but only because—” She glanced toward the door and wondered if she should tell him. Would he understand or would he think her mad?

His gaze followed hers. “I had forgotten about that door.” He walked toward it and tripped it to close. “When I was a lad, I used to hide in there sometimes.” He turned back to her. “Is that where you’ve been?”

She nodded.

“But how did you find it? The trigger stone is not easy to locate.”

She took a deep breath. “Someone showed me.”

“Who?”

She came around the bed and stood in front of him, gazing up into his handsome face. She didn’t want to be angry with him. She wanted to crawl back into her bed and stay there. So much had happened since that day he’d taken her from Bracadale. They were married in haste, but she hadn’t hesitated. She’d seen good in him and gazing at him now could still see it. But he’d left her to her own devices and that was a hurt not easily forgiven.

“The laughter, the weeping, I found the source.”

“The White Lady?”

She nodded. “I have seen her, Malcolm. I believe she is—”

Before she could get the words out, the secret door opened wide and the White Lady stepped through. She shimmered, not quite transparent, but not quite whole either.

Malcolm’s jaw dropped. The White Lady approached and reached up to trail his scar with her fingers. His eyes widened.

“Your wife is a very brave lass, Malcolm. But you should not have left her here for your father to torment.”

“Mother,” he whispered.

“Aye, my sweet lad. I have missed you.”

Moisture filled Malcolm’s eyes. Sheona turned away to give them a moment of privacy, but he reached for her hand and pulled her back to his side.

“You are part of me, Sheona. I want you beside me. Always.”

His words cracked the hurt that had hardened around her heart.

“I showed Sheona the secret passage and helped her contain your father.”

Malcolm turned toward the White Lady and smiled. “Thank you. I did not want to leave, but I had to reach the council to acquire their assistance. I believe we can end this feud once and for all. I am sorry.”

“It is not me who needs to hear that apology.” Once she said the words, her form faded until only the two of them remained in the chamber.

Malcolm turned to Sheona and cupped her face with his hands. “My beauty. I am so sorry. I did what I did for the good of the clans and to end the bloodshed. Will you ever find a way to forgive me? I love you with all my heart and will do anything you wish to make it up to you.”

Sheona smiled. He loved her. In that moment she realized she loved him too. “I love you too, Malcolm. Do not ever leave me again.”

“I won’t. You have my word.”

Sheona wrapped her arms around him and held on as though he too would disappear. Malcolm buried his face in her hair.

“God, I missed you so much. I was worried. You do forgive me, don’t you?”

“Aye, husband. I do. Now take me to bed.”

Malcolm scooped her up and tossed her on the bed, then kneeled at her feet. He slid his hands underneath the hem of her gown and slowly worked his way up her legs. His eyes shone bright and she couldn’t tear her gaze away. He was driving her mad with his torturous fingers grazing the inside of her thighs.

“Mine.”

Oh, how she loved it when he said that. She was his and would not want it any other way. She reached for him, drawing him toward her. His lips slammed down on hers as he pulled her gown up to her waist and spread her legs wide.

His thick erection pressed against her, begging entry. She tilted her hips and took him just inside. He sighed against her mouth.

“Sheona.”

“Fill me.”

He thrust hard and she arched toward him. A great rush of sensation washed over her as he began his steady rhythm. Holding his lips just barely onto hers, his hot breath smelled of sweet mead and she wanted a taste, but he did not deepen the kiss. It was sensual. Taunting. Intoxicating. She wanted his tongue tangling with hers, but he would not let her, holding back just enough to drive her mad with need.

Sheona wrapped her legs around his waist and he thrust harder, faster. She was close to climax and began to writhe underneath him, coaxing her release.

“Soon, my love.”

She wasn’t sure she could take any more. His hard body was a glorious weight on hers, but she wanted release.

Malcolm pulled back and she was left feeling empty. She didn’t understand why he stopped until he flipped her over and pulled her up to her hands and knees.

“Trust me.”

She did. He gripped her hips and thrust hard into her again, this time the penetration was much deeper and she gasped. All her senses escalated, heightened by the powerful hands holding her, the sound of his panting, and the smell of the virile man behind her. She bit her lip until she tasted blood. He brought her to a height she’d not yet known.

Sheona gripped the bed cover in her fists as her climax shot through her. She squeezed her eyes tight as he shuddered behind her. Their bodies pulsed to the same rhythm, connecting them body and soul.

When he was finished, he lay beside her and grinned. She lay belly down on the bed, boneless. She smiled. He was back and he was hers—now and forever.