Blessing The Highlander Read Online Free Page B

He could see that now. Even caught red-handed she still lied like an angel. It was going to take all his wits to keep the upper hand with her. Lokai released an exasperated sigh throwing up his hands. Maybe she was more trouble than what she is worth. “No, she is worth it. She just needs a tighter rein.” His jaw tautened as he looked at her innocent face.
                 “Do not insult my intelligence, Princess. You know what I speak of.”
                 “Oh bother! I was just attempting to do a good deed. The poor girl had a miserable life and was dying. I simply offered her a new one.” She waved her hand dismissively but felt it captured in a steel grip. She gasped as Lokai spun her into his chest glaring down at her.
                 “It is reckless and you have been careless with her! If you had looked at her injuries you would know that she would be dead right now.”
                 “Not so!” she shouted at him. “She had only struck her head.”
                 “You are wrong, Diedre. Her ribs were broken...her lung was punctured... she was bleeding inside. She was on death’s door when I found her.”
                 Oh dear. Had she almost killed her sister? She will need to be more cautious in the future. Her eyes flew wide as she looked up at Lokai. Barely a whisper, she asked, “Did she die?”
                 Lokai glowered at her for a few moments, pausing long enough to let the seriousness of what she had done sink profoundly in her heart.
                 “She lives...no thanks to you.”
                 Tears welled in her eyes as a sigh of relief left her. It pricked her that Lokai held her in such low esteem. Why it disturbed her she did not know, but just the same, it did. Abruptly, her head jerked up to examine his handsome face.
                 “You saved her.” It was a declaration. “You could lose your position over this! Your immortality! Why did you interfere?”
                 “Still you play me for a fool. Do you think that I do not know what...? ‘Who’ she is? I saved her for King Alred!” “And for you.” But he would not speak the words. It was too precarious to give her that power.
                 She nodded to herself. Meekly she whispered, “I meant no harm.”
                 “Whether you meant it or not the harm is done. Now finish it so we may return to our realm and leave these mortals in peace.”
                 “But...” she protested.
                 “No!” he roared. “Lead him to her and be done with it! And be cautioned, Diedre. I will not stand for this once we are wed. You will obey me on this.”
                 A slow smile spread across her impudent lips as she realized he would still wed her. For some mysterious reason it pleased her deep down inside. She did not discern why...but it did.

Chapter III
     
     
     
     
                Garrick stood in his stirrups to stretch the ache from his thick-muscled thighs. Visiting Laird Fraser had been a welcome respite from his daily mundane duties as laird of the Brodie clan. He did not regret the responsibility but he wished that his father had lived a few more years before getting himself killed reiving.
                 His eyes hardened as he remembered that time. It was such a waste. Reiving was a fact of life among the Scottish clans. They had done their fair share of it. It was like a rite of passage for young lads into manhood. Besides, the MacGregors could have stolen the sheep back. But his father chose to risk clansmen’s lives, and his own, over five sheep. And for that he died.
                 Garrick had despised the MacGregors because of it but he had refused to escalate the situation further. A good laird chooses his battles wisely. And Garrick was a very good laird. He could not blame Seamus MacGregor