Dawn blocked her wildly flaying hands with her arms and rolled to her side forcing Lady Ann off her. She jumped, with a stumble, to her feet and her eyes turned wide when she saw that Lady Ann had retrieved the dagger.
“Damn you, die!” she hissed and rushed at Dawn.
Instinct took over and Dawn side-stepped the frantic woman, grabbed her wrist and held the dagger at bay. Lady Ann twisted with such strength that it knocked them both to the floor, the dagger pointed at Dawn’s stomach. Dawn didn’t hesitate, she twisted her mother’s wrist and sent the dagger into her throat. Blood spewed all over Dawn’s face and she watched the woman’s eyes spread wide in shock, and then collapse on top of her.
Her breath caught and she closed her eyes; she had just killed her mother.
The door swung open but Dawn didn’t turn her head. She was too numb to move.
Cree roared out Dawn’s name and she was sure that this time he had splintered some of the rafters.
All Cree could see was blood and Dawn not moving. He flew to her side, dropping down on his knees. “I forbid you to die. I forbid it,” he yelled grabbing her hand.
She opened her eyes and smiled. That was her Cree, demanding she obey him even when he thought her dead.
Relief flooded him and he quickly shoved Lady Ann’s body off her before asking, “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head and he scooped her up in his arms.
Sloan rushed into the room and after a quick glance asked, “Dawn is all right?”
“She is a brave warrior who fought a good battle and won. See to this,” Cree said with a nod to the body.
Sloan nodded and stepped out of the solar.
Cree walked to the door and stopped. “It is a good thing you obeyed me and didn’t die, for I would have had to wage war with death itself to get you back. You’re mine, you belong to me, and I’ll never let you go.”
Chapter Thirty-six
Two weeks later
“Why aren’t you naked and in our bed?” Cree said walking over to where Dawn stood by the hearth in their bedchamber.
She didn’t wait for him to reach her; she hurried to him and threw her arms around him.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded holding her tight.
She shook her head against his chest.
Cree scooped her up in his arms and walked to the bed to sit down with her in his lap. “I know it troubles you to see how Lucerne suffers when she was innocent in this matter, but only time will heal her. Elsa said that the potion Lady Ann had been feeding Lucerne, to keep her confused and doubtful, had been so potent that she must take another potion to help with the problems it caused. That was why she was having such bad headaches and her emotions were so erratic. Bree had changed the potion hoping to help Lucerne regain her old self, though I wonder if she will ever be herself again after finding out about her true identity and the circumstances surrounding it.”
Dawn nodded, though couldn’t help but recall how Lucerne had clung to Sloan when she had been informed of Lady Ann’s death and the circumstances surrounding it. She hadn’t cry, hadn’t say a word, she had simply clung tightly to Sloan.
“From what Sloan tells me you and Lila have been a great help to Lucerne. He told me that she looks forward to spending time with you two and hearing all about her true mother. Magda has also been a great help to her,” he said and nuzzled playfully at her neck.
She scrunched her shoulders against the titillating tickle that ran through her and gestured that he helped as well.
“At your insistence,” he said kissing along her neck, “I allowed her to reside in the keep, though I would have preferred her in a cottage, until we see what can be done with her. An answer to the message I sent to the King informing him of everything should be here soon and I’m sure he’ll have some suggestions concerning Lucerne’s future.”
Dawn grabbed hold of his face, stopping him from feasting at her neck, though she would have much preferred to let him continue. She pointed to him and then to her and then gestured a crown on her head and shrugged, her brow already scrunched in question.
“I have no doubt that the King will grant us permission to wed. Roland has sent a message along with mine claiming you as his daughter so it would be a good and satisfying union to the King. Besides, I informed the King that I would wed no other but you.”
Her eyes turned wide in fright.
Cree laughed. “Do not look so fearful, I have demanded things from the King before and have gotten them. He knows I serve him well and so he tolerates me or perhaps he’s fearful of the infamous Cree as so many are.”
Dawn laughed, though it was silent, it was obviously a hardy one.
Cree scowled. “You are not fearful of me, lass?”
It wasn’t the scowl that made her shiver but the burning passion that suddenly ignited in his dark eyes and ignited her own budding passion.
He brushed his lips over hers. “You are right to fear me, love, for I intend to stripe you bare and make endless love to you tonight.”
She smiled and crossed her heart with one finger.
“Yes, I promise that tonight we will love like never before.”
Dawn shivered and laid her hand over heart, and then placed it on his heart holding it there so that he knew how very much she loved him. It didn’t surprise her when he did the same, their gestures speaking louder than words.
He stood and eased her to her feet, his hands going to the ties of her blouse and as he untied each one he followed it with a kiss to her chest until the last one exposed her breasts and he nuzzled his face in between the two, soft mounds, then kissed the tops of each before bringing his mouth to hers to kiss and whispered, “I’m going to feast on every inch of you tonight.”
Dawn shivered in anticipation and licked her lips to let him know she intended to do the same to him.
“Damn, you grow me hard so fast that it hurts,” he said and his hands moved to hurry to get her out of her clothes so that they could begin their feast.
A knock pounded at the door.
“Damn, I thought once out of that cottage I’d never suffer another interfering knock again.”
Another rapid knock sounded.
“This better be important or whoever stands outside my door will suffer my never-ending wrath,” Cree yelled out.
The door opened and Sloan walked in. He stood staring at Cree speechless.
Dawn grabbed hold of Cree’s hand and squeezed.
“Tell me,” Cree ordered grateful that the woman he loved was standing next to him.
Sloan hesitated obviously reluctant.
“Tell me, Sloan,” Cree snapped sharply.
“Your sister has been abducted.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coming soon, book three in the Highlander trilogy: Cree’s sister, Wintra’s story, and more about Cree and Dawn.
Titles by Donna Fletcher
Single Titles
San Francisco Surrender
Untamed Fire
Rebellious Bride
The Buccaneer
Tame My Wild Touch
Playing Cupid
Whispers on the Wind
Series Books
The Wedding Spell (Wyrrd witch series)
Magical Moments
Magical Memories
Remember the Magic
The Irish Devil
Irish Hope
Isle of Lies
Love Me Forever
Dark Warrior
Legendary Warrior
The Daring Twin
The Bewitching Twin
Taken By Storm
The Highlander’s Bride
Return of the Rogue (Sinclare brothers’ series)
Under the Highlander’s Spell
The Angel & The Highlander
Highlander’s Forbidden Bride
Bound To A Warrior (Warrior King series)
Loved By A Warrior
A Warrior’s Promise
To Wed A Highland Warrior<
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Highlander Unchained
Forbidden Highlander
About the Author
Donna Fletcher is a USA Today bestselling romance author. Her books are sold worldwide. She started her career selling short stories and winning reader contests. She soon expanded her writing to her love of romance novels and sold her first book SAN FRANCISCO SURRENDER the year she became president of New Jersey Romance Writers. Donna is also a past President of Novelists, Inc.
Drop by Donna’s website www.donnafletcher.com where you can learn more about her, read Book News, find a printable Book List, and read her blog.
Want to be alerted to Donna’s book releases? Sign up for Book Alert. Send Donna an e-mail at [email protected] with Book Alert in the message box and you’re all set.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Titles by Donna Fletcher
About the Author
Forbidden Highlander (Highlander Trilogy 2) Page 31
