Read Highland Legends 04 - Captive Highlander for Free Online Page B

but I see how the ongoing clash of our clans
hurts my people. I would see this ended, even if I have to ransom you to make
it happen.”
    He smiled into her innocent face.
“Your father starts much of the recent conflict by stealing our livestock and
attacking our villages.”
    She rose from her seat and came
toward him. “That is a lie! Your clan does what you accuse mine of doing. I
wilna believe any of your rotten lies.”
    “Pray tell, fair Katie, who told
you ‘twas my clan who started this mess?”
    “My ward….” As the words fell
from her mouth, she realized her mistake. Ian Innes baited her and she revealed
more about her situation than she ever intended.
    Her captive studied her. His
intense blue eyes scoured every secret from her one blunder. “What is wrong
with your father that you are now in the care of a ward?”
    She must cover this somehow. “He
is ill and Rowan Rannoch has been appointed to direct the clan during his
infirmity.”
    “Rowan Rannoch? It seems an odd
choice. Why not someone who is a blood-relation to the clan?”
    “’Twas my father’s decision.”
    “Did you witness him granting
this privilege to Rannoch?”
    “Nay, Milord. I wasna present
when it occurred. I was told after.”
    “By whom? Rannoch?”
    Katie felt the blood drain from
her face. She had not questioned Rannoch’s authority over them. Rannoch said
her father did not wish to show favor by selecting one clansman over the other,
and so he gave Rannoch the honor. Was she truly as dumb as Ian now implied?
“Aye, so,” she whispered.
    “Rannoch has much to gain by
taking over during your father’s illness. He controls the clan and all they do.
I assure you, fair Katie, ‘tis your own clan who has begun these skirmishes of
late.” He paused to let it sink in. There was no need. It fell hard upon her.
    She worried so over her father
she blindly accepted all Rannoch said as true. Did Ian speak the truth about
the root of the trouble?
    He let out a shallow laugh. “And
now you poke my father by ransoming me. What did he say to your demands? I
wouldna be surprised if he just storms the castle rather than comply.”
    “I—I havena contacted him yet.”
    Ian grinned. “So ‘tis truly just
you and Keith who know of your folly.”
    “I didna think ‘twas folly. I
sought to end the conflict.” His eyes moved over her with interest. She felt
naked under his intense gaze. Katie turned from him to try and break the spell.
Quivering, she presented her back to him while she fought for composure.
    Ian drew a ragged breath as he
watched her. All he wanted to do was shed his chains and pull her into his
arms. He could comfort her now that she began to see the truth. “Katie, you are
young and didna see Rannoch’s plot. Still you tried to fix the mess with your
courageous plan. Free me now and I wilna tell my father where I have been.”
    She whirled to face him her eyes
blazing. “Who is trying to trick me now? ‘Tis you—you liar. Rannoch serves at
my father’s pleasure,” she said stepping closer.
    He rose, grabbed her, and pulled
her into his arms pressing her against his hard body so she could feel every
solid muscle. Taking hold of her hair, he forced her to look into his face. “I
dinna lie, Katie. Rannoch is the deceiver.”
    “I dinna believe you.” Her breath
came in short, frantic gasps. “‘Tis you who have much to gain. You only wish to
trick me into releasing you.”
    She trembled as she attacked him
and God help him, he found it bewitching. Lowering his head, he found her lips
with his. She gasped and struggled, but he did not stop. The taste of her drove
him mad with desire for so much more.
    Katie’s heart pounded in her
chest. What was he doing to her? The fire his touch ignited when they first met
burned again, sweeping over her body until she shook. His lips were hot and
insistent as he eased his tongue inside her mouth. He devoured her, sweeping
into her over and over. It felt like an act