HISTORICAL ROMANCE: Scottish Romance: Scars of a Highlander (Highlander Alpha Male Romance) (Historical Fantasy Scottish Time Travel Romance Short Stories) by Cassandra Michaels Read Free Book Online

the condition that I marry him.” She said bitterly.
    “Then you should marry that man, so that your clan will succeed.” The broken warrior said sternly.
    “How can I ever rule a free clan if I have imprisoned myself?” Abi asked him. “How can I expect my people to be free when my own heart cannot? My clan was built on the freedom for people to choose what they wanted from life. What example do I set if I chain myself down?”
    “You are against the marriage then?” He asked her thoughtfully.
    “I am against the marriage only whilst there is hope of help elsewhere. If you chose to not to help me then I have no choice. I must ensure the lives of my people, even at the cost of my own life.” She said.
    “That is a very noble thing to do.” He said and then paused. “I will help you.” He said with a small nod.
    “You will help?” Abi asked him with excitement in her voice.
    “If you speak the truth then I was always destined to help you, otherwise I would have never of broken out of my stone prison.” The warrior said simply.
    “Can I ask what your real name is?” Abi said, as she stood up and brushed off the dirt that had settled across her dark blue cotton dress.
    “Gregory.” He replied without any hesitation.
    “Is it true that you never lost a man in battle?” She asked him with curious eyes.
    “Until the last battle, yes.” He said and then his eyes seemed to go foggy, as his voice grew distant.
    Abi could tell from the flashes of pain in his eyes that he was reliving the last moments of his final battle. “I’m sorry that your wife betrayed you.” She said tenderly.
    “As am I.” Gregory said with a wince. “That doesn’t matter anymore though. I am sure she is long gone if I have become but a legend.” He said as he turned his face up to the sky that had started to turn light blue.
    “We need to hurry back.” Abi said as she realized that the camp would already be awake by now.
    “Just show me the way.” Gregory said with a smile and a small bow.
    Abi nodded curtly and turned in the direction of the camp and started to walk. “Do you think that you will be enough to lead us into victory?” She asked him, as they walked over the long fields that stood between them and the campsite.
    “I know that for you, bonnie lass, I will try.” He said with a warm smile, which reassured Abi’s heart that she was doing the right thing.
    *******
    Abi and Gregory walked for some time in silence. Abi was unsure about how she should break it. She didn’t want to seem intrusive, but all her mind was offering her were questions. She stopped when she realized that Gregory had a few footsteps behind her and she turned to look at him.
    “Is everything alright?” She asked him as she took in his worried expression.
    “I’m sure everything is fine.” He said with a stiff nod. “I sense people are close though.” He said as his eyes scanned the horizon.
    “How can you be sure?” She asked him quietly.
    “I just know these things.” He said and then he turned his head quickly behind them and looked into a gathering of trees. “I’ll be right back.” He said and then he walked over to the trees slowly and disappeared among them.
    Abi stood watching for a moment, before she turned her attention back to the horizon. She frowned as she noticed something moving along it. It looked as though it was getting closer to her and she watched it with curiosity. It wasn’t long until she realized that it was two men who were walking across the fields towards her. She thought about calling out for Gregory, who still hadn’t appeared from the trees, but there were only two of them and she was sure that she could handle the situation.
    She took a deep breath as they got closer and then she called out into the space between them. “What are ya doing here?” She said with a steady voice.
    “Are you Abi?” The one with dark hair asked.
    “Aye.” She said with a curt nod. “What is it to