Seducing a Scottish Bride by Sue-Ellen Welfonder Read Free Book Online Page A

crossed the room and threw back the lid to his strongbox.
     “I’ve thought of my own way to rid Dare of its maladies.”
    “Bah!” Valdar frowned at the travel gear in the opened coffer. “By hieing yourself off on some fool journey?”
    “Nae, good sir, you err.” His own scowl equally daunting, Ronan lifted a folded cloak from the coffer and placed it on the
     bed. “ ’Tis no fool’s journey, but a purposeful one. Since my father’s passing, Maldred the Dire’s curse has centered on me.
     I mean to —”
    A sound very like thunder rumbled in Valdar’s chest. “Maldred ne’er cursed Dare. He —”
    Ronan snorted. “The man was an archdruid and a sorcerer. His wickedness and dark deeds have marked and overshadowed every
     MacRuari since his day. It scarce matters if he spoke the curse or nae, the result is the same.”
    “Which is why you must wed a fiery, handsome lass with enough spirit and vigor to banish Maldred’s influence.” His grandfather
     snatched the cloak off the bed and tossed it back into the strongbox. “Such a bride will bring light back to Dare, lessening
     Maldred’s hold. If you come to love her, the shadows will fade. I am certain of it. Even the blackest powers can be conquered
     by love.”
    “Spare me such nonsense.” Ronan retrieved his travel cloak and returned it to the bed. “I
have
loved. I loved Matilda passionately, as well you know. And dinna tell me there hasn’t been love at Dare since Maldred’s day.”
     He flashed a look at Valdar. “I may be cursed, but I’m no dimwit.”
    “To be sure there’s been love.” His grandfather bristled. “I cared deeply for your grandmother, and your father loved your
     mother. But not enough to challenge Dare’s darkness. Arranged marriages rarely bring the kind of passion that sets the heather
     ablaze.”
    “Yet you believe a third such union for me will burn so hotly?” Ronan took an extra sword belt from his strongbox and began
     rolling it into a tight coil. “Do you not hear the contradiction in your own words?”
    Valdar’s eyes lit with a conspiratorial glint. “My informants claim your new bride’s fire would scorch the sun.”
    “I do not have a new bride. Nor will I accept one.” Ronan set a wineskin on the bedcovers, next to his coiled belt. “Further,
     rumor has it that where I am going, there are women keen enough to rock the hills should I feel such a need.”
    His grandfather considered him. “And where might that be?”
    “Santiago de Compostela. Once I’ve knelt at the shrine of Saint James and collected my scallop-shell badge, I am certain Maldred
     will plague us no more. Even he would recognize the power of such a token.” The truth of it flashed down Ronan’s spine. “Tangible
     proof I made the journey and prayed for our family’s redemption. No shrine badge is holier than Saint James’s scallop. The
     dark forces here will recoil —”
    “Och, is that so?” Valdar wriggled his eyebrows. “I say you’re blethering nonsense. ’Tis the MacKenzie lass’s fire you need.
     Naught else!”
    Ronan flipped back his plaid and folded his arms. “Should I wish a desirable woman’s
heat
, the return journey through Spain and France will provide ample opportunity.”
    “Begad!” Valdar wagged a finger. “You needn’t travel clear across the world to rid us o’ Maldred. I’m a-telling you, your
     new bride shines so bright, her mere presence will send his darkness packing. I know it here.” He paused, pounding a fist
     against his heart. “Gelis MacKenzie —”
    “
MacKenzie
?” Ronan stared at him, his own heart stopping. “Are you mad? The Black Stag has left us in peace all these years. He’d not
     leave one stone or blade of grass unblackened if you even thought to bring a MacKenzie woman to Dare.”
    “Not just any MacKenzie woman. Your new bride is the Black Stag’s own daughter.”
    Pressing fingers to his temples, Ronan shook his head. “You ken, I’d gladly