He’d never even seen Lady Talia, and now he knew why. “Did your father lock your sister in her chamber?”

“Aye. How did you know?” Seona gazed up at him, trust and worry in her dark blue eyes.

“I wondered why I hadn’t seen her. If her face has a great bruise on it, he’s not going to want anyone to see that.”

“Indeed. Just before I left the castle, I learned that my father had unlocked her door after supper because the bruise had faded.”

“How will we get her out of the castle?”

Maybe he could ask Rebbie or Fraser to sneak her sister out, but he couldn’t let Seona go back. There was too much of a chance her father would beat her.

“What does your sister look like?” Keegan asked.

“She looks much like me, except she has dark brown eyes.”

Keegan released her hands and stepped back. “Wait here. I’ll go see if Fraser and Rebbie can slip into the castle, find her, and bring her here.”

“’Twould be wonderful, but very dangerous for them should my father discover them.”

“They live for danger.” Keegan sent her a smirk, hoping she would stop worrying so much.

“Very well. Two of the maids, Abigail and Beth, are looking for Talia in the attic right now. I told them to bring her to her chamber or mine when they find her.”

Keegan nodded, then hurried down the stairs and outside. “Fraser?”

“Aye.” He stepped from the shadows of the building.

“I need for you or Rebbie, or both of you if possible, to steal into the castle and find Seona’s younger sister, Talia. Chief Murray beat her recently, leaving her face black and blue. We have to rescue her, too, or he may beat her again. Or worse.”

“Damn the man,” Fraser muttered. “I agree.”

“She has a tendency to hide from her father in the deserted attic. Two maids named Abigail and Beth are searching for her there now. Talia resembles Seona, except Talia has brown eyes.”

“We’ll find her.” Fraser mounted and headed back to the castle.

***

Seona awaited Keegan in the inn’s chamber, praying Rebbie or Fraser could indeed find Talia and bring her here before it was too late. She worried for her sister’s safety more than her own.

Keegan entered the room, closed the door, and locked it with a large key. “He said he would do it.”

“Oh, I hope they can find her. I thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The candle and the fire burned brightly, the orange glow illuminating Keegan’s striking face and gilding his hair. She drank in the appealing sight of him, wanting so badly to touch him. To kiss him and show him her gratitude.

“When they find her and bring her here, where will we go?” she asked.

Keegan knelt at the hearth and placed another stick of wood on the fire. “We’ll go south with a small group of MacKay guards. The MacKenzies will head back to Teasairg to tell Dirk what’s happened. The remaining MacKays will return to Dunnakeil as quickly as possible to prepare the clan and castle for a possible attack from your father. Hopefully, once he knows you’re not there, he’ll leave.”

“This is terrible,” she whispered, her stomach aching. “I never wanted to endanger your clan. I love them like mine own.”

“I ken it. I wish you’d told me earlier about your father beating your sister.”

“I figured if you knew that, you’d also assume—rightly—that my father has beaten me in the past. I feared you might retaliate against him, putting your own life in danger.”

He stood and faced her, frowning. “You were trying to protect me by leaving yourself in danger?”

“I suppose I was.”

“Seona.” He shook his head. “I don’t need protecting. I’m the protector.”

“But you are not immortal,” she said fiercely, tears burning her eyes. “I love you, and I could never live with myself if you were hurt or… killed because of me.”

“Lass.” He moved forward and drew her close. She loved the way his strong arms tightened about her, surrounding her with protection. She felt safer than ever before. He kissed the top of her head, and his affection flowed sweetly through her.

Oh, why could he not be hers?

Sliding her arms around his neck, she rose on tiptoes and kissed his prickly chin. He bent and captured her mouth with his own. All thoughts scattered from her mind. His lips were so warm and firm, yet also silky soft. Gentle, yet forceful. And his tongue was erotic seduction itself. He tasted of virile male, spiced wine and apples.

Desire for him burned through her and passion exploded like a lightning bolt. His hands cupped her derriere, tugging her closer, tight against his hard shaft. He felt so divine, she couldn’t stop herself from rubbing against him. A scorching tingle shot through her, inciting an ache in her lower belly. Somehow, she knew he could relieve the feverish need he always stirred up within her.

“I want you, Keegan,” she whispered against his mouth.

He moaned and gave her another deep kiss.

She drew back an inch. “You must show me what love means between a man and a woman.”

“Saints, Seona,” he hissed. “You drive me mad with your teasing.”

“I am not teasing,” she said most firmly. “I want you to… show me how to please you… in bed. I want you to take me.”

He growled and closed his eyes, his jaw clenching so tightly the muscle in his cheek flexed. After drawing in a deep breath, he opened his eyes. “I need for you to do something first.”

“What?”

His blue gaze burned into hers. “Marry me.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

All the breath left Seona as she stared into the azure flame of Keegan’s eyes for a long, heart-stopping moment. Marry me, he had said.

“Now?” she asked.

“Aye. Right now.” He dug into his sporran and brought out a gold band. “I went to Inverness yesterday and bought this ring for you, for when we marry. I ken we cannot legally wed without a priest or minister and witnesses, but what matters most are the vows between us, even if spoken in secret. To me, that would be real. You would become my wife, in the ancient way.”

She nodded, tears in her eyes, her heart so filled with love and joy she could scarce contain it.

“You agree?” he asked.

“Aye. I want to marry you, Keegan.” Even if it was a marriage her father wouldn’t recognize… to her it would be a true marriage. The only one she would ever have. Keegan as her husband was what she wanted most in the world.

“Good.” Keegan pulled in a deep breath and drew her to stand facing him before the hearth where the firelight was brighter. His face told her many things—that he was suddenly a wee bit nervous, but then, so was she. Terrified, in fact. But it was time to grab hold of what she wanted and never let go. The sincere devotion in his intense gaze made her fall even harder for him.

“Lady Seona Murray,” he murmured, his voice deep and strong. “You are the stars in the sky, the warm and bright sun upon my face, the wine I drink, the air I breathe. And I love you.” Lifting her left hand, he kissed her ring finger then slid the gold band upon it. “With this ring, I thee wed. I vow to protect you and cherish you the whole of my life. I shall always be faithful unto you. I take you for my wife.”

Though she tried to hold back, Seona burst into tears.

He drew her close and kissed her forehead. “Shh.”

“That was so beautiful, Keegan,” she whispered. How on earth could she find words of equal beauty to tell him how she felt?

Forcing her emotions under control, she wiped the tears away and stood back. Gazing up into his eyes, she knew she had to be the luckiest woman in the world. “Keegan MacKay,” she began.

He nodded, a hint of a smile taking away his serious expression.

She swallowed hard. “You are the most honorable and noble of men. Strong and steadfast… the rock I cling to in the storm. I admire you, trust you, and love you more than I could’ve ever dreamed possible. You bring me joy and happiness such as I have never known. And I vow to forever love and cherish you. I shall always be faithful to you only. I take you for my husband.”