Free Highland Persuasion (The MacLomain Series- Early Years) by Sky Purington

a lineage so crucial to great loves in the future would never have been possible. I did what I did for the greater good. I did what I did for the love of my clan and for a remarkable future for my child, one I would never have been able to provide.”
    Instead of lashing back, Alexander’s eyes flickered slowly to the fire then back to hers and he softly said, “I might blame you for many things but your Irish bairn is not one. As I hear it, you did best for all who mattered. Know this…” His voice softened further. “If your choices meant a better life for him and you knew it to be true in your heart then you show me something admirable in your person, nothing less, nothing more.”
    Ready to fight and defend her heartache, Iosbail found herself suddenly without words. Alexander did not condemn but supported the hardest decision of her life. It was a difficult emotion when one found themselves unsure whether to lash out or concede to their rival. But as their eyes held she realized that the Sinclair spoke truthfully.
    He’d meant every word.
    It was because of his compassion that she found herself saying, “My son began the lineage that will birth a lad named, Liam O’Donnell.” Iosbail smiled fondly. “’Twill be he who ensures the Broun’s find the MacLomain’s in the best way possible. ‘Tis a touching story.” She got lost in the flame, felt her eyes water. “A story I should not know of but do. You see it will all start to happen a hundred years from now.”
    “I cannae imagine the weight you carry not only from the past but the future.”
    Her eyes flickered to his, again surprised by his compassion. She whispered, “’Tis no grand thing being immortal… I grow weary.”
    His hand clenched as though it sought to soothe hers. “You would not be what you are had the gods not wished it. Do you believe in Destiny?”
    Iosbail blinked away an infuriating tear and sat up straighter. “No need to believe. She exists.”
    “Then there you go,” Alexander said quickly. “The upside to your immortality is that every move you’ve made all these long years was meant to be. There was a design and not a moment was for naught.”
    It was impossibly hard to look at him without thanks in her eyes. Laird Alexander, her sworn enemy, made her feel whole and peacefully without doubt when not a soul had been able to in such a long time…if ever. Their eyes held. When Iosbail found it hard to swallow, she was startled by the sheer emotion.
    A low whistle, almost identical to the sound of the wind, reached her ears. Their eyes unlocked when Alexander released a low, nearly inaudible sound in response.  Within a minute Shamus appeared with several birds flung over his shoulder. Iosbail didn’t miss the way his gaze flickered between her and Alexander as though he sensed he walked into a private conversation.
    Iosbail licked her lips and took a deep breath. She didn’t much like what had transpired between her and the Sinclair. It had been too much of something she found unfamiliar. To distract she grabbed one of the satchels and drew out what she knew would be there, her dagger. With a come hither motion she took one of the birds from Shamus and started to skin it.
    “So what of the lay of the land?” Alexander asked.
    “We need to head out early. There’s another good spot miles out but we’ll have to walk fast. These mountains provide far more sheer planes than alcoves. Trees become scarcer. Get to that spot tomorrow, find another cover for the next night then head back this way.”
    Alexander grunted and took a bird. “Not the news I wanted.”
    Shamus started to skin another bird. “No caves or tunnel as far as I could scout. The only mystery in these parts seems to be the stones that got us here. The rest are sturdy mountains.”
    “Is our next location as sheltered as this?” Iosbail asked. “If not, are there others? Is it safer to break up, travel in pairs?”
    Eyes to task, the Irishman