Free Highland Revenge (Fated Hearts Book 1) by Ceci Giltenan

caused her heart to ache. Her own brother was missing, in all likelihood dead, and her uncle had left her to the tender mercies of his greatest enemy. Until Bhaltair refused to pay the ransom, she had believed her aunt and uncle loved her. Maybe they didn’t feel the same about her as they did their own children, but she never imagined they would abandon her. It seemed the Sutherlands didn’t care much for her either, because there had apparently been no word from them about paying the ransom.
    Sometime later, she was still lost in thought and self-pity when she heard a soft knock at her door and Anna poked her head in.
    “I’m sorry, Fiona. Can I come in?”
    “Of course ye can, pet, and ye have nothing to be sorry about.”
    “Aye, I do. I should have understood that Eoin was just trying to keep us safe.”
    “Ye’re very lucky to have him and yer other brothers.”
    “I know, but they’re men and they’re so stupid sometimes.” She rolled her eyes and Fiona laughed. “Still, I wouldn’t have Eoin if it weren’t for ye, and having Aiden in charge would be much worse. Ye were very brave, Fiona.”
    “Ye would have done the same in my position. Ye were ready to do battle with Eoin on my behalf the day I arrived.”
    Anna laughed. “Aye, but he was wrong that day.”
    “And if he is like the rest of us, he will be wrong again.” Fiona grinned. “At least once or twice. But he does love ye.”
    “I know he does, and he would never let anything happen to me. We fight a lot, but he would do whatever was necessary to help me if I needed it.”
    Fiona smiled sadly, once again realizing how very alone she was. Seeking to change the subject she asked, “Do ye want to hear something funny?”
    Anna nodded eagerly.
    “I was eleven when my uncle captured yer brother. Ye know the story. What my uncle intended was wrong, so I did what I had to do to prevent it. Yer brother was a sorry sight then. Certainly not a typical maiden’s idea of a hero, but somehow over the years, he became that for me.”
    “Eoin?” Anna was incredulous.
    Fiona chuckled. “Aye, Eoin. Anytime I was sad or lonely, or when my uncle locked me up as punishment, I imagined Eoin coming to my rescue. I had to imagine what he looked like, ye know, not being feverish, bruised and at death’s door.”
    Anna laughed.
    “Still for some reason, he was always my rescuer. I think maybe it was because my uncle hated him so very much, I thought it somehow appropriate. I imagined him scaling castle walls, beating down locked doors and battling with my uncle to free me. I imagined how frustrated and angry my uncle would have been, not only because I escaped, but because it was Eoin MacKay who rescued me.”
    Anna sobered. “And he hasn’t rescued ye. He has imprisoned ye.”
    “Anna, I didn’t mean to make ye sad and I’m not exactly imprisoned anymore. I just thought ye might find it funny that the brother ye argue and fight with was someone else’s idea of a hero.”
    “And yer brother never saved ye?”
    Fiona laughed. “Alec has been in training for most of the last eight years. But, Anna, I didn’t really need saving. I wasn’t a particularly biddable or well-mannered young lady. I was never punished without cause. It’s just…” how could she explain wanting to feel loved and accepted to this lass, who had never known anything but love and acceptance?
    “What?”
    “Nothing. I just hated being locked up whether I deserved it or not.”
    “Well then, let’s get out of here.”
    “Anna, yer brother said we couldn’t ride today.”
    “But we can take a walk to the top of the bluff overlooking Loch Islich. It is close, within sight of the keep and village. I don’t need an escort to go there.” She laughed at Fiona’s skeptical expression. “Ye worry too much, Fiona. Besides, Eoin said it was all right and he can spare a guardsman to go with us as long as we don’t stay too long.”
    They had a lovely walk through the village