Excerpt of Highlander's Bride by Joanne Wadsworth

For the past month since Ronan’s escape from Carron
Castle’s dungeons all he’d wished to do was heal then
ensure an adequate disguise so he might return to Kyla
without anyone discovering his true identity. He longed
to see the fiery spark in her blue eyes. She was
spectacular, mesmerizing, a true Scottish lass with the
fire of the fae in her blood. Aye, no more would he allow
his mate to deny their bond.

Along the trail, he snuck then halted as up ahead
splashing trickled toward him.

With nary a noise, he stepped out from amongst the thick
trees encircling a clearing. Sunshine rippled across the
glistening surface of a perfectly round pool holding his
enticing siren within.

Scooping water at her sides, Kyla floated on her back,
her waist-length locks splaying out like a lily pad of
golden-red, her dainty face upturned and eyes closed. The
water swelled around her, cascaded over her bare legs and
belly. Her full breasts rose above the surface and—hell.
He hadn’t expected to find her without a stitch of
clothing on.

He should turn away, give her the privacy she desired,
only doing so right now was impossible. Her lips, softly
parted, drew his gaze even though every curved inch of
her remained on glorious display. His chosen one had been
raised far away from her true clan, and now his battle to
capture and contain his fiery mate had begun, a battle
he’d never walk away from.

Today, she’d learn that the fae never gave up on one of
their own.

He lowered his satchel to the ground, toed off his boots
and unbelted his sword. ’Twas time for his mate to see he
was back and wasn’t leaving without her, not one more
time. At the edge of the pool, he planted his hands on
his hips, determination spurring him on. “Kyla.”

Water splashed and his enticing siren gasped and dunked
under the surface. She came back up spluttering, her
beautiful blue eyes alight. “Coll? What are you—” She
scrubbed her knuckles into her eyes then blinked. “Nay,
you’re no’ Coll. Who are you?”

“Rand MacKenzie, my lady, at your service.”