A Highlander's Temptation Read online

  DAZZLING REVIEWS FOR SUE-ELLEN WELFONDER AND HER NOVELS

  SEDUCING A SCOTTISH BRIDE

  “4½ Stars! Welfonder sweeps readers into a tale brimming with witty banter between a feisty heroine and a stalwart hero… The added paranormal elements and sensuality turn this into an intriguing page-turner that fans of Scottish romance will adore.”

  —Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine

  “Extraordinary… a rare gift to savor.”

  — SingleTitles.com

  “A great paranormal historical romance… Fans will read this in one delightful sitting, so set aside the time.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “Marvelous… Welfonder writes wonderful Scottish tales… This one is filled with danger, love, lust, and intrigue.”

  — RomanceReviewsMag.com

  “A fabulous author… Gelis is a spirited heroine… and Ronan is a lovely Scottish hero… Does it get any better?”

  — BellaOnline.com

  “Enchanting… Scotland is one of the most magical lands in history, and Sue-Ellen Welfonder brings it alive in this tale… You’ll fall in love with Ronan and Gelis, and if you haven’t read the rest of the MacKenzies’ stories, you’ll be chomping at the bit to get them after reading Seducing a Scottish Bride.”

  — RomRevToday.com

  “A remarkable Scottish tale… Enchanting… [Welfonder’s] words are so real we can almost hear the warriors’ swords clashing, see the mist on the moors, and smell the moss gathered on trees and clinging to rocks… Seducing a Scottish Bride is the latest in a long line of Scottish stories by Ms. Welfonder that will charm you.”

  — FreshFiction.com

  “One of a kind. The sensuality abounds… An astounding and worthy read… Welfonder continues her penchant for penning romances that touch the heart.”

  — MyShelf.com

  “I love a good Highland novel and this book did not disappoint. If you’re a member of the kilt-o-holic club like I am, then I think you’ve found a book to read.”

  — OnceUponaRomance.net

  BRIDE FOR A KNIGHT

  “[Welfonder] skillfully draws you into a suspenseful mystery with wonderful atmosphere.”

  —Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine

  “Once again, Welfonder’s careful scholarship and attention to detail vividly re-create the lusty, brawling days of medieval Scotland with larger-than-life chivalrous heroes and the dainty but spirited maidens chosen by the old gods and blessed by the saints to partner them.”

  —Booklist

  “The paranormal and mystery elements blend nicely into the story line as those segues enhance a fine historical romance.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “This is not just a love story, but one of mystery as well. Sue-Ellen Welfonder has a beautiful way of spinning a story.”

  — FreshFiction.com

  “Again Sue-Ellen Welfonder uses surprises and special twists and turns as she tells a poignant love story.”

  — NovelTalk.com

  UNTIL THE KNIGHT COMES

  “To lovers of all things Scottish, [Welfonder] writes great tales of passion and adventure. There’s magic included along with the various ghosts and legends only Scotland could produce. It’s almost better than a trip there in person.”

  — RomanceReviewsMag.com

  “Welfonder’s storytelling skill and medieval scholarship shine in her latest Kintail-based Scottish romance with magical elements.”

  —Booklist

  ONLY FOR A KNIGHT

  “Captivating… fast-moving… steamy, sensual, and utterly breathtaking… will win your heart.”

  — FreshFiction.com

  “4½ Stars! Enthralling… Welfonder brings the Highlands to life with her vibrant characters, impassioned stories, and vivid description.”

  —Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine

  “A book I highly recommend for those who enjoy sexy Scotsmen. A wonderful tale of love.”

  — TheRomanceReadersConnection.com

  WEDDING FOR A KNIGHT

  “With history and beautiful details of Scotland, this book provides romance, spunk, mystery, and courtship… a must-read!”

  —Rendezvous

  “A very romantic story… extremely sexy. I recommend this book to anyone who loves the era and Scotland.”

  — TheBestReviews.com

  MASTER OF THE HIGHLANDS

  “Welfonder does it again, bringing readers another powerful, emotional, highly romantic medieval that steals your heart and keeps you turning the pages.”

  —Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine

  “Yet another bonny Scottish romance to snuggle up with and inspire pleasantly sinful dreams.”

  —Heartstrings

  BRIDE OF THE BEAST

  “Larger-than-life characters and a scenic setting… Welfonder pens some steamy scenes.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “4½ Stars!… A top pick… powerful emotions, strong and believable characters, snappy dialogue, and some humorous moments add depth to the plotline and make this a nonstop read.”

  —Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine

  KNIGHT IN MY BED

  “Exciting, action-packed… a strong tale that thoroughly entertains.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “Steamy… sensual.”

  —Booklist

  DEVIL IN A KILT

  “A lovely gem of a book. Wonderful characters and a true sense of place make this a keeper.”

  —Patricia Potter, author of The Heart Queen

  “As captivating as a spider’s web, and the reader can’t get free until the last word… tense, fast-moving.”

  —Rendezvous

  BOOKS BY SUE-ELLEN WELFONDER

  Devil in a Kilt

  Knight in My Bed

  Bride of the Beast

  Master of the Highlands

  Wedding for a Knight

  Only for a Knight

  Until the Knight Comes

  Bride for a Knight

  Seducing a Scottish Bride

  A Highlander’s Temptation

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2009 by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Forever

  Hachette Book Group

  237 Park Avenue

  New York, NY 10017

  Visit our website at www.HachetteBookGroup.com.

  www.twitter.com/foreverromance

  Forever is an imprint of Grand Central Publishing.

  The Forever name and logo is a trademark of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  First eBook Edition: October 2009

  ISBN: 978-0-446-55880-8

  Contents

  Books by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

  Copyright

  Acknowledgments

  The Legacy of the Thunder Rod

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteenr />
  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Epilogue

  The Dish

  This one is for Catherine Abernathy.

  A very special friend and one of the most caring souls I know, she is living proof that great-hearted people exist outside medieval Scotland.

  Like many of my longtime readers, she’s especially fond of Duncan MacKenzie, hero of Devil in a Kilt. If it were possible, I know he’d give her a tremendous hug. He might even shout Cuidich ’N’ Righ! in her honor. As it is, I hope these words express how much I love and appreciate her.

  Acknowledgments

  Scotland is my greatest passion and the heartbeat of every book I write. Most of my MacKenzie tales are set in Kintail, a truly magnificent part of the Highlands. It was there, many years ago, that Duncan MacKenzie strode into my imagination, demanding that I write his story, which became Devil in a Kilt. With each new book and every successive visit to Kintail, I’ve come to think of these rocky shores and mist-hung hills as Duncan’s own and likely always will.

  In A Highlander’s Temptation, I gave his daughter Arabella an adventure, letting her visit another part of Scotland that I love. I chose a place of family ties and old history, basing MacConachers’ Isle on my own ancestral isle of Colonsay. Only a few square miles of windswept wildness, jagged cliffs, and sandy bays, this tiny Hebridean isle is a place of unforgettable beauty.

  Many special corners of Colonsay can be glimpsed in this book. Kiloran Bay, with its sweeping crescent of golden sand and towering cliffs, made the ideal setting for Castle Bane. These crags are riddled with caves, and readers will spot where I’ve used this feature. The Seal Isles actually exist and lie close by. Rich Viking tradition also thrives on Colonsay, with traces of the distant Norse past visible everywhere. Olaf Big Nose, Asa Long-Legs, and others were a nod to my own fascination with Viking lore.

  My interest also stems from cherished visits to Shetland, where Viking heritage is greatly honored. I have a favorite restaurant on Scalloway Bay where it isn’t unusual to glance out the window and see a replica longship sail by. Excavations of Viking Age settlements dot the landscape, and I thrill to explore such places. These remnants of the past, both on Colonsay and in Shetland, provided the creative sparks that became Arabella’s adventure.

  Four special women also helped me: Roberta M. Brown, my agent and dearest friend. She is a true skörungur. Karen Kosztolnyik, my much appreciated editor. A pleasure to work with, her insightful suggestions are always spot on. Celia Johnson, for being so helpful and sweet. And a grateful nod to copyeditor Lynne Cannon Menges for making sure all i’s were dotted and all t’s properly crossed. She has a fabulous eye!

  As ever, thanks and love to my very handsome husband, Manfred, who tolerates my daily jaunts to medieval Scotland with the patience of a saint and grumbles only slightly when I visit modern-day Scotland. I couldn’t do this without him. And my little dog, Em, who graciously decides when I need walks and cuddle time. He rules my world with tail wags and sloppy wet kisses. I hope he knows how much I love him.

  Extra special thanks to the many readers who support my books. I love hearing from you. You make writing all worthwhile.

  The Legacy of the Thunder Rod

  Along the west coast of Scotland lies a chain of islands of such beauty and grandeur even the most ardent romantic is hard-pressed to describe their majesty. Curving bays of glistening white sand and glittering seas of every hue vie to catch one’s breath while jagged, spray-strewn skerries and sheer, impossibly steep cliffs compete with gentle, grass-grown dunes and long-tumbled ruins to stir the soul.

  Ruled for centuries by the pagan Norse, the Hebrides are a place of legend, each isle steeped in ancient lore and tradition. Sea gods, merfolk, and fabled Celtic heroes abound, their mythic tales spun with relish by silver-tongued bards in the long, dark cold of deep winter nights.

  But not all such tales are widely known.

  Indeed, some are kept secret.

  And one of the most intriguing secrets to be found in the vast Sea of the Hebrides belongs to the once proud Clan MacConacher.

  Broken, small in number, and ill-favored with the Scottish crown, the MacConachers dwell far from their erst-while seat in Argyll; their straight-backed, long-suffering ranks reduced to scratching out a living on a rocky, windswept isle surrounded by reefs and rough seas.

  An isle they cherish because it is all that remains left to them, and, above all, because MacConacher’s Isle lies well beyond the reach of the dread MacKenzies, the powerful clan responsible for their ruin.

  Not that the MacConachers wish to forget their doom-bringing foes.

  Far from it. The present chieftain is young, bold, and of fiery spirit. Keen to throw off his clan’s mantle of shame and sorrow, he has only two burning ambitions. He lives to restore his family’s good name and fortune. He also plans for the day he can wreak vengeance on Clan MacKenzie.

  His least concern is his clan’s most precious possession, the Thunder Rod.

  Given to an ancestor by a Norse nobleman, the relic is a polished length of fossilized wood, intricately carved with runes and still bearing bits of brilliant color. Clan elders claim the rod was either a piece of wood torn from the prow of Thor’s own longboat or, perhaps, crafted by a great Viking lord for his lady to keep in his remembrance when he is at sea.

  Roughly the size of a man’s forearm and rumored to hold great magic, its particular powers do not interest the braw MacConacher chieftain.

  Until the stormy morning when the black winds of fate present him with an irresistible opportunity to settle a long-simmering score.

  Now, at last, he can use the Thunder Rod.

  If he dares.

  Chapter One

  EILEAN CREAG CASTLE THE GREAT HALL AT MORNING AUTUMN 1350

  What do you mean you wish to see the Seal Isles?”

  Duncan MacKenzie, the indomitable Black Stag of Kintail, slapped down his ale cup and stared across the well-laden high table at his eldest daughter, Lady Arabella. His good humor of moments before vanished as he narrowed his eyes on her, his gaze piercing.

  Arabella struggled for composure. Years of doing so helped her not to squirm. But she wasn’t sure she could keep her cheeks from flaming. Already the back of her neck burned as if it’d caught fire.

  So she moistened her lips and tried to pretend her father wasn’t pinning her with a look that said he could see right into her soul, maybe even knew how her belly churned and that her palms were damp.

  Or that all her hopes and dreams hung on this moment.

  “Well?” He raised one dark brow.

  Arabella plucked at a thread on her sleeve, then, realizing what she was doing, stopped at once. She looked up, somehow resisting the urge to slip a finger beneath the neckline of her gown or perhaps even loosen her bodice ties. Faith, but she needed air. Her chest felt so constricted, she could hardly draw a breath.

  She did manage to hold her father’s stare. Hot and bold MacKenzie blood flowed in her veins, too. And even if she’d spent her life quashing any urges to heed her clan’s more passionate nature, this was one time she meant to do her name proud.

  So she angled her chin and firmed up her jaw with just a touch of stubbornness.

  “You heard what I said.” She spoke as calmly as she could, her daring making her heart skitter. “The seals…”

  She let the words trail off, the excuse sounding ridiculous even to her own ears.

  Her father huffed, clearly agreeing.

  “We’ve plenty of such beasties in our own waters.” He made a dismissive gesture, his tone final. “You’ve no need to journey to the ends of nowhere to see them.”

  At once, a deafening silence fell around the hall’s torchlit dais. Somewhere a castle dog cracked a bone, his gnawing all the more loud for the sudden quiet. Everywhere kinsmen and
friends swiveled heads in their puissant chieftain’s direction, though some discreetly glanced aside. Whatever their reaction, no one appeared surprised by the outburst. Those who called Eilean Creag their home were well used to the Black Stag’s occasional bouts of temper.

  “If it is such creatures you wish to study, I saw one just yestere’en.” He sat back in his carved oaken laird’s chair, looking pleased. “A fine dog seal sunning himself on a rock down by the boat strand.”

  Arabella doubted every word. She did tighten her fingers on the handle of her spoon.

  This wasn’t about seals and she suspected her father knew it. His continued stare, narrow-eyed and penetrating, was more than proof.

  She started to lower her own gaze, but caught herself and frowned instead. And rather than returning her attention to her wooden bowl of slaked oats as she would have done just a few days ago, she sat up straighter and squared her shoulders.

  She only hoped that no one else heard the thundering of her heart.

  It wasn’t every day that she dared defy her fierce-eyed, hot-tempered father.

  Indeed, this was the first time she meant to try.

  Her contentment in life—she couldn’t bring herself to use the word happiness—depended on her being strong.

  Firm, resolute, and unbending.

  “I’m not interested in Kintail seals, Father.” She cleared her throat, careful to keep her chin raised. “And there is a need. Besides that, I want to make this journey. The Seal Isles are mine now. You gave them to me.”

  “I added them to your bride price!”

  “Which makes them my own.” She persisted, unable to stop. “It’s only natural I should wish to see them. I can make a halt at the Isle of Doon on the way, bringing your felicitations to your friends the MacLeans and the cailleach, Devorgilla. You can’t deny that they would welcome me. After that, I could perhaps call at—”

  “Ho! What’s this?” Her father’s gaze snapped to a quiet, scar-faced man half-hidden in shadow at the end of the table. “Can it be a certain long-nosed loon of a Sassunach has been putting such mummery in your head?”