Highland Oath

Highland Oath

C.A. Szarek

Highland Treasures Book One

All rights reserved

Copyright © October, 2017, C.A. Szarek

Cover Photograph Copyright © August, 2017 Period Images, V.J. Dunraven

Cover Model: Tobias

Cover Design Copyright © 2017, Bookin’ It Designs, Talina Perkins

Series Logo Design Copyright © 2016, Danielle Loiselle

Edited by Susan Sheehey and Fiona Thomas

Paper Dragon Publishing

North Richland Hills, TX

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including, but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Paper Dragon Publishing or the Author.

eBook ISBN: 978-1-941151-33-4

Print book ISBN: 978-1-941151-34-1

Published in the United States of America

First eBook Edition: November, 2017

First Print Edition: January, 2018

Second eBook Edition: September, 2023

Second Print Edition: September, 2023

Other Books by C.A. Szarek

Highland Secrets Trilogy & Companions—Historical Fantasy Romance

The Princess and The Laird (Highland Secrets Prequel)

The Tartan MP3 Player (Book One)

The Fae Ring (Book Two)

The Parchment Scroll (Book Three)

Highland Valentine (A Highland Secrets HEA Story)

Highlander’s Portrait (A Highland Secrets Story)

Highland Treasures—Historical Fantasy Romance

Highland Oath (Book One)

Highland Essence (Book Two)

Highland Skies (Book Three)

The King’s Riders—Fantasy Romance

Sword’s Call (Book One)—Also in Audio

Love’s Call (Book Two)—Also in Audio

Rogue’s Call (Book Three)—Also in Audio

Fate’s Call (A Novella from the World of the King’s Riders)—Also in Audio

Crossing Forces—Romantic Suspense

Collision Force (Book One)—Also in Audio

Cole in Her Stocking (A Crossing Forces Christmas)—FREE read!

Chance Collision (Book Two)—Also in Audio

Calculated Collision (Book Three)—Also in Audio

Collision Control (Book Four)—Also in Audio

Weekend Collision (A Crossing Forces HEA Story)—FREE read!

Superior Collision (Book Five)—Also in Audio

Incendiary Collision (Book Six)—Coming Soon!

The Giovanni - Romantic Suspense

King of Hearts (Book One)—Also in Audio

Queen of Diamonds (Book Two)—Coming Soon!

Dedication

To all the Scotophiles out there who dream of real time travel and tall, very hot, muscled men in kilts. (Just without the smelly realities of the past).

Chapter One

Angus was too late.

The gush of magic raced through the air, even up on the high overhanging ridge when he skidded his horse to a halt and threw his leg over her wide back. He slid down Magda’s side and didn’t stop to pat or thank the red roan mare.

Another surge, thrown like a pulsating shield, hit his senses and he bit back curses. He scrambled down the cliff-face, clinging before he jumped to the loamy beach, so he wouldn’t fall in his haste. Last thing he needed was a black and blue arse—or worse, an injury like his da’s.

His foolish foolish lass of a sister and his idiot cousin had already opened the Faery Stones. His mother had been right. Even though the dangers of the Fae were well known by the lad and lass, they’d acted unwisely, impulsively.

Recklessly.

Fear inched in on the edges of his vision, but he tried to stave it off.

I really am too late.

What if they were harmed…or killed by a race of people who considered them enemies, no matter they had shared blood?

Angus’ heart sank to his gut. His family would never survive their loss. His father and uncles would wage war if their children were lost, no matter the risk.

His strong draw to the magic Stones scattered his dark thoughts and made his blood thrum the closer he got.

Waves crashed into the beach, sounding as loud and angry as he felt, but he paid them no heed. He stormed into the cave that housed the magical portal.

It led to the Realm of the Fae, but with someone who wasn’t wholly of Fae blood—as was the case with all three of them—it often could rip open a doorway in time, usually the far far future.

Even before he reached the place inside where the meager entrance widened into a cavern, the Faery Stones called to his magic, humming in welcome, an audible tune in his head. Angus tried to ignore the plea, its power, and focus on the two misfits before him, but the Faery Stones demanded their due, as if claiming the part of him that was Fae.

Five large crystals sat atop five natural-looking rock-like formations on the cave floor, in a semi-circle that looked too perfect to be accidental placement. They were lit from the inside, an almost throbbing radiance, and in turn, illuminated the cave.

They’d been grown, curated with magic, but not by humans. His mother, a former Fae princess, speculated the Faery Stones had been brought to the Human Realm a millennia ago by curious Fae who wanted to explore their sister realm.

The cave containing the magical gate wasn’t overly large, but it wasn’t tiny, and the natural floor was littered with starkly white sand, much different than outside on the pebble-ridden beach.

He stilled, eyes landing on a diminutive dark-haired lass, and a broad-shouldered lad standing next to her. His cousin’s height and breadth belied his youth of eight and ten years.

Like most MacLeod males, they both towered over his sister. She wasn’t the height of Liam’s mother, their Aunt Janet; Alexandria was only a few inches past five feet.

They stood next to the crystals, their collective gaze looking from him to the Stones and back. The portal wasn’t in sight—it must’ve closed already.

Then why did the double measure of trouble stand there in front of him?

Angus had assumed he’d have to traverse to the Fae Realm to go after them—or worse, into the future.

What’d kept them in the cave?

How much time has passed?

Maybe they hadn’t been able to open the Stones?

The magic he’d felt disagreed. There’d been too much present for a failed attempt.

Angus glared.

His younger sister winced.

Good, she was properly a’feared, even though he had yet to speak. He cleared his throat and told himself to breathe.

Perhaps things weren’t as bad as his mother had dreaded. At least he didn’t have to go into danger alone to retrieve them.

What have ye ta say fer yerselves? he demanded.

Again, the pair looked at each other, mute.

Quite unusual for his little pest of a sister.

Angus narrowed his eyes. Speak. An’ be glad ‘tis I standin’ here, instead of our mother. Or yer father, Liam. He looked at each of them pointedly.

Light from the Stones revealed pink cheeks on both culprits.

Alexandria was dressed not in a fine gown as the lady she was by birth, but in trews and an oversized ivory leine she’d no doubt stolen from a male relative’s trunk—maybe even his own. The tight breeches fit well; the purple fabric denoted they probably belonged to their mother.

The lad wore attire like Angus’ own—a MacLeod plaid belted on and a saffron leine. At least he’d brought his sword, but it wouldn’t help against Fae magic.

I… Angus’ sister said, then nothing more.

"We are Fae, too," Liam said.

Angus frowned. Meanin’?

Alexandria squared her thin shoulders. "We’ve a right ta tha Faery Stones, as much as ye an’ Màthair."

The Stones dinnae be playthings. The Fae are dangerous, he said.

So everaone always says, his sister muttered.

He growled and took a step closer, intentionally looming over her. "Ye ken better than ta doubt Màthair and Xander’s words. Yer selfish! Da is hurt, badly, and here ye are, playin’ games ye ken nothin’ about!" He wanted to grab and shake her.

Her violet eyes—just like their mother’s—widened. Da’s hurt? Her expression melted into something concerned, but that didn’t fix a damn thing in Angus’ eyes.

He was tossed from his horse comin’ after ye! Broke his leg, an’ ‘tis bad, lass. He didn’t soften his voice. Angus didn’t know how bad just yet, their mother had ordered him to keep going; to go as far as he needed to.

He’d seen blood. The bone had protruded from their father’s shin.

In his peripheral vision, their cousin was pacing. "Liam, what do ye have ta say fer yerself?" he repeated his demand.

The lad shook his head, and his dark curly hair fell into his violet eyes. He shoved it back and exchanged another look with Lexi that Angus didn’t miss.

His sister had been dubbed ‘Lexi’ by their Aunt Claire, who’d come from the far future and married their father’s twin, Uncle Duncan, some twenty years before.

Every last MacLeod usually called her the nickname—except their mother.

Yer da stayed with ours, but he’s less than pleased wit’ ye.

His cousin was still young enough to blush deeper. Liam looked down, studying his boots. I just wanted ta fly, he whispered.

Angus blew out a breath. "The Fae dinnae take kindly ta humans, even if we’re all only half. They woulda killed ye, lad. Without remorse or delay. Ye both know tha’."

I have wings there, like my da.

Alarm rushed over Angus’ form and his hands twitched. He kept them at his sides instead of strangling the younger man. "How do ye ken tha’?"

I’ve gone there a’ fore…I’ve flown.

Lexi was a brighter red now, and they exchanged yet another look.

They’d always been close, but the nonverbal communication was a bit much. It was getting under Angus’ skin. To think he was usually the calm, even-tempered one, like his father. He was acting more like his Uncle Duncan, but then again, the lad and lass had given him cause.

He wanted to rant and rave. Pace and lecture like children deserved. However, they weren’t wee ones anymore. His sister was nine and ten—of marrying age—and Liam was right behind her, a year younger.

They’d been warned their whole lives of the danger of the Fae since they all had a full-blooded Fae parent. Besides, hollering at Lexi never worked.

Their father always said she was much like their mother in that regard. They’d been born of a Fae princess—so their blood was legitimately royal in the other realm.

He sighed and rammed his hand through his long hair, wincing when his fingers found a wind-induced tangle. Angus took a turn of pacing in front of the Faery Stones, trying to compose himself instead of shouting the chaos in his head.

Lexi and Liam stood side-by-side, remaining unusually silent.

Awareness of…something…darted down his spine. Angus whirled and tilted his chin up, studying them with narrowed eyes.

As soon as his sister spared him a glance, she quickly averted her gaze, and their cousin’s was downcast at his boots again. Guilt rolled off them both; he could feel it, and he wasn’t an empath like his mother.

What dinnae ye be tellin’ me? He swallowed, half-fearing the answer.

Lexi took a big breath and glimpsed their cousin once more before meeting Angus head-on. "Somethin’—someone—came through tha portal."

* * * *

Lila smiled at Lizzie’s laughter and jogged to catch up with her friends.

What’s wrong? You cannae keep up, America? Sophie winked, and her thick Scottish accent rolled over her senses.

It’d taken time to get used to it, but a year into her three-year fellowship, and she finally didn’t have trouble understanding everyone. Handy, since she needed to be completely clear in the operating room.

At first, Lila had been offended by the pretty redhead’s nickname for her, but there was affection, not distain, when the Scottish doctor nicknamed Lila her country of origin.

Then again, she’d been born in Mexico and her family had moved to Texas when she was an infant, so she was both Mexican and American.

Come, Lila! Lizzie called, grinning and flashing dimples.

The blonde nurse was so sweet, and the first person at the hospital who’d welcomed the surgeon that had come from so far away. She was English, not Scottish, but had lived in Edinburgh since she’d been a teen. The group’s gonna get inside Dunvegan before we do!

Coming! Lila closed some distance of rocky beach to rejoin them. The day was warm, but the wind was chilly, blowing her hair in her face, and making the fabric of her light jacket flap. She fought a shiver; perhaps she should’ve layered and worn a sweater, too. Did you get all the shots you wanted? she asked Sophie, who was a budding photographer as well as a doctor.

The redhead grinned and held up her expensive fancy camera. Aye. Though I’d like one of the three of us.

Lizzie’s face lit up and her blue eyes sparkled. Her fair locks danced around her face, making her appear young and innocent. Oh, of course! I’ll ask someone when we rejoin the tour group.

Lila looked out at the waters again. I love this place. Skye is so peaceful. She noticed Sophie’s nod from the corner of her eye.

We used ta come up here when I was wee. She’d grown up on a sheep farm right outside of Inverness, and proudly spoke of her Highlander ancestry.

Over the last year, these two women had become her closest friends. They’d decided to have a weekend getaway and had traveled from Edinburgh where they worked at the hospital. They’d stayed with Sophie’s family the night before and had taken a day-trip to the Hebrides, and were going to tour several castles all over the Western Isles.

The stronghold of Clan MacLeod—Dunvegan—was first on the menu. The building was over seven centuries old.

When they’d arrived on the Isle of Skye as a group, they’d been given time to look around, and had headed down to the beach.

Sophie had wanted to snap some pictures.

Lila reached for her Saint Luke medal. Her grandmother had given it to her when she’d graduated from medical school.

She’d run her thumb over the engraved surface so many times for comfort. It was white gold, and one side depicted the Catholic patron saint of the medical profession and gospel author; the other side displayed a caduceus.

Her fingers failed to enclose on the familiar piece of jewelry. She looked down and unzipped her jacket. Felt inside her shirt but couldn’t locate the fine chain.

What’s wrong? Lizzie asked.

Lila’s stomach jumped and she swallowed her rising panic. My necklace. She looked at the loamy ground at her feet, then started retracing her steps down the beach. Thank God they weren’t that close to the water, she might have a chance to spot it.

I have to find it.

Did you have it on the bus? Sophie asked sensibly.

Both friends had followed and were also studying the terrain.

Positive, she said, meeting the fellow doctor’s green eyes.

Aye, ye have it on in this photo.

She spared a glance for the camera’s small digital display in her friend’s hands. Sure enough, the chain peeked out of her jacket, visible on her neck in the picture. Lila looked free and happy on the little screen, her dark hair with wind in it. The smile on her face felt far away as her gut churned.

The necklace was all she had left of her grandmother, her sweet abuelita.

It couldn’t be gone.

I have to find it. Her voice came out more of a whine, but she didn’t look up. "My lita gave it to me, and—"

Lizzie grabbed both her hands and Lila met her concerned cornflower blue eyes. We’ll help. I know what it means to you.

Lila tried to blow out a breath of relief, but her middle was still in knots. She forced a nod and made her way down the beach, staring at every cluster of rocks, big and small. She scanned the surface of the sand and pebbles, willing her necklace to appear.

How could she have lost it?

She hadn’t felt it fall off, so it could be anywhere.

Something glinted in the sunlight on the gritty ground ahead of her, so she jogged closer. Her heart leapt when she took in the embossed likeness of Saint Luke