Isla

The next day, I awoke in a funk. It was the morning of my ár mökunar, and I just wanted to hide under the covers. I didn’t know why I was in such a foul mood, but I could not wait for my party to be over and done with.

Maybe my irritation was due to the fact I’d dreamed of Arric all night. I didn’t want to dream about him. I wanted him stricken from my mind entirely, but I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about him.

Maybe my irritation was because I’d received a text from Ahearn informing me of Hershey’s escape and grand adventure that led our groom on an early morning search only to find my horse all the way on Brodie and Payton’s property, flirting with one of their mares.

Climbing out of bed, I pulled on my riding gear, deciding I needed some one-on-one time with Hershey. After stopping downstairs for some breakfast, I texted, first Catriona to join me, then my mother to let her know what I was doing.

Before I could take my first bite of toast, she walked into the kitchen. “You don’t have time for a ride, baby girl.”

“How did you know I was in here?”

She tapped her temple. “I always know where you are.”

“Well, that’s alarmingly terrifying.”

Mum chuckled. “You are a person who doesn’t veer off course, honey. You always eat before you go anywhere.”

I sighed. “That’s because you force feed us if we don’t do it ourselves.”

She grinned, wrapping her arms around me. “It’s because I loooooooooveeeeee you,” she sang.

I had to hold my hand out so that I didn’t get peanut butter in her hair. “Mum, you’re being a nut.”

She cupped my face. “Takes one to know one. Now, go get ready for your party.”

I wrinkled my nose. “One wee ride, Mummy. We’ve got hours before guests arrive, and I need some Hershey time. He clearly needs more exercise too, considering his recent string of joy runs.”

“Is your cousin going with you?”

I shoved the toast into my mouth so I could check my phone, nodding as I chewed.

Mum sighed. “Back here in two hours. If you’re a minute late, I’ll send the search party.”

“Promise.” I grinned, grabbing my phone and rushing out the door before she changed her mind. I decided to walk to the barn, finishing my toast on the way.

As I crested the hill between our home and the barn, I saw the lone figure of a man walking toward me. At first I couldn’t make out who it was, but when he looked up, I stalled.

My head suddenly filled with bees and I couldn’t move. My feet were literally frozen to the ground.

What the hell?

The man’s head cocked to the side and I recognized him.

Arric.

“No!” I screamed.

* * *

Arric

I heard Isla cry out and my heart shattered. I couldn’t stop myself from running to her as fast as I could. My head was foggy, and my only thought was I had to get to her. My body, mind, and soul seemed to be drawn to her and when I tried to focus on something other than her, the confusion took over again.

I’d been feeling off since arriving in Scotland, but I couldn’t leave. Not that I was being held against my will, at least, not by my hosts, but anytime I thought about leaving, the fogginess returned. My train of thought wouldn’t return for several minutes, but if I tried to plan to get out of Scotland, something would get in the way.

And then there was Isla.

As much as I refused to admit it, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, if I tried to walk away from her, my soul would die.

I reached Isla, now doubled over on her knees, and despite the fact she might be dangerous, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her onto my lap. She calmed immediately, her face burrowing into my neck.

My skin burned as my tats lit up, but I kept hold of Isla, despite the pain.

She let out a quiet gasp, then slid her palm to my chest, just over my heart and the pain and glow ceased. “Is that how you always feel when I’m near?” she whispered.

“Yes.”

“I’m so sorry,” she rasped, guiding my head down to kiss her.

I took her mouth with a desperation I’d never felt before and the burning started again. This time hotter than before, but I didn’t care. I had to be near her even if it meant I burned.

“This can’t be happening,” Isla said, breaking our kiss. “It can’t be you. It just can’t.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean? What can’t be me?”

“Arric, I’m sorry,” Isla said, tears filling her eyes. “I know you’re processing a lot of new information right now, but I’m kind of going through some things as well and it would probably be best if we stayed as far away from each other as possible.”

“Of all the confusing shit I’ve encountered since I’ve come here, you take the cake,” I said.

“Did you just call me shit cake?” she asked, fisting her hands at her side.

“If the frosting fits, lady.”

“How dare you speak to me like that, you creep.”

“Creep? How do you figure? You’re the one who keeps throwing yourself at me and then pushing me away. ‘Kiss me. Don’t kiss me.’ Make up your mind,” I growled.

Isla’s face reddened, then she burst into tears. “My mind is made up, so let me be perfectly clear. I never want to see you again. Do you hear me, Arric? You need to get the hell out of Scotland. Out of Europe, off of the fucking planet for all I care!”

She stormed off and I was left feeling heartbroken, desolate, and alone. How could a woman who was a virtual stranger have such a hold on me?

* * *

Isla

God, this was worse than anything I could imagine. Arric Mann could not possibly be my mate. No. Nope. No way in hell. Nothing in my head was prepared to accept this information but my heart knew it as absolute fact. I couldn’t breathe. My whole being yearned for him.

It had to be a mistake. My feelings must be wrong. I was, after all, only hours into my twenty-fifth birthday. Maybe my calibration is off. Who knows, but there’s no way I could be fated to spend the rest of my days with Arric Mann.

I was too spun up to ride, but I still needed some alone time before I went back to the house, so decided to give Hershey a good grooming. I was beyond angry and hurt by my encounter with Arric and I didn’t know if I could deal with this for much longer.

“There’s no way that... that... crude... American is my mate,” I hissed as I brushed Hershey down.

Hershey blew air through his lips and glanced back at me.

“You’re right! He’s a total dick. And he can go right back to Arkansas or Alabama or whatever place he’s from.”

Even though we hadn’t ridden, I was surprised to see him favoring his injured leg again. I made a mental note to talk to our staff vet right away.

“What are you doing to hurt yourself, boy? Hmm?” I slid the brush over his rump and

“Isla?”

I peeked out of Hershey’s stall and let out a quiet squeak. “Oh my god, Andi, what are you doing here?”

“We couldn’t miss your ár mökunar.” She grinned. “Dalt and I are here for a few weeks. Staying at ‘the castle.’”

Andi was married to Samantha’s brother, Dalton, and they had the most divine American southern accents. She used air quotes when she said, ‘the castle,’ something Sam had started doing when she moved in because she felt it was so ridiculously over the top that she was now a queen in her very own castle.

I stepped out of the stall and she reached to hug me. “I’m filthy,” I warned.

“A little horse never hurt anyone,” she countered, and hugged me tightly.

I hugged her back. “I can’t believe Dalton got time off.”

Andi rolled her eyes. “Neither can I. He’s supposed to work part time for the FBI, but they rope him into more—”

“Isla?” Arric’s deep voice called out, and my heart raced as he walked through the barn doors. “Look, I wanted to apologize for what I said—”

Andi let out a quiet gasp as he approached, pulling away from me, and suddenly falling to her knees and bowing her head.

“Andi? Are you okay?” I asked, but she didn’t respond.

Arric looked horrified. “What the hell are you doing, lady?”

“What’s goin’ on here?” Dalton growled, storming over to us.

Arric glared at Dalton but didn’t move.

“Andi, get up, sugar,” Dalton ordered, then frowned. “What do you mean, you can’t?”

It appeared she was speaking to him in their mated voices telepathically.

“Arric, release her,” I ordered.

He held his hands up and scowled at me. “I ain’t fuckin’ touchin’ her.”

“No, you bampot, release her.”

“What the hell does that mean?” he asked.

“Release her,” I repeated. “Say the words, ‘I release you.’”

“I release you,” Arric said, and Andi scrambled to her feet, virtually jumping into Dalton’s arms.

“You better start fuckin’ explaining what the hell’s going on,” Dalton demanded.

“He doesn’t know anything,” I said.

Arric let out an irritated grunt.

“Quiet, you. My Uncle Dalton carries a gun, and I’d rather not scare the horses, or have to mop up blood in my dad’s barn.”

“Are you an oracle?” Andi asked Arric.

“What the fuck’s an oracle?” he demanded.

“You need to take it down a notch, pal,” Dalton warned.

“Or, what?” Arric growled. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Haddi needs to be informed,” Andi continued, ignoring the sea of testosterone surrounding her.

Arric threw his hands in the air. “Lady I have no idea what the fu—”

Dalton moved to stand in front of Arric, toe-to-toe. “I swear to Christ, man, you need to change your goddamn tone, or I’ll change it for you.”

“Oh my god,” I breathed out, my heart racing. “I’m to be bonded to an oracle?”

“What?” Dalton and Arric said, in stereo.

“He’s your mate?” Andi asked.

“Mate? What the fuck are you talking about?” Arric hissed.

“I’m not claiming him,” I snapped at Andi. “Ever.”

“I don’t even know you, what the fuck does ‘claiming’ mean?” Arric continued. “And what kind of backwoods horse breeding bullshit do you mean, I’m your ‘mate’?”

His comment was like a dagger to my heart, and I glared at him. “You are the biggest—”

“Isla,” Andi said in a warning tone, rushing toward me. “Isla, honey, you need to calm down.”

My body burned. I had never been so angry in my life and my rage was focused solely on Arric. But I couldn’t hate him. I wanted to. Tried to tell my mind that I did, but my heart refused to cooperate.

“Jesus,” Dalton hissed, and my gaze swung to him.

Everything was red and even though I felt Hershey nudge me with his nose, I couldn’t stop focusing on Dalton.

“Why are your eyes red?” Arric asked.

The second he spoke, my focus was back on him, and he frowned.

“Bloody hell.”

My father barreled into the barn and grabbed Arric by the collar of his shirt. My mother rushing in from right behind.

“What the fuck, man?” Arric growled.

“You need to touch her,” Da said.

“She’s fuckin’ glowin’,” Arric snapped. “I’m not touching her!”

“If you don’t touch her, she will literally set this barn on fire,” my mother said, softly.

I was breathing heavily, and heat coursed through my veins. Everything was in slow motion, as if we were all suspended in molasses.

“Arric, honey, please,” my mom begged. “You need to hold her and breathe slowly.”

I hissed at Arric as he stepped closer and he paused, but my father shoved him forward.

“Con,” Mum admonished. “Go slow, honey.”

“I’ll fuckin’ kill him if he doesn’t calm my daughter,” Da snapped.

Hershey nudged my hip again and I whimpered. I was in pain. More pain than I’d ever felt in my life, but I couldn’t tell if it was mine or Arric’s.

“You’re gonna have to step into the stall,” my father directed, unlocking the door, and pushing him forward.

“No way. I fuckin’ hate horses,” he hissed.

This enraged me more and I glared at him.

“Okay, Isla. It’s all good.” He held his hands up and inched toward me. “No one here’s going to hurt you.”

“Jesus, the guy’s a right prat,” my dad said with a groan.

“Dude, she’s glowing, and she’s got red eyeballs. Just give me a sec. I ain’t ever seen anyone with red fuckin’ eyeballs before.”

I hissed again, and Arric focused back on me.

“Baby, you need to stay really still,” Mum said to me. “Try and breathe slower if you can. I know you’re having a hard time regulating your emotions, but I need you to try. Let Arric help you.” She turned to him. “Hand on her chest and back of her neck.”

Arric reached out, sliding his hand to my neck, and tugging me forward, his palm going to my chest. The second his hand touched my breast, however, my nipples tightened, and my womb contracted. I hissed again, uninterested in what he did to my body.

“Calm down,” Arric ordered, and I tried to shake off his touch.

“Cauld Ane newbie tip, dude, telling your mate to calm down might not be the way to go here,” Dalton warned.

“Dalt,” Andi admonished.

“Breathe slowly,” Mum directed, and Arric took a deep breath.

“I hate you,” I rasped.

“Gee, I couldn’t tell,” he retorted, taking another deep breath.

“Isla, mirror Arric’s breathing, baby,” Mum said, and I shook my head.

Arric gave my neck a gentle squeeze. “Breathe with me.”

“I want you gone. Out of my life, forever.”

“I know,” he crooned. “Breathe, Isla.”

His hand stroked my neck, and even though I tried, I could do nothing but follow his breathing. My heart calmed, my skin cooled, and I noticed my family all relax simultaneously.

“You can let go of me now,” I ground out.

“Just a second,” he whispered, giving my neck a squeeze again.

I shoved his arm and stepped away just as Hershey leaned over and bit Arric on the thigh.

“Fuck!” he snapped, jumping out of the stall, and laying his hand over the wound. When he pulled away, there was blood seeping through his jeans.

“Holy shit, he broke the skin,” Dalton said, and reached over to stroke Hershey’s nose. “Good horse.”

I rushed to Arric and laid my hand on his leg, healing him instantly.

“Just what the fuck is going on?” he rasped.

“Maybe if you spent more time letting us explain things to you, and less time being a complete dickhead, you’d know,” I returned.

Once I’d done my mate duty and healed him, I rushed to my father who wrapped his arms around me and held me close, kissing the top of my head.

“I don’t think I can face everyone tonight,” I whispered.

“We need to have a conversation with Kade. All of us. Right now,” my father said, sternly.

“Your father’s right, baby girl. Let’s get up to the house and have a chat with Kade,” Mum said. “Then we can go from there. You have apparently inherited my fire gift, but since you’re also an empath like your father, I’m not sure how that’s all going to work.”

I nodded. “I’m scared.”

“I know, baby. It’s okay, we’ve got you,” my father said.

“Arric, honey,” Mum said. “I know this has all been a bit much, but you need to come with us.”

I didn’t wait to find out if he was going to follow, just pulled away from my dad and stalked to the castle.