Portals Of Time by J. Lee Coulter Page B

grasped his bridle tightly. “You must make an exception, Shalizar. I need his help.” He blew on her face then calmed himself. Speaking louder, she called out to Malcolm. “It’s safe now. He will leave you be.”
    His clansmen held back as he approached her with care, never taking his eyes from the stallion. He could sense the steed’s barely restrained control as he observed the trembling beneath Shalizar’s ebony coat.
    “Will he strike if I touch ye, lass? I must check for injuries.”
    “No. He will not disobey me. Just move slowly so you don’t startle him. We’ve had a very trying day.” Releasing the bridle, she gestured to him to stand back. He snorted with insult but backed up on command.
    Malcolm circled around to face her and gasped. She was stunning...in spite of the scratches on her face. Her long red hair reminded him of a river of fire surrounding a face created in Heaven. Her pert nose was almost elfin. The pouty lips begged to be kissed...and her eyes...her exotic eyes were a shockingly vivid blue! He felt his cock stir beneath his plaid.
    As he studied her attire which consisted of skin-tight blue jeans, a knit sweater and blue jean jacket, he wondered if perhaps his brother was correct. He had never seen such clothes before. And her leather boots were very finely crafted. He shook his head. What has he stumbled upon here?
    He knelt down quickly. “Where do ye hurt, lass?”
    “All over.” She spoke in a whisper and even that reverbrated through her head. “Mainly my head. The blast of that nuke really knocked me for a loop.”
    What did she say? What is a “nuke”? His bewilderment showed on his face as he stared at her. Shaking it off, he gently ran his hands through the silken fire checking for knots on her skull. Finding nothing, he pulled back her hair exposing her neck to his view. He jerked back his hands as she heard a gasp behind her.
    “She belongs to Dunbar!” came an exclamation from a source she could not see. “Malcolm! Do ye see it?”
    He gave a curt nod and a warning look to the man standing behind her, then he studied the tattoo on her neck. A black and gold rampant lion! That is the Earl’s insignia for certain! It rose up the right side of her neck about three inches.
    “What is your name, my lady?”
    Something was wrong, she could feel it. Her brows rose as she recognized that the man before her was the man in her nightmare. Oh shit! This is the one that I always thought of as being the schemer.
    Clearing her throat, she struggled to rise to her feet. “I thank you for your aid but I’m feeling much better now. I think I will just be on my way.”
    “Hold!” he growl ed, causing her to grasp her aching head. “What be your name? I will have an answer!”
    “Shhh! I will tell you but please...please stop talking so loud . I’m Arianna MacGregor, if you must know. I don’t—”
    “His betrothed!” The other man hissed.
    Startled eyes flashed at Patrick. “His what?” She yelled, then groaned as she grabbed her head. “I never met the man!”
    “That changes naught,” Malcolm spit out. “The mark is the proof of who ye are. They say ye are a seer, as well. That could be helpful t a m e clan.”
    “Are you all insane ? Where did you get such a crazy idea?”
    The laird turned his black eyes on her intently. “Where did ye get the mark, lass?”
    She sputtered in confusion. Most people had just thought her mom had been cracked to tattoo a babe.
    “I’ve always had it. ”
    Malcolm smiled as he shook his head. “The Earl’s intended bride had been given that mark as a babe t a ensure nae trickery from the MacGregors. He bares the same although his is the male counterpart. Tell me, my lady, do y e have the ‘knowing’?”
    Her head shot up. She knew he was referring to p sych ic powers. Arianna started to shake her head in denial when her dream/nightmare flashed through her mind. Well hell! How do I deny the dream that tells me I’m in danger