Braden slammed his hand on the table. "Almost isna good enough. He's gone."

"We'll find him," Keith stated in his usual calm voice. "There aren't many places he could have gone."

Braden began to chuckle. He realized there was only one place Niall could be. "He's at MacAlister Castle."

"We have spies there," Rory said. "They would have seen him."

Braden's frustration grew with each day that passed that Niall still lived, so he understood the irritation that filled Rory's words. "He went through unseen just as he did when he came into my home before and murdered my father, my uncle and my sister."

"He's not human," Keith muttered.

Braden had long believed that Niall had sold his soul to the devil. He hated even admitting the bastard was related to him, but there was no denying Niall was his cousin.

Few knew that small detail, but the ones who did understood why Braden was so determined to stop the bastard.

"You know the castle better than anyone, Braden," Keith said. "I've told you before, we can get inside and take him. Your people are still loyal to you."

Braden's mind raced with possibilities. "It may come to taking the castle. We'll need more men."

"MacKay said you could count on him. There are other lairds who would join you as well," Rory said.

Braden looked from Rory to Keith before he nodded. "Get everyone to send some men. We're going to need all the Highlanders we can get."

He turned on his heel and started towards the entrance when Keith's voice stopped him.

"Where are you going? Doona you want to begin to plan?"

Braden couldn't think of anything but tawny eyes and full, ripe lips begging to be kissed. "I need to check on Colin. I'll return shortly."

As he exited Braden could have sworn he heard Keith snort. He didn't care that Keith knew the real reason that he wanted to check on Colin was to see Jean.

Braden cared about his men. All of them. They risked their lives every time they went into battle against Niall. But, this time, it wasn't Colin that kept intruding on his thoughts.

He ducked inside Colin's tent to see Jean slumped over, her head on her arms as she slept. Braden watched her for a moment, content to take in the sight of her at his leisure.

There had been many women who had caught his eye, but none had made him burn as Jean did. What was it about her? She was head-turning with her midnight locks, ochre eyes, and body made for sin. But it was the fire inside her, so like the untamed spirit he himself possessed, that called to him.

Braden had kept himself detached from anyone other than his men for fear that Niall might use them against him. Braden was already testing fate merely by keeping Jean in his camp. If Niall ever discovered how much Braden wanted Jean, her life would be over.

Despite the warnings in his mind, Braden couldn't keep away from her. He crossed the distance between them on silent feet.

An onyx lock had come free of her braid and fell over her cheek. Braden lifted the shiny strand, amazed at its cool, soft texture. He held it a moment longer before he tucked it behind her ear.

He had to fist his hand to keep from touching her, and turned on his heel. He grabbed a blanket and spread it on the ground at the back of the tent. Then he slowly, carefully lifted Jean in his arms and laid her on the blanket.

He had lowered her to the tartan, but he was not yet ready to release her. She exhaled softly and turned on to her side away from him. Braden couldn't help the grin that pulled at his lips.

Nor could he halt the overwhelming temptation to reach for her.

He caressed her cheek down to her jaw with the back of his fingers. No skin had ever felt so smooth, ever looked so velvety.

A long, ragged breath left his body. He ached to touch more of her. He yearned to know every enchanting inch of her body. To drown in her heat, succumb to her charms. Surrender to the driving need to have her.

Braden rose, his control slipping through his fingers with every moment. He sat on the stool Jean had been sitting on as she tended to Colin.

He didn't know how long he sat wiping Colin's fevered brow before Keith came in. His friend furrowed his brow as he saw Braden.

"What are you doing here?"

"Allowing her to rest," Braden answered. He motioned to Jean on the blanket.

Keith grumbled as he saw Jean there. "You should have called me."

"I've been thinking about gaining access to the castle."

"Aye, I knew you would be."

Braden licked his lips and dropped the cloth in the bowl of water. MacAlister castle had been his home from the moment he was brought into the world. He knew every crack and crevice there was. The problem was so did Niall.

"If we're going to succeed, there is only one way to get inside."

Keith's hazel eyes narrowed. "The secret passages?"

"Nay. Niall knows of them."

"Through the postern door of the castle wall?"

Braden shook his head. "Niall will keep that well guarded."

"I'm no' going to like your idea am I?" Keith asked as he crossed his arms over his barrel chest and flattened his lips.

"Nay, you aren't. We are going to walk through the gates."

Keith's mouth gaped open as his arms fell limply to his sides. "Did you get hit in the head during the battle, Braden? It's the only thing I can think of as to why you would come up with such a daft plan."

"I've no' been hit," Braden said as he tried to hide his smile. "If you listen to my plan, you'll see how it'll work."

"What I see is that you'll be taken. Everyone at the castle knows your face."

Braden lifted a shoulder as he shrugged. "No. By the time I get done they willna."

"You know I'd follow you into Hell itself."

"Unfortunately, my friend, that's exactly where we'll be heading."

Keith nodded. "When do you want to execute this plan of yours?"

"I'd prefer to go tonight, but I need to wait and hear from the lairds to see how many men we can count on."

"What do you need me to do?"

Braden grinned. "Care to visit the village?"

Jean rolled onto her back and stretched. There was a crick in her neck that was going to bother her for days. She frowned and tried to think what could have caused it. Then, she remembered.

Colin.

Her eyes flew open. The sound of muffled voices drifted to her. She concentrated, trying to determine each word. She could hear Braden's voice, his timbre comforting her in ways she wasn't ready to understand. He was speaking of plans to invade MacAlister castle.

And then Braden walked into the tent towards her. Jean sat up, her gaze clashing with his own.

"How long have I been asleep?" she asked.

"Not long enough."

Jean climbed to her feet and moved to Colin. She put her hand on his forehead and blinked. "When did his fever break?"

"A few hours ago," Braden said. "I didna wish to wake you."

She didn't remember falling asleep, much less lying down. Jean was glad that Colin's fever had broken, but that meant there was no need for her in the camp now. Braden would send her home.

Unless she could find a reason to stay.

"I canna thank you enough for tending to Colin," Braden said. He rubbed his hand along his whiskered jaw and looked away. "I suppose I need to send you back to your father."

"I'd rather stay."

The words were out of Jean's mouth before she could be ashamed at what she was saying.

"Every moment you stay here puts your life in danger."

"It doesn't matter where I am. If Niall wishes to do me harm, he will."

"Your father can protect you."

Jean took a deep breath and folded her hands at her waist. "Niall used a ruse to draw my father and his best men from our keep he slaughtered dozens of our sheep and left the tartan of our neighbour as blame. Once my father and his men had left to question the neighbour, Niall attacked. The men left on guard were powerless when Niall to threatened to kill a child in order to get inside the keep."

Braden cursed and put his hands on his hips. He shook his head.

"Whatever you are planning to do to Niall, I want to help. I'm not a warrior and I have little skill with a blade, but there are other things I can do. I can tend to wounds, cook meals, or anything else you would ask of me."

Braden stared at her for several long moments. "Why? Why would you risk your life?"

"Why would you risk yours? This is my land as well. He has come to my clan, harmed my people. Let me help."

"I shouldna allow it."

Jean smiled and silently rejoiced. "But you will."

"If anything happens to you, your father will never forgive me."

"Nothing will happen to me," she promised.

Four.

Braden knew he was a fool. He told himself he could keep Jean safer than her father could, but he knew it for the lie it was. He just couldn't let her go.

He'd been wracking his mind for a reason to keep her in his camp. Braden had never expected Jean to come up with a solution herself. But that's what she'd done.

"I've already received a missive from your father," Braden said. "He is gathering his men and riding to the camp on the morrow."

"Did you doubt he would aid you?" Jean asked.

"Nay. He's an honourable man. He told me I could count on him."

"Will you tell me the plan?"

Braden hesitated, not because he didn't trust her, but because it was imperative all were surprised.

Before he could answer, Colin groaned. Braden and Jean bent over him. Colin's eyes cracked open as he swallowed several times.

"Braden?"

"Easy, my friend." Braden said. "You've been very ill."

Jean held a cup in front of Colin. "You need to drink."

Braden helped Colin to lift his head as Jean slowly tilted the cup to his lips. Once Colin had drunk his full Braden lowered his head.

"Are you in pain?" Jean asked him.

Colin's lips were pinched, but he shook his fair head. "Nothing I canna handle."

"We all know how brave you are," Braden said. "But if Jean can give you something to help, allow her to do it. I'm going to need you."

Colin grinned as Braden knew he would. Braden then lifted his gaze to Jean and gave her a small nod before he walked out of the tent.

He paused once outside and looked around his camp. Several years ago it had been just him, Keith, and a handful of the men that left the castle with him. He hadn't known quite what to do when other men began showing up at his camp wanting to fight alongside him.

After Niall's betrayal, Braden hadn't known who to trust. Yet, in the end, he had to accept anyone willing to fight against his traitorous cousin.

As Niall's power grew across the land, so did Braden's army. Niall, though, was always one step ahead. Always just out of reach.