Present Day

"Ugh, I can’t see a thing." Jenna Miles squinted through the fogged windshield and into the pounding deluge. Even with the wipers on full blast, she couldn’t see ten feet past the hood of her rental car. The narrow, single-track roads were enough of a nightmare–-she’d scooped at least an acre of Scottish sod with the left side of her front fender trying to avoid oncoming traffic from her right, and that just driving from Inverness. She’d not had the same worry since turning onto the desolate road leading to the Craigen ruins. No one had passed her for over an hour.

The stormy night only made matters worse. Ten minutes earlier, not one drop had even left a splat mark on the windscreen. She frowned. "Damned unpredictable Scottish weather–-hey!"

The small car skidded as she slammed on the brakes. Adrenaline surged through her veins, making her skin prickle. She caught her breath. Something had crossed the narrow lane. Something...big. A dog? It’d moved so fast, she couldn’t tell. God, she’d almost hit it.

With a deep breath, she pressed the accelerator and eased forward. Low-lying oak branches waved and leaned, the rain slashing sideways as the storm gathered strength.

Perhaps she’d made a mistake in coming here tonight. Two warnings had been issued to her about the dangers of venturing out to the Craigen–-especially alone–-especially during a storm. She’d ignored them. In her mind, there had been no other choice.

Lightning flashed the inky sky, and a deafening boom of thunder rumbled the ground. She shook off the feeling of dread gripping the pit of her stomach and scanned the darkness, straining to see beyond the downpour. Something wasn’t right.

From the corner of her eye she saw it, but too late. A scream tore from her throat as she clutched the wheel and slammed on the brakes. A sickening thud sounded, then the car pitched forward. Her head smashed against the steering wheel and sent her reeling. With a shake, she tried to clear her thoughts.

"Oh, God." She’d hit someone. Her heart thudded against her chest and her head pounded. Numb fingers fumbled with the door handle until it opened.

Falling out onto the graveled road, Jenna lifted her head and made an attempt to focus on her surroundings. Heavy rain hammered her, the thin stream of headlights her only source of light. Her foggy vision followed the beams to a grassy embankment. A large, unmoving heap lie against it.

Oh, my God. A person, not a dog. Her stomach rolled at the thought. She’d hit a person. Her head swam as she crawled toward the figure. "Hello? Can you hear me?" Sharp rocks bit into her knees and palms as she made her way to the slumped form. "Don’t move, okay?"

Rain fell in huge, heavy drops, stinging her cheeks. A rush of nausea came over her, and she took several deep breaths to push the sickening sensations back.

Finally, she reached the body lying still in the grass. Inching her hand out, she grasped a soaked pant leg. A hard, muscular calf flinched under her fingertips. A man.

Moving her hand upward, she grazed a hard, heavy thigh, a rigid abdomen, then further until she felt his arm. Sliding her fingers over thick muscle and roped veins, Jenna fingered a steady pulse. Oh, thank God. He’s alive.

The air around her thickened and she went down on her stomach. Any minute now and she’d pass out. She gently shook his arm. "Can you hear me? I’m so sorry--I didn’t see you. Please, wake up."

A low growl vibrated from the man. Harsh, ragged breaths rushed past his lips. He stirred, then raised his rain-soaked head and stared directly at her.

A yellowed glowing gaze filled Jenna’s hazy vision, just as a swell of blackness claimed her.

*****

"Munro, wake up, man."

Kieran opened his eyes and squinted against the pounding rain. Mud seeped through his garments, rocks poked at his skin. Darkness engulfed him, and the chill gnawed at his bones. The storm raged on without the first sign of slacking.

He blinked several times. When his vision cleared, he watched Ronan lean over him, a worried line etched between his brows.

Kieran tried to sit up, then fell back. He gripped his forehead. "What happened?"

Ronan wiped rainwater from his eyes and shook his head. "You were struck down, and damned near killed."

Blood roared through Kieran’s veins and slammed against his temples, his head spinning so fast he couldn’t move. Christ, how he hated the feeling. It rendered him helpless, weakened like a babe.

He took a deep breath to push back the nausea. "My bloody head feels as though it’s been cleaved."

"It looks it. Now get up."

Soaked to the bone and cold, Kieran finally managed to sit. Raking a hand through his mud-caked hair, he tried to recollect the incident. He squeezed his eyes shut. If only I could remember... Then, he did.

"The lass. ‘Twas her who hit me." He peered at his best friend through the pouring rain. "Wasn’t it?"

Ronan nodded, then grasped Kieran’s elbow. "Aye, with her car. Knocked her senseless, it did. Now get up."

Kieran froze. He searched the ground. "She...touched me. Spoke to me. She was right here." He pinned Ronan with a stare. "Is she hurt?"

Ronan avoided his gaze. "Aye, somewhat. She wouldna wake up, and her head was bleeding a wee bit."

Kieran stumbled to his feet, then dropped back to his knees. "You took her tae the keep."

Ronan nodded. "Aye, I took her tae the keep. Tae your chamber. Mine is too small."

Willing his strength to return, Kieran stood again and took a few stumbling steps. He walked until he could run. Through the woods, up the ravine, and across the Craigen’s unkempt courtyard, he made his way back to the keep. His heart hammered against his chest, every muscle burning with effort. Please, let her be all right...

Throwing open the great hall door, he allowed the wind to slam it shut as he took the stairs two at a time. Making his way up the corridor, he came to a halt at his chambers. His insides ached. A bloody woman in his keep. ‘Twas unimaginable.

A lump of dread lodged in his throat as he pushed open the thick slab of oak and slipped inside.

*****

A cavernous crack of nearby thunder jerked Jenna awake. With effort, she managed to open her heavy lids. The soft flicker of a dying fire in the hearth lit the dark room. Musty wet stone and peat smoke filled her nostrils, as did the potent tang of the sea. Wind howled and ripped through the cracks and burrowed into her skin. Shivering, she pulled the covers up around her neck and looked around the room. Her breath caught. Slowly, she sat up. Where was she?

Dragging her knuckles across her eyes, she tried to think. She rubbed her pounding temples, but even the smallest movement made her swim with dizziness.

Squinting through the near-darkness, she tried to make out her surroundings. Where were her glasses? Patting the cushions, she searched for them, but with no luck. Her pulse quickened and she shivered. She was in a bed. In a room. A bedroom.

How did she get here?

A sudden chill crept over her and the hairs on her neck stood rigid. Straining to see, she peered into the blackness. Something definitely wasn’t right. No, Jen...nothing’s right.

A long stroke of lightning flashed, suspending the room in a surreal glow. The air lodged in her throat.

A dark figure stood in the shadows.

She tried to move, but a rush of nausea sent her back down. A beaded sweat popped out across her forehead. She tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry.

"Who’s there?" Staring in the direction of the figure, she waited for another flash to brighten the room. She didn’t have to wait long.

A hulk of a man stood against the wall. Panic choked her, her breath hitched. "Please, don’t hurt me."

A heavy sigh, then, "I will no’ harm you."

She stared and waited. The voice, deep and heavily accented, shocked her. Its smoldering raspiness sent a shiver up her spine. Leather and rain reached her nostrils and pricked her senses. After another deep breath, she moved to the opposite side of the bed, further away from the figure. She slid her foot off the edge until she felt the floor. "Did you bring me here?"

What seemed like several long moments passed before he spoke. "Aye."

Jenna strained, listening for any sound indicating he was moving toward her. Only the sound of her breathing could be heard. But as another flash filled the room, she saw him again--much closer now, at the foot of the bed. Shadows masked his face, leaving a dark chasm within his cloak hood. She eased her other leg off the bed and grabbed onto the post. Her heart hammered against her ribs. "Please, don’t come any closer." Throbbing darts of pain jabbed her temples and she swayed. "Please."

"You’re hurt."

"Get back!"

He’d moved silently, closer to where she stood in the darkness. His heavy brogue echoed so near, she thought he couldn’t be more than a foot away. Jenna lunged, trying to escape his presence. She swayed again, dizziness overtaking her. Blindly, she reached out to grab onto something solid to keep from falling. A broad, heavy chest cushioned her descent.

*****

Kieran reached out and caught the frightened lass. Pulling her close, he felt her body stiffen. Her intoxicating scent smelled of clean skin and rain. Sweet, heavy breath brushed his cheek. Her voice cracked as she pleaded for him to leave her. She was petrified, shaking and quivering. No doubt she’d seen his visage in the flash of light. ‘Twas enough to scare any soul. He cleared his throat and spoke as soft as he knew how.

"You are injured, girl," he said. "Sit down before you fall."

The embers from the hearth cast very little light within the pitch-black room. But he was used to the dark. Preferred the dark. He glanced down at the bundle of woman in his arms. She pushed away from him but he held fast. "Be still, lass."

She made a strange noise, then hiccuped. "I think I’m going to be sick."

Scooping her up, Kieran turned and hurried to the latrine. He’d thank Ronan later for convincing him of putting in the modern plumbing. He flung open the door and stood her up. The lass gripped the bowl and began to retch. Not knowing what else to do, he held her waist, fearful if he let go she’d fall head-first into the water. A shudder ran through her body and reached his hands. She sniffed and tried to straighten, but immediately swayed.

"I’m so dizzy." Her voice wavered. "I appreciate your help, but I should go."

"You have a gash to your temple, lass. You’ll go nowhere this eve." He felt her tense before she sucked in a large breath of air.

"Who are you?" she asked. Her small hands rested on his forearms, the heat from her skin seeping through his cloak. "Where am I? It’s so dark, I can’t see a thing."

Kieran sighed. ‘Twas a good thing she couldn’t see. By St. Giles’ toes, she shouldn’t be here.

She was not safe.

"Um, hello?"

"You’re in my...home."

They were both silent for a few seconds. The wind outside howled through the cracks of the old stone and echoed across the chamber. The sound comforted Kieran. No doubt the wee woman was scared witless, but that could not be helped. When lightning flashed the room once again, her eyes, pinched in a squint, stared directly at him. Her sudden gasp hammered his ears.

Christ, she’d seen his face.

"Oh, God. I...I hit someone. With my car. A...a man."

So, she remembered. The scent of fear rose from her body and filled his nostrils. Pushing her aside but keeping a hand on her shoulder to steady her, Kieran led her back to the bed. She didn’t resist when he gently eased her down.

"You need tae rest for the night. In the morn you can be off."

"You don’t understand." She tried to rise. "He could be badly hurt. I--"

"Be you still before you retch again. No one lives close by. ‘Twas naught but a stray dog, no doubt."

"No, it wasn’t a dog. I felt his leg, his arm. He had a pulse. And his eyes--he looked at me." Her body quivered. "Please, he has to have help."

Stepping back, he turned and walked to the door. He pulled on the heavy oak. "Verra well. I’ll go see about him. Once you feel steady, get up and latch the bolt behind me." With that he left the chamber.

Jenna listened to his heavy tread thump down the corridor. Lock the door? Why, was he afraid something would harm her?

Would he?

God, his face. She’d only caught a glimpse of it, but she’d never forget it. Strong jaw, square chin, marked with a long, silvery scar from temple to jaw. It’d been too dark to see the color of his eyes. He’d had plenty of time to harm her, if that had been his intention. But he hadn’t. "Just get up and lock the door, Jen. You don’t know him."

Slowly, she stood and steadied herself with the wooden post. She brushed her fingers over her temple and felt a crusty stickiness. Blood. After a few moments and several deep breaths, Jenna gathered her strength and moved toward the door. With one small step at a time, she finally reached it and blindly bolted it. If only the room wasn’t so dark...

As if the storm outside heard her wish, a glaring bolt flashed the sky and lit up the room.

The chamber contained the sparse furnishings of a bed, fireplace, and a desk, or trunk, and a throw rug on the floor. Those three or four seconds hadn’t given her much time to look around, but one thought crossed her mind.

She had to be inside the Craigen.

Where else could she possibly be? The hit to her head had been hard--hard enough that it’d knocked her out for only God knew how long. But she hadn’t lost her memory. She remembered exactly where she’d been when her car had hit...the man.

You mean the man with glowing eyes? She must’ve smacked her head good. Human eyes didn’t glow. Only animals, like a wolf maybe. And Scotland hadn’t seen a wolf in over two centuries.

The man had appeared out of nowhere, and she’d tried her best to stop. If only she’d paid more attention to the road. But the thought of finding someone at the Craigen who knew, who could help...

Then, it hit her. She’d been close to the sea loch where the Craigen ruins were located. A funny feeling gnawed at her insides as the warnings from the village flashed her memory. Good Lord, it couldn’t be.

Jenna carefully picked her footing as she made her way back to the bed. Reaching out, she grabbed at air until she felt the wooden post at her fingertips. Easing down onto the mattress, she swallowed past the urgency seizing her insides. She knew exactly where she was, and she knew who’d brought her here.

The Seaindh Varou of Craigen Keep had her ensconced deep within the bowels of the castle.