Heart of the Highlands: The Beast (Protectors of the Crown Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

out here in the woods. Besides, if she has any importance to Chisholm, she might be just what we need to find him,” Ian reminded him.
    “Well, she will no’ be my problem! Dinna say I dinna warn ye,” Rylan replied as he turned to walk away, spitting on the ground.
    Ian knew that taking the lass was a risk. But she would be safer with them than out here in the woods alone, and far safer than within the walls of Erchless Castle.
    Leland returned shortly with the lass struggling and scratching at him like a feral cat.
    “If ye would just stop yer thrashin’ like a wild boar Lassie, ye would know we mean ye no’ harm. We only wish to question ye,” Leland said, trying to reason with her.
    “Aye,” Ian agreed. “But no’ here!” Ian stood in front of the unpredictable lass and asked, “Ye will no’ cause any more trouble fer me and my men if ye knows what’s good fer ye. Aye lassie?”
    Ian gazed into the lass’s light blue eyes. Her nose was crinkled and she had a look of defiance. Ian pursed his lips at her expression. Perhaps Rylan was right. This lass was going to be a problem.
    “I will no’ say a word!” she cried out. “No’ unless ye tell me who ye are and what ye want of me!” 
    “And if I do, ye will agree to listen to what I tell ye?”
    The lass hesitated but eventually nodded her head.
    “I think ‘tis safe to let her go. She will no’ be running off again,” Ian said to Leland though he meant it more as a warning to the lass. Leland hesitantly released her and went to join the others as they finished packing up the stolen supplies. “My name is Ian and what I want from ye will have to wait. We have little time and night is coming upon us fast. We must head back to the camp. T’will be dark soon and I am taking ye wit’ us.”
    “I would no’ have been alone if ye had no’ denied me my escorts, and allowed us to carry on wit’ our journey.”
    “Twas no other way,” he replied.
    “What do ye mean, no other way?”
    “Lassie, I will tell ye all ye need to know once we reach camp. Ye will be ridin’ wit’ me.”
    “And if I refuse?”
    Ian lowered his gaze. This lass was testing him! She was daring, he had to give her that.
    Lowering his voice so only she could hear, he whispered, “Then I shall tie ye up, string ye to the back of my horse and drag ye back to camp.”
    “Ye would no’ dare! I am a Lady!” she growled.
    Ian raised a brow.
    “Dinna try my patience lass. I am a mon of my word!”
    In truth, Ian would never have followed through with his threat, but little did she need to know that. Keeping her in fear of him was one sure way to guarantee she would not run off again.
    ~*~
    Though she had no intentions of agreeing with anything he said or asked of her, she would, for now, obey his command until she found the opportunity to escape his clutches. She refused to be subdued by outlaws and thieves. It would only be a matter of time before her father or Laird Chisholm came looking for her and she would be safe and far away from these barbarians soon enough.
    There were two types of Highlanders in Keira’s mind; those who were honorable and those who lacked honor. It was clear which category these men fell into.
    Standing near a beautiful russet-colored mare, the Beast stood holding out his hand to help her mount. The smug smile made Keira want to slap that expression right off his face. Clutching her fist at her side, she thought it best not to retaliate and bit her tongue.
    “I will do it myself, thank ye!” she spat.
    Lifting the skirt of her dress with one hand and holding the reins with the other, she raised her leg and slipped her foot inside the stirrup. The horse was tall. Taller than any beast she had ever seen. The height of the stirrup made it hard for her to lift herself onto its back. Had she not had to hold back the layers of the skirt, it might have been an easier task.  
    “Damn this dress,” Keira quietly cursed as she tempted to mount