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watched him leave with mixed feelings. After Angus’s speech about how he expected her to behave, she wasn’t as keen to wed him as she had been before his visit. But the thought of marrying the MacKenna laird sent a shiver of dread down her spine. Residing in the enemy camp would make her life a living hell. She had been taught to hate MacKennas from the time she was a wee lass. They had killed her brothers; how could she marry one? How could her father expect her to wed the enemy?
    Gillian started when Tearlach placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. “Doona fret, lass. wouldna give you to the MacKenna if I thought the man would hurt you.”
    “What makes you think you can believe the laird of a clan you’ve been feuding with your entire life? You said yourself the MacKenna is a berserker.” Her firm little chin tilted upward. “You can make me wed him, but you canna make me stay with him.”
    Murdoc stepped in front of his father. “If you doona stay with the MacKenna after you are wed, Gillian, the feud will resume and you canna return to Ravenscraig. Those were MacKenna’s terms.”
    “MacKenna’s terms? Bah! Why are you so eager to side with Da? I canna believe it of you.”
    “I hope to wed Mary MacDonald, and doona wish my sons to die in a feud that was none of their doing.”
    Nab spoke up next. “We fight because it is expected of us, but each of us wants to end the feud for our own reasons. Ramsey and I want to go to Edinburgh, to experience life at court before we settle down to wed. You are the only one who can end the killing.”
    “You are all mad!” Gillian snarled. “Where is your courage, your fighting spirit? Why must I be made to pay for your happiness?”
    “ ’Tis not about happiness; ‘tis about saving MacKay lives: Tearlach explained. ”Stop and think about it, lass. Your bairn with MacKenna, my grandson, will become laird of Ravenscraig. Isna that what we have always wanted? To regain Ravenscraig for our family? You are the only one who can do that for us without resorting to bloodshed. ’Tis the perfect solution, Gillian.”
    “For everyone else,” Gillian groused. “You are not the one who has to lie with the Viking, bear his child, and suffer his abuse.”
    “There will be no abuse; he gave his word. I swear, if he abuses you, you can return home and the feud will continue.”
    “Do you mean it, Da?”
    “Aye, daughter, I wouldna want you hurt. But for the good of our clan, I beg you to give the MacKenna no reason to abuse you. Make your peace with him and mayhap you will find happiness.”
    “The only way I will find happiness is if you let me wed Angus.”
    “Angus had all the time in the world to finalize the betrothal. He didna want you badly enough, lass.”
    “Not true!” Gillian cried, though she suspected her father was right. “I willna marry the MacKenna! I willna!”
    Turning on her heel, she stormed off. But she found no peace, not even in her own chamber. She kept picturing the dark-haired, blue-eyed devil her father wanted her to wed. He exuded power, from his broad shoulders and thick warrior muscles to the brawny body that could have belonged to some long-ago Viking.
    Gillian recalled the fire in his eyes when she had challenged him. His fierce gaze would inspire fear in lesser men. But Gillian did not fear the MacKenna. She loathed him.
    Despite her violent protest, her raging anger, Gillian realized her entire clan would suffer if she did not wed the MacKenna. Gillian had known for a long time that Clan MacKay was being decimated by constant feuding. Now she’d been told that only she could save her father and brothers from falling beneath MacKenna swords.
    It wasn’t fair. Why were women expected to mindlessly obey, as if they had no opinions of their own, no feelings? If she had to wed Ross MacKenna, she was going to make sure she wasn’t the only one made to suffer.

Ravenscraig Tower
     
    “You heard what I said, Gordo: I am going to wed the