Highlander Unbroken (Highland Adventure Book 8) Read Online Free PDF

voice.
    But he was.
    As he continued to listen, relaxation overcame his body and his mind… and he drifted to a peaceful place he could not remember visiting before.
    The next thing he knew, pounding awakened him. Opening his eyes, he saw that he lay before the door in the laird's lug, his head on Dunn.
    "Are you in there, chief?" a male voice yelled outside the door.
    His joints stiff and aching from lying on the cold, stone floor, he arose and opened the door to peer out. "What is it?"
    "We searched for you all over, m'laird." Leith appeared distraught.
    "Aye, well, I am here. Is there a problem?"
    "You were gone most of the night. 'Tis just before dawn. We thought you'd left the castle again."
    "Ah, I see," Neacal said. "I must have fallen asleep." After coming out, he closed the door and proceeded to his bedchamber, Dunn following. Sitting on the bed, he ruffled the fur on the dog's head. "What the devil happened, Dunn?" he whispered. "Did the lass's song lull me to sleep?"
    Neacal lay back on the bed and Dunn leapt up to join him. Strange, Neacal now experienced more peace than he'd ever felt in this room. 'Twas his father's chamber and he did not deem himself worthy of occupying it.
    When next he opened his eyes, morning sunlight streamed through the window. He sat bolt upright. Was his mind playing tricks on him, or had he actually gotten a good night's sleep for the first time in months? Normally, he could only sleep when he'd exhausted himself physically.
    Anna's song echoing in his head, he washed his face and hair in the cold water of the basin. He needed a good swim in the loch. When he'd been living in the crofter's hut on the island, he'd made a practice of going for a swim in the bay every morn when it wasn't below freezing.
    After cleaning up a bit more, he put on clean clothes.
    When he opened the door to exit, Eonan, stood there. "I was going to help you with your clothes, m'laird."
    "'Tis fine. I'm covered decently enough." On the island, he had no one to help him dress. He could accomplish it himself.
    Eonan gave a brief bow. "As you wish, m'laird."
    Neacal descended the steps. When he entered the great hall, the tables were filled with his clansmen breaking their fast. All eyes turned to him and conversation quieted. He took his place at the high table and a male servant placed a trencher of food in front of him. As his gaze traveled casually over those seated at the lower tables, it landed on her. Anna Douglas. She often wore a cowl or coif over her blond hair, as she did now. She glanced at him briefly, the mossy green of her eyes making him visualize the cool wood near the cliffs. Soothing, refreshing.
    She turned back to her food and he shook his head. He was not only mad, but also foolish. He focused on devouring his food as quickly as possible and tried to forget she was there. But 'twas impossible, for his eyes kept straying back to her. Was it simply her voice which had enchanted him, or was there something more?
    She shyly peeked at him again, then averted her gaze and pretended to ignore him. What was she thinking? He only knew two things about her—her name was Anna Douglas and she could sing. Was she a maiden? A widow? Was that why she wore mostly dark colors? Or was she married to one of the other minstrels? His gaze ran over her companions. One was but a lad, a few years younger than her. The other was old enough to be her grandfather. But the third musician, the piper, was around thirty—Vardon, they called him. Neacal had never noticed her paying him any special attention. She treated him as she did the other two. Was he her brother?
    Damnation, why the devil should Neacal care whether she was married or not? He had no interest in her in that way. 'Twas only her singing which captured his attention. But even as he thought it, he knew he was lying to himself, for her green gaze bewitched him.
    He did not need a reminder of how dangerous a sweet, lovely woman could be… if she was