Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers Book 3) by Joanne Wadsworth Page B

cools.”
    “I long for a hot bath.” She kicked off her slippers, tossed her fur cloak over the top of the dressing screen and shed her gown before stepping into the tub. After sinking into the glorious water, she rested her head on the rim and allowed thoughts of Kirk to roll through her mind. Nessa had told her she needed to allow the bond to take. What if she did? For a moment, a true sense of peace spread through her and wonder filled her heart and made her soul sing with hope.
    “Oh goodness. I truly do want him, Nessa.” She leaned one elbow on the rim and looked at her friend. “So much I’m not sure I could walk away from him a second time should we meet.”
    “You spent the entire night with him, which means deep in your heart, you’ve already allowed a certain level of the bond to take. Even the Fae Angel of Love deserves to have her own chosen one. If you claim him, just as he wishes to claim you, then you need never be alone again. He is the only one you will ever be soul bound to, and you cannae allow this chance to claim your new destiny pass you by.” Nessa knelt and lathered the soap. “Allow me to aid you in detangling your hair. It’s been whipped into a mighty mess from your travels last eve. Dip down and wet it for me first.”
    “Kirk is such a temptation.” She slid under the water then emerged with a sigh. “He even showed me his bear.”
    “His bear has been so antsy since his arrival.” Nessa worked the suds through her hair then bade her to rinse the bubbles out. After she had, her friend gently detangled her locks, separated her hair into sections and ran the comb through it.
    A thunderous roar reverberated from beyond the curtain wall and echoed all around.
    Nessa rose and glanced outside, hands curled around the edge of the windowsill. “Kirk’s gone, and likely into the forest to shift.”
    “I hate the thought of causing him such pain, and honestly, to have a lifetime with him at my side and aiding me in my duty, would be a dream.”
    “A dream you could make a reality if you so desire it.” Nessa passed her a folded drying cloth from the side table. “You should speak to him again afore you make your final decision.”
    “What would I do without you, Nessa?” Smiling, she hopped out of the cooling water and dried herself, donned a shift then picked up the pale blue gown the maid had left and eased it over her head. The soft satin folds shimmered over her hips and swished to her ankles.
    “The same could be said for me. What would I do without you? Here, allow me to lace your stays.” Nessa turned her by the shoulders and cinched her gown together. “You must come and meet Isla and Arabel as well. Iain and Finlay’s mates are a delight and mayhap if you see them and how happy they are, you’ll see that Kirk would offer you the same level of happiness. He is a man of his word.”
    “Even though I brought Isla through the portal, as well as Kirk and his brothers, I did so without any of them knowing I was there. ’Tis always best that way, otherwise explaining myself leads to far too many questions when their journey isnae about me but about their quest.” She slid the matching slippers on, pinched her cheeks in the looking glass and with her ability to command her element, waved the warm air from the fire through her pale locks and dried them. From the side table, she fetched her favorite silver pins embedded with diamonds and fastened one on each side and once done, nodded at Nessa. “I’m ready.”
    “As am I.” Nessa opened the door.
    She cloaked herself and followed the seer into the passageway. Even though so many within the castle held fae blood, she still preferred to come and go as much as possible without being seen.
    She strolled down the winding stairs and entered the great hall devoid of almost a soul. A maid cleared the trenchers away from the trestle tables, while another maid shooed a large brown-haired dog guzzling scraps, outside.
    At the dais,