Bound by Wish and Mistletoe (Highland Legends #1.5)(24)

Gawain was the next to place his ornament on the tree. She watched in quiet reverence as a solemn hush spread into the room. Hung from a delicate silver chain was an ornate gold and silver pendant that looked familiar. She leaned to the side and confirmed what she’d thought. At his hip, Iain wore a brooch fastened to his plaid that matched the pendant’s design.

When Gawain dangled the necklace from a perch on a high branch, the dazzling jewel spun. He captured the twirling pendant with trembling fingers and slowly released it. On a deep breath, the enormous warrior stood back, staring at the tree while everyone in the room watched silently.

Iain came up behind Gawain and clapped him on the shoulder. “She’ll be with us always, brother.”

Robert whispered into Susanna’s ear, “’Twas their mother’s.”

With a single hard nod, Gawain turned away from Iain, breaking their brief brotherly connection. Susanna tried to watch where he went, but he disappeared behind the people standing on the outer edge. She slowly exhaled, sharing in his pain.

One by one everyone present took a turn hanging their unique ornament on the tree. With all the rustling of the tree’s branches and needles, the fragrant scent of a pine forest filled the space around them. After the last ribbon-wrapped present from under the tree had been hung, Isobel took a length of wider gold ribbon and wove it in and out of the branches, above, below, and behind the ornaments.

“I still have your ribbon, you know,” Robert whispered in Susanna’s ear.

“My ribbon?” she asked.

“Aye, the one that bound you...to keep you from harmin’ me. I doona think the measure was unwise at the time,” he teased.

He shifted, reaching his arm behind him, and pulled the length of wide red ribbon from the pleats at his waist. He placed it in her palm, folding her fingers over it. “Keep it. I retrieved it from the snow when I set you free.”

When he set her free...

Had he? When every instinct she possessed and all the carefully trained moments of her life had been toward escaping imprisonment, could a man—the very thing she’d identified as the enemy—have granted her freedom...rather than her taking it?

No.

Freedom was earned. The blessedness of her life being her own could never be granted; it was taken. Seized at all costs. Risked at all peril.

Brigid appeared from the kitchen and handed them each a metal tankard. Susanna carefully held the handle of the etched cup as delicious spiced aromas rose on tendrils of steam from the amber liquid’s surface.

Isobel and Iain also passed out the beverage that, even after the decadent meal Susanna consumed, made her mouth water anew. She handed her tankard to Robert and stood as everyone in the room rose from their seated positions.

Robert edged close behind her. “I believe a toast is forthcomin’,” he whispered.

His hot breath fanned across her ear, sending another course of shivers through her. The heat of his body pressed into her back challenged her already weakening focus. She swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and tried to block out his presence.

She failed. Nothing muted his power over her. She furrowed her brow and continued to make the attempt anyway.

“Does everyone have a drink?” Isobel asked, glancing around.

Iain nodded to her.

“Good. Tonight is one of countless nights in many years to come where we will celebrate hope, faith, and love at Christmastime. Iain and I shall be wrapping presents to give to one another, and to those who need a smile brought to their face. We encourage you to do the same.

“Tonight, we drink spiced apple cider. It’s a beverage similar to your apple wine, and one my people drank around the holidays.”

“No eggnog?” Iain interjected, a wry smile on his face.

“Shhh,” Isobel chided.

He growled low.

She smiled.

Susanna watched the exchange, wondering about the couple’s story. They were so clearly in love with one another and seemed perfectly suited, despite their chafing and grumbling.

Isobel continued, raising her spiced cider. Everyone followed in kind.

“To Clan Brodie! May we fight hard, love harder, and cherish every heart among us as we embrace what matters most during a season of giving. To Clan Brodie’s first Christmas!”

“To Clan Brodie’s first Christmas!” everyone shouted, the sentiment echoing into the rafters.

Susanna took a sip of the hot liquid, enjoying the sweet spicy taste rolling over her tongue. As soon as she turned, Robert wrapped his arms around her, and she tilted her face up to find him smiling broadly as he gazed down at her.

“I dinna know people could be so happy,” she confessed, her voice soft to her own ears.

“I had no idea happiness was possible for me, before you,” Robert said.

“Aren’t you a part of this clan? How could you not be happy?”

“Ahhh, tonight, Isobel and Iain have invited only a few of our clan to celebrate in our first Christmas. There are many single women that are not here tonight...” He sighed. “Some women can be quite vicious and relentless when pursuin’ a man they want.”

“Women pursue men? This is a strange clan indeed,” she remarked, surprised to hear about the women she hadn’t yet met.

Robert barked out a laugh. “Aye, lass. With regard to that matter, I whole-heartedly agree. And now, with you in my arms, I realize why none of them ever appealed to me.”