Was there a part that bored you or that you didn't really like in the book? *

Even a character, a scene, or anything. You could say no if nothing bothered you.

What moment from the book you enjoyed the most? *

Something you liked, a specific scene, a character's quality, some detail that caught your eye.

Did you get frustrate by the fact that Bran needed a lot of time to help Idalia escape? *

• Yes, I was irritated by that because it made him unlikeable in my eyes.
• No, of course. His daughter's life was at risk, so he did all he could to save her.
• I can't really decide. It annoyed me a bit, yet I understood why he put his daughter first.

Are rape/suicide scenes too much for you to bear even if it is a good plot device? *

• Yes, I cannot bear reading about such delicate topics, even if they drive the plot further.
• Not really. I don't mind, mostly because it gives interesting trauma background that can create a great plot.
• I'm torn. It bothers me, but I don't mind it as a plot device as long as I don't actually have to "see" the action.

Is there something else you'd like to share? *

Something you noticed, frustrated you, left you confused, etc.

Submit

Two months after Idalia & Bram’s wedding,
Strathnaver, Scotland

Idalia sat beside Mahala’s bed with the child’s favorite book in hand, reading her a chapter to help her sleep. Mahala lay covered in the bed, and she appeared to hang on every word that came out of Idalia’s mouth. Idalia read slowly, with the light from the candelabrum standing on the desk behind her.

Reading Mahala to bed had become a habit which both of them looked forward to every night. They had started it when Bran had gone off to war with Dunn to settle a border dispute. In the couple of months since getting married to Bran, she had discovered that Mahala had not had much of an education, nor had she been treated as a child at all.

While Idalia had expected it somewhat, seeing the reality of how Mahala was affected by being a captive in a military camp hurt her beyond words. She took it upon herself to restore Mahala’s childhood. While she didn’t think the damage would ever be completely reversed, it was still worth a try to give the girl a chance to forget all the things that had been done to her.

The first thing she noticed about Mahala was her strength and bravery. She never asked for help, no matter what the task, and several times, Idalia had had to go pull her out of a corner where she was hiding in the castle.

Idalia had begun teaching Mahala to read, and the child’s aptitude for it was encouraging. And so began their time reading together. In the absence of Bran, Idalia’s bond with Mahala grew at an alarming rate. Here was a child who wouldn’t trust her servants, but she had learned to trust Idalia completely.

Idalia filled their time together with activities, making a note of which activities Mahala showed more interest in. Mahala loved it when Idalia braided her hair, and she loved playing on the surrounding beaches. While she seemed fascinated when she saw the other children in the castle playing, she always refused to join them. Idalia took comfort in knowing she could not expect everything to change all at once.

She loved Mahala and made sure never to mention August’s name around her, as it had caused the child to tremble violently the last time. It had taken days for Mahala to regain her color, and Idalia had learned a valuable lesson.

“. . . And that was how the farmer began his journey to the sun with his pet chicken. The end,” Idalia read, shutting the book. She looked up at Mahala, who was smiling excitedly, clapping with her small hands under the covers. The sight always filled Idalia with happiness. Although Mahala had heard this exact ending a dozen times, she had the same reaction every time.

“How about if we try another book tomorrow night?” Idalia teased.

“But I like this one just fine,” Mahala said, giggling. “I would like to go to the sun someday . . .” Mahala’s voice was soft and wistful.

“If anyone can do it, Mahala, I’m sure it would be you,” Idalia replied, smiling.

Mahala turned in bed to face Idalia directly. “Can I call you mama?” she asked suddenly. “You are my mama now, aren’t you?”

Idalia covered her mouth in surprise and laughed softly. While the question caught her entirely by surprise, it also filled her heart with joy and happiness. She had wanted it from the first moment she was married to Bran but had not wanted to impose it on Mahala.

Idalia knew more than anyone just how much Mahala needed a mother in her life, and she wanted to answer that call with every part of her. However, she had wanted the girl to see her as such first. It had been difficult for her, hearing Mahala address her as Angel, but she had endured it because she knew those names were significant to Mahala as well.

“Yes, Mahala!” Idalia reached forward and stroked Mahala’s hair. “Yes, you can call me mama. You’ve been my child from the beginning.” Idalia swallowed her tears, not wanting to confuse the girl with an outburst of emotions. She instead leaned down and planted a soft kiss on Mahala’s forehead.

The girl yawned as Idalia tucked her in. “Good night, Mama,” she said softly as her eyes fluttered shut.

Idalia watched her with joy, resuming her seat beside the bed. She loved Mahala, and in that moment, she swore to herself that she would die first before she allowed any harm to come to her.

She settled into her chair and watched Mahala’s small form in the bed, her chest rising and falling as she slept. The both of them had come a long way, and Idalia couldn’t wait to tell Bran about her recent breakthrough.

They received a message that the campaign was over and that the troops were headed back home. She expected Bran any day, and in thinking about him, she realized just how much she missed him. Bran had informed her that he would be going out to war more and more, and she had given him her blessing. She had Mahala now to help keep her sane when Bran was away.

Idalia heard some noise from the courtyard down below and got up in annoyance. She wondered who could be making noise so late at night. Mahala slept lightly and oftentimes struggled to go back to sleep after she woke up.

She walked to the window and parted the drapes, then stifled a yelp of happiness. Riding at the head of a column of soldiers were Bran and Dunn. Bran had returned from war. Idalia felt bubbles in her stomach as she watched her mountain of a husband sitting his horse proudly, with the confidence of a thousand men.

Idalia lit a candle on Mahala’s table, then left with the candelabra. She placed it on a mantel in the hallway, and then rushed down the staircase. She and Bran had been married for a little over a month before duty had called him to the front lines. Now he was back, Idalia didn’t intend to lose another second.

She rushed out of the castle and ran down the front steps, just as the soldiers trooped into the castle yard. Bran saw her almost immediately and vaulted off his massive warhorse immediately. He picked her up mid-stride, turning her around in the air several times as she laughed excitedly.

He set her down and kissed her softly on the lips. “I’m glad to see I was nae the only person who was doing the missing,” Bran said teasingly. “It appears I was missed as well.”

“The whole country can burn down for all I care, Bran,” Idalia started. “But know now that you aren’t leaving this castle for the next three months. A woman needs her husband.”

Bran laughed and nodded. Together they climbed back up to their chambers, where Idalia helped Bran out of his war garb. He stumbled tiredly towards the tub in the corner and got into the cool water to have a quick bath.

Idalia got out of her night shift and lay naked in the bed, waiting for Bran. When Bran stepped out of the tub and saw Idalia, he barked in laughter. “Now, Idalia, I have only just returned from war. Do nae ye want to ken how that went?”

“You have enough time to tell me all about your mighty arm over the next three months,” Idalia replied with a straight face. “Now, however, you have a duty to me.”

Bran chuckled and tossed his towel to a nearby chair. “Since ye ask so nicely,” he said, climbing into bed beside Idalia. He pulled Idalia into him, and she loved how cool his body felt. He held the curve of her hips and placed a sweet kiss on her lips.

Idalia gasped expectantly. She had no idea how much she had missed his touch. Bran rolled his hand downwards and smacked Idalia’s derriere lightly, startling her. As they kissed, his hands explored tirelessly over her entire body. His probing hands filled Idalia with explosive currents, and she shivered as his fingers parted her legs and went searching inside her wetness.

Idalia moaned with satisfaction as Bran moved his wonderful mouth down to her breast, sucking her nipples hungrily. His fingers worked expertly inside her and mere seconds later, she bit down on her lip to stop from screaming as she felt her release.

Bran laughed quietly, a deep throaty sound that reverberated through Idalia’s body. He slid down till the tip of his hardness teased at the entrance to her center. He rubbed his tip teasingly across her wet surface, and Idalia squirmed as the sensation threatened to drive her mad.

Slowly, Bran slid into her. Idalia immediately saw stars, and a long wail escaped her mouth. Bran didn’t take her gently. He took her like a soldier, one who had been to war and away from his wife, ought to take her. Bran pursued his own climax and rammed into Idalia with reckless abandon.

Higher and higher she rose in mounting ecstasy, moaning his name, until at last, clutching each other tightly, they went over the precipice of pleasure together.

Bran lay down beside her and enfolded her in his arms. She closed her eyes, relishing the feel of him next to her.

“I love ye, Idalia.”

“I love you, Bran.”

She deserved this life. She deserved this wonderful husband. She deserved her beautiful daughter. She couldn’t wait for all the chapters left to be written in her life, and she looked forward to whatever life had in store for her.

The End.

If you want to know what lies ahead in our story, you may want to get the sequel…

Ewan MacGregor, torn between love and loyalty, is thrust into a precarious situation when his childhood friend, Adamina Leòideach, seeks refuge from an unwanted betrothal. Despite their deepening affection for each other, Ewan strives to keep his distance, knowing that succumbing to temptation will risk exposing his long-held secrets. And that the revelation will not only disgrace him to his own clan but also lead to losing Adamina forever…

Ruined by a Scot