Forbidden Alliance Read online

  Bound by revenge, a woman turned outlaw and a knight sworn to reclaim his birthright band together to vanquish an enemy of Scotland . . .

  After her family is slain and her home seized, Elspet McReynolds flees into the forests surrounding Tiran Castle, where she resorts to thievery to survive and save her sole remaining kin. There she finds an unexpected protector and ally in Sir Cailin MacHugh, rightful heir to the earldom of Dalkirk—a noble rumored to have perished at sea . . .

  Sir Cailin owes his life to the Brotherhood for saving him from a murderous plot. But what is the Knight Templar to do about the fearless, sword-wielding beauty who has enlisted his aid—and awakened his desire? In the face of devastating betrayals and traitorous enemies closing in, can Cailin and Elspet dare claim a love that makes no promises—for a future they may not live to see?

  Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

  Books by Diana Cosby

  The Forbidden Series

  Forbidden Vow

  Forbidden Knight

  Forbidden Legacy

  Forbidden Alliance

  The Oath Trilogy

  An Oath Sworn

  An Oath Broken

  An Oath Taken

  MacGruder Brothers Series

  His Enchantment

  His Seduction

  His Destiny

  His Conquest

  His Woman

  His Captive

  Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

  Forbidden Alliance

  The Forbidden

  Diana Cosby

  LYRICAL PRESS

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  www.kensingtonbooks.com

  Copyright

  To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

  LYRICAL PRESS BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2019 by Diana Cosby

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund-raising, educational, or institutional use.

  Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington Sales Manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018. Attn. Sales Department. Phone: 1-800-221-2647.

  Lyrical Press and Lyrical Press logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

  First Electronic Edition: August 2019

  ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0887-9 (ebook)

  ISBN-10: 1-5161-0887-6 (ebook)

  First Print Edition: August 2019

  ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0889-3

  ISBN-10: 1-5161-0889-2

  Printed in the United States of America

  Contents

  Books by Diana Cosby

  Forbidden Alliance

  Copyright

  Contents

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Epilogue

  Preview

  Chapter 1

  About the Author

  Forbidden Vow

  Forbidden Legacy

  Forbidden Knight

  An Oath Taken

  An Oath Broken

  An Oath Sworn

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to Sally Pelkey, an incredible woman who has been a part of so many amazing memories in my life. I deeply appreciate the gift of her friendship. Sally, you’re truly a blessing in my life. *Hugs*

  Acknowledgments

  My sincere thanks to Cameron John Morrison, Kathryn Warner, and Jody Allen for answering numerous questions about medieval Scotland and England. I would also like to thank The National Trust for Scotland, which acts as guardian of Scotland’s magnificent heritage of architectural, scenic, and historic treasures. In addition, I am thankful for the immense support from my husband, parents, family, and friends. My deepest wish is that everyone is as blessed when they pursue their dreams.

  My sincere thanks to my editor, Esi Sogah; my agent, Holly Root; production editor Rebecca Cremonese; copy editor Randy Ladenheim-Gil; and my critique partners, Michelle Hancock, Cindy Nord, and Ella Quinn for helping Cailin and Elspet’s story come to life. A huge thanks to the Roving Lunatics (Mary Beth Shortt and Sandra Hughes), Nancy Bessler, and The Wild Writers for their friendship and support over the years!

  *A very special thanks to Sulay Hernandez for believing in me from the start.

  Chapter 1

  Scotland, November 1308

  Snow pelted Elspet McReynolds as she clutched her dagger, her gaze riveted on the two roughly dressed men paces away.

  “Hand over the sack!” the stocky one with a jagged scar across his cheek demanded.

  His partner, with a scraggly beard, narrowed his eyes.

  Heart pounding, she tightened her grip. God in heaven, how had her simple plan gone so horribly wrong? She’d despised robbing these strangers. An action she’d never have done if not for the Earl of Dalkirk’s treachery.

  Horrific images of the day before stormed her mind. The grizzly death of her mother and stepfather, her stepbrother Blar’s screams as he was dragged away by the murdering cur’s men, and how the earl had hauled her to his chamber.

  Nausea choked her at memories of her struggle for freedom. How dare the arrogant bastard believe she’d ever willingly share his bed? Had he not deflected her dagger, she would have driven the sgian dubh deep into his vile heart. She found grim satisfaction that her blade had left a long gash across his cheek.

  With the noble howling in pain and demanding that she be captured and killed, she’d fled Tiran Castle. However much she yearned to leave Dalkirk land, she couldn’t allow her stepbrother to die in the earl’s dungeon.

  Terrified for Blar’s life, she’d begged her family’s friends to help her discover whether he was alive. They’d agreed. Except once they’d believed her asleep, she’d overheard them planning to turn her in to gain favor with the noble.

  Devastated by their betrayal, after they’d found their beds, she’d crept to the door and, with painful slowness, opened the hewn entry and fled.

  Earlier today she’d found a castle guard out on his rounds, a man she’d met several times before, who’d sworn that her stepbrother still lived. For a pound he’d agreed to help Blar escape. That had been on her mind when she’d stumbled across the camp in the woods and had seen both strangers at the river, propelling her to foolishly try to rob them.

  A brief search had revealed where the travelers kept their coin. Except, before she could slip away, they’d spotted her and given chase.

  Body t
rembling, she glared at the angry faces of the furious men, damned that she hadn’t stolen one of their horses and ridden away. With the earl calling for her death, she had naught to lose.

  Another snow-drenched gust whipped past, blinding her from her ill-chosen victims. Too aware of the steep slope behind her, and the harsh landscape of the Highlands, she edged to her left. If she could only reach the trees a short sprint away, she might lose them in the dense woods.

  The man with the scraggly beard stepped closer. “Hand it over!”

  Elspet’s blade trembled in her hand. Somehow, she must distract them. “Stay back.”

  “Nay one steals from me!” Teeth bared, the scarred man moved to the side and cornered her against the dangerous incline.

  Fear a bitter slide in her throat, the icy ground crunched beneath her as she edged back. “I am sorry. I needed but a few coins, I—”

  The scarred man lunged.

  With a scream, she slashed out with her blade.

  A thin line of blood streaked his chin. “You bloody bitch!” Snarling, he caught her arms. After twisting both wrists behind her back, he seized the bag of coins.

  Panicking, she struggled to break free. “You have your money; release me!”

  Scowling, the thickset man shoved the leather sack into a ragged, worn pocket. “Nay, lass, you have earned naught but punishment for your thievery.” He wrenched open her cape. “Penance,” he said, his eyes darkening with lust, “I shall enjoy delivering.”

  His friend gave a cruel laugh. “A comely wench indeed.”

  “Nay!” Fresh terror building in her chest, she drove her foot against her captor’s thigh.

  With a curse, the stocky man fisted his hand, swung.

  Pain exploded in Elspet’s head, and she collapsed onto the snow-covered ground.

  * * * *

  A woman’s scream had Sir Cailin MacHugh reining his warhorse to a stop. Gaze narrowed, he scanned the forest.

  Another shriek rang out.

  God’s blade! He whirled his destrier toward the sound, kicked him into a gallop.

  Through the break in the trees ahead, a burly man stood over a slender woman garbed in a torn, pale-green gown. At his side leered a man with a scraggly beard, as shabbily dressed as the other.

  Fury exploded in Cailin’s mind as memories of a woman he’d cared for deeply, had sought his protection after she’d been badly beaten. As he’d held her bruised and bloody body in his arms, prayed for her to live, she’d drawn her last breath. From that moment he’d sworn that never again would he allow a man to harm a lass.

  Jaw clenched, he leaned low and urged his horse faster.

  The attacker hauled her up, drawing his fist back to land another blow.

  Cailin jumped his steed over a fallen log and into the clearing, drew his broadsword. “Release her!” he roared.

  Her attacker whirled. Outraged eyes shifted to fear as they locked on his weapon. “You bloody want her,” he snarled, “here!” He shoved the lass down the steep incline, nodded to his partner. “Run!”

  Brush snapped as both men bolted to their horses.

  Instinct urged Cailin to give chase as they galloped away but lost against his need to protect. He kicked his mount to the edge.

  Like a broken doll, her fingers splayed against the snow-covered ground, the woman lay at the bottom of the hill.

  An icy burst of wind howled past as he dismounted, then hurried down the slope.

  Half-frozen rocks loosened, clattered ahead of him.

  With a curse, he shifted to the right to avoid any falling debris hitting the unconscious woman.

  Once he reached the bottom, he knelt by her side. Chestnut-brown hair dusted with the fall of snow framed her angelic face. A gash creased her right brow, and a bruise darkened her cheek, both in stark contrast to her pale skin.

  Praying she was alive, Cailin gently touched her shoulder. Once, twice. “Lass.”

  Eyes the color of water-drenched moss flickered open, focused on him. Their depth, intensity stole his breath.

  She gasped, rolled and stumbled to her feet. Favoring her right ankle, she backed away.

  Cailin slowly stood. “Dinna be afraid,” he said, keeping his voice gentle. “I am here to help you.”

  A shiver racked her body, then another. Her mouth tightened in pain as she tugged her cape together, then glanced toward the knoll where one of the attackers had seized her moments before. Her gaze narrowed on him. “W—who are you?”

  “Sir Cailin.” Though years had passed since he’d ridden on Dalkirk land, he couldn’t risk her recognizing his surname and warning his uncle, let alone the rest of the earl’s reprobates, of his return. “And your name?”

  The beautiful woman hesitated, her eyes dark with distrust. “Kenzie.”

  By her proper speech and the quality of her torn green gown, he suspected she was a woman of noble birth. The lass’s reason for keeping her nobility a secret could be endless and as worthy as his own. Nor would he seek an answer.

  “Are you from around here?” he asked.

  Wary eyes held his. “Are you?”

  Blast it. Did her family live within Dalkirk, or had they given the earl their fealty?

  “You know the men who attacked me?” she asked, suspicion raw in her words.

  He shook his head. The combination of her physical struggle and swelling jaw made his gut twist. By God, he’d catch the scoundrels. He gestured to her leg. “’Twas a nasty fall. You are injured.”

  Face taut, she shrugged. “Bruised is all.”

  He grunted. “That I doubt. I will carry you. From how you are favoring your ankle, you canna climb back up on your own.”

  Defiance blazed in her eyes. “I can make it without your help.”

  Regardless of the pain, if he let her, no doubt she’d try. “Aye, but ’tis rest and a warm fire you would be needing, not climbing up the brae,” Cailin said with emphasis, “in pain.”

  In a calmer setting he would have pondered her bold manner. But with her injury, the snow falling at an increasing rate, and the howl of the bitter wind, they needed to find shelter.

  Scraping her teeth over her lower lip, she scoured the surroundings, then stilled

  He followed her gaze.

  A step to his left, half-buried in snow, lay her sgian dubh, a smear of blood across the blade.

  Before she could move, he retrieved the knife and wiped it clean. Handle facing her, he offered her the dagger.

  Wary eyes held his as she accepted her weapon. “Why are you helping me?”

  “You were in danger.”

  She sheathed her blade. “As simple as that?”

  “Aye.” He held out his hand. “We must go before the weather makes travel impossible.”

  After a brief hesitation, during which her gaze seemed to pierce his and evaluate his trustworthiness, she placed her hand upon his open palm.

  At the silkiness of her skin against his, Cailin smothered the flare of awareness. Irritated by the desire she stirred, he lifted her in his arms.

  Snow crunched as he carried her up the steep, icy incline. He tried to ignore how good her body felt against him, failed. At the top of the cliff, more than ready to put distance between them, he gently set her on her feet.

  Cheeks flushed, she moved back, clearly trying to shield that her ankle caused her pain. “I thank you, Sir Cailin. I owe you much. I—” Her face paled as she twisted around with a gasp. “My horse!”

  Blast it, the thieves had circled back and taken her steed. “Do you know their names?”

  She paused, then shook her head. “I have never seen them before today.”

  No doubt the robbers had believed her a lady, and easy prey. “Why are you riding without a proper guard?”

  * * * *

  Dismayed by the turn of
events, Elspet studied the handsome knight. Dark red hair framed blue eyes that no doubt had made many a woman desire. His muscle-hewn body and confident stance that of a man used to taking charge.

  Was this warrior one of the Earl of Dalkirk’s men out searching for her? She struggled for an explanation that would satisfy the formidable knight so she could leave before he recognized her.

  “I was en route to my aunt’s home in the Western Highlands when thieves attacked my guard. He was…” She drew in a ragged breath, allowing the terror, the fear that at any moment she’d be caught haunting her since she’d fled Tiran Castle to fill her words. “H—he died. I escaped, or believed I had. But the men caught up to me and…” Her breath hitched. “Thank God you arrived.”

  “They willna touch you again,” he said, his voice somber. “That I swear.”

  A sense of rightness flowed from this man, a strength, an integrity that left her feeling vulnerable and exposed. Shaken, Elspet dragged in a steadying breath. “How I wish you could promise such.”

  Intense blue eyes held hers. “I mean what I say.”

  However foolish, more so after her neighbor’s betrayal hours before and with him possibly one of the earl’s men, she believed him. “Never have I seen you before.”

  The daunting knight’s eyes grew unreadable. “I am but traveling through.”

  Tension in her body eased. Thank God, he was not in service to the noble. “You are a stranger to Dalkirk lands. What you witnessed today was but a pittance of the lawlessness the earl allows his men.”

  Surprise flickered in Cailin’s eyes. “Your attackers are men within his guard?”

  She hesitated. Regardless if he was an outsider and ignorant that the earl had ordered his knights to catch and kill her, ’twas wisest to take care with what she revealed. Another shiver swept her. “Ignore my ramblings, ’tis exhaustion feeding my words.”

  A frown creased his brow. After a moment, he nodded. “’tis time to leave.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “We,” he said with emphasis, “are going to an inn where I have a room for tonight. You will have a meal, and a place to rest while your injury mends.”