Protector of the Highlands: Tales of the Isles - 3 (Highland Legends #8)

Desperate to escape an arranged marriage, Aria Morrison flees in hopes her actions will bring her father to his senses, but her plan goes awry. Alone on the trail Aria is accosted by miscreants bent on having their way with her.

Out of the gloom, a shadowy figure comes to her rescue. She soon learns her savior is none other than Laird Valan MacLeod, one of most powerful men in the Highlands. Valan becomes the champion of her dreams when he protects her through the stormy night. Taken with the handsome laird, Aria is thrilled when he offers to marry her in Baron Eduard Ramsay’s stead.

Her hope is shattered when her father refuses Valan’s offer. He accuses Valan of defiling Aria, and tells her Valan watched his first wife be murdered without lifting a finger to help her. Confused about the man she thought she loved, Aria is forced to marry the greedy baron. Her new husband is even more contemptuous than she imagined. Determined to keep Eduard from consummating their union, Aria resorts to trickery to stay out of his clutches.


Valan MacLeod’s wicked first wife betrayed him. Her death haunts him like a wraith in the night, making it impossible for him to trust any other woman. One stormy evening fate thrusts an intriguing, young girl into his life. He saves Aria Morrison from a vicious assault and learns she is running to avoid an arranged marriage to Baron Eduard Ramsay, Valan’s sworn enemy.

Valan and Aria take refuge for the night in a cottage by the sea. Her sweet innocence enchants Valan into believing he might be able to love again, and he offers to marry her in the baron’s stead. Her father refuses the match. He uses Valan’s dark past against him and forces Aria to uphold the marriage contract.

Months later Aria’s husband dies, and she comes to Valan begging for sanctuary. Seeing her again, Valan realizes he still loves her, but the naïve girl has changed into a woman with secrets. She reminds him of his deceptive first wife. Can he find a way to trust Aria, or will she be his downfall?