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Back The Darkest Shore Save as PDF
Chapters (76)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Also by Karen Brooks
  4. Title Page
  5. Dedication
  6. EXPLANATORY NOTE
  7. PART ONE
  8. One
  9. Two
  10. Three
  11. Four
  12. Five
  13. Six
  14. Seven
  15. Eight
  16. Nine
  17. Ten
  18. Eleven
  19. Twelve
  20. Thirteen
  21. Fourteen
  22. Fifteen
  23. Sixteen
  24. Seventeen
  25. Eighteen
  26. Nineteen
  27. Twenty
  28. Twenty-One
  29. Twenty-Two
  30. Twenty-Three
  31. Twenty-Four
  32. Twenty-Five
  33. Twenty-Six
  34. Twenty-Seven
  35. Twenty-Eight
  36. PART TWO
  37. Twenty-Nine
  38. Thirty
  39. Thirty-One
  40. Thirty-Two
  41. Thirty-Three
  42. Thirty-Four
  43. Thirty-Five
  44. PART THREE
  45. Thirty-Six
  46. Thirty-Seven
  47. Thirty-Eight
  48. Thirty-Nine
  49. Forty
  50. Forty-One
  51. Forty-Two
  52. Forty-Three
  53. Forty-Four
  54. Forty-Five
  55. Forty-Six
  56. Forty-Seven
  57. Forty-Eight
  58. Forty-Nine
  59. Fifty
  60. Fifty-One
  61. Fifty-Two
  62. PART FOUR
  63. Fifty-Three
  64. Fifty-Four
  65. Fifty-Five
  66. Fifty-Six
  67. Fifty-Seven
  68. Fifty-Eight
  69. Fifty-Nine
  70. Sixty
  71. Sixty-One
  72. Epilogue: Autumn 1706
  73. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  74. GLOSSARY
  75. LIST OF CHARACTERS
  76. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Sorcha looked around her. The encroaching night was cold, the street bleak, despite the singing, the candlelight, the roiling mist. All she could recall was the feel of the men’s bodies pressed against hers, the taste of blood in her mouth. She’d foolishly hoped for a different kind of welcome; a different kind of Hogmanay. Perhaps this was what she deserved. But that didn’t mean the others did.

Suddenly, the events of the day, the reason for her leave-taking and early homecoming and the threat and fear that greeted her on her very own doorstep became too much. Men became too much, even this gallant who not only showed such courtesy, but looked to their safety.

‘Thank you for what you did, sir. But if you don’t mind, it’s growing late and I would like to get inside before the new year passes.’ And have a wee drink with my friends.

Before he could protest, Sorcha gave the captain a nod of dismissal and ushered the women, who added their thanks to hers, back towards the cottage and through the open door.

She was about to close it, when the captain put his boot between the door and the jamb. His fingers curled over hers where they rested. He’d dismounted both quickly and quietly and moved with a speed that unnerved her. Taller than she expected, she was forced to tip her head to see his face. Up close and by the mellow light of the fire, it didn’t seem as hard, but rather one shaped by experience and, if his twinkling eyes were any guide, humour and kindness as well. God damn if her heart didn’t flutter and heat that had nothing to do with the growing warmth at her back flooded her cheeks. Had she learned nothing?

‘I said,’ Sorcha looked pointedly at his boot obstructing the door and then at his hand covering hers, ‘I want to get inside.’

The captain removed his fingers slowly. ‘Aye, and I heard you. But I thought you might also like to have these.’ He heaved her burlap and shawl into her arms.

Before she could thank him, he strode to his horse and threw his leg over its back. Tipping his hat to Sorcha one last time, he disappeared down the street, swallowed by the mist as if he were one of the fae folk and had never really been.

Three

THREE

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She’s a toon’s crack.

(Everyone’s speaking about her.)