Intimate Enemies : A Novel

From Shana Abé, author of The Truelove Bride and A Kiss at Midnight , comes this exquisitely emotional, beautifully written novel about two warring clans on a Scottish isle united by a fragile pact... and the hearts of two unforgettable lovers. Lauren MacRae is only a woman. But her father's death has left her the leader of the Clan MacRae. Now it is up to her to defend her beloved Isle of Shot from the invading Northmen, even if it means going to her clan's sworn enemy, the powerful English overlord, Arion du Morgan, for help. But Arion's raven hair, green eyes, and smoldering sensuality soon make Lauren forget just why she turned to him—as he awakens within her a wayward desire.... Like Lauren, Arion risks the mutiny of his soldiers by forming this risky alliance. But he was brought up to believe that the Isle of Shot belongs not to the Clan MacRae, but to England—and he will defend it to his dying breath. Once, when they were children, Arion saved Lauren from a tortuous fate. Now, the copper-haired beauty has somehow found a way to banish the emptiness in his soul. And as they join forces to fight for the land they both love, he will risk everything—even his very life—to claim what is his. From Shana Ab?, author of The Truelove Bride and A Kiss at Midnight , comes this exquisitely emotional, beautifully written novel about two warring clans on a Scottish isle united by a fragile pact... and the hearts of two unforgettable lovers. Lauren MacRae is only a woman. But her father's death has left her the leader of the Clan MacRae. Now it is up to her to defend her beloved Isle of Shot from the invading Northmen, even if it means going to her clan's sworn enemy, the powerful English overlord, Arion du Morgan, for help. But Arion's raven hair, green eyes, and smoldering sensuality soon make Lauren forget just why she turned to him--as he awakens within her a wayward desire.... Like Lauren, Arion risks the mutiny of his soldiers by forming this risky alliance. But he was brought up to believe that the Isle of Shot belongs not to the Clan MacRae, but to England--and he will defend it to his dying breath. Once, when they were children, Arion saved Lauren from a tortuous fate. Now, the copper-haired beauty has somehow found a way to banish the emptiness in his soul. And as they join forces to fight for the land they both love, he will risk everything--even his very life--to claim what is his. From the Paperback edition From Shana AbE, author of The Truelove Bride and A Kiss at Midnight, comes this exquisitely emotional, beautifully written novel about two warring clans on a Scottish isle united by a fragile pact ... and the hearts of two unforgettable lovers. Lauren MacRae is only a woman. But her father's death has left her the leader of the Clan MacRae. Now it is up to her to defend her beloved Isle of Shot from the invading Northmen, even if it means going to her clan's sworn enemy, the powerful English overlord, Arion du Morgan, for help. But Arion's raven hair, green eyes, and smoldering sensuality soon make Lauren forget just why she turned to him'as he awakens within her a wayward desire ... Like Lauren, Arion risks the mutiny of his soldiers by forming this risky alliance. But he was brought up to believe that the Isle of Shot belongs not to the Clan MacRae, but to England'and he will defend it to his dying breath. Once, when they were children, Arion saved Lauren from a tortuous fate. Now, the copper-haired beauty has somehow found a way to banish the emptiness in his soul. And as they join forces to fight for the land they both love, he will risk everything'even his very life'to claim what is his. From the Paperback edition Lauren MacRae is the only child of the Laird of the MacRae Clan. Her father raised her as if she were a male heir. She has learned how to use weapons, to ride like a boy, and how to negotiate with and lead the clan. Their clan claims the Isle of Shot. The English Lord du Morgan also claims the same isle. The two groups have settled into an uneasy arrangement with each side living on half of the isle. Lauren particularly dislikes Lord Ryder du Morgan because he kidnapped her when she was eight and held her as a bargaining tool. Ryder's nephew and heir, Arion, helped her escape from that confinement before his uncle could seriously hurt her. The two of them make a connection at that time, but Lauren still considers all du Morgans as enemies. Twelve years later, Arion is now the Lord after his cruel uncle's death. When a much larger band of raiding Vikings ambushes his men, a group of MacRae warriors attacks the Vikings. Through a haze, Arion witnesses a woman warrior strike down the Viking who would have killed him. When he reawakens, he is recuperating under guard in the clan stronghold.