Five.

You cannot wear that!" Iona shrieked while giggling, and trying not to burn her ear.

"What? Why not? It's cute, don't you think?" Colt asked confused, looking down at her plaid skirt. It was made of a thick woolen fabric and stopped just above her knee. It was one of her new favourite pieces of clothing, along with her black leather boots that reached up, to just below her knee, and a floaty red silk off the shoulder top.

Iona started giggling wildly, "You are such an American!" She laughed looking at Colt's confused face.

Colt looked down at the red and green fabric, utterly perplexed at what was going on, while Iona stopped straightening her hair to finish laughing.

Once she had settled herself down she began to explain, "Colt, you are a Campbell wildcat. That," she said pointing at the skirt, "Is a Macgregor tartan. You can't wear it not to a function on Campbell lands. It will start a riot."

Colt's eyebrows raised up in realisation. "Are the clan tensions still that bad? I mean I live on Macgregor land don't I?" She asked, sitting down on her couch and taking a bite of the Chinese food Iona had brought with her. It was really yummy.

"Well, it's complicated. Officially we are all friends." Iona began, awkwardly air quoting with her fingers, as she said the word 'friends'. "Unofficially, there are a lot of old rivalries that run deep. There is a lot of one upmanship, and to be honest competition for mates. I'm sure, Granny, has given you the speech about how we women must do our duty to the species, by birthing more kittens, blah, blah, blah." She waved her hand in the air, before turning to straighten the next section of hair.

"Our duty? Are you kidding me?" Colt snorted. "This isn't the middle ages."

"Careful, Colt. The clan elders take it very seriously. There was only ever one female who got out, well alive anyway, and that was your Mum." Iona warned. "It's the only thing the lot of them seem to agree on, not that they'll admit it." She said, finishing her last section of hair before, putting down her straighteners to cool off. "Plus, when your Mum left, apparently Granny and Grandad suffered financially and socially. Which the Macgregors openly triumphed about." She said shaking her head.

"Mom, has never said anything." Colt stated thoughtfully, as she sipped on some wine.

"It's not surprising, she was basically disowned for leaving her supposed chosen mate, Arthur Bruce. He is Angus' Uncle by the way. Utter creep, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in that family." Iona answered.

Colt was shocked to hear her Mom almost had another mate, Isla was so young when she met Kalvin in the first place, it seemed crazy another was picked out for her first. She itched to ask her details about it now. But, that would reveal her whereabouts, and now this was being said it confirmed her suspicions, her parents definitely didn't want her in Scotland.

"Well, thank Dana I'm already mated." Colt mumbled, eliciting a laugh from Iona. "What?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't be so naive, Colt. You aren't married, and you're on your own. Wait," Iona paused. "You don't know do you?" She asked stunned, walking over to the little table, to sip her wine, while forking some chow main into her mouth.

"Know what? That this is all crazy." Colt spat waving her hand about in reference to their conversation.

"Well, yes." Iona nodded. "But, more than that, Colt, there is a reason Angus Bruce has been hanging around you. He was chosen for you to marry."

Colt spat the wine out, she had been drinking. "Iona, you better be fucking joking." She seethed.

Iona simply shook her head.

Then Colt did the unexpected, she started to laugh. Loudly, and ever so slightly maniacally. She even snorted as her whole body vibrated with glee. Her cousin looked incredibly confused, and stilled tilting her head.

"Colt? Everything alright?" She asked cautiously, lowering her plate onto the coffee table.

"Peachy." Colt smirked. "Also, I think I am wearing the perfect skirt afterall. One can't raise hell in the wrong outfit now." She added with a wink.

Iona's face lit up with mischief at Colt's words. "What are you planning, Cousin?"

"Let's just say I have a few surprises up my sleeves, that may ruin their plans." She said with an eyebrow raise, before she returned to eating her dinner. Tonight would be a very, very interesting night.