“I shouldha ne’er brought ye back here,” he said in a quiet, pained tone, regret echoing deep in his voice like the tolling of a death knell. “I shouldha listened to my instincts rather than my heart.” Sadness and worry etched creases across his brow and narrowed his eyes. He breathed out a heavy sigh. “Ye taught me to love, Catriona, but now I fear 'twas all for naught.”
“Love is ne’er for naught.” She hugged an arm around his waist and pulled him closer so she could lean against him. “I dinna ken what the future may bring but I’m ever so grateful that I no longer have to face it alone.”
Alexander stiffened and stood taller, throwing out his chest. Catriona eased back and looked up at him. His fierce scowl said more than any words. She hurried to look through the embrasure, down at the glen below at whatever had triggered such a reaction.
'Twas a great burly man riding the largest horse Catriona had ever seen. He wove the mount through the Campbell troops, making his way toward the gatehouse ofTor Ruadh.
“Jameson Campbell.”
Catriona shuddered at Alexander's tone. It was a deep growling rumble filled with defensive fury. The predatory sounds of a raging beast.
Alexander turned and made a jerking summons with one hand. “Magnus!”
Magnus hurried to his side. “Aye?”
“Take Catriona to her chair and have the ones who brought her up here get her safe to her room whilst I go down to the gatehouse and greet our guest.”
Magnus peered over the battlement, his pale eyes narrowing when he spotted Campbell. He stepped back, gave Alexander an obedient nod, then politely bowed to Catriona. “M’lady, I dinna wish to offend ye but we must make haste. I feel I must carry ye rather than help ye walk, aye?”
A sense of doom nearly drowning her, Catriona held up a hand to Magnus but before she could speak, Alexander interrupted.
“Catriona! Ye promised!”
“Aye,” she said. “And I will keep my promise but surely ye’ll no' deny me a kiss afore ye go to battle?” She couldna hardly breathe for the fear squeezing the air from her body. “I love ye, Alexander.” She swallowed hard, struggling not to cry.
Alexander gathered her up and kissed her. A kiss so filled with need, sorrow, joy, and regret she thought she’d surely die when he pulled away. “I love ye, Catriona,” he rasped out. “More than ye shall ever know.”
She squeezed his arm then turned to Magnus and held out her hands. “I’m ready now but I beg ye, when ye return to Alexander, please protect him.”
“I’ll do my best, m’lady,” Magnus replied as he picked her up, carried her back to her chair, then eased her down into it. “Ye have my word, I’ll do my best.”
