Laren shook her head. “I spoke with Melisandre for a short while. She said that Celeste gave up all rights to her land, to return to you.”
He said nothing, refusing to believe any of it.
His brother’s wife touched his arm, asking gently, “Why do you fight your feelings for her? I can see in your face how much it hurt when she left.”
“I knew she would leave me.” Every woman he’d ever known had left; why would Celeste be any different?
“She came back,” Laren said. “And I think you should give her another chance. At least hear what she has to say.”
“She gave me nothing but lies, Laren. Why would I want to hear more?”
The young woman let out a sigh. “Stubbornness runs in MacKinloch blood.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Her sister can sleep with my girls this night.”
“And what of Lady Eiloch?” he demanded, unable to stop himself from asking.
“Where do you want me to send her?” Without waiting for a reply, Laren walked away.
Dougal grimaced, for he knew he would find Celeste in his dwelling. The question was whether or not he’d have the willpower to turn her away. Or whether he should.
Chapter Seven
Celeste stood within the fence boundaries while the stallion explored his new home. Dougal kept his mare, Ivory, separated, but the animal appeared nervous at the arrival of the new horse. In one hand, he held a carrot, intending to entice Titan with it. The stallion was fully aware of him but showed more interest in grazing.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Dougal warned Celeste. “He’s nervous already.”
“I traveled with him all the way here,” she countered. Her blue eyes fixed upon him, and she added, “He’s the most stubborn creature I’ve ever met. He won’t listen to anything I say.”
He thought he detected an undertone beneath her words. “Horses can sense when a rider is not in command.”
“It doesn’t matter what I say or do. He’s made up his mind already.” She went to stand beside him, and crossed her arms. “He doesn’t understand that I only wanted to take care of him.”
“Are we still talking about horses?” He risked a glance, and the glare in her eyes was unmistakable.
“I gave up my land to keep a promise to you. And it seems I made the wrong choice, since you’re determined that I should not stay here.”
“Laren is Lady of Glen Arrin. She’ll give you a place for the night until you can go.”
“Is that what you want? For us to leave and never return?”
“Yes.” He spoke without thinking, but the words held a note of falsehood. When he was around Celeste, he hardly knew himself anymore. He wanted her in his arms, her mouth upon his. He wanted to awaken beside her in the morning and fall asleep with her at night.
She was his greatest weakness, and he didn’t want to trust her again. When he’d allowed himself to believe, for a moment, that she’d wanted him, he’d felt a sense of wholeness. As if there was someone who would stand by him, who needed him. When Lord Eiloch had offered the ugly truth, it had only confirmed what he’d feared—that she’d only wanted to use him.
“Just a few days,” she murmured, lifting her face to his in a wordless plea. “If you cannot forgive me, then I’ll go.”
He didn’t want to try again. For he sensed that if he took even a single step forward, he would end up in her bed once more. Celeste de Laurent was like a sorceress, binding him to her until there was nothing left of himself.
She took his hand in hers. “We could go for a ride if you want. I could take Ivory, and you could ride Titan.”
“Ivory is still getting used to having a saddle,” he argued. “She’s not safe for you.”
“Then I’ll see what I can do to tame that beast of a horse. I’ll ride Titan, if I must.” She sent him a slight smile. “We could race them.”
“I’d win.” He pointed toward the stallion, who was still grazing. “Your mount is more interested in food.”
“That could change, if he’s running alongside the female. He might try to chase her.” She straightened and offered, “I’ll make you a wager on it.”
“And what do you want if you win?” Although he doubted if her stallion would obey her enough to win the race, he wondered what she would ask for.
