"Me laird,"she said quietly. "I dinnae expect ye so soon."
"Where is she?"Ewan looked around the chambers, noting for the first time how empty they seemed. "Where's Maia?"
Aisla's face crumpled slightly."She's gone."
The words hitEwan like a physical blow. "What do ye mean, gone?"
"I mean she left.About twenty minutes ago. She saw somethin' that upset her, and she decided she needed to leave. Mollie went with her."
"What did she see?"But even as Ewan asked, cold dread was settling in his stomach. He knew. Somehow, he knew. "Aisla. What did Maia see?"
"She was comin'to yer study. To talk to ye. And she—" Aisla's voice was gentle but firm. "She saw Lady Laura with ye. Saw her straddle yer lap."
"Christ."Ewan's legs nearly gave out beneath him. "She saw that and she thought?—"
"She thought ye wanted Laura.That whatever was between ye and Maia was just—just a moment that dinnae mean anythin'. She was devastated, me laird. Absolutely heartbroken."
"I need to find her."Ewan was already moving toward the door. "How long ago did they leave?"
"Twenty minutes,maybe less. They went out the postern gate near the kitchens."
Twenty minutes.They could be anywhere by now—in the forest, on the road, heading toward God knew where.
But Ewan would find them.He would findher.
He had to.
"If I daenae find her—"he started, then stopped. "Nae. Iwillfind her. I have to."
He leftthe chambers at a run, his boots pounding on the stone floors. Servants scattered out of his way as he raced through the corridors and out into the courtyard.
The stables werehis first destination. He'd need a horse, need to move fast if he had any hope of catching up to them before nightfall.
"Saddle me horse!"he bellowed as he entered the stables. "Now!"
The stable handsjumped to obey, clearly sensing the urgency in his voice. Within minutes, his destrier was ready, and Ewan swung himself into the saddle.
Twenty minutes.That was all the head start they had.
He could catch them.Hewouldcatch them.
And when he did—whenhe found Maia and explained everything, told her the truth about Laura, about his feelings—he would never let her go again.
Never lether doubt how much she meant to him. Never give her reason to run.
"Hold on, lass,"he muttered as he urged the horse toward the forest. "I'm comin'. Just hold on."
The sun was setting,painting the sky in shades of orange and red. Darkness would be falling soon, making tracking nearly impossible.
But Ewan didn't care.He'd search all night if he had to. He would search for days, weeks, months, however long it took.
Because losingMaia wasn't an option.
Not now.Not ever.
She was his,and he was hers, and somehow he'd make her understand that.
Even if hehad to chase her to the ends of the earth to do it.
