He waited until she caught her breath and gathered her in his arms, kissing her neck lightly.
“I will wait until ye’re ready,” he promised, surprising her by tightening his arms around her.
She exhaled shakily, her breathing evening out as he held her. For the first time since she’d gotten there, she felt truly at ease being so near him.
Michael sat on the edge of the wooden table in Alexander’s chambers, his arms crossed over his chest as he eyed his brother with a knowing look.
“Ye have that look about ye,” he muttered. “The one that means ye’re about to ask me somethin’ I wouldnae like.”
Alexander leaned against the stone wall, his arms folded. “I need ye to take over an investigation.”
Michael’s eyebrows rose. “Aye? An investigation into what?”
“Broderic and Ian’s deaths.”
Michael let out a low whistle. “Now, that is troublesome. What is it that ye hope to find?”
“The truth.”
Michael scoffed. “The truth? I doubt her clan would be willin’ to part with it, even if they had it.”
Alexander pushed off the wall, stepping closer. “That is why ye willnae ask them directly. Start with the prisoners we took in the last skirmish. They may ken more than they let on.”
Michael tilted his head, considering. “Ye’ve always claimed ye had nothin’ to do with their deaths. Why now?”
Alexander’s expression remained unreadable. “It is time to clear me name.”
Michael studied him for a moment. “And if ye find somethin’ ye dinnae like?”
“I will deal with it.”
Michael let out a slow breath. “Where were they last seen? I cannae remember.”
Alexander exhaled sharply. “Near the border. Their bodies were never recovered.”
Michael frowned. “So ye dinnae even ken if they’re truly dead?”
Alexander’s jaw tensed. “Nay, I dinnae.”
Michael scratched his chin. “Alright, then. I will start with the prisoners.” He eyed Alexander, a slow smirk forming on his lips. “But tell me, why the sudden urgency? Why now?”
Alexander’s lips curled into a cold smile. “It will make me marriage easier if me wife kens I didnae kill her braither and cousin.”
Michael let out a dry chuckle. “Ah. Now, there’s the true motive.”
Alexander’s expression did not change. “Find the truth, Michael.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Abanging on the door just after sunrise woke Alexander from his sleep. He carefully detangled his limbs from Helena’s, as she had wrapped herself around him like ivy. He grumbled as he stumbled away from the warmth of his bed and his woman’s arms to open the door.
“Alexander, ye had better get dressed and come down to the hall right now,” Michael instructed, his tone urgent and irritated all at once. He looked over Alexander’s shoulder at the bed. “Bring the lass with ye. Perhaps she can get her faither to stop shoutin’.”
“Aye, we’ll be down shortly.”
Alexander rubbed a hand over his face as he closed the door. He watched Helena slumber while he got dressed, before retrieving a dress from her room and waking her.
“Lass, it’s time to wake up. Yer faither is makin’ quite the scene downstairs. It’s time we face the old man before he brings the castle down with his blusterin’.”
