“She’s not like you,” Cullen argued. “Used to endless treks through the woods day or night.”
“Storm is right” Alaina said, coming up behind Cullen. “I don’t have a choice. Now let’s go.”
Cullen grinned. “That’s my woman.” And hurried after her.
They kept going long into the afternoon and Burke was near ready to breathe a sigh of relief. They were getting closer and closer to St. Andrew and his ship. They were going to make it.
The yell pierced the air like a sharp knife and brought everyone to an abrupt halt.
“Malcolm’s group,” Storm said and drew her sword before charging forward through the woods.
The melee was a clash of swords and fists, and chaos reigned for some time.
Burke had no time to worry about Storm. It seemed he fought off soldier after soldier. Sweat and blood soon tainted the chilled air along with moans of the wounded and dying.
When it finally ended, Burke stood looking around at the carnage, searching and praying that Storm wasn’t among the wounded or dead. Relief flooded him when he saw her bending over a body.
It was with a smile that she helped Malcolm up.
She was all right and so was Malcolm.
Burke headed toward her, and her bright smile registered her own relief that he was all right. He, however, didn’t like how quickly it had faded, and he halted in his tracks, not wanting to turn around and see what had caused Storm to lose her smile and turn pale white.
He feared it was his brother, Cullen, and he silently prayed and swore and damned the powers that be that they had better not have taken Cullen away from him. He would never forgive them, never forgive himself for not having protected his brother after finally having found him.
Burke gathered his strength and swerved around.
He froze and his heart near stilled.
Cullen knelt on the ground, Alaina in his arms, and blood covering her chest.
Chapter 37
Storm followed Burke to his brother’s side. As soon as she got a look at Alaina’s wound, she knew death was imminent. She grabbed hold of Burke’s arm and felt his muscles tense beneath his shirt and looked at his face.
His pain tore at her heart, and she was reluctant to glance down at Cullen, for she knew his pain would doubly stab at her heart.
Cullen’s anguished voice drew her glance to him. “God, Alaina, you should have stayed where I told you.”
She tried to shake her head but could only manage to turn it to one side.
“It should have been me. It should have been me,” Cullen cried, and as gently as he could slipped his arm beneath her head and leaned down to press his cheek to hers.
Storm gently eased Burke away from the couple, knowing they needed these last moments alone together.
“Don’t try to speak,” Cullen urged.
“I must.” Alaina struggled with her words. “You must listen.”
Storm heard no more since she and Burke moved a distance from the couple.
He suddenly grabbed her and wrapped her tightly in his embrace. “God, I’m so grateful you’re alive.”
Tears quickly stained her cheeks. She not only cried for Cullen’s loss but she cried in relief that she and Burke had survived. She knew Cullen’s pain, had lived it herself, and she ached for his suffering, but she also rejoiced in good fortune, for in death there was also life.
“We need to get out here,” Storm said, shoving her husband away from her and wiping her tears away.
“She’s right. More soldiers will be coming,” Cullen said.
