“You’d do that. You’d let me go back to theHighlands?”
“Yes,” he confirmed.
No thoughts showed on his face, no hint as tohis feelings. He was every inch the untouchable warlord in thatmoment.
He reached behind her and undid the ropebinding her hands.
Shea couldn’t help the feeling ofuncertainty. As recently as that afternoon, she would have takenthe second option without a moment’s doubt. Her inner struggle onthe ridge had thrown all of that off center. She had decided tocome back, to give this life a chance, to see if it held what she’dbeen searching for since the moment she could walk.
Now he was telling her she had a choice.
It was easy to stay when there was no choice.It was even easy when a person’s life hung in the balance.
But this choice would be different. She wouldhave to choose it willingly. Eyes opened and accepting of anyconsequences that might come.
She had warned Fallon. He and his menwouldn’t be surprised by any ambush. Eamon and the others’ liveswere no longer in the balance. She could walk away free and clearand never suffer a crises of conscience.
“What if I stayed as a scout?”
“No. You’d have to be my Tolroi.”
Shea wanted to stomp her foot like a threeyear old. She settled for a grimace. “You’re being absurd. Let mestay as a scout, and I’ll consider becoming your Tolroi.”
“You already know my answer to that.”
“Why? Why is this so important to you?”
He moved then, grabbing the front of hershirt and pulling her up to his face before wrapping one arm aroundher back to support her. “Because you have already made your choicewhether you’re willing to admit it or not. Because when you weregone I knew fear such as I have not known since I was a boywatching my father die, and my mother take her own life rather thanface dishonor, not because I thought you had run to my enemies butbecause you were out there somewhere on your own, perhaps hurt orscared or in pain, and I wasn’t there to help you. But mostly,because you are mine, and I crave the same commitment fromyou.”
He snarled such sweet words in such an angryvoice, as if he wasn’t thrilled with these reasons but acceptedthem none the less.
The most profound words Shea had ever heard,the kind that etched themselves deep into the soul. She knew if shelived a hundred years she would remember them.
Slowly, inch by slow inch, she slid out ofhis arms until she was fully supporting her own weight. Hestraightened and stared impassively down at her. An outsiderlooking in would never have suspected the depth of emotion he’djust given her seconds ago.
Arching one eyebrow, he told her, “You shouldalso know, should you choose to return to your Highlands, that onceI have dealt with the traitors in my midst, I will march my armyinto the heart of those lands and not stop until I have youagain.”
After a stunned moment, Shea threw her headback and laughed. “You are a warlord.”
The laughter faded and her gaze was soft asit landed on him. A small smile played on her lips.
Her choice was an easy one. It had been madea long time ago. Perhaps as long ago as that day she had looked upat the platform and seen a pair of whiskey colored eyes staringback at her.
It wasn’t in her nature to give everything soeasily, however.
“I’m staying,” she informed him beforeturning her back and making her way over to her blankets.
“As my Tolroi,” he bellowed after her.
“We’ll see,” she called back.
A grin overtook her face as she headed fortheir sleeping area. Cocky bastard.
That was the last moment of levity thatnight. After that, the men were busy with preparations. Everyoneknew an attack was imminent, but not where it would come from orwhat odds they faced. Caden dispatched scouts following aconversation with Fallon. Shea tried to volunteer to show themwhere she had encountered the enemy, but Fallon said no and oncethe warlord decided something nobody was willing to argue.
After that, there was nothing to do butwait.
Fallon joined Shea where she had bedded downfor the night, scooping her up and pulling her with him under hisblankets.
