Ada nodded, her face pale but determined.
They moved back through the trees, each step careful, deliberate. Magnus's heart hammered against his ribs, his every sense on high alert for more sentries, for any sign they'd been spotted.
It took an eternity to reach their horses. Magnus helped Ada mount, then swung onto his own stallion. Only when they were a safe distance from the camp did he allow himself to breathe properly.
"Are ye all right?" he asked, keeping his voice low despite the distance.
Ada's hands trembled on the reins. "I dinnae ken. I saw him. Me faither and Donnan together. Plannin’." She stopped, swallowed hard. "Plannin’ whatever it is they’ll dae next."
"Hey." Magnus moved his horse closer, reached out to cover her hand with his. "Look at me."
Ada's eyes found his, swimming with tears.
"This isnae yer fault," Magnus said firmly. "Whatever he's plannin', whatever he's done, none of it is on ye. Ye hear me?"
"But he's me faither. Me blood."
"Blood daesnae make family, Ada. Loyalty daes. Love daes. Choice daes." Magnus squeezed her hand. "And ye've chosen me. Chosen me people. That makes Barra yer family more than yer faither could ever be."
A tear spilled over, tracked down Ada's cheek. "He's goin' tae attack, isnae he? That camp, those men—they're nae just watchin'. They're preparin' fer war."
"Aye. Probably." Magnus's jaw clenched. "But now we ken and we can prepare. Send word tae the other jarls, fortify our defenses." He brought her hand to his lips, pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "We'll beat him, Ada. I promise ye that."
"What if ye cannae? What if he—" Her voice broke. "What if I lose ye?"
"Ye willnae lose me." Magnus's voice was fierce. "I've survived battles, raids, betrayals. I'm nae lettin' some schemin' Highland laird take me down. Especially nae when I've finally got somethin' worth fightin' fer."
Ada managed a watery smile. "Me?"
"Ye." Magnus leaned across the space between their horses, cupped her face gently. "I love ye, Ada Haraldson. And I'll be damned if I let yer faither take ye from me."
He kissed her then, soft and sweet and full of promise. When he pulled back, some of the fear had left Ada's eyes.
"I love ye too," she whispered. "And I'm sorry. Fer all of this. Fer bringin' this danger tae yer door."
"Dinnae apologize fer things that arenae yer fault." Magnus straightened in his saddle. "Now come on. We need tae get back tae the keep. I have plans tae make."
They rode in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Magnus's mind was already racing ahead, calculating distances, troop numbers, potential strategies.
Conall had maybe fifteen men in that camp. But there could be more scattered throughout the area. And with Donnan inside the keep, feeding information?—
Magnus would need to deal with Donnan first. Quietly. Before the man could warn Conall that they'd been discovered.
Then send riders to the other jarls. Erik, Harald, Ragnar, Ivar. They'd come. They had to come. The Pact bound them together, made them brothers in all but blood.
And if Conall attacked one of them, he attacked all of them.
They reached the keep as full darkness settled over the island. Magnus helped Ada dismount, kept his arm around her waist as they walked toward the entrance.
"Magnus," Ada said quietly. "What are ye goin' tae dae?"
"What I have tae." His voice was grim. "I'm goin' tae protect what's mine. Me keep, me people." He looked down at her. "Me wife."
"And me faither?"
Magnus was quiet for a moment. Then, "If he comes at us, if he attacks—I'll dae what needs tae be done. But Ada, I need ye tae understand. If it comes tae that, if it comes tae him or me?—"
"I choose ye." Ada's voice was fierce. "I'll always choose ye. He stopped bein' me faither the moment he tried tae use me as a weapon against ye."
