“Keep yer back straight!” Aiden had barked at him during one of their training sessions.
Malcolm had struggled to lift a barrel, and his face was flushed with exertion. “I’m tryin’, Aiden!” he had gritted out, his hands slipping on the rough wood.
“Try harder,” Aiden had snapped.
The friction between them had been palpable, but it had been nothing compared to the altercation that would cement their bond. It had been a sweltering day, the air thick with humidity, and the crew had been on edge. Crow, a grizzled old sailor with a reputation for brutality, had taken a dislike to Malcolm from the very beginning. The boy’s fresh face and eager demeanor were like a red rag to a bull.
“Ye’re useless, boy,” Crow had sneered, shoving Malcolm against the mast. “Should’ve left ye on the docks where ye belong.”
“Leave him be, Crow,” Aiden had warned, stepping forward.
Crow had laughed in a low, menacing way. “Oh, the captain’s favorite wants to play protector, does he? Ye think ye’re better than us, do ye nae?”
Aiden’s jaw had clenched. “I said, leave him be. He’s me responsibility.”
Crow had spat on the deck, his eyes narrowing. “Then ye’ll take his punishment, aye?”
Before Aiden could react, Crow had lashed out, his fist connecting with Aiden’s jaw. The force of the blow had sent Aiden staggering, but he had quickly regained his footing. The crew had gathered around and formed a tight circle, their expressions a mix of anticipation and grim amusement. Fights were not uncommon aboard theStormbreaker, but this one felt different. It was a test, a challenge to Aiden’s authority.
Malcolm had tried to intervene, but Aiden had shoved him back. “Stay out of this, Mal. This is me fight.”
The beating that followed was brutal. Crow was a seasoned fighter, and his fists were like iron. Aiden had fought back, but the older man’s experience and raw power quickly overwhelmed him. The sound of flesh hitting flesh, the dull thud of fists against ribs, and the goading jeers of the crew had filled the air. Aiden had taken the blows without complaint, his mind focused on one thing only—protecting Malcolm at all costs.
When it was over, Aiden had been left battered and bruised, barely able to stand. Crow had spat on him again, this time indisgust, before turning away. The crew had dispersed, muttering among themselves, leaving Aiden and Malcolm alone.
Malcolm had rushed to his side, his face pale with shock and guilt. “Aiden, I’m so sorry… I didnae mean for this to happen…”
Aiden had waved him off, wincing as he straightened up. “’Tis nae yer fault, Mal. This is how it is on a ship like this. Ye learn to fight, or ye willnae last.”
The night had fully settled around the loch, and the sky had become a blanket of stars twinkling like distant fires. The soft croak of frogs and the persistent hum of insects filled the air, creating a peaceful melody that dampened the chaotic thoughts swirling in Aiden’s mind. He sat on the cool grass at the edge of the loch, still damp from his earlier swim, his gaze fixed on the rippling water. Malcolm sat beside him, his flask now empty and resting between them like a silent witness to their shared burden.
For a long while, neither man spoke.
It was Malcolm who broke the silence, his voice low and reflective. “Ye ken, Aiden, we’ve been through hell and back. Faced things that would break most men. Did things that would haunt the best of them. But that’s nae who we are anymore. We’ve changed.”
Aiden stared out at the water, the reflection of the moon shimmering on its surface. “Have we?” he murmured, his voice tinged with bitterness. “Can we really say we’re different men when the ghosts of our past still haunt us? When those memories are still a part of who we are?”
Malcolm sighed, leaning back on his elbows and gazing up at the stars. “Aye, those memories are a part of us, but they dinnae define us. What we did, what we had to do, was about survival. It was about livin’ through the worst, even if it meant losin’ a part of ourselves along the way. But that doesnae mean we’re still those men. We’re truly sorry for what we did. But we’ve also got to keep goin’. We’ve got to live.”
Aiden cursed under his breath, running a hand through his damp hair. “That’s exactly why I cannae marry, Malcolm. I cannae expose a good woman to the darkness inside me and the things I’ve done. Especially nae… especially nae someone I care about.”
Malcolm glanced at him sideways, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Ye mean Katie.”
Aiden didn’t respond immediately, the knot in his chest tightening at the sound of her name. “’Tis nae just about her. I cannae be the man she deserves, nae with what I’m carryin’. Nae with the secrets I’d have to keep. How can I build a life with someone when I cannae even tell them the truth about meself?”
Malcolm considered this for a moment before replying. “I’m nay expert on marriage, Aiden, but I believe a marriage is built ontrust and honesty. If ye truly care about her, then mayhap ye owe it to her—and to yerself, to be honest—to let her decide if she can accept ye, demons and all.”
Aiden groaned, weariness and guilt warring within him. The thought of being honest with Katie, of laying bare his past, filled him with dread. But Malcolm’s words lingered in his mind, a seed of doubt taking root.
“I dinnae ken,” Aiden muttered, getting to his feet. “I just dinnae ken.”
Malcolm stayed seated and looked at Aiden’s silhouette against the starlit loch. “Ye’ll figure it out, Aiden. Whatever ye decide, just ken that ye’re nae the man ye used to be. And ye’re nae alone in this.”
Aiden paused, looking back at his friend with gratitude and sorrow. “Good night, Mal,” he said softly before turning and heading back to the castle. “I have to try and avoid me future bride for the rest of me life.”
CHAPTER 10
The morning sunlightfiltered gently through the mullioned windows of the study, casting a warm glow on the stacks of parchment and fabric samples strewn across the oak table. Katie sat in the large armchair, quill in hand, trying to lose herself in the mundane task of approving endless wedding details.
