“That wasnae Sorcha.” He looked up at Lilliana with bleak, pleading eyes. “She was the sweetest lassie ye could ever meet. Kind and generous. I cannae imagine what she went through to turn into… this.” He gestured towards his sister’s body.
Lilliana squeezed his shoulder, her heart breaking for him. “I cannot apologize enough. I know it was my fellow countrymen who did this, but… I am ashamed.”
Kayden gazed intently at her. “Ye’re sorry? For what?”
“What was done to her,” Lilliana whispered. “If she was as you say, and I have no doubt it’s true, then they must have hurt her badly to turn her into this person.” Her voice cracked. “I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to send me away, Kayden. We have inflicted so much pain on your family.”
“Yehavenae,” Kayden said. “Ye’ve done nothing but help us…” He shook his head ruefully. “Even when I didnae want to let ye. Are we all to be tarred with the same brush as the worst of us?”
“I suppose not.” She put a tentative hand on Sorcha’s limp one. “Nor should we be judged by the worst thing we do. We will remember her as she was and not as she became, won’t we?”
Kayden nodded, and she wrapped her arms around him, drawing him into her bosom. She rocked him back and forth, and he let her soothe him, breathing in her unique scent as his head rested against her chest.
Rua came over, nosing at them, and Lilliana let out a soft laugh, reaching out a hand to pet the dog. “You’re a good boy, Rua. You saved me.”
Kayden sighed. Everything had happened too quickly. He could hardly fathom it all.
Lilliana laid a hand on his cheek. “Kayden?” she said softly. “We should… go.”
He sighed, straightening up. “Aye, I suppose we should.” He avoided looking at his sister’s body. “We need to bring a wagon to transport…”
She nodded in understanding, her hand still caressing his cheek. “Yes. Come on, let’s go.”
She stood up and pulled him to his feet, her eyes never leaving him. He could feel her worry.
Reaching down, he pressed his lips to hers. Whatever transpired, he did not regret saving her life. To his surprise, she pulled him closer, her fingers digging into his shoulders.
She clung to him, just as much as he clung to her, and he realized exactly what he had been depriving himself of.
“Lilliana…” His voice was raw, her name embodying all the worry and fear he’d experienced when he saw a knife held to her neck. Just one nick and he would have lost her forever.
“Kayden,” she whispered, her voice breaking at the end.
She looked up and met his eyes, desperation shadowing her own. He understood exactly how she felt.
They held onto each other, but however close he got to her, it was not enough. He wanted to disappear into her skin and live there.
He looked into her eyes, wanting to see if she was feeling what he was. She stared back intently, wholly focused on him, mouthing his name. His eyes dropped to her mouth.
“Ye saved the village like ye said ye would,” he whispered.
She shook her head, swallowing hard. “At what cost?”
He sighed and pursed his lips, his eyes flicking down momentarily. “This isnae yer fault…” He looked up, trying to smile. “Although I owe ye a punishment for disobeying me.”
The corner of her mouth ticked up in a semblance of a smile. “Punish me? How so?”
“Oh, trust me, lassie, I will think of something.”
Her hands pressed into his shoulders. “I look forward to it.”
Her scent surrounded him as he held her close, citrus and peppermint, jasmine and lavender, all mixed together into something uniquelyher.
His mind quieted when she was in his arms, and he was grateful for it.
They broke apart at the sound of rustling and looked down to find Rua watching them impatiently. Their eyes met.
“We should get back to the castle, I suppose,” Lilliana said.
