"Oh, daenae give me that," Mason said, throwing his hands up. "Ye think I havenae heard those very words come from others before ye? I'm nae some frail thin' ye have to worry about breakin'. Can ye nae see? I'm already broken, and there's nay fixin' me."
"Mason, ye daenae ken that," Leah said as her heart went to him. She could feel his pain. Surely, being in the shadow of Killian was difficult, and more so, knowing what Killian had done. How could anyone live up to those sorts of standards?
"Daenae I though? I see how ye look at me. And then I see how ye look at him. I may be the one in the infirmary, but it’s mybrother ye’ve set to heal. But I fear I must warn ye, Any woman who marries him will be accursed. There is nay future with me brother. Mason said with such conviction that it rattled Leah to her core.
"I think I should go," Leah said as she rose to her feet. "Mason, tea was lovely, but I daenae think it would be wise for me to tend to ye any further."
"Wait, nay, I dinnae mean to scare ye," Mason said, his tone tainted with a plea that broke Leah's heart. "Please, daenae go. I'll nae talk about me brother. We can talk about anythin' ye want, just please daenae go."
"I cannae…" Leah answered as she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Mason, truly. But I cannae stay and listen to ye any further. Ye’re far too worked up for me right now, and I’m strugglin’ to make any sense at all of what ye’re sayin’ other than ye despise yer brother.”
"Leah, please," Mason said as she started for the door. "Ye think ye ken him but ye daenae have a clue. Killian will be the end of ye. Ye cannae trust him. Nay matter how sweet the honey that drips from his lips. If there is one thin' ye take from me, take this warnin' and steer clear of me brother."
23
"We are runnin' out of time, Killian," Fraser said as he ran his fingers through his short brown hair once more. "The ceilidh begins tomorrow at noon. We daenae have the resources to secure every area ye see a threat. We just cannae do it."
"Then find me someone who will," Killian growled as the candlelight drew long shadows that flickered and danced across the stone walls of the study. Killian leaned over the rough-hewn table, studying the battle plans before him.
How many times he had looked over the frayed map with his father? How many times had he remade the map after a conquest or victory? It was far too many times. By all accounts, Killian should have known the map like the back of his hand. Yet, as he stared at it, he couldn't help but wish he had his father's insight. His father had a gift to spot the danger before it came. Of course, he couldn't see when Killian struck unless, of course, he had been counting on Killian to make the deadly blow.
Killian swallowed hard as he squeezed his hand to stop the trembling of his fingers. It was bad enough that his life was on the line; the fact that he was putting Leah there, too unnerved him. Was he turning out to be just like his father? Was he willing to go the distance and sacrifice everything, including Leah, to secure his future?
"I have ken ye a long time," Fraser stated as he stood straighter, clearly offended by Killian's lack of trust in him. "And I have stood by ye over the years when nay one else would. Do ye remember?"
"Aye," Killian answered, refusing to look up from the map. "What of it? Are ye leavin' on the eve of battle? Is that what ye’re doin'?"
"Can ye hear yerself? Ye've thought someone was out to kill ye since the lairdship was handed over to ye," Fraser said as Killian felt the hair on the back of his neck rise. He didn't know where Fraser was going with this conversation, but one thing was certain: he wasn't liking it.
"And have I nae proved to ye that they are? Or was Vance's testimony nae good enough for ye?"
"That is nae what I mean," Fraser said, lifting his hands in surrender. "All I'm sayin' is why are ye wantin' so much soldiers around? Ye've never had this many in the past. And I've wracked me brain thinkin' about it, and the only thing I can reason with is ye got feelings for the lass. It's the reason ye want so manypeople protectin' the event. Ye’re nae concerned with yer safety, but hers."
Killian flexed his jaw and pulled in a long, deep breath. "She is a guest and should be protected at all costs."
"And what of ye? Do ye nae need protection? The assassin is comin' for ye, nae her."
"Aye, but if they are anythin' like the others who have come before, then what do I have to fear? They're all incompetent. Let them come so I can rid myself of them once and for all," Killian said as he glared at Fraser, daring him to oppose him. "But I do nae think too fondly on puttin' an innocent in the line of danger. Which is why I want all these open areas covered durin' the event."
"It willnae be easy," Fraser said.
"It will if Leah remains by me side the entire evenin'."
"The sooner ye make yer announcement, the better. Ye daenae want to wait too long," Fraser said as Killian leaned back and rubbed the stubble on his chin. Something about the whole thing didn't sit well with him. Was it the lack of men? Or the fact that he was trusting men he wasn't certain was on his side. The lack of loyalty unnerved him.
"What if I daenae make one at all?" Killian asked, a bit amused by the thought of having the council in an uproar.
"Ye heard them," Fraser chimed in, ruining Killian's fantasy. "If ye daenae pick a lass, they have one ready for ye. There will be nay way of gettin' out of tomorrow night a bachelor. The sooner ye come to that conclusion the better off ye'll be."
Killian hated the fact Fraser was right. No matter which way he tossed the dice, he'd be engaged. It wasn't something Killian had given much thought to. He had always assumed he'd be alone. After all, what lass in her right mind would want someone so vulgar and short-fused?
"So?" Fraser's simple question pulled Killian from his thoughts.
"What were ye sayin'?"
"Why is it that ever since that healer came to the castle, yer head has been somewhere else? Ye cannae afford to have yer head in the clouds while ye’re plottin' yer enemies downfall. Just doesnae work like that."
Killian arched his eyebrow and puffed his chest out. No words or commands needed to be given for Fraser to understand Killian was in charge. Clearing his throat, Fraser turned his attention to the map on the table.
