"Killian?" Leah's voice was weak and raspy. Her eyes rolled back as she tried to quench her parched mouth.
"Aye, I'm here."
"Mason…"
"I ken, ye need nae worry yerself about him any more," Killian asked as he scooped Leah up and cradled her to his chest. "I'll protect ye. Ye have me word."
"Mason?" Leah whispered as her eyes fluttered open. Mason cowered in the corner, nibbling on the tips of his nails.
"Pay nay heed to him. He'll be in the dungeons from here on out," Killian said as soldiers gathered around to ensure Mason couldn't escape.
"This isnae over," Mason called as Killian's men dragged him to the dungeons.
"Aye," Killian said as he brushed away the loose strands of hair from Leah. "It is."
28
"Killian?" Leah whispered as Killian traced the curve of her jawline. Concern laced his eyes as his brow furrowed. "Are ye well?"
Leah watched Killian's shoulders drop with relief as he exhaled. A smile tugged at the corner of his pout. Hope had been restored in his eyes the moment his gaze met hers.
"Thank the Lord," Killian whispered, leaning over her to press his forehead to hers. "Ye had me worried there for a moment. How are ye feelin', lass?" The back of his hand was cool as his knuckles grazed her cheeks. "Ye look pale. Should I fetch Elsie?"
"Nay," Leah said as she propped herself on her elbow. Leah glanced about the familiar room. It didn't surprise her that Killian had brought her to his room. "I just need a minute. Mason… he put somethin' in me drink."
"After everythin' I've done for him… that is the final stroke. He'll die with the rest of his cohorts in the mornin'."
"That's a bit extreme, daenae ye think?" Leah asked as her hand settled on Killian's forearm, trying to calm him.
"Do ye ken how many attempts Mason has put on me head? There's been so many that I've lost count," Killian snapped. "He deserves a traitor's death."
Leah arched her eyebrow as she watched Killian's war rage within him. It was clear he loved his brother, so much so that to make such a decision was ripping him to pieces.
"Ye daenae really believe that do ye?" Leah asked as her heart went out to him. "Because I daenae think ye do. I think ye love yer brother, and his betrayal has cut ye to yer core."
Killian dropped his head as Leah scooted to the edge of the bed. She rose in silence and, like a phantom, moved to him.
"Daenae," Killian said the moment Leah curled her arms around his torso. "If only ye ken…"
"Then tell me," Leah whispered as her lips brushed against his back. Killian twisted in her arms and clasped her by the wrists. He pulled out of her embrace, ensuring he kept his distance. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as she gazed deep into Killian's eyes.
"Look at them," Killian said as his hands slipped from her wrists. He turned his palms out to her and sucked in a deep breath. For a moment, Leah didn't understand what Killian was doing. But it was clear by his stoic expression that he was going out on a limb and was ready to close himself off once again the second he sensed danger. "Do ye see?"
"The scars?" Leah asked as she carefully tilted his hands toward the flickering light of the candles. Silver streaks raced across Killian's palms. It looked as if he had tried to climb a blackberry bush with as many raised marks as he had. "What happened? Did Mason do this to ye?"
"Nay," Killian answered in his icy tone. "But it's because of him that I have them."
"I daenae understand," Leah said as a piece of her heart felt as if it had been chipped away.
"Mason has always been weak and sick. If it wasnae one illness, it was another. Our faither didnae see the point of keepin' Mason around and ordered me to put an end to Mason when he was just three."
Leah clasped her hands to her mouth as Killian's confession stunned her silent. Never in all her life had she heard a more heartbreaking story. Her lips twitched with emotions as she studied his hands once more.
"I started cuttin' me hands so that I wouldnae be able to harm anyone, especially me brother…. Why cannae he see that I'vebeen tryin' to protect him since he was a lad? I can handle the assassination attempts, and the lies he's been tellin' himself. But to have him put ye in danger… I will nae tolerate it. Maybe me faither was right… maybe I should have done what I was supposed to do when I was a lad."
"Nay," Leah interjected as she threw her arms around Killian. "I understand ye’re hurtin' and that yer brother blames ye for a lot of things. But daenae kill him. I ken ye’re nae yer faither. From the moment I was thrown at yer feet, I kenned that there was somethin' noble about ye. Daenae let yer faither win, nae when he's been long gone all this time."
"The council willnae be pleased me brother is in the dungeons," Killian muttered as Leah molded her hand to his face. She tried to pull him from the mire of his thoughts, but while his eyes were on her, his gaze was a million miles away.
