"Nay," Killian shouted at the top of his lungs. It was enough to rattle Alan into loosening his grip on Leah. The second she felt his hands relax, she lifted her leg and stomped down with all her might. Alan's wail caused the critters in the canopy to scatter and seek shelter elsewhere.
"How is that possible?" Alan gasped as Leah turned and bit down on the webbing between his thumb and fingers. Immediately, Alan dropped the blade. Leah pulled her heel back, ramming it into Alan's frail shin before darting to Killian's side.
"Hugh," Alan called, summoning the driver. Leah, still unable to control herself, fumbled over her steps as Killian caught her.
"Watch out," Leah shouted as Hugh charged at them. Killian leaned down, pulled his sword from its sheath with one hand,and steadied his dirk with the other. Killian poised himself for the impact as Leah flinched. Hugh didn't stand a chance against Killian's speed and skill. The driver dropped before he was even arm's length away.
"Alan," Killian hissed as Hugh's blood stained Killian's dirk. "Ye traitorous dog. I'll cut off yer head like a snake and be rid of ye."
Leah glanced at Killian. There was no way she was going to deny him the vengeance that was rightfully his. With a nod, she released him and watched Killian become the protector she knew him to be.
Killian lowered his stance as beads of sweat formed on Alan's forehead.
"Let's be reasonable here," Alan cooed as his beady eyes shifted from Leah to Killian and back again. "Ye’re nae goin' to kill me."
"And why is that?" Killian asked, his voice smooth as silk and deadly.
"I'm like a faither to ye," Alan said. Leah could hear the crack in Alan's voice as fear swamped him. She shook her head as she stared at Killian. Whatever was about to happen, she didn't want to see. Killian was all that mattered to her, and as long as he stood tall, she knew all would be well.
"Are ye all right?" Killian asked, his tone deep and somber. Leah blinked and let out the air she had trapped in her lungs. It felt strange for her to breathe, as if the air itself was foreign.
"Are ye?" she asked as she scanned Killian for wounds or injuries.
"How do ye do that?" he asked. "How do ye always put other's needs before yer own?"
"Some call it a virtue, but I think it's more a curse," Leah teased as Killian looked her over.
"It could never be a curse," Killian said as he took Leah into his embrace. She nuzzled into his chest, savoring his scent as her mind replayed the events. With each pass, the memory would skip or stutter as it came to Alan's offer and Killian's sacrifice. She shook her head, trying to shake the thought of living in a world where he wasn't there. The mere thought of it was impossible to fathom, and the more she brewed over it, the more it stirred her ire.
"Killian, how could ye?" Leah asked, unable to hide the hurt in her voice as the events played back in her head. "How could ye think for one moment that ye dinnae mean somethin' to someone? Do ye nae ken how much ye mean to me? Or what it would do to me if ye were nay longer in this world? I love ye, Killian."
Leah felt as if her heart would explode. There was nothing left in her to hold back the tears that blurred her vision. Every emotionshe could think of rippled through her like tremors. Once she got through one, another came ripping through her. In a matter of minutes, Leah had gone through guilt, remorse, love, anger, hate, envy, and sorrow. As she stared at Killian, Leah wasn't sure what she was feeling anymore. All she knew was that she was exhausted.
"I ken," Killian whispered, pressing his forehead to hers. "Which is why I cannae have ye leavin'. I daenae want to even hear ye threaten to leave me."
"What are ye sayin', highlander?" Leah asked as Killian guided her to his horse.
"I'm sayin' I may want to keep ye around for a while," Killian answered as he helped her into the saddle.
"Oh? And just how long are ye thinkin'?" Leah asked as Killian found his place behind her. "I have family and friends who will start to grow worried if I daenae give them at least some clue as to where I am."
"Then ye'll have to tell them that ye've taken on the title and responsibilities as Lady MacMillan," Killian answered rather presumptuously.
"Have I now? And what makes ye think I would want to do such a thin'? That sounds like far too much responsibility that I just daenae want," Leah said as Killian turned the horse back toward his keep.
As Leah glanced over Killian's shoulder, she couldn't help but stare at the remains of Alan's carriage. Someone would eventually come across it and loot what remained in it. But the farther they got from it, the more surreal the event seemed. Leah found her head spinning as the air grew thinner.
"I want to get over the ridge before we stop," Killian said. "I daenae want to have ye see any more of that than ye have to. Can ye make?"
Leah glanced to the top of the ridge. The soft colors of orange and pink danced along the horizon. The sight calmed her. Despite everything that happened, it was the setting sun that eased her mind.
"Ye think of me a monster, daenae ye?" Killian asked. His voice was so low that Leah barely heard it. She shook her head, trying to find her voice. But there was too much to take in.
"Ye’re nae a monster. Ye saved me," Leah managed to get out despite her throat closing over the words.
"There was a moment I thought I lost ye," Killian confessed. "And it stretched for eternity. When I saw ye wink at me, it snapped somethin' inside of me awake and I ken I had to fight for ye."
"Ye saved me. Just like ye saved yer brother all those years ago. He may nae ken it, but I do. I ken what ye did, Killian and the sort of man ye really are," Leah said over her shoulder.
