"Do ye now?" he deflected, but Leah was tired of the ruse. She dug her fingers into his thigh and shook her head.
"Aye," she answered over her shoulder. "I ken ye, and I love ye for all that ye are. To the world, ye can be the monster, but to me, ye'll always be a protector."
EPILOGUE
Killian stood in the dimly lit cell of the dungeon. The air was thick with the weight of unspoken words that had settled in the abyss between him and Mason. Killian took a deep breath as the familiar pang of bitterness and sorrow jabbed at him. Mason arched an eyebrow as his left eye twitched just enough to make Killian notice.
"Why have ye come here?" Mason asked as he shifted in his seat. "Ye've come to have me killed like ye've done everyone else?"
Killian took in a long, deep breath. "Nay one other than Alan has died. So, if ye’re thinkin' ye can irk me, then ye have another thin' comin'. Nothin' will bother me today."
"Then why have ye come?" Mason hissed as he lunged at Killian.
Killian didn't flinch. He stood with the same stoic expression he always had. "I brought ye somethin'."
"Trash? How thoughtful," Mason grumbled as he glared at the book that landed at his feet.
"Pick it up," Killian ordered as he stood like a sentinel refusing to take any of Mason's attitude.
"Why would I want anythin' ye have to bring me?" Mason grumbled. "Ye think ye can change me mind? Is that it? Ye think ye can alter me thoughts the way Alan had done? Because ye cannae. I'll nae let ye."
"Alan poisoned yer mind," Killian tried to explain. "Everythin' ye think ye ken, is wrong. Even I was baffled by some of the things I discovered in that book."
Mason eyed the book with a new sense of curiosity. "And what's it about? If ye’re to tell me it's the bible, I'll have to pass. I've read that already and have taken to heart what I will."
"It's Faither's journal," Killian answered as he nudged the book closer to Mason. "I thought ye might want to read what the man had to say about ye."
"And how do I ken that it's genuine? Ye could have written it yerself and are tryin' to pass it off as one of Faither's," Mason said as he eyed the book with suspicion. All Killian could do was shake his head in disbelief.
"If that is what ye want to think, I cannae stop ye. But I daenae have time for ye today," Killian said.
"When do ye ever?" Mason grumbled. "Since I can remember ye've always ignored me. Pretended I wasnae apart of the family. But I was and I am."
"I was young when ye were born. I dinnae ken what to think about a lot of things. But maybe, if ye read that book, ye get a better understandin' of where we came from. There's a monster in us, Mason. We both have it. But the question is, will ye tame yers? Or will ye let it control ye?"
Killian rolled his shoulders back as the chime of bells rang through the dungeon. A smile stretched across Killian's lips as he glanced at the sliver of a window.
"That would be me callin' to go," Killian said.
"It's true then? Ye’re really gettin' married? To Leah?" Mason asked as he rubbed the back of his neck. Killian could hear his voice bend with affection at the mention of Leah. Although the need for Killian to defend and claim was strong, he pulled in a deep breath and nodded.
"I marry Leah this very evenin'," Killian answered as he started for the door. "I had hoped that ye could attend, but I see there is still much that needs to be dealt with before ye can see anyone."
"This isnae fair. Ye cannae keep me locked away for the rest of me life," Mason barked as he charged for the bars. Killian slammed them shut before Mason could even dream of getting out.
" Ye’re only alive because ye are me brother and because Leah requested it. That doesnae make us friends.”
“Ye said it yerself, we are blood. Surely that should grant me some leniency?” Mason asked as he pressed his face against the bars.
“Ye draw breath, daenae ye? Is that nae lenient enough? Perhaps one day, when the solitude of this place has starved yer bitterness, I might consider lettin’ ye see the light of day. Till then, I suggest ye read what faither had to say and tell me then whose side ye’re on.”
Killian watched as Mason turned the book over in his hands. There was no telling if Mason would open the pages or destroy them. Only time will tell.
The distance clamor of bells caught Killian’s ear. Mason turned to glance at the sliver of a window high over his head.
“That would be my cue,” Killian said as he reached for the knob.
“Ye daenae deserve her,” Mason said, causing Killian to pause at the open door.
