“Aye. I ken. But, spare nae guilt for the scum. Ye honored yer faither, he would be proud of ye.”
He saw her panic dry up as fast as it had appeared. Her back straightened in resolve, peace flooding her face.
She stepped over him, then passed the fake sword to Duncan. He placed it on top of Ethan’s body.
“I understand now. That madness you mentioned,” she said.
Duncan did not know what to do with his hands or mouth for that matter. “Ye dae?”
“Just now. When he almost killed you too… I thought I would lose you, that he would take you from me just like he took my father. I thought I would never get the chance to tell you. I… I love you,” she blurted out. “I love so much. What I did was horrible, I know. I lied and I pretended I was someone else and… and I know you cannot forgive me. I won’t ask that of you.”
“Ye willnae?” Duncan prompted softly.
She paced back and forth, swiping an angry hand across her face. “No. I lied to you and tried to…” She ran to him. “I’m sorry. I’ll take whatever punishment you’ll give me, but please know that my feelings for you were real. Are real. I thought I could let you go, but I cannot. I have never…”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Duncan stepped into her path, slamming her body on his. He kissed those words from her lips, fluttering at that contact. Something wet touched his cheeks and he realized that Grace was crying. The knot in his chest loosened. Yes, she’d lied to him and she had wanted to kill him. Yet, when it was time to prove herself, she did not hesitate to save his life, putting her own at risk. Deep down he knew he had met the real her under her false name.
He wrapped his arms around her back, scratching over the coarse material she wore, though hers remained on her side. She trembled softly, taking gulps of air in between kisses.
“I want to hear it again,” Duncan said.
She peered up at him, through wet lashes. Duncan traced a thumb over her face, wiping off the tears.
“I love you.”
Duncan kissed the tip of her nose, “again.”
“I love you. I love you; I love you boundlessly. Knowing that I hurt you is the biggest regret of my life. And I will spend the rest of it, if you let me, fighting to make it better-
Duncan’s heart was full to bursting.
“Lass, ye just saved me life. That counts for something.”
Grace laughed and he kissed her, again and again, in the midst of the chaos. Suddenly, an annoyed face popped up behind her. He tapped Duncan on the shoulder.
“Could ye quit kissing on the field?!”
Duncan laughed, easy and light. “They’re fleeing. Their commander is dead.”
Craig grinned, mindless of the cut in his lips or the bruises on his face.” He turned to leave then looked at them again, clicking his tongue. “Take this inside.”
Duncan smiled, watching his friend leave with a spring in his steps. Grace tapped him on the chin. Her gaze was full of a soft love he could have only dreamed. Despite their shared kisses, he could still detect a hint of tension.
“Can you ever forgive me?”
“I kenned that I could, the night ye held a knife tae me throat and couldnae dae it.”
She gasped, clasping a palm to her mouth. “You knew.”
Duncan nodded. “Iama warrior, Grace.”
“I didn’t… oh gods…” She lowered her head. Duncan laughed, bringing her into his arms. “I was surprised by your admission in the hall even if I had me suspicions. I thought ye were a spy from another clan that had not gone through with her task, but the truth… ‘Twas hard tae hear.”
“And hurt.”
“Aye. But ye saved me life without hesitation. I kenned if ye had had a choice, ye wouldnae have done it.”
