Alex had never been more furious in his life. She’d followed him. What insanity could have possibly driven Meg to the Isle of Lewis in the midst of a bloody war! He literally shook as he plowed through the waves toward the shore, cradling in his arms everything in the world that was precious to him. The familiar scent of roses drifted from her hair, a potent reminder of everything that he’d longed for these last few weeks—and everything that he could lose.
Meg. On Lewis. God, he felt ill. Didn’t she understand the danger? If anything had happened to her…He could go mad just thinking about it. Alex had never felt more exposed, raw. Scared out of his bloody mind.
Every man had his breaking point, and Meg following him to Lewis, heedless of the risk, was his. He knew he was out of control, but he didn’t give a damn. The moment her feet hit the rocky shore, he snapped. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Meg seemed to take umbrage at his tone and painstakingly adjusted her clothing, taking far more time than was necessary. Each second that passed was a testament to his herculean restraint. Alex clenched and reclenched his fists, waiting for her to meet his gaze. Finally, she peeked out apprehensively from under her long lashes.
The sweetly feminine movement nearly broke him. The moon bathed her features in soft light. His eyes gorged on her face, as if something exquisitely beautiful had somehow materialized from a dream. His heart ached. His body ached. God, how he loved her.
Seeing her on that boat had unleashed a torrent of emotions. When he’d first realized who it was, he’d felt a surge of joy. He’d wanted to crush her to him, to inhale her sweetness, to mold her body to his and feel her melt against him. For a moment. Until he remembered where he was. And then fear incited anger such as he’d never known.
“Obviously, I was looking for you,” she said.
The inanity of her response only fueled the flames. He was holding on by a very thin thread, and she was talking to him as if she hadn’t just shaved ten years off his life. “Have you completely lost your mind?” He took her by the shoulders, the frailty of her tiny form beneath his fingertips even more proof of her vulnerability. “Looking for me? You damn well better have a more pressing reason for coming here than that.”
“Alex, you’re shaking me.”
He dropped his hands, stepped back, and stared at her, trying to rein in his emotions.
“If you’d stop yelling at me and just be reasonable for a moment, I’ll tell you.”
Alex didn’t think he was capable of becoming angrier, but he was. Despite his wet clothing, his body blazed with heat. His voice lowered dangerously. “This is reasonable. But I’m getting very close to becoming unreasonable.”
Meg blanched. “If you’ll just let me explain…”
But her words were lost as Alex glanced over her shoulder at her traveling companion who’d just climbed up the shore. He didn’t think he could be any more shocked than he had been at seeing Meg. But he was wrong. Jamie Campbell. He felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. She’d brought her damn fiancé with her.
“You brought Campbell? For God’s sake, Meg, he’s Argyll’s cousin.”
“Don’t take your anger out on Jamie, he’s only trying to help,” she said.
Alex didn’t miss the way she’d jumped to Jamie’s defense. The dirk twisted in his chest. A dirk that Alex had plunged there himself. But it didn’t make it any easier to stomach.
“I insisted on accompanying her,” Jamie said stiffly.
“I’m sure you did.” He looked back to Meg. “How could you do this? By bringing Campbell, you’ve risked all our lives.” Her interference had risked his entire mission. The castle was nearly theirs, and with it the elusive victory he’d sought for years. Everything he’d fought so hard for was so close. Campbell could put everything in jeopardy.
“Jamie is not a threat, you should be thanking him.”
He shot Jamie a look that could kill.When hell freezes over.
Meg took his arm. “I know you are angry, but I had to come. I had to warn you. There is a plot on your life. Dougal MacDonald has been given orders to kill you.”
Given that Dougal had disappeared a few days ago, Alex couldn’t say he was surprised. “I am aware of the threat posed by Dougal.”
“I figured as much. But because of Jamie, we know how and when.”
His eyes narrowed, unable to prevent the bit of jealousy, wondering how she’d persuaded Jamie to share this information—if indeed he could be trusted. “Go on,” he said carefully.
“They are anticipating your attack on the supply ship, intending to surprise you with a new force of fighting men. While you are fighting off the ambush, Dougal will circle around and cut off your means of escape.”
Rory’s missive had made no mention of extra fighting men. If Meg’s information was correct, Alex would have been seriously undermanned. He did not doubt he would have been able to escape, but it wouldn’t have been without significant loss of blood.
Alex exchanged looks with Neil. Meg caught his glance, but he was in no mood for introductions. She wouldn’t be staying long enough. He would have sent her back immediately, but there were only a few hours left until daylight. She would have to wait until tomorrow night. How the hell was he going to protect her and keep his hands off her for an entire day? It was going to seem like a bloody eternity.
“How do I know this is not a trap?” Alex asked, looking at Jamie.
“You don’t,” Jamie said bluntly. “But it’s the truth.”
