“Catriona,” he clarified.
“I dinnae see—”
“Ye never gave up on my sister.”His gaze darkened and he took a step back.“I hope ye willnae give up on her now.”
“What do ye mean?”
“Ye are in her bed every night.My sister is a proud woman and willnae ask for anything, but I have never seen her as shattered as when we thought ye dead.I hope ye willnae hurt her by yer own doing this time.”
“I willnae.I swear it.”Logan laid his sword down on the table.He’d been struggling to find his place.Mayhap it would take him some time.But the deep ache that throbbed in his chest when he considered Lorna upset or hurt in any way told him he was certain of one thing.He lifted his head and locked gazes with Finn.“I'll ask her to marry me.Should we survive this.I'll ask her.”
***
Torch light glinted across the hills, like little golden stars.A song tumbled through the air, a raucous foot-stomping song that Lorna recognised as one about bonny lasses and their endowments.A shiver crawled over her and she wrapped her arms about her waist.The pretty sight and the jovial song could not cover the tension in the air that hung over the hills like thick morning fog.This was the eve of battle and no songs would change that.Gillean’s army had arrived shortly before dusk and made camp just out of range of the keep.
A hand to her shoulder made her jolt but before she turned, another hand slipped around her waist and drew her into him.The fresh scent of soap and the brush of a rough jaw against her hair told her it was Logan, but her body recognised him before her mind did.Her pulse skipped and bounded, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and a delicious tingle whipped through her.
But no exquisite sensation could change the fact that on the morrow, they faced death.Even Logan’s comforting presence did not lift the deep weight in her heart.She had faced death before—several times now—but never had there been so much at stake.The fate of her son, her family, her friends and her lover would be decided by this battle.She lifted her gaze to the sky and uttered a silent plea for triumph over their enemies.
Unfortunately the odds were not in their favour.The Norse were brutal and with their numbers added to Gillean’s army, they were heavily outnumbered.The weight in her heart pulled it lower and she failed to prevent a powerful tremor.
“Dinnae be afeared,” Logan whispered against her ear.He wrapped his arms around her waist, encasing her in the solid defence of his muscles.“I’ll no’ let anything happen to ye.Nor to Ewan.Dinnae be afeared,” he repeated.
“I am no’ afeared.”The stutter to the words gave away her lie, but she suspected he saw through it anyway.He might not remember their precious friendship but he always knew her better than anyone.And he had seen her weakest moments since his memory loss.Logan understood her need to appear strong.Which was mayhap why he did not question her falsehood.
“We are ready for battle.Yer kin will fight hard for ye.I dinnae envy Gillean, going up against such men.They are fine warriors.”
Lorna pictured her cousin and brother, ready for battle, and a tingle started behind her eyes and in her nose.They were strong and skilled.Morgann with his brutal strength, and Finn with his height and talent with a blade.And now they had wives to fight for and Finn had a child on the way.They had so very much to lose and that scared her to her bones.She could not help feel she had brought this upon them all.
“We shall prevail,” he pressed again.
She flattened her hands over the top of his arms and felt the powerful muscle and sinew there.Cocooned in his embrace, listening to his determined words, she almost believed him.
“I shouldnae have left.”Her throat remained tight and the words a strangled whisper.“I should have done something.Followed through on my plan to kill Gillean.”
“Ye did try, remember?I only wish I had listened to ye sooner.”
She rotated then, lifting her gaze to his.His dark eyes were soft under the meagre torchlight.Lorna pressed her hands around the back of his neck and fingered the thick length of his hair.
“So many regrets,” she said softly, allowing a smile to tilt her lips.
“Aye, but I cannae regret any of my recent decisions.”He dropped his forehead to hers.
Releasing a sigh, she stroked her fingers through his hair and relished the soft brush of his breath across her face.For several heartbeats, they remained.The moment—were it not for the army waiting outside the castle—was perfect.Their son slept soundly under the care of the nursemaid, safe in his bed, and they had one another.The lies and secrets had fallen away and it was just them.No pretences, no uncertainty.
It was, she realised, what she’d always longed for but had never been brave enough to reach out for.
“No regrets,” he murmured.
How did he read her so well?She blew out a long breath—an attempt to release the doubt twisting inside her.If all went well on the morrow and they were victorious, she would not have any regrets, but if it went badly...
Logan stroked his hands over her bodice and up to cup her face.Coarse warmth encased her cheeks offering protection and reassurance.He lifted his head and dropped his thumb to press against her bottom lip.She parted her lips instinctively and saw shadows darken his gaze.Her breaths quickened and her pulse tried to outrace them.Molten lust stirred in her veins.How was it possible such a small touch could erase her fears and turn her brain to mush?
Heat licked through her veins, centring low in her belly.“Logan...”
He groaned.She wasn’t sure she’d communicated her need with that one word until he grasped her bottom and pressed her back against the crenellation.Cold stone met her back but it did nothing to cool the desire that made her want to crawl out of her skin and fling herself into the nearest loch.Though, if she did that, she would not be here, in Logan’s arms.For though the need drove her to lunacy, to be without him was worse.She knew that much to be true.
Logan put his lips to her ear, sending a bolt of sensation down one side of her.He pulled her lobe between his teeth and nipped lightly.
