“I love ye,” she whispered, keeping her hands to herself lest she woke him. She had never said those words to anyone before, but she did. In her heart, she knew he was the only one that could ever make her as happy as she was now.
That was the sole reason she was saving his life, exchanging his impending death for hers. She would attempt to kill her brother, but she wasn’t so sure that she could follow through without him taking her captive.
She could only hope that Arran would not come after her.
Stealing another look at her husband, Ainslee left the chamber and made it out of the keep without being seen, heading to the sparring ring first to procure a sword, then to the stables to find a suitable horse. If Liam was heading this way, then she was sure to meet him on the road, stopping his assault on the clan. If he had her, she knew his attention would be elsewhere, and perhaps she could coax him into taking her home.
Shuddering, Ainslee strapped the sword on her back before mounting the horse, riding out of the stable without a backward glance. The small measure of happiness she had found here would be enough to carry her forward.
She was trying to save them all.
The wind tore at her cloak as she raced out of the village and down the road that would lead to the border, to her brother, and Ainslee had no idea what she would encounter along the way. Arran would be upset when he woke, but she hoped he would see what she was trying to do for him.
He had vowed to protect her, but she had vowed the same of him. Her heart hurt at the thought of never seeing Arran again. Something had passed between them last night, something pure and true, and Ainslee was inclined to believe that it was love she had felt coming from his touch.
If only she had heard the words from his own lips. It would be enough for her to know he had cherished her, but Ainslee wished she had told Arran herself.
He deserved to know that she loved him.
Sighing, Ainslee maneuvered the horse down the path, every snap of a twig or rustling in the wood catching her attention. Her brother was not far away. Ainslee worried about what she would say the moment she saw him.
Or how he would react. She had to get him to turn around, to head away from Arran and his men so they could attack at a later time, likely after she was already dead.
Death didn’t scare her any longer. Ainslee gripped the reins, thinking about how her life would just end and she would cease to exist. Until that moment, she must protect Arran and his family.
She would kill her own brother to do so and if she were given the chance, she would take it.
The sun was high in the sky when Ainslee heard the first sound of horses approaching, the murmur of voices as the wind carried them forward. Her throat was parched, her legs shaking from gripping the horse so tightly between them, and she longed for a bed. The scouts must not have realized exactly how slow her brother was going to move, for he was nowhere near the keep. Ainslee halted her horse and moved to the trees, seeing the first glimpse of the warriors as they crested the hill.
Nestled in between the rows of warriors was her brother, dressed in full armor, and for a moment, Ainslee allowed herself to drink in his presence, how much he looked like their da seated on his horse. While she detested him for everything he had done to her and their clan, she couldn’t help but wish that things were different between them. Did he still have their da’s laugh?
Did he enjoy his meals with relish as he had when they were children?
Or had his hatred hardened everything about him, and there was nothing left than the cruel man in his place?
She wished she could change him, but Ainslee knew there was no hope. The only hope she could have now is that she could kill him.
“Halt!”
Ainslee drew deeper into the trees, allowing them to provide the coverage she needed to stay hidden.
“Wot is it, mah lord?” one of the warriors asked, looking around.
Liam held up his hand, silencing the man. “I hear something.”
No one dared to say otherwise, and Ainslee forgot to breathe as her brother looked in her direction, as if he could see her through the trees.
Her horse nickered suddenly, and Liam drew his sword. “Come out!” he boomed. “Show yerself.”
Ainslee did not know what to do. If she revealed herself now, he would still live, and she would die.
But if she kept to the trees, then her planning would not come to fruition, and Arran would die. She could feel it in her bones.
Urging her horse forward, Ainslee stepped out onto the path.
“Ye!” Liam called out, unable to see her face due to her hood being pulled up. “Who are ye?”
Ainslee drew in a deep breath and slid the hood from her head. “’Tis I, Brother.”
