Iris’s heart was in her throat, the warmth of what he had done earlier now gone as he tugged them along the keep’s walls, further away from the laughter. Only when they could no longer see the flicker of the fires in the courtyard did James stop, releasing Iris’s hand.
“There,” he stated. “We should be far enough away.”
Iris collapsed against the stone wall, her entire body shaking from the night’s events. She was elated at what they had shared together, but now that it was over, there was nothing left but the sweet regret of what she could not have with James.
It was not meant to be for them to have a life together, and that tore at her very soul.
“Iris,” James said softly, grasping her chin and forcing her to meet his worried gaze. “I should have never?—”
“Nay,” she said, pressing her finger to his lips to silence his words. “Nay, dinnae apologize for that. ’Tis mah decision as well.”
Did he regret what he had done with her? Was this because she was refusing to run away with him?
The worry must have shone in Iris’s eyes, for James reached up and framed her face with his large hands.
“I dinnae regret it, Iris. It was a boon I wasnae expecting.” He drew in a breath. “Taemorrow, whatever the game is, I wilnae beat ye if that is wot ye want.”
Startled, Iris stepped out of his touch. “Wot?”
“I dinnae wish tae do this any longer,” James replied, dropping his hands to his sides. “I thought I was participating in the gathering games for a reason, for mah future, but mah future stands before me right now.”
“James,” Iris said brokenly, tears filling her eyes. She didn’t want this, but his words, his touch, made her think of things other than the life she currently had.
“I wilnae let ye just give up taemorrow. ’Tis not right.”
He shook his head. “If it comes tae me and ye in the end, I wilnae fight ye, Iris.”
His words both saddened and angered her. She didn’t want a win that she hadn’t earned, even if it was against James.
“Nay.”
“Ye can avoid all of that taemorrow by coming with me taenight,” he finished, his jaw clenched. “Just say the word, Iris, and we will be gone before the sun rises.”
“I cannae!” she cried, wrenching away from him. “I cannae leave mah family, mah clan!”
“But ye can walk away from me,” he finished, giving her a tight nod. “I see.”
But he didn’t see at all! Iris couldn’t betray those that cared about her and run away with the Scot that she was sworn to hate! If she did, they would go to battle against each other once more, and this time, there was no telling who would come out of it, especially her brothers.
They would be out for spilled blood, and her sisters would detest her for leaving them alone.
“I’m vera sorry,” she forced out.
James thrust a hand through his hair roughly, giving her a long look.
“I wilnae face ye taemorrow, Iris.”
She pushed at his shoulders, angered that he didn’t see the repercussions that she would be facing.
“Nay!” she shouted. “If ye dinnae fight me taemorrow, I will never forgive ye!”
Iris couldn’t believe that he would do such a thing.
“Then ye will have tae hate me, lass,” he said softly.
Iris huffed in frustration as she pushed past him, heading back to the camp. What was supposed to be a special night had not been that at all. It had been full of heartbreak, something that Iris never wished to feel again.
Iris was almost to her tent when Ian intercepted her path, his grin falling as he saw the tear streaks on her face.
