Tears welled up in Iris’s eyes, and she brushed them away with the back of her hand, knowing that Ian would make fun of her if she cried over James.
“I dinnae want tae talk aboot it.”
“Too bad,” he countered, stretching his legs out before him as if he was going to remain there until she did speak to him.
She eyed him. “Wot happened? Did ye draw the short straw tae come in here?”
Her brother chuckled. “Aye, I did. Now, tell me wot is going on so we can quit this place.”
That is what Iris wished to do. She wanted to go home and forget that these last few days had ever happened. Her emotions couldn’t take it any longer.
“He wouldnae fight.”
“Because he cares aboot ye,” Ian finished for her, taking in her start of surprise. “Aye, lass, everyone saw it on his face before he admitted it. That fool is in love with ye. The question is, are ye in love with him?”
In love with James? Iris couldn’t be! She hadn’t known him long enough to develop those sorts of feelings for him.
But as she thought about her times with James, Iris realized that she was, in fact, in love with the bullheaded Scot. Somewhere they had found the ground that their clans couldn’t, and she had seen a man she could picture a future with.
A man she loved.
Ian let out a breath, a contemplative look crossing his expression as Iris struggled with the realization of her feelings.
“I was in love once.”
That got her attention. “Wot?” she asked her brother, her gaze narrowing. “Love?”
He nodded, a faint blush stealing across his cheeks. “Once, mind ye. I learned mah lesson that love was meant tae hurt. The lass, she didnae pick me in the end, and I left for battle, intending tae forget she ever existed.”
Iris didn’t know what to say. She would never have guessed that Ian would have found someone that he would care about that deeply.
“I’m vera sorry,” she said, wiping the remaining tears from her eyes.
“Ye see,” he finished, drawing a heavy sigh, “I didnae fight for her like Lennox is fighting for ye. I thought that with time she would see reason, that I was the better choice, but instead she turned away from me and I was left with a heart that wilnae heal.”
There were very few times in Iris’s life that she wished to embrace her brother, and after hearing the pain in his voice, she wished to do so now. He understood her hurt.
“As I see it,” Ian said after a moment, “ye have two options, Sister. Ye can pack yer things and go home with us or ye can go after Lennox. I cannae guarantee ye that in the end, there won’t be hurt, but the path ye choose has tae be the one for ye. Not for us, not for the clan, but for ye.”
Iris swallowed hard, thinking about his words. She could leave the tent and hunt down James, tell him that she loved him, and throw caution to the wind. She could believe that their love would be enough to carry them through the trials of their clans.
Yet as much as she longed for him, the very thought of leaving her family, her clan, behind on what could be a whim, a fancy at that, didn’t sit well with her. Ian had fallen in love with a lass that was of their clan. He had only his heart to lose.
Iris could lose everything that was important to her. She could lose her place amongst the warriors, her sisters, and her family. Everything.
“Nay,” she decided, pushing off the cot to face down her brother. “I want tae go home, Ian. Please, can we go home?”
Ian rose to his feet, placing his large hands on her quaking shoulders.
“Are ye certain, lass? Are ye certain ye can walk away?”
Iris set her jaw. “Aye.”
It would take some time, but if her brother could live with the pain of a broken heart, then she could do the same.
Shehadto do the same.
It took them one week to reach the border of their lands, longer than it would have if not for the bounty of gold that had been bestowed on Iris for winning the gathering games. The host laird had declared to her that she was by far the most intriguing lass he had ever met, especially one who would have her opponent confess his feelings for her and she still win the games.
