Yet it was his scream of rage that made a chill plummet through Aislinn, the man wresting himself free like a maddened bull and rushing not at Cameron, but at her.
She was knocked to the ground, Aengus sprawling on top of her and grabbing for her throat—only to have Cameron hurl the man aside so violently that he lost his own balance and fell right in front of her.
The breath knocked from him in a terrible whoosh even as Aengus pulled a knife from his belt and lunged at Cameron’s chest.
She didn’t think, only reacted, scrambling onto her knees to unsheathe Cameron’s sword and wield it above her to deflect the oncoming blow. Metal struck metal as shouts rent the air, the guards, Conall, and Gabriel rushing forward with their weapons raised.
Another one reaching Aengus first, Daran’s anguished voice calling out her name as Aislinn saw the flash of a sword out of the corner of her eye.
Aengus’s scream not of rage but of high-pitched disbelief, the man crumpling to the floor in a gush of blood.
His head half severed from his body, his arms and legs twitching in death as Cameron hauled Aislinn against him to hold her close… kissing her tear-streaked face, her hair.
“My warrior wife… my protector…”
Only then did she drop the sword beside them, Aislinn having clenched the weapon so tightly that her cramped fingers would not uncurl. Cameron brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her reddened palm, too, while King Robert’s voice boomed around them.
“By God, De Burgh, you’ll make one of my finest fighters yet!”
Aislinn glanced up at Daran, her brother standing taller and straighter than she had ever seen him as Gabriel and Conall clapped him on the back… even Rory coming up to praise him.
“So, Campbell, will you accept this marriage and wish them happiness?” King Robert said in a command more than a query, coming forward himself to help Cameron to his feet, Aislinn rising beside him. “She’s my beloved wife’s cousin, after all. What finer honor for your clan than this union between my family and yours, aye?”
“Aye, my lord king.”
Rory Campbell’s answer not grudging at all, the chieftain even smiled wryly at Cameron.
“You’d do well not tae argue with the lass, cousin—or you’ll find yourself at the tip of a sword.”
Aislinn might have smiled, too, if not for King Robert’s guards dragging away Aengus’s body while servants rushed to wipe up the blood… though the men around her seemed not to spare the dead man a glance.
“It’s commonplace tae them… death,” came a soft voice beside her. Magdalene reached out to clasp Aislinn’s hand, her sea green eyes shining. “They’re warriors, our husbands… but we’re fighters, too, in our own way. I think you and I are going tae be great friends, aye?”
Aislinn nodded as Gabriel came over to claim his wife and Cameron drew her close against him, though at that moment, her eyes were fixed upon someone else… Daran.
Cameron seemed to read her mind. He brushed a kiss to her cheek and released her so that Aislinn could go to her brother, tears of gratitude brimming in her eyes.
Daran no longer appearing a cowering youth, but a man… both of them freed from the painful past with their father, though Aislinn inwardly wished him peace.
“If not for you, I might have lost all,” she began, but her throat tightened so much that it took her a moment to continue. “My life… my love—”
“You’re as brave as they come,” Daran interrupted her quietly, drawing her into his arms to embrace her. “I’m proud that you’re my sister, Aislinn. Forgive me for not speaking up on your behalf before Papa died, aye, even after… and for allowing you to suffer. I’ve known all along that you were the stronger one.”
“Saints help us, no longer, Daran!” Wiping the tears from her eyes, she stepped back to gaze at him proudly. “What will you do now? Return to Éire?”
He shook his head and glanced over at King Robert, who stood surrounded by Campbells. “I came here to fight. Father’s estate is well tended and doesn’t need me there—”
“Yourestate! You’re Lord De Burgh now. One day you’ll go back, but for now—if you wish to accompany us to Campbell Castle, you could train with some of the most renowned warriors in Scotland.”
“Aye, and we’ll practice how not tae lose one’s footing,” Cameron said wryly, coming up behind Aislinn. “Och, mayhap I’m getting old…”
“Not old at all,” she countered, thrilling at the weight of his hands around her waist to pull her against him. “Just not invincible, much as any other man… but magnificent all the same.Ishould know.”
Throwing back his head, Cameron laughed, a full rich sound melding with her own that she hoped and prayed they would share more of together. Yet she quieted as another thought struck her that made him grow sober, too, as if he knew exactly what was on her mind.
“Aye, let’s get back tae Sorcha. Our daughter needs us today.”
“Your daughter?” Daran echoed, Aislinn nodding and reaching out to take his hand.
