She’d never dared to think of any man as hers before. But she’d never met anyone like Hall. He, unlike every other man she’d ever known, accepted her as his equal. It seemed only natural they should be together. He was so much like her—a warrior with nothing but his honor, and no place to call his own.
“Will you remain here?” Her question echoed off the rocks above them, jarringly loud in the silence. She lowered her voice to barely more than a whisper to continue. “When all this is over, I mean.”
It seemed a logical question. His brother, Chase, had married Christiana MacDowylt, so without question he would remain at Castle MacGahan.
But would Hall do the same?
“At Castle MacGahan, you mean? Such a prospect paints a most pleasant picture to a man such as I.” He stroked his fingers softly through her hair for several minutes before he spoke again. “But such is not woven as my fate.”
Surely he didn’t still believe she’d allow him to die out here.
“Your fate is not what you fear. I intend to see you safely to Rowan Cottage, where the witchwillheal you. I so swear it. You have no call to doubt that outcome or to expect the worst will happen.”
A chuckle rumbled under her ear. “I have not one doubt about your good intentions, Shield Maiden. But even should you be successful, once our task is finished and our enemy defeated, I have no choice but to return to my home.”
She wished for light so that she might see his face as he spoke. So much meaning was lost in the words floating in the dark void where they lay.
“Where is home for you?”
“I live along the northern coast of the Isle of Mists,” he answered, his voice little more than a whisper as well. “Ireland, you’d call it. Home of my grandmother’s people.”
He meant to return to Ireland? And leave a whole entire ocean separating them? That would never do. Whatever laird he served would simply have to make do without her big warrior.
“You ken there’s a place for you here, aye? You dinna have to go back. Forget about those you served there. We need you here.”
Sheneeded him here.
“My days are not my own. My life’s path is not my own to choose. I am committed to go when and where I’m needed, when and where I’m sent, no matter where I might want to be. I don’t have the luxury of forgetting those for whom I am responsible. Though I’d venture a guess, as often as I’m gone, they might feel forgotten. Nonetheless, they are my people and I have an obligation to see to their welfare.”
“Yer people?” She lifted her head and turned toward him, straining to see his face. In the dark, she could barely make out his shape, let alone his features or expression.
“Yes. With my grandmother gone, Haven Castle and all her people have become my responsibility. I must oversee their welfare and safety, as well as the welfare and safety of those I’m sent to help. It is the destiny I was born to. My path in life. And I cannot change it, no matter that I might want to.”
Brie struggled for her next breath, feeling as though her heart had stopped beating.
He was a laird. With a castle and responsibilities. A man born to substance and wealth.
And she? She was no one. She owned nothing but a few paltry household goods she could carry upon the back of a horse. She was certainly not the dowried lady a man such as Hall would one day wed.
All the ridiculous fantasies she’d allowed herself to indulge in as she lay in his arms disappeared like smoke on a blustery day. She’d never been much of a dreamer and she certainly was no fool. A landed man like him would never want someone like her for more than a quick night’s tumble.
And Bridget MacCulloch, daughter of the House MacUlagh, descended from the Ancient Seven, tumbled for no man. Especially not a man who could so easily break her heart.
Ifshe allowed him that power over her.
She rolled to her knees and placed her palm against his forehead, fighting to keep her roiling emotions in check.
“Fever’s completely gone. I think it’s best we get some sleep. We’ll want an early start.”
She crawled away from him and built a physical barrier between them by piling up the bags of provisions they traveled with.
If only she could build an emotional barrier as easily.
“Bridget?” He sounded confused, and she hardened her heart against the hurt in his voice.
“Go to sleep, Hall. Morning will be here soon enough, and we’ve a long way to travel to reach Orabilis on the morrow.”
She’d done herself proud. Only calm and determination rang in her voice. Not even the tiniest hint of the hurt eating away at her soul had escaped.
