Ryan jerked angrily at his clothes, straightening them. “Because I didn’t want you around my Nora. I heard she was running to you, and I wanted to make sure you weren’t there to help her. Everyone in Scotland knows that if you want a woman to flee the country, send her to Ewan MacAllister, especially if she’s promised to another.”
Ewan slugged him for that.
Ryan fell to the floor where he lay whining like a child. “You hit me!”
“You’re lucky I didn’t kill you for that.”
Ryan wiped the blood from his nose, then looked to Nora. “She’s mine, MacAllister. I won’t let you have her.”
“I don’t belong to you, Ryan,” Nora snapped. “I will never marry you.”
Ewan felt sick at the words.
The man loved her so much that he would pay someone to abduct him to keep him away from her. He might not like the man’s actions or logic, but he certainly couldn’t fault the fool for his motivation.
Ryan loved her so much that he was willing to risk the MacAllister wrath to have her.
Just as Robby MacDouglas had loved Isobail.
Just as Kieran...
Nora saw Ewan’s face and knew what he thought. She could see his anguish. If he thought Ryan loved her, he would never let her stay with him.
He would be lost to her forever.
“Ryan,” Nora said desperately, “tell Ewan the truth. Tell him that you can’t stand me. Tell him what you really think of me.”
Ryan was aghast as he came to his feet again. If she didn’t know better, even she would think he spoke honestly.
But unlike Ewan, she knew the heart of this treacherous adder.
“How can you say that, Nora?” Ryan said, feigning hurt. “Our parents have planned for our marriage since we were children. I love you. I have always loved you. I want no other bride.”
Ewan winced as if he’d been struck.
His eyes were bleak as he met her gaze. “You lied to me, Nora.”
Panic welled up inside her. She had to make him see the truth. She couldn’t let him think that she had lied to him when she hadn’t.
Damn Ryan and his lies.
“Nay, I did not.” She turned on Ryan with a glower. “Tell him the truth or I’ll beat you myself.”
“It is the truth,” Ryan said sincerely. “I need you for my bride.”
Ewan took a deep breath as he tried to stave off the bitter agony he felt.Something inside him had shriveled with Ryan’s words.
So, Ryan did love her.
Damn you, fate, for replaying this.
It was just like before.
Only this time, Ewan would make sure the woman went where she belonged. Nora would go home with Ryan and he would go back to...
Unable to finish the thought, Ewan turned around and left the pub. The soundless crowd parted, letting him pass.
Bavel, Lysander and Viktor exchanged awkward looks before they followed after him.
