Page 54 of Highland Prince of Darkness

Chapter Twenty-One

Iain didn’t like the way that he felt so vulnerable around his wife now. But as the days went on, he realized that he didn’t feel just vulnerable towards his wife, but also around the entire castle and town. It was Athol. His looming threat was something that he was still keeping to himself, but it was getting harder to do as the days went on and his anxiety increased.

Iain thought about the idea of another attack and made sure to encourage May and her father to put out more guards, although he still refused to mention Athol. He had his own people out and looking around for the man, they were listening and waiting for any sign of Athol, but nothing had happened. Iain had days where he considered that he was just being overly paranoid and that the man had better things to do than to hunt him down for revenge.

But then Iain thought about the last words that Athol had said to him, how he had threatened him if he lived through the injury he had sustained. Iain shuddered at the thought of not being prepared for the attack when it would come.

“What dae ye look so perplexed for?” May asked from the bed one evening, as Iain leaned out the open window. His shoulder was healing well and Iain felt as though he was finally getting his strength completely back.

“I’m thinking about the clan,” Iain shrugged as he turned to look at her.

He still couldn’t believe that he was so lucky to have such a radiant and beautiful wife, he had to try hard to believe that May was here with him again.

“What about the clan?”

“I’m concerned for the safety of everyone. We still dinnae ken who was behind the attack on Bruce and me, and I dinnae want it to happen again.”

“Aye,” May sighed as she lay back down on the bed, “I want to make sure that even the poorest people on our land still feel safe.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Iain nodded slowly. “How will ye go about it?”

“I want to know that the outskirt towns, the places where the people are nae wealthy and rely heavily on us, are all right. I want to show that I’m the kind of ruler that will look after them all.”

“Ye’ll be a good ruler,” Iain reassured her as he moved over to her and embraced her in his arms. Iain had recently decided that his new favorite thing was to just hold her.

* * *

Over the following days, May was starting to feel as though she wasn’t doing enough for the clan. Her father’s condition was only continuing to decline, and May knew that it was only a matter of time before she was going to take over the role completely. Ruling the clan with Iain at her side was a thrilling idea, and May thought that she was going to do some great things for her people. However, she was still quietly worried about the fact that she wouldn’t live up to the reputation that her father had created.

“Ye want to what?” Iain asked in surprise, as they sat in the great hall with Bruce and her father.

“I want to go out to the outskirt towns in person. I want to be able to show them that I’m the kind of leader that will nae neglect them. My father did the same and now I want to do so too,” May shrugged.

She didn’t think that it was too much to ask, not when there were so many people to rule over. May didn’t feel as though there was much danger in her land, and of course, she would take many men with her to help her if she were to stumble into trouble, but she didn’t think it would be very likely.

“I dinnae ken if that’s a good idea,” Iain said eventually.

“Why not, I’ll take some men with me and it will be fine,” May shrugged it off.

“I dinnae think that would be wise, it’s nae safe at all,” Iain countered.

She frowned at him, unsure of why he was being so difficult all of a sudden.

“It’s nay more dangerous than going out onto the glen,” May held up her hands.

“Aye it is, even the glen is dangerous,” Iain pointed to his shoulder.

“I have to side with Iain on this one, I’m afraid,” her father spoke up. May sighed and shook her head as she looked over at Bruce.

“I’m sorry, lass, but ye should at least take a lot of men,” Bruce added.

“Aye, I will take a lot,” May agreed.

“I’m still nae happy about this,” Iain sighed and shook his head.

“Why, there’s nay danger!” May fired back.

“There is, trust me.”