Page 72 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“Why should I listen tae any of it?” He wanted to leave; he couldn’t look at her with her mirror image right behind her. “How could I ever trust anything ye say after this?”

“Because I will tell ye the truth.” She seized the edges of his jacket and pulled, trying to force his gaze to hers. “I will tell ye everything; just hear me out.”

“I willnae!” he barked so loudly she released him reflexively. “I cannae look at ye.” He was silent for a hopeful moment, but turned suddenly and stalked down the road.

“Nay! Noah, please.” Scarlett ran after him. “Can ye nae see my misery? Please, let me explain everything ye’ll see I tell ye the truth. Who I was with ye was nae lie.”

“Everything was a lie!” He roared again, pushing her hand away. “I never wish tae see ye again. Never, nor do I wish tae hear yer pathetic attempt tae explain yersel.”

“Ye willnae hear me?” she begged as he mounted his horse.

“fell victim tae ye once, I willnae again.” Snapping the reins he galloped away without turning his head.

How could she? How could she do this—and I loved her!

There was so much Noah didn’t understand about what he had just seen.

How much does she really mean?

All those questions ricocheted his mind. Part of him shouted to ride back to hear her explanation. At least he’d have an answer to some of his questions, but there was a stronger voice in his head that refused to respond. No matter what her answers were, they would not help.

Her lies had broken his heart. The fact she had hidden the truth from him was enough to prove he’d fallen in love with a woman who didn’t truly exist.

“I loved an idea, nothing more.” He repeated those words to himself almost mindlessly all the way home.

The sun had begun to rise by the time the castle appeared in the distance, filling the sky with pale grey light before turning a deep orange. He expected to see the castle still quiet as he crossed the drawbridge, but clashing swords alerted him to trouble. Riding faster, he surveyed the courtyard and the castle walls, where he discovered a battle in progress.

In the courtyard, his soldiers fought cloaked attackers. Ian was among the soldiers, issuing orders to hold their ground in order to prevent the cloaked men from breaching the keep's door.

“Ian!” Noah bellowed, but was forced to look away as a sword was passed over his head.

Nae!

Noah leapt from his horse, leaving the animal in the fray. He snatched a sword up from a wounded soldier lying on the cobbles, nursing his injury. Noah determined the soldier would survive before seizing his sword to continue battle.

He delivered a blow to every cloaked attacker he encountered, helping his men to get the upper hand. When a cloaked assailant lunged, Noah swiped across his legs with the blade, forcing the man to his knees, and used the hilt to strike another’s head. That man fell face first, unconscious.

“Give me a report,” Noah ordered a soldier nearby.

“They attacked before dawn, demanding entrance, my laird. We’ve held them off so far.”

“Send for Callie right away. She will be needed,” Noah called back. Turning his focus, Noah saw Ian fighting a cloaked man twice his breadth.

Noah knew that fighting a man twice his strength would be difficult for any soldier. The opponent leapt toward Ian, knocking the sword from his hand with one firm blow. Ian sprang back, trying to escape the second strike that was surely coming. Noah sprinted forward, reaching him just as the enemy launched his weapon, and he blocked the blow, undoubtedly saving Ian’s life before the sword could come down on his head.

“Noah…” Ian said quietly from behind. Gritting his teeth against the man’s might, Noah pushed him backward.

“Take cover,” Noah warned. The man was set upon by two other soldiers, and quickly drawn into battle.

“Naewhere to run, Noah.”

He froze. Hearing that voice almost paralyzed him. A voice he’d not heard in a very long time.

The last time I heard that voice, he was in a dungeon. I had just sentenced him tae death.

Noah turned round to see a cloaked man nearby drop his hood.

“Athol.” Noah’s voice dripped venom.