Page 74 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“She had tae marry him, did she nae? She bore the two of ye for him.” He glanced between Noah and Ian. “And ye…” He turned his glare to Noah. “Ye are the reason she is dead.”

“Me?” Noah’s voice was so loud that soldiers across the courtyard turned to face him, pausing in the gathering of cloaked attackers. “Ye were the one who caused it.”

“Nae. If ye had nae arrested me, and if I didnae have tae escape, she would still be alive. She killed herself fearing how ye would punish her.”

“Spite, vengeance; that is all ye want, is it nae?” Noah shook his head. “Killing me now willnae bring her back, nor can it undo the fact she married my father. Ye achieved nothing!”

“I achieved peace.” Athol pulled his hand back, ready to stop Noah’s heart.

* * *

“I have tae go after him,” Scarlett said, running back into the darkness.

“Ye are certain?” Avery asked. “He hardly seemed like the warmest of men. I ken we just met, sister, but I dinnae like tae see anyone shout at ye, especially a laird.”

“He was shouting because he fears I betrayed him. ‘Twasnae my intention, and I must tell him so.” She placed her hands together, begging with the two of them. “Please, let me go after him, I pray ye.”

“Of course.” Eloise answered without hesitation. She took Scarlett’s arm and drew her back to her horse. “I will come with ye.”

“Ye will?” Scarlett murmured in surprise. “But if we are seen together, the secret will be out, Eloise. The world will ken what our mother worked so hard tae keep hidden. Yer father, our father—”

“Tae hell with that,” Avery said before Eloise had a chance to speak. His plain-speaking ways tempted Scarlett to smile, though she couldn’t quite manage it then. “It’s time this secret was out in the open. If any of us wish tae see each other in public, tae talk and be as other siblings dae, rather than meeting outside dodgy taverns in the middle of the night, then aye, the secret must come out. I shall come too. Lead the way, Scarlett.”

Relieved at her siblings’ help, Scarlett returned to her mount and pulled on the reins. Turning round in the saddle, she found Avery and Eloise following.

Setting off, they followed the path Noah had taken. At all times, Avery and Eloise rode beside her. When they came close to the forest by the castle, they were forced to slow so Eloise could keep up with them as they rode over exposed tree roots.

“What happens when ye see him?” Avery asked Scarlett. “Will ye tell him everything?”

“All of it!” Scarlett averred. “I cannae let him hate me for this. I cannae.”

Eloise had a strange smile on her face.

“It seems ye love him dearly, Scarlett,” she said sympathetically.

“I’m so sorry,” Scarlett apologized. “It was never my intention, I swear. I ken it wasnae supposed tae happen; I never planned to care for him. Ye must loathe me.”

“Dinnae apologize for falling in love, Scarlett.” Eloise shook her head firmly. “From what I know, one cannae help who the heart chooses.”

They fell silent as they rode on. When they left the forest, they picked up speed again near the drawbridge. The sounds of battle stunned them. They slowed their pace seeing the carnage in the aftermath of battle.

Noah’s soldiers were collecting ambulatory prisoners to take to the dungeon. Others tried to rouse wounded men needing medical attention. She looked to the courtyard, where she saw Ian in the middle of the cobbles, closely watching Noah pinned by a sword at his chest.

That is nae possible.

And then the world stopped spinning when she recognized Athol.

“Dae nae hurt him!” Scarlett shouted.

How is Athol here? Why is he here?

The sight of Athol with a sword pressed to Noah’s made her sweat.

“Athol, nae, stop!” she barked at him. He hesitated, the sword a hair’s breadth from Noah’s chest.

Noah didn’t turn to look at her as she leaped from her horse with Avery following suit. Scarlett ran all the way to Noah, kneeling at his side.

“What are ye doing, Athol?” she looked at him through slitted eyes.