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“I have something to tell ye, Isla.”

She looked up at him, a mix of dread and anticipation flickering in her eyes.

He caressed her cheek and smoothed back her tangled hair, the tenderness coming easier to him than he had expected, easier than it ever had with anyone else.

“Yer uncle was with the men at our borders.”

Isla stiffened.

Alisdair frowned, thinking how much the bastard had terrorized her. He wanted to go back in time and kill him all over again.

“Alisdair?” she prompted, her voice cooling his wrath.

“He is no more, Isla.”

She gasped and stared at him, wide-eyed. She shook her head in disbelief.

It was strange how hard it was to untangle yourself from fear even once the thing you feared was already gone.

“He is…”

“He has set up an ambush for me and me men.”

Isla twisted slightly and ran her hands over him —then froze when her fingers came away red. “Ye are hurt!”

“It’s only a scratch.” He could not help but smile. His little rebel was worried about him. He held both her hands in his and kissed her knuckles.

“Isla,” he murmured, looking deep into her eyes. “Yer uncle is dead.”

Isla let out a sigh of relief, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“All is well, Isla,” he soothed, pulling her closer.

She sobbed softly against his chest as they resumed their ride. He needed to get her back to the castle as soon as possible.

Suddenly, he heard hooves thudding down the path. His grip tightened on her, and he moved his hand to his sword. Isla sat up and looked around, her breath quickening with anxiety.

“Alisdair!” Duncan’s voice echoed.

Alisdair saw his friend and brother ride up to them, flanked by a few warriors.

“Damn ye, Alisdair!” Ewan huffed, drawing closer.

Alisdair could see the agony on his brother’s face, the fear that he had lost the only family he had left.

Ewan and Duncan finally caught up to them and looked down at Isla, who had again settled in his arms. Alisdair could see the questions in their eyes, but he ignored them. Now was not the right time.

“We are well,” he grunted. “Let’s head back to the castle.”

They rode back through the gates and were met with somber silence rather than cheers. But the moment the clansfolk saw Isla in his arms, chaos erupted.

“Isla!”

His aunt darted through the courtyard as he dismounted, still holding Isla in his arms.

“Oh, child! Let me see ye.”

“I am well, Auntie,” Isla said softly.