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That was where she was wrong. They’d passed judgment on him, just as he’d thought they would, and he doubted their opinion would ever change.

“I will stand by my brother, second or not, if that is what worries you.”

She paused in her pacing long enough to glare at him. “You are what worries me. Why did you do it? How could you have spoken to her so?”

If she had taken a dagger and stabbed him in the heart, it would have been no less painful than to hear the disappointment in her voice. Well, she wasn’t the only one disappointed in him.

“She deserves better.” He said it so softly that Reid wasn’t sure if she heard him. But it did not matter. It was done. He had promised her sister that he would return to Highgate a different man, a respected one worthy of Allie’s hand in marriage. Instead, he had disobeyed his chief and lost the support of his clan.

It would have been better for Allie had they never met.

“You are wrong, Reid.”

Of course Juliette would say so. She cared for him, though Reid had done little to earn her affection, and as angry as Toren was at him, his brother would still be his brother after all of this settled. They were stuck with him.

Allie was not.

Unfortunately, it did not appear Juliette was done.

“I said you were an arse—”

“Your husband does enjoy calling me that.”

“Not because you disobeyed your chief . . . not because the elders have punished you for doing so . . . but because you let her go, and that was the biggest mistake you’ve ever made in your life. You will regret it once you stop hating yourself so much.”

With a final glare, Juliette turned and left. She did not bother to close the door, so he hastened to do so lest his brother had a mind to return.

Reid did not want to speak to him, or anyone.

* * *

“I will kill him.”

It was a refrain Allie had heard from Graeme more times than she could count since the previous afternoon. He’d said those words almost as often as Gillian had pleaded with her to leave Brockburg. She knew she should probably capitulate—indeed, her first thought had been to leave at once, never to see Reid again. She’d gone to her room to gather her things, but something had held her back.

Not something.

Someone.

The sight of the training sword she’d received from Brockburg’s armorer had put her in mind of her first training sessions with Reid. In a way, this was what he had wanted from the start. For her to give up, for Gillian to be right about him. Juliette had told them about the elders’ decision, and as much as Allie knew she should continue to be angered by what Reid had said . . .

She’d reversed her decision and told Gillian she was not ready to leave. Her sister had, of course, been furious. And Graeme was no less so now that nearly a full day had passed since Reid’s declaration.

“I would prefer that you do not kill him,” she told her brother-in-law as he escorted her and her sister from the keep. Allie had expected to see Reid at the midday meal, but he had not come, and she’d struggled to hide her disappointment. Toren had apologized for his brother, Juliette had pleaded with her to stay a little longer, Gillian had begged her to leave, and Graeme had cursed more times than she’d heard him do since they’d met.

It was becoming difficult for her to think, and certainly she could not do it like this.

“As would I,” Toren said, coming up from behind. “A word?” he asked Graeme. With a final glare her way—he agreed with Gillian that it was time to leave—he stepped away with the chief.

“Would you join me?” Juliette asked sweetly, cupping her hands around her stomach, and Gillian was clearly torn. It was obvious she wished to deny Juliette, but to do so would be impolite. After a moment, she nodded her head ever so slightly.

Juliette led them down an empty corridor, through a door Allie had never used before, and outside into one of Highgate’s many gardens. This one contained more herbs than flowers. Located just outside the main keep, next to the entrance to the kitchen, it was as private a spot as any. Allie had never been to this part of the castle before.

“Lady Gillian,” Juliette said as they sat on the stone benches situated in nearly every outdoor space of the castle. “Please forgive my brother-in-law—”

“Gillian, if it pleases you.”

Juliette’s smile was warm and genuine, as always, and Allie could tell her sister was falling under her spell as well.