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Ainsly had been feeling uneasy all day. Her stomach churned, and her mind was rampant with all kinds of dark thoughts. It felt as though she was sitting on a knife-edge. Everything in her life was balanced precariously, and if one of them came crashing down, then so would all of them. Even though she searched her soul for the truth, it did not become clear until she heard Ian speak to the crowd and tell them all the plans he had told her. The way he spoke galvanized her spirit and made her look to the future with hope and longing. She was eager to let it begin, and it seemed as though the other members of her clan were as well. There was still some lingering tension from the initial attack, but since then the fear had lessened. Ian’s men hadn’t raped or abused or killed anyone else. The vast majority of them had worked hard and tried to blend in with the clan as best they could. Their efforts had not gone unnoticed, and this vision of the future showed them all that Ian wasn’t just a brute. They were starting to see him as Ainsly saw him, and when Ian leaned down and whispered that it was all thanks to her, she finally had clarity.

Her mind had been conflicted with what she wanted most, but at the end of the day, the truest words were the ones she had spoken to Calan the previous night. The only thing that meant anything to her was the future of her clan. Did she want that future to be one of bloodshed and violence? Did she want to turn away a man who had ambitious plans for the clan? Or did she want to embrace everything Ian had to offer and let go of the cry for vengeance?

As she stood beside him, she knew the answers to all these questions. She could deny the truth in her heart no longer; she loved him, and she didn’t want to see him killed. She didn’t want to see any more killing.

She had to find a way to get Seamus and Calum to call off the attack. Near the edge of the crowd, she saw Calum walking away briskly, and she knew where he was going. She made an excuse about wanting to go pick some flowers and kissed Ian on the cheek, leaving him to field questions about what crops would be planted and other particular matters, while she went to try and head off a potentially deadly situation.

She found Calum and Seamus talking in a secluded part of the woods. The crowd had been so interested in what Ian was saying that nobody had paid much attention to their exit. She had glanced over her shoulder frequently to ensure that she wasn’t being followed. Thankfully, Calan wasn’t on her tracks, so she was able to move freely without worrying that she would expose her friends.

Seamus and Calum were deep in discussion.

“…beginning tae like him. We must act quickly. I dinnae care what Ainsly says. I fear her heart has been turned with the rest of them. We hae tae get rid of them now before it’s tae late. They’ll be training on the practice fields taemorrow. That’s when ye hae tae strike,” Calum said.

Ainsly was shocked and anger flared in her heart; she glared at them.

“Ye should care what I say.” They turned, shocked at her presence.

Calum’s eyes narrowed. “Why? Ye hae betrayed us. Ye stand up there with that monster as though ye agree with everything he says. What are we supposed tae think? What message are ye trying tae send tae the others? I can see the look in yer eyes. Ye hae betrayed our clan, yer da…everything.”

“How dare ye!” Ainsly thundered as she stepped forward. Tension rippled through her body, and she went rigid. It took all her self control not to slap Calum for his insolence.

Seamus stepped in between them. “The last thing we need tae dae is fight amongst ourselves. That’s how they win. Ainsly, hae ye already forgotten the warriors who died in the slaughter? We never asked for him tae come here. We never wanted war, but we cannae let this crime gae unpunished. What kind of men would we be if we surrendered tae him? Aye, he promises sweet things now from what Calum tells me, but is that enough tae make us forget about all he haes done? Is it truly that easy tae sway yer heart?”

“My heart is nae swayed easily. Listen tae the two of ye, conspiring here of some rebellion. I will never forget the warriors who lost their lives defending the keep, but I wilnae let this clan’s future be defined by vengeance. If ye knew Ian as I did—”

“Bah!” Calum raised his hand sharply and turned away, shaking his head.

“I dinnae want more blood spilled. What ye want tae dae is only gaeing tae lead tae more death, and what if we dinnae win? Dae ye think Ian or whoever is left will be sae forgiving? Right now we hae a chance for peace. We hae a chance tae prosper. If ye attack there will be none of that. We will be fighting until one side is completely wiped out, and are ye really willing tae bet on the strength of our army?”

“Aye, I am,” Seamus said. “What ye dinnae understand is that Ian took a lot from us, more than ye’ll ever know. I’m sorry ye cannae understand, but we cannae stop now. I know ye want the best for the clan, but sae dae Calum and I, and all the others who are willing tae fight. This is what we were born for. Are ye really gaeing tae choose yer husband over yer clan?”

Ainsly stared at him. In his eyes, she saw all their childhood memories rush past before they slowly faded into the distance. She could see that he wasn’t the same man she had known in the past. There was something hard about him now, something unforgiving that could not be changed. She did not respond to his question.

“Well, I guess that settles it,” Seamus said. “We know where yer heart lies. But Ian cannae takes us all tae bed and sway our hearts sae easily.” He spoke with derision and walked away, leaving her and Calum alone.

“I cannae believe ye are actually gaeing tae choose Ian over yer own clan, over the people ye hae grown up with. Are ye blind? Can ye nae see that there are better men waiting for ye? Ian can never love ye the way ye should be loved, but if ye cannae see that then I pray for the gods tae help ye, for ye really are lost. But now ye hae tae choose if ye’re gaeing tae betray us. Are ye gaeing tae warn Ian of our plan? Are ye gaeing tae see us executed, our heads strung up on pikes?” Calum asked.

“Never,” Ainsly said. The word came out as a choking sob. She turned and walked away while Calum lingered in the forest for a while, but Ainsly did not know if she had spoken the truth. It was so easy for them to plan revenge without thinking what it meant for her. How could they not understand that this was her life? Tears rolled down her cheeks as she made her way back to the keep, venturing into a back entrance so she could hide in a small room and not have to see anyone. Overhearing their plans had put her in a difficult position. If she told Ian the truth, then there was no doubt in her mind that he would kill the traitors, but if she didn’t, then they would attack, and more blood would be shed, and Ian might well be killed. Her heart was torn between her future and her past, and she was unable to choose between them.

Unfortunately, she could not avoid Ian indefinitely. Eventually, she had to return to her chambers for the night. She averted her gaze from him and tried to hide the fact that her face was stricken, and her heart was heavy. And what would happen when she told him the truth? He might well turn his back on her, and all the plans they had made together would be for nothing. All the hopes and dreams they had shared would turn to ash and once again she would lose something precious to her. Ainsly was tired of losing these kinds of things all the time. She just wanted to be happy.

“Did ye hae a good day?” Ian asked. “I missed ye.”

“Aye, sorry for that,” Ainsly said. “I got lost in the forest, and then when I brought the flowers back, I got tae talking with the women and spent some time with them.”

“I see. Well, ye missed a good day. There were sae many questions.”

“I thought it might be good for ye tae talk with them by yerself. I want them tae trust ye as I trust ye,” Ainsly said.

“They trust me because ye stand by my side. As long as we are taegether we dinnae hae anything tae worry about, lass. I know that they are hesitant tae trust me because of what happened, and I regret it. The only defense I hae is that war is the only thing we hae known. We didnae think we could just come up and ask tae became a part of yer clan. I hae naething tae offer ye though, nae name and nae lands. I knew I haed tae take what I wanted by force. That was the only way. I see now that I was wrong. I wish I haed done things differently, Ainsly, but at least we can move on from that. Yer people are ready tae move on, as am I. We can look tae the future.”

Ainsly forced a smile and wished she could agree.

“It means a lot tae me tae hear ye say that, Ian,” she replied, although she still felt uncertainty in her heart. She knew he wasn’t the brute that had first appeared to her. She only wished Seamus and Calum could see that too, but she doubted they would be able to be convinced no matter what she said. Ian’s earnestness melted her heart, but she could still not bring himself to the truth. Despite everything they were plotting, Seamus and Calum were people she had known her entire life. It was not an easy thing to betray their plans. There had to be another way, and she had one night to find it.

“Is there something on yer mind, lass? Is there something ye wish tae tell me?” Ian asked. Damn him for being able to glean an insight into her mind. She licked her lips and tried to think of a lie to tell him, but nothing came to her. Instead, she slipped her dress off her shoulders and flashed him a coy smile. The dress fell to the floor and left her exposed, every inch of her pale, freckled flesh was displayed from him. Her soft coppery hair fell down in ringlets, resting against her skin. She patted the bed and Ian did not need any further insistence to come to her. She closed her eyes and lost herself to the warm embrace, trying to put the thought of war out of her mind.