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Moira didn’t have an answer for him. “There must be a logical explanation, something that actually could hae happened. I’m nae gaeing tae accuse demons when there are plenty of men around who could hae done this.”

“Who would want tae hurt the clan?” Moira asked, furrowing her brow. In her mind, this was just as unrealistic as demons and spirits.

The Calbraith clan had been notorious for being vicious, and there had been a few enemies over the years, but their recent history was different. With Niall taking over from his father, there had been a change in attitude and it was plain to see from everyone around.

The area had developed peace, and everyone was better off for it. Why would anyone want to jeopardize this? Niall had a pensive look on his face. He swallowed deeply and his hand rose to his bare chin, stroking it thoughtfully.

“There is one man I could think of,” he muttered, his voice just above a whisper.

“Who?” Moira asked.

Niall seemed to take an age to respond, as though what he was going to say would change their relationship irrevocably. He took deep breaths, but he continued to stare at her intently.

“Yer brother,” he said. The words were soft, and the tone of them was harmless, but for two such simple words, they elicited such strong emotions. Moira physically recoiled, and her hand rose to her mouth to stifle a gasp.

Her face twisted, and she felt as though she had been punched in the gut. Tasting bile in the back of her throat, she shook her head, as though she didn’t believe that he had actually said what he said. But Niall’s expression was plain, and there was no doubting the suspicious thoughts that had passed through his mind.

His jaw was set and he seemed determined to follow this through. Moira’s mind was awhirl; she didn’t know what to think. In her opinion, it was far more likely for spirits to be the cause of this curse than Marcas! He had changed, had been the driving force for peace.

How could Niall accuse him of such a crime? If he was so ready to accuse Marcas, then what must he have thought of her?

Suddenly all the positive emotions drained out of her. She wondered if her emotions had been an illusion all this time. Had she merely convinced herself that Niall loved her for the sake of being happy in her new home? Was this all a lie she told herself so that she could cope with the changing tides of her life? She stared at Niall, aghast, part of her tempted to flee for home and leave this all behind.

But she was married now and wouldn’t be able to do that.

13

Moira stared at the man she loved, wondering if she loved him at all. He was impassive.

“Ye dinnae mean that. Ye cannae mean that,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

“Why nae? There haes been a long-standing rivalry between our clans. I pushed him hard in our negotiations. Maybe he didnae like how I treated him. Yer family haes a history with poisons. Yer uncle Roderick used them, and I know Marcas spent a lot of time with him growing up. Marcas could hae learned from him. He could hae done something at the wedding or—”

“How dare ye!” Moira growled. She was smaller than him, yet in that moment, she felt as tall as a giant and she was as intimidating as a dragon. Her hands curled into tight balls, and her eyes blazed with fury. “Marcas haes never been anything but kind tae ye! He could hae refused ye at any turn and kept things the way they hae always been between our clans, but he didnae. He gave ye what ye wanted for the sake of peace. He gave ye me! Are ye sae angry that ye would blame him?”

“He’s a Monroe,” Niall said with a dramatic sweep of his hand. “I think ye think tae highly of yer brother.”

“I’m a Monroe tae.”

“Ye are a Calbraith now.”

“Aye, maybe in name, but by blood, I’m a Monroe and I always will be. I am nae gaeing tae stand here and listen tae ye accuse my brother. I came here for him, for our clans tae ensure peace. I was sae scared, but when I met ye, I thought ye were lovely, and I thought we were falling in love. Maybe I was wrong.

This isnae a good look for ye, Niall. I dinnae like the man I am seeing. Does peace mean nothing? Does the future mean nothing? Are ye gaeing tae be sae quick tae condemn a man without even knowing him?”

“I know enough,” Niall sneered.

“Oh aye? Dae ye really? Because if ye really knew Marcas then ye would know he detests poisons after what happened. He never liked them because of what happened tae our mother, and especially nae after what happened tae him. His wife was thrown in jail, and he almost died because of Roderick. Why would he want tae follow in Roderick’s footsteps?”

“I dinnae know...maybe he hates the fact that I asked for yer hand?” Niall offered.

Moira’s heart swelled with anger, and she shook her head vehemently.

“Marcas would never put me in danger like that. If he did this, how could he be sure that I wouldnae be poisoned? Ye are nae making any sense.

If ye truly think the Monroes are this duplicitous, then how can ye be married tae me? Next thing is ye’ll be accusing me as well,” Moira said, laughing incredulously, “I bet ye are gaeing tae suggest that I’m working with him.” Her words descended into laughter at the ridiculousness of the situation, but when she looked at Niall, she noticed he wasn’t laughing.

In fact, he had a strange look on his face, one that she didn’t like at all. It seemed as though he was actually considering this as a possibility. The color drained from Moira’s face. She placed her hands on her hips, staring at him intensely.