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He slowly shook his head.

“But you didn’t do anything.”

He smoothed back my hair. “Tis going tae be okay.”

“Is it because you won’t swear an oath?”

He said, “Wheesht, mo leannan, we will get through this.”

Douglas behind him said, “That is enough, we need tae take ye down.”

Torin said, “I am well, ye remember tae breathe, and daena say anything, stay verra quiet.”

I nodded.

He said, “Promise me.”

“Promise.” I sat up so he could climb to his feet.

The guards took his arms again and pulled him to the door.

He looked back over his shoulder.

“Torin, I don’t want you to go.”

“Princess, listen tae me, breathe, I will be fine.”

I sniffled, still sitting on the floor, looking up at him. “Is this true? Will you be fine?”

“Aye, I promise, we are a team.”

The last thing I saw was the set of his jaw as the guards forced him out into the corridor and away.

Tears streamed down my face as the king and Douglas followed him.

And all their footsteps faded down the stone passage.

I stared at that opened door until Niall’s voice broke my stupor. “Lady Alexandria, I must go speak tae the king.”

I nodded.

“Ye are well if I leave ye alone? I will return shortly.”

I nodded again.

He crossed the room, quietly closing the door behind him as he left.

The silence that followed was awful.

I waited for a really long time, famished. So famished and thirsty. I sat in a pile on the floor watching the door first, unable to believe that I was alone.

Even the servants were gone.

I stared dumbfounded.

Then to calm myself I considered the facts.

The king had imprisoned my husband.