‘When you return,’ she whispered. She could not surrender her innocence to him, not when he might be forced to wed another.
He sat up, leaning her body back against him. ‘I’ve brought you a gift to remember me by.’ In her palm, he pressed a small pouch.
Laren unwrapped the leather and poured out a handful of glass droplets. Vivid blue, green and red mingled with white, in a jewelled handful.
‘They’re beautiful,’ she breathed.
‘Father Nolan made them. They reminded me of the treasures I’d give to you, if I could.’
The cool glass warmed beneath her fingers and she held one up to examine it more closely.As she studied them, she wondered how they were made. She knew the priest used sand and fire, but no one dared to interrupt him while he was forging his magic.
Alex kissed her again, holding her close. Though she desired him, she was afraid of what the future might hold.
And, most of all, she feared losing him.
Chapter Three
A bone-deep exhaustion settled within him. Every muscle in his body ached and Alex wanted nothing more than to find a place to sleep for the next fortnight. But he couldn’t.
Despite working since sunrise, they’d done little more than clear away the wreckage. The mood within Glen Arrin was unsettled, for they were exposed, their weaknesses bared to any enemy who happened to draw near.
He closed his eyes, knowing the violence would come. Robert Fitzroy, the Baron of Harkirk, had retreated after the last battle, but Alex had no doubt that the English baron was merely biding his time.
The silence unnerved him more than any direct attack. He sensed, within his blood, that Harkirk would strike again. It was a matter of when, not if.
The heaviness of the clan’s fate rested upon his shoulders and he could feel their doubts. He’d heard more than a few whispers today, questioning his leadership. But this was his clan. He would do whatever was necessary to keep them safe, even if they were reduced to ashes and sackcloth.
They were his people. His family.
His brother Bram approached, his expression dark, as though he didn’t want to bear bad news. ‘I’ve heard talk of several men wanting to leave. They have family among the other clans.’
‘I won’t let that happen.’ Alex adjusted the bandage on his arm, knowing that if a few left, others would follow.
‘And how could you stop them?’
‘It won’t come to that.’ He walked alongside Bram through the remains of the keep. ‘Tonight I’ll speak to them.’
When he passed several of his kinsmen, he didn’t miss the despair and hopelessness on their faces as they worked to gather up what remained of their belongings. It wouldn’t be easy to convince them, but as their chief it was his responsibility to care for them.
He passed Brodie, who was holding the hand of his three-year-old son. The child struggled to pick up a stone that was nearly as big as he was, his face pursed with effort. Brodie put his arms around his son and helped him to lift up the stone, before setting it down upon the wall.
The fist of grief caught Alex so hard that he blinked back the emotion. It had been almost three years now. Their son would have been the same age as this child. He could almost imagine it in his mind, and when Brodie stood, holding his son’s hand, Alex felt the emptiness of his own palm.
It’s in the past, he told himself. You have two daughters. Be thankful for what you have.
In the distance, Dougal was returning with Mairin and Adaira riding alongside him in the wagon. Nairna and Laren approached a short distance behind. There was exhaustion in his wife’s bearing and he didn’t understand why she’d defied him again.
He increased his pace to meet her, when he reached her side, he saw the defensive expression rise up. From the way she clutched her side, she was in pain. He couldn’t understand why she would exert herself, simply to get away from everyone else.
‘You took the girls for a walk?’ he confirmed, nodding toward his daughters, who were tormenting poor Dougal with their chatter.
‘Aye. You wanted me to keep them away from the fortress.’
‘I meant for you to rest and keep them with you.’ He suspected she’d known his wishes; she’d simply chosen to ignore them.
The more he thought of it, the more he realised that they’d been gone for several hours outside. It was freezing and a thin layer of ice coated the loch. Laren wouldn’t expose the girls to that kind of cold. When he studied his daughters, he noted that they didn’t appear in any sort of discomfort. Their cheeks were rosy, their smiles bright.
‘Where did you take the girls?’
She looked startled, as if she hadn’t expected him to confront her. ‘Just on a walk. Nowhere, really.’
‘For several hours?’ He moved closer, his gaze narrowed.
‘Well, I—’
‘Don’t lie to me,’ he demanded. He reached out to touch the back of her neck and, upon her skin, he felt warmth and a slight perspiration. The aroma of wood smoke clung to her hair. ‘You went inside somewhere, didn’t you?’
Laren coloured, but didn’t deny it. ‘Yes. We went to Father Nolan’s cavern.’ She backed away from his touch and he let his hand fall to his side. From the fear in her eyes, he knew there was far more that she hadn’t said.
‘Why?’ The cavern had been abandoned for several years, ever since the old priest had died.
‘I—I’ll tell you later,’ she stammered. ‘But not here.’
He heard the tremor in her voice, and her blue eyes were downcast. It startled him to see her so uncertain, almost as if she were guilty about something. What was she hiding?
‘Send the girls to Vanora and Ross tonight,’ he gritted out, releasing her from his grasp. ‘I want to talk to you alone.’
Her face flushed with uneasiness. ‘I have to prepare food for the girls. They need a meal before they go to sleep.’
It was a feeble excuse not to go. But then his gaze moved down to her hands and he caught the traces of blood upon them.
‘You’re bleeding again.’ It was a foolish observation and it infuriated him that she refused to stop and take care of herself.
‘It will stop,’ she whispered. ‘I’ll rest and it will be fine.’
He softened his tone. ‘Let Vanora take care of the girls. And let me take care of you.’ Without waiting for the refusal he knew would come, he left Laren’s side and went to the older matron. Ross’s wife sent him a pointed look, but she agreed to look after their daughters.
The afternoon sky darkened, Alex gave orders for Dougal to bring him a horse and supplies for the night. Laren’s gaze was focused upon the girls. When she understood that he wasn’t giving her a choice, her displeasure was evident.
He didn’t care. Right now, he needed to confront his wife, to understand what she was hiding from him.
The more he thought of it, the more he realised that she had never confided in him. Over the past two years, she’d hidden herself away, keeping her own secrets.
Tonight, he wanted to learn exactly what they were.
Alex helped Laren onto the horse, bringing a torch with him as he led the animal into the forest. The light dappled