Lillian sat forward. “And you told him you were already feared in the Highlands.”
Stormseeker’s grin flashed for a moment. “Indeed, Lady Lillian. But the thought of one of my kind in captivity…it didnae sit well. I agreed to accept his gift, thinking I would no’ be obligated to keep my word to a slaver.”
“You were going to take him?” My Mate was shaking again. “You were going toaccept my father’s offer?”
I’d prepared to comfort her, but when I realized ‘twas fury that made her shake, I sat back in my chair, my lips curlingin pride. I could tell the other male was equally impressed by her defense of me.
“Aye, I was, Lady Lillian,” he said quietly. “I figured we had a short amount of time to escape Tarbert Keep, and I could get him help in our world. But the night of Hogmanay, which would have been the ideal time to act…Kragorn saved himself.”
“He took me and my father while you just stood there and didnaught.”
He inclined his head deeply, then met Lillian’s eyes.
“Aye, which is why I’ve come to apologize. I should have fought at yer side—Bloodfire and Battleborn. My stomach had knotted in disgust at the sight of what he’d done to ye, but when I realized ye were making yer own escape, I held myself back.”
“Ye were waiting to see if I would be successful?” I asked mildly. “Were yer men with ye?”
“Ten of them.” The other male held my gaze, and I read honest regret on his face. “Tarbert was housing them with his men.”
“And ye had nae idea what would happen to them were ye to attack me.”
“Still—” Lillian began, and I leaned forward to brush a kiss across her temple, silencing her.
“Love, a chief’s duty is to those who have put their trust in him. I would do naught to endanger my warriors, even if it cost me my honor.”
Stormseeker’s lips curled ruefully. “I would hope it didnaecost me theentiretyof my honor, but I still came to ask yer forgiveness.”
I pretended to consider as I studied him.
Of course I would forgive him for not helping me that night. It sounded as if he’d intended to trick Tarbert in order to get me free, had I not done it myself. If he had, I wouldn’t have been able to take Lillian, so I couldn’t be disappointed.
Besides, my clan couldn’t afford to become enemies of the Battleborn. I would accept his apology, and…
“What was the second thing you came to offer?” my fierce little Mate sniffed from her place on my lap where she frowned at our guest.
“Our allegiance,” the Stormseeker announced bluntly. “’Tis a powerful incentive in the west, chief’s Mate. Together, Battleborn and Bloodfire can face Bladesedge and push them back.”
I will confess, that had been exactly what I’d been hoping he’d say. So when Lillian turned to me with her brows raised, excitement in her eyes, I nodded in agreement. We didn’t need to speak, not when her approval was so obvious.
I leaned forward, my hand across the table, and when the other male gripped my forearm, I squeezed his.
“I accept yer apology, and offer ye Bloodfire’s allegiance. Welcome, brother.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Lillian
While the Battlebornalliance should have taken precedence in my mind in terms of Important News, I was far more concerned with the Mating ceremony Nan and Myra were planning.
Dear God, ‘twas a cross between a formal wedding and a public breeding display, and how in the world could such a thing be planned so quickly? From the time I agreed to the night of the ceremony, no more than a few days had passed. Between the news of their chief’s Mating and their new alliance, Bloodfire village was alight with excitement.
The clan had started celebrating early—I could hear them even from where I stood, staring at the hearth in Kragorn’s cottage.Ourcottage. ‘Twould truly be my home after this night.
Forever.
I wanted that. Idid. I was just…more than a little terrified at what I had to go through to get there. In the days since Kragorn had regained his strength, he’d proven to me again and again that he could make my bodysing. Just the thought of his thick cock sinking into me had me squeezing my thighs in impatience.
I want this.
