She kept her steps slow and even, as if she had come outside to greet him.After a slight pause at the door, she waited for the king to acknowledge her.
King Patrick was dismounting from his horse while his brother Bevan stood nearby.Her father’s gaze tightened at the sight of her.Mairead lifted her chin and offered aslight smile, despite the exhaustion of the past two days weighing upon her.
Patrick came closer and crushed her into an embrace.‘Mairead, why did you leave Laochre?’
‘Because I overheard Normans plotting against my brother.I believed they would come for me next, so I came here instead.’
Her father blanched at that, but she continued on.‘Did you not teach me to be aware of those around me?To be ready to defend myself at all times?’She shook her head.‘I was unprepared the last time I was taken.I wasn’t about to let it happen again.’
Patrick exchanged a glance with his brother, and she could see the strain on his face.‘You shouldn’t have left without several men to protect you.’
‘It would have drawn too much attention,’ she argued.‘Instead, I commanded Balor Ó Phelan to bring me to Rionallís.’
He appeared uncertain about her words, but her uncle Bevan confirmed it.‘She did have an escort when she arrived.’
‘And where is Ó Phelan now?’
‘I sent him back to Dunmalus with his brother,’ Mairead lied.She walked alongside them back to the keep, behaving as if she hadn’t openly defied her father.To redirect the conversation, she asked, ‘Have you found Liam yet?’
‘Not yet.Our men are still searching.And stop trying to pretend as though I’m not fully aware of what you’re doing, Mairead.’
‘And what is it you think I’m doing?’
‘Avoiding your betrothal.’His gaze sharpened.
‘You offered me the right to choose my betrothal,’ she said quietly.‘Has that changed?’
When her father didn’t answer, uneasiness curled within her stomach.This was the reason she’d feared.But before he could speak, she blurted out, ‘Why?Are you afraid I won’t choose the right man?’she ventured.‘Like Diarmud.’
Patrick appeared pained at her words.Probably because there was some truth to it.
Her father let out a sigh.‘I know you were fond of him,’ he said at last.‘But he was a soldier, Mairead.You are my daughter.He could offer you nothing at all, except his heart.’
‘I loved him.I had planned to marry him in secret.’The words blurted out from her lips before she could stop them.It had been true, once, even if that love hadn’t lasted.She still remembered the rush of giddy emotion when she’d seen Diarmud smile at her.He had been so kind, treating her as if she meant everything to him.At the time, she’d been delighted with their forbidden union.
But he’d never made her blood race the way Balor had.
Balor had changed her, in ways he’d never guessed.Before he’d come to theaenach, she’d been resigned to marrying a man she didn’t love and pretending to want an ambitious marriage to a man who would expect her to rule at his side.
And now she couldn’t bear the thought of it.
Her future felt so uncertain right now.Worse was the fear that Balor didn’t truly want her for anything more than stolen passion.He’d yielded to her plea of letting her travel with him to Dunmalus, but he’d made no secret of his reluctance.
She risked a glance back at the shadows, even as her father was saying something she wasn’t paying attention to.Despite their differences in status, Balor had fought at her side and defended her.
And yet, there was a difference between them.Not because of their social standing, but because Balor had made it clear that he didn’t want a life at her side.And it hurt to know it.He’d always been careful not to make any promises.
She turned back to her father, who was waiting for an answer to a question she hadn’t heard.‘I am not ready to wed anyone, Father,’ she admitted.‘I’ve hardly slept in the past two days, and my brother is still missing.’She shook her head.‘I need time.’
Her father escorted her back within the castle keep.‘I promise you’ll be safe at Laochre.Gather your belongings, and we’ll go back.’
Mairead could feel the invisible net, snaring her back to her family home.She gave him a slight nod to pacify him.Then she excused herself and walked away.
Her thoughts were tangled up, for she had no intention of returning home.Instead, she intended to be defiant with Balor and risk losing her heart a second time.
* * *
It wasn’t hard to see that Mairead had been coerced into obedience by her father.And so, Balor had made plans of his own.
