Sin was hiding his feelings from her.
“I am ready to go,” Dermot announced bravely.
Sin inclined his head to him. “Let me speak to Henry first.”
“You think you can talk him into sparing Dermot?” Morna asked, her tone thick with hope.
“I shall see what I can do.”
Sin moved to Callie and cupped her cheek in his warm hand. “Wish me luck.”
“I do, Sin. You know I do.”
He dipped his head and kissed her lightly on the lips, then walked down the steps through the crowd. Callie didn’t move again until she saw him leave her castle by the small postern gate.
She ran to the wall and up the wooden stairs to the parapets with Simon, her brothers and his behind her. Her heart hammering, she watched her husband approach his king.
Silence held the air and not even the wind itself dared to stir the tenseness of this morning.
Sin took a deep breath as he surveyed the English knights around him. The few he knew frowned at his garb but said nothing as he made his way slowly toward Henry, who regarded him curiously.
“Henry Plantagenet, King of England, I, Sin MacAllister of the Clan MacNeely, greet you.”
Henry looked less than pleased. “Are you trying to amuse us or anger us with your clothes?”
“Neither, Sire. I am here to set right what happened last night.”
Henry slid from the back of his horse and approached him so that they could speak without being overheard. “Then you know about it?”
“Aye. Unfortunately, I found out too late to stop it.”
Henry nodded as he led him further away from the crowd. Two of Henry’s personal guard fell in behind them, but kept a discreet distance. “Then you know I’ve come for The Raider. Hand him over.”
“I can’t do that.”
Henry stopped dead in his tracks and arched a censoring brow. “Is our hearing failing or did you say what we think you said?”
Sin stiffened his spine, prepared to bear the full brunt of Henry’s anger. “The MacNeely is dead. He was killed in the fighting last night. Those who remain have learned their lesson. Believe me. There will never be another raid by the MacNeelys against you.”
“Who is the new MacNeely laird?” Henry asked curiously.
“They have yet to vote, but I can assure you, the new laird will want nothing but peace from you.”
Henry narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “And The Raider? Was he killed as well last night?”
Sin stood in silence. Lie, damn you, lie. If he told Henry The Raider was dead, then the matter would drop. Instantly. But he had never lied to Henry before.
You could have her forever. No one would ever know.
But it would be built on a lie.
What kind of future would they have if he knew he had deceived the very person who had given him his freedom?
Nay, he couldn’t do that. He refused to. All he’d ever had in this world was his honor and no one would take that from him.
“The Raider is finished,” Sin said simply.
“But is he dead?”
