“What an asshole,” she muttered. “What an absolute asshole.”
“On that, we are in total agreement.”
He put his arm around her, pulled her close, and rested his chin on the top of her head. What was he going to do?
After a moment, he rose to his feet, taking Elise’s hand and pulling her up after him. He couldn’t get the images Elise had shown him out of his mind. They burned on the back of his eyes.
Elise said not a word but waited patiently, allowing him time to process everything he’d seen. But her hand kept a tight gripon his, telling him without words that they were in this together, come what may.
“We canna retake the keep,” he said at last, voice low and gritty. “My best warriors—the ones who’ve fought beside me since I could lift a sword—they’re either dead or chained in my own cells. Without them…I would only be leading my people to their doom.”
“And Phillip knew exactly who to target,” Elise murmured. “He knew who would be the biggest threat and took steps to eliminate them.”
“He did,” Jamie said bitterly. “He had years to study us. Years while I—” His jaw clenched. “While I trusted him.”
“You weren’t the only one,” Elise said quietly. “We all trusted him.”
That didn’t ease Jamie’s guilt. He was chieftain. He should have been wiser, seen more clearly. How many people had lost their lives because he was blinded by poor judgment?
“Without control of Dun Arach, Islay is lost,” he said, staring out over the dripping, windswept coastline. The sea surged against the rocks, wild and fierce—just like the people who lived on these scattered islands. “But I am not just chieftain of Islay. I am Lord of the Isles.”
“And that means?” Elise asked.
“It means that if King James thinks he’s beaten us by taking Islay, then he’s wrong. If he thinks I’ll come crawling like a whipped dog and submit to his overlordship, then he is a fool.”
He felt something stirring inside him. Too long had he tried to walk the tightrope, too long had he tried to keep the noose from the necks of the Isles. It hadn’t worked. Perhaps Albie had been right all along. Perhaps he had forgotten the strength of his people. Well, now it was time to remember.
“Because we are many. Families, clans, sea warriors, fishermen, traders—we are a kingdom spread upon the waves,bound by blood and tide. King James has declared war on us, and we must answer in kind.” He met Elise’s bright gaze. “The Kingdom of the Isles is going to war.”
A gust of wind curled around them, lifting Elise’s hair. She let out a slow breath. “Then where do we go?”
“Barra,” he answered immediately. “From there we’ll send out the call to muster. Then we’ll teach these bastards to fear us.”
“Barra,” Elise breathed. “Where my sister is.” Despite everything, excitement threaded her voice. “And I cannotwaitto see her face when I show up! Rose is never going to believe this!”
Jamie stepped forward, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her thoroughly. When he broke away, she was a little breathless.
“What was that for?”
“To tell ye how much I love ye. Have I mentioned that?”
She tapped her chin. “Hmm. I’m not sure you have. Maybe you should tell me again.”
Jamie grinned, caught her around the waist, and yanked her against him. His lips descended on hers, and Elise went up on tiptoes to meet him, her arms going around his neck. The world disappeared and for an endless instant there was only the woman in his arms and the kiss that sent searing desire spiraling right down to his groin. If he had his way, they would return to the cottage and he would spend the rest of the day showing Elise just how much he wanted her. The memory of her moaning beneath him was almost enough to send him over the edge.
But he could not. A different urgency warred within him. He stepped back.
“Let’s get going.”
They fetched Tempest from the tumble-down hut in which Jamie had stabled him. The old stallion looked none too pleased at his accommodations and frisked and pranced as he came out into the early morning light.
“Sorry, boy,” Jamie murmured, patting his neck. “Not the standards ye are used to, I know.”
He quickly saddled him and held him steady while Elise climbed awkwardly into the seat. He swung up behind her, the leather creaking as he settled his weight. Reaching around her, he took the reins in one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist, holding her close.
Lord, it felt good. The press of her back against his chest, the feel of her hair tickling her chin. Clucking to the horse, he sent him into a canter, hooves splashing through puddles and pounding across the wet peat.
The rain held off, but the wind this far south was incessant, howling around them like an angry spirit and lashing the waves against the base of the cliffs in a furious white froth. After several hours of riding steadily north, keeping to animal trails and little-used paths, the cliffs dipped, and the coastline widened into a narrow cove. Through the spray, Jamie made out remains of cottages—roofless stone shells slumped against the wind, half-swallowed by gorse.
