"Nay. He said he owed my father a favor."
"'Tis great to have allies like that."
They ate for a few moments in silence. Neacal hadn't realized how hungry he was.
"Do you intend to marry Anna?" Colin asked, mischief lighting his eyes.
"Of course."
Colin chuckled. "Damnation. You've become decisive of late."
Neacal felt a faint smile slip out. Something he was not in the habit of doing. "I've always been decisive."
"What on earth happened to her?"
"At knifepoint, Anna was forced into marriage with the murderous whoreson."
"Marriage?" Colin frowned, pausing in his eating.
"Aye. Blackburn MacCromar murdered the previous MacCromar chief, his cousin, Anna's first husband."
"Saints!"
"The marriage is not legal but I'm certain he won't give up. 'Tis why I'll have to either take the matter before the king or kill Blackburn. In a fair fight, of course."
"Of course." Colin eyed him closely in the firelight. "You love her," he charged.
Neacal focused on eating. He didn't enjoy discussing such raw and intense emotions. Aye, he most likely did love her, but that didn't mean he wanted to talk about it. 'Twas all so new and personal. He hadn't even told her yet.
"Do you not?" Colin grinned.
"I am drawn to her."
His friend snorted. "You used to bedrawnto a lot of women… before. But this is different."
"Anna is different," Neacal admitted. "She gives me peace as I've never had."
"Are you certain 'tis peace? Or a raging storm of desire?"
Neacal shrugged. "If you must know… both."
His friend chuckled. "Aha. The storm, then the peace."
"She helps me forget the torture."
Colin sobered. "I'm glad for that, my friend. None of us can truly understand what you suffered, even if you tell us. 'Tis something only you know the full extent of."
"Anna has suffered, too—'haps more than I have—and I mean to protect her from that demon. He not only murdered her husband, he also caused her to have a miscarriage because of his abuse."
"Damnation," Colin hissed.
"He cut her younger sister's face."
"Why?"
"When he was forcing Anna to marry him, the only way she would agree was if he threatened her sister with a knife. He cut her face, then held the knife at her throat. After that he shoved her down and her head hit the stone wall. She is blind because of it."
"Hell," Colin growled, pure fury crossing his face. "I hope he arrives soon. I want to personally run him through."
