"Well, they will ken soon enough when Blackburn arrives."
She inhaled deeply and gave him a troubled look. "I must talk to you about that. I've decided… I have to leave."
Denial and dread slammed into his stomach. "What are you talking about?"
"I cannot put your clan in such danger. The last thing I wish is a battle fought because of me."
"Nonsense," he grumbled. "Where would you go? No place will be safe from Blackburn but behind castle walls."
Anna shook her head. "I don't want anyone to be killed because of me, certainly not you. Nor anyone in your clan. I but wish to live out my life in peace as an anonymous minstrel."
"But you're far more than that." Could she not see that she had become everything to him, his whole world? He now realized his life had been naught but barren wasteland before. "You must stay here and let me protect you," he urged. "'Tis the only logical thing for you to do. You cannot defend yourself out there alone, especially now that the whoreson kens your whereabouts. You could never outrun him, and even if you did, he would still arrive here at our gates. He would not believe us if we said you had gone. You'll not be sparing us anything by leaving, so you may as well remain here. Aside from that, winter is approaching and you cannot survive out in the elements. I wish to give you a warm place to stay."
She nodded, staring down at her broken nails. "You're right, of course, but…"
"But what?" He took her hands and rubbed his thumbs over her palms, trying to calm her. "You have no more sound arguments."
When her eyes finally met his, the glimmer of tears ripped at his heart. "How will I ever repay you and your clan?"
"No repayment is necessary,mo ghraidh,"he said softly.
"Aye. I must," she insisted.
He stroked his hand along her silken cheek, catching a tear and wiping it away. "Your song is a gift to everyone who hears it. Will you sing for us? 'Tis all we ask in repayment."
"Of course. You ken I will."
Needing to feel her body pressed to his, he pulled her into a close embrace and kissed the top of her head. He felt her shake with sobs and drew back to look into her troubled eyes as best as he could in the firelight. "What is it?" he whispered.
"I don't deserve you."
"Humph. I think 'tis the other way around. I'm unworthy of you."
She shook her head. "You are the most giving and heroic man I've ever met… and the one who has been through the most pain."
"You make me forget all that, whether you're singing or kissing me. You and evil thoughts cannot coexist in my head. You drive all the demons out."
She gave a rueful smile. "I can perform no such miracles."
"Aye, you have." He drew her tightly to him again, wrapping his arms around her.
Anna did not understand how she'd found a man like Neacal. A man who had suffered more physical abuse and pain than she had. More than anyone she knew. And yet, he was the most caring and compassionate man she had ever met. How was this possible? She would've expected torture to harden his heart and chill his soul, but the opposite had happened.
She relaxed and simply felt him, inhaled his clean, masculine scent that was only him. His soul's warmth filled her with joy.
"I feel the same way," she whispered. "When I'm with you, I forget the many losses of my past and I live in the here and now."
Had a higher power sent her to his castle? How else would she have found him?
But what if Blackburn took him away from her? A chill shook her. If she gave her heart to Neacal and Blackburn killed him, she could not survive the loss, added to what she'd already endured. She pressed her face to his chest, cherishing him, holding him tight.
Pulling back, she gazed up at him, giving him what she hoped was her most solemn look. "You must not fight Blackburn."
He frowned. "Why on earth not?"
"Because… I don't want to lose you."
He shook his head, his blue eyes reflecting her own emotions. "You won't be losing me. I intend to kill him honorably on the field of battle."
