He blinked, slackening his grip on Mason’s throat once more. The man drew in a ragged, coughing breath. He had stopped struggling, his arms resting limply by his sides.
“I tried to tell ye that she was coming,” Fergus murmured. “Ye can let him go, me Laird. He’ll nae go far.”
Abruptly, Evander released Mason and rose to his feet. Fergus stood beside Mason, lowering his own sword to his throat.
Skye stood there, the wind whipping at her red dress and loose hair. She looked paler than earlier.
“I daenae want him dead,” she whispered, staring pleadingly up at Evander.
He gave an incredulous snort. “Are ye mad? He kidnapped ye.”
“He cared for me. He kept me alive. And perhaps he was the one who freed me.”
“Or perhaps ye freed yerself.”
“Perhaps. Me point is, he has information. If Mason dies here at yer hand, me braither and cousin will have questions for ye. Butwehave questions that he could answer right now.”
“He’ll nae talk to me.”
Skye’s gaze flicked to Mason. “He’ll talk to me,” she murmured softly.
At the sound of her voice, Mason’s eyes cracked open. He glanced at her, his eyes swimming with tears.
“I am nae misremembering,” she whispered. “It was ye who took me, Mason.”
He closed his eyes again, a tear slipping out from under his lids. He gave a tight nod.
“Aye,” he whispered. “It was me.”
Skye swallowed.
Evander watched her face, seeing the misery of betrayal write itself there.
I ken how that feels. Kenning that somebody ye care for has let ye down, betrayed ye in the worst way. Oh, how it hurts. Stings like salt in a wound.
His hand inched out, wanting to rest on her shoulder, but she stood too far away. To get to her, he would have to move away from Mason, and who knew what the man would try if he took his eyes off him? A desperate lunge, a last attack, an attempt to knock Fergus off his feet and steal his sword? Anything could happen.
Mason must know that the game was well and truly up. It was over for him.Over.
Skye tore her eyes away from him and met Evander’s gaze squarely. “I want to speak to him. I want to question him.”
Evander frowned. “Nay.”
“Why nae?”
“Whynae? It’s too dangerous.”
“Dangerous? I’ve been in the care of a man who has wished me ill for far too long.”
“I’ve never wished ye ill,” Mason whispered, his voice cracking. He’d rolled onto his side, curling up into a ball. “I was trying to save ye.”
Skye’s jaw clenched. “There ye are. Ye see, Evander? We have to get to the bottom of what thatmeans. We have to ken.Ihave to ken.”
Evander let out a long sigh, his shoulders sagging. “Very well, then. Ye can talk to him.Insidea dungeon cell.”
