Watching her break down in front of him felt like a stab to his heart. A searing pain that split open his chest and exposed him to the world. A burning fire that was opposite of the inferno her body ignited in him. He wanted to give in. To run away with her as she suggested. But deep down, they both kenned they could not.
Duty, which they each had, needed to be fulfilled. It mattered naught what their hearts wanted.
“Bluebell,” he pleaded, hating the sound of desperation in his own voice. “We need to do what we must.”
Continuing to shake her head vehemently, she broke out into a full sob. “Nay. Nay. There has to be something we can do. A way to change what has been set in motion.”
Rory clenched his jaw. He couldn’t lie to her, even though he wanted to by telling her that everything was going to be fine. That in the end, all would settle in their favor. It wouldn’t, so he would not tell her it would. He respected her too much to fill her with false hope.
Opening his arms, she fell into them, crying against his chest. He held her like that for a long time as he waited for her tears to subside. Now, her chest heaved uncontrollably against him, but there was no more moisture wetting his tunic. She had cried herself dry.
That night, as they lay under the stars side by side, arms wrapped around each other even though they kenned they shouldn’t, Rory watched her sleep.
In the moonlight, he could see her eyes moving rapidly under her closed lids. Every so oft she would kick out a leg, or throw a punch, then whimper.
He took a deep breath. This was torture. He had never spent a night in a dungeon, but he was for certs that it couldn’t be worse than what he was experiencing right now. Having his heart ripped out ofhis chest and having it stomped upon.
Alana shivered, and sniffled as she continued to sleep. He hugged her closer, guarding her body as best he could so she could get through the night. She needed her sleep. On the morrow, they would reach the outskirts of the city, and then his protection would no longer be able to help her.
He would have no choice but to let her go.
His heart forever broken.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The sight offences and farms in the distance after days of traveling should have brought joy and relief to Alana. But today, it did not. Seeing the smoke curling from chimneys in the distance slowed her steps. The joy she had begun to feel again at having Rory by her side had slipped away once again.
Her smile faded as she realized their final destination was close. Too close. Would Rory stop her if she turned and ran in the opposite direction? She sighed. He would catch her in a matter of strides and though she didn’t believe that he would drag her kicking and screaming to deliver her to her betrothed, he would indeed fulfill the duty he had been tasked with.
Just as she must do.
She could smell the burning peat from the cluster of thatched-roof cottages looming closer with every step she took. The sky was filled with gray clouds and drizzle would for certs fall on them afore the day was over. It wasdreichday and it matched the shift of moods she was experiencing.
“Do ye ken aught aboot the city where my future husband lives?”
“Aye. On the other side of the village ye can see from here, there is a ridge, and then a valley. We’ll camp at the ridge this eve, and in the morning cross the valley and into Caercon where the MacDonell castle, Caer Rannoch, stands.” His voice was even as he spoke,emotionless.
Whilst she had let her emotions have free range over her reactions since she had broken down the day afore, Rory had been the exact opposite. He had not only masked his emotions, he seemed to have been able to shut them off completely. Alana envied him for that. How she wished she could do the same.
They passed through the streets of the village, even passing an inn, but unlike they had done afore, they did not stop and ask for a room.
Alana understood why. Being in the same room together would end in disaster. They wouldn’t be able to stay away from each other or hide the feelings each of them felt for the other. Not only that, the villagers were under the MacDonell’s rule. Every move she and Rory did would be watched with the eye of a hawk. Aught that they might do would be reported to her betrothed. Any reaction. Any emotion. All would be told. And that would not bode well for them.
Nay, it would be a much better situation for them to make camp this night where it was just the two of them and the surrounding trees and animals as company.
She would savor this last night alone with Rory. She wanted to memorize every inch of him. The feel of him. The scent of him. All of him.
The people in the village watched them with wary eyes as they walked though. She could understand that. They were outsiders. She remembered how the villagers of Dornich looked at her when her carriage had crashed. It was much the same here, but she felt it was Rory that they were more wary of. He wore the colors of the Hart. From what she had learned from Rory, the clans were not at odds with each other, but the Harts didn’t usually travel to them either. So his presence was surprising. If aught, the villagers would have expected to see only Duran colors.
Many whispered behind their hands as she and Rory passed. Alana ignored them, holding her head high. She supposed in due time shewould rule over this village alongside her soon-to-be husband. She sighed. The position held no interest for her.
They arrived at the ridge that overlooked the valley just as Rory had promised. Alana stood on the edge looking past the valley at the castle that stood atop an outcropping of rock. It looked dark and fierce. Foreboding. Cold. It was not welcoming in anyway. Was that how she would feel when she arrived? Unwelcome.
Rory, as he did every night when they camped, busied himself with unpacking their gear, starting a fire, and finding food. They had fresh water since they had stopped at a burn not far from here. And Rory had slipped inside one of the pubs they passed and exited with a skin full of ale.
She picked up their folded blankets and shook them out, laying them flat next to each other. This was their last night together. She would not spend it on opposite sides of the fire.
The estate looming in the distance kept demanding her attention.
