Page 50 of Highland Spy

“I have to ready things for tonight first. It’s—”

“I’ll no’ be going,” Connor lied in a firm tone, trying to avoid the way his gut twisted. Lying to a woman as gentle and kind as Percy was as abysmal as kicking a puppy, and he suddenly felt like a monster. But if she knew…

“Ariana needs her rest,” Connor said. “And so do ye.” When she said nothing, he met her eyes once more and raised his brows. “Aye?”

She gave a resigned nod.

“Go on then.” He pressed a hand to her back. “Though I do appreciate ye feeding me.”

Percy tossed him a smile and left as he’d instructed.

But he didn’t make his way to the food. He returned to the window and peered out.

Ariana was gone.

The weight of her pain pulled at his heart like a stone.

He’d been uneasy with bringing her on another mission and risking her distracting him, but not at this price.

At least he did not feel guilty for leaving Ariana, not when it was obvious she needed time to recover from the horror she’d witnessed.

Finally he settled himself into the great chair behind his desk. All the aches and stiffness of having been on his feet too long eased from him like a sigh and a veil of exhaustion whispered at his consciousness.

He would sleep after his meal, but he knew it would not be for long. Not with the discomfort of the day’s events settling so heavy upon his mind, his soul.

Soon he would ride out to the northernmost village to glean what he could about MacAlister’s whereabouts.

This time, though, without Ariana.

• • •

All the tears had dried and been scrubbed away from Ariana’s face, and all the exhaustion had been purged from her mind by a deep sleep of nothingness. But when she finally woke, she realized the ache in her heart had not abated, and she sought out Connor after ensuring Liv still slept comfortably across the room.

The crumbling halls of Kindrochit Castle were unusually quiet.

But it was not others she sought. It was Connor.

He was not in the solar, nor in the kitchen.

Dusk had faded the brilliance of day to a shaded glow of blue and orange. She had not slept long enough to miss the time of their departure.

Urgency prickled along Ariana’s spine.

Surely he had not left without her.

She fought down the swell of panic rising in her chest and made her way to the stable. The long grass hissed against her feet in protest of her quickened pace. She did not slow, not until she’d reached the stable and saw the empty stall where Connor’s horse had once resided.

He had left without her.

The hope for distraction, the anticipation to leave and for one moment not think of the hurt within the walls of Kindrochit all crumpled in her chest until she was left hollow.

She leaned her back against the wall near the horse she’d ridden the previous evening. The beast looked at her with dark, gentle eyes and nudged her arm.

“It would appear we’ve been left behind.” Though she spoke softly, her voice seemed too loud in the quiet of the stable.

She reached up and absently stroked the animal’s large, velvety nose. If anything, Ariana wished she could at least ride—even just for a bit. To escape for only a moment.

The horse huffed out a soft breath of warm air.