Page 108 of Outlaw Ever After

The crab apples. C . Had Alex been trying to divulge a piece of himself to her in this missive?

“I found it this summer and passed it onto Seamus.”

She shivered. They’d both known? Kendrew, a long-time ally, had duped her. Why?

Because he wants Freuchie , whispered her memories.

Had Kendrew known since she was only nine years old that this would be her dowry? Is that why he’d remained a bachelor?

“Ye ken who it’s from?” he asked.

She could tell from his tone that he knew she did, but she nodded anyway, betrayal slicing so deep she couldn’t speak—

Wait, Kendrew told me at Lughnasadh that everyone had left the faire, that no one remained…

“I ken it’s that man,” he pressed, “but why no’ sign his name with an A instead, I wonder?”

“Ye and Seamus both kenned. All this time… And so, ye conspired to keep me from him?”

He shrugged as if it were of no consequence. “Ever since ye were wee, I’ve strived to protect ye like a brother. I’d nay let ye make such a foolish decision.”

“Ye lied to me.”

“I am nay a liar, Peigi.”

“Indeed, as honest as yer brothe—” She slammed her mouth shut. She knew nothing of what his brother had said he’d witnessed on that day of darkness, but Seamus had said he’d seen the boy do it.

For some reason, her gut was warning her to silence. The only way Kendrew could have known she trysted with Alex would have been if he’d been watching her at Lughnasadh.

Kendrew fell silent. His face blanked.

She prickled.

“What was he dishonest about, Peigi?”

He didn’t like that she’d mentioned his brother. She backed up a step.

An amicable smile brightened his face, his worrisome demeanor vanishing like smoke on the wind. “I can see I’ve distressed ye, which is nay my intention. But Seamus might no’ like ye rummaging through his solar.”

She lifted her chin at his warning laced into his friendly tone. She was done being silent.

“This is my castle, Sir MacGregor, and thus, my solar until I take a husband. And dare I remind ye, this missive was intended for me .”

He opened his mouth—

“I bid thee good night, Sir MacGregor.” She held his stare until finally, he broke it and bowed out of the chamber. “Good night, Peigi.”

“ Lady Peigi.”

He glanced sidelong at her correction. Nodded, and departed.

Helpless she was as to what to do, one thing was certain: she couldn’t marry Kendrew. She wanted her shiny, emerald-eyed warrior who’d stayed loyal to her memory. She wanted to fight for him to win. She wanted to scream every secret in her heart to the earth when her brother returned, ready to arrest the Outlaw Comyn with a royal troop.

She wanted her rogue, his teasing, his spark of light that broke down her every defense. She breezed down the corridor, down the stairs, winding past the tapestries as that frustration bloomed to distress she couldn’t settle—

“ Oomph !” She slammed into a body.

As she was teetering off balance, hands spanned her waist, steadying her.