Page 66 of Bewitching her Highland Savior

CHAPTERTHIRTY

Liam didn't move, and neither did Macleod, staring each other down. Liam's gaze shifted between him and Ron as he considered the best course of action. A part of him truly wanted to kill Macleod, to ensure that he could never hurt anyone else again, not just Muriel. But another part of him wished for all of this to be over without any bloodshed.

He cursed softly under his breath and when he looked back at Ron, he noticed him shaking his head slightly, just enough for him to notice. With a sigh, Liam began to slowly pull back, this time looking at Macleod to ensure that he wouldn't do anything deceitful despite having a blade right next to his throat.

“Perhaps ye’d like to take that knife away from me noo,” Macleod said once there were several inches between them. He lowered his sword and Liam did the same just as Ron pulled back. Liam could tell that Ron was still cautious from the way that his muscles were tense and his eyes never left him – watching his every move.

He was right to be careful and Liam was too even though he doubted Macleod would attack now. Even for a man like him, it was too much of an insult to attack when there was a tentative truce between them.

“What are ye doin’ here, Ron?” Liam asked once all of them had lowered their weapons.

“I kent that ye’d get yerself in some trouble, so I thought I’d come and see for meself,” Ron said. His tone was perfectly flat and calm, which could only mean he was furious. The only time Ron sounded like that in all the years Liam had known him was when he was murderous.

“It’s more complicated than ye may think,” Liam said.

For a few moments, the three of them stood in the middle of the courtyard in silence; none of them knowing what to do. It was Laird McNeil who broke the silence, walking up to them to mediate.

“Perhaps we should move inside,” he said. “Since the duel seems to be over, there is nae need for the entire keep to hear any of this.”

A smart man. He doesnae want everyone to hear what Ron and I have to say.

Liam waited for Macleod to agree first before he did and after they had sheathed their weapons, they all headed inside. Muriel flung herself into Liam's arms before he could take more than a few steps, and he breathed a sigh of relief as he held her close.

He didn’t care who saw them.

“What happens noo?” Muriel asked; pulling back to look at him.

“I dinnae ken,” Liam admitted. He didn’t know what Ron’s plan was; coming there and stopping their duel like that. He only hoped that his friend had one. “But whatever happens, I’ll keep me promises.”

Liam heard Ron’s distinct, polite cough and he pulled back from Muriel – giving her a reassuring smile. When he turned to leave, she and Lady Hextilda both followed him, causing him to come to a halt once more.

“Ye’re a fool if ye think that I willnae be there for whatever ye discuss,” Hextilda said firmly and for the first time, Liam saw a small resemblance between Hextilda and Muriel, in the way that they both looked at him and the other men; as though they were challenging them all to stop them.

“Aye, I suppose fair’s fair,” Ron said with a sigh. “It doesnae look like it has done the men a lot of good so far to take all the decisions on their own.”

Liam had to choke back a laugh at the venomous look that both Laird McNeil and Macleod gave Ron at his comment. With a hand, he gestured at Lady Hextilda and Muriel to go ahead of him and he followed the entire group to the great hall where everyone took their place around the head table. Liam sat with Ron and Muriel by his sides while Macleod and Lady Hextilda sat across from them with Laird McNeil at the head of the table.

For a long while, no one spoke. Liam could only glance around the table, waiting for someone to make the first move but it seemed like everyone else was waiting for the same thing.

In the end, it was Laird McNeil who spoke. “Weel, Laird McAlpine… I never expected for this to be our first meetin’.”

“But ye ken who I am,” Ron said.

“Aye, I think we all do, “Laird McNeil said. “What we dinnae ken is why ye came here and, more importantly, why ye put a stop to the duel.”

“Ah, weel…” Ron’s voice trailed off and he tapped his fingers on the table. He didn’t seem nervous to Liam as much as hesitant, trying to find the right words. “I think it’s best to solve everythin’ without spillin’ any blood whenever possible. I’m sure ye ken that Liam is nae only me best friend but me brother-in-law. If anythin’ were to happen to him—”

“He seemed to be doin’ weel out there,” Laird McNeil pointed out, interrupting Ron, and Liam couldn't help but agree. He was confident that if Ron hadn't suddenly appeared in front of him, he would have beaten Macleod.

“Even so, Laird Macleod’s death would be an issue for all our clans,” Ron pointed out.

Ah. Of course.

Liam hadn’t considered that. There had been a time when Ron wouldn’t have considered that, either. He would have only supported Liam, the two of them thinking that Macleod’s death was the only option. But now Ron had matured. He had changed in a way that Liam himself hadn’t; taking his role as the laird of the McAlpine clan seriously.

It was only natural that he would want to keep the neighbouring clans stable. Any changes in one clan could affect all the others and Ron surely wanted to avoid anything that could harm the McAlpine clan.

There was also gossip. The truth didn't matter as much as what the people heard and repeated, and Liam knew that if he killed Macleod, he could be painted as the villain. And the last thing Ron wanted was for such an important member of the clan as Liam to sully their reputation.