Page 30 of Laird Of Her Heart

“If they take out the leaders of the clans, the confederation will fall apart.”

Silence rippled through the room. Dominic’s expression went hard. She hated the curl of disdain on his lips. “How do you know this?”

She read it in a book? “I…just know it.”

“So you are in league with the Camerons?” Declan, singing that same old song.

“If I were in league with your enemies, would I be warning you that they plan to murder you in your sleep?”

“You would if you were trying to trick us into missing the meeting.” Declan glared at his brother. “An insult to the MacPherson could also scuttle the confederation.”

“MacPherson never intended to join the confederation.” This she nearly shouted. “He never forgave Cattanach for not including him in the initial planning. He’s been colluding with the lesser clans to form a competing confederation.”

Dominic’s throat worked. “The…lesser clans?”

“MacGillivray, Davidson, the Macleans of Dochgarroch, Clan Macqueen, the Macintyres of Badenoch and the Clan Macandrews. The ones not related to Clan Chattan by blood.”

Declan stared at her, his nostrils flared, his lips working. “How…do you know this?”

How could she respond? “I just do.” The words scraped her throat raw. Because she could tell, not only had she failed to convince them, she’d increased their suspicions about her.

She hated the look on Dominic’s face. Hated the coldness in his gaze.

“Leave us Declan,” he said. It was a low growl, one not even his brother would defy.

But he did. “Doona listen to her,” he said. “Do you need any more evidence of what she is?”

“Leave. Us.”

With a huff, Declan spun from the tent. But with his absence, there was no peace.

Dominic’s expression was harsh, hard.

“Sit down,” he said. His tone was weary, but firm.

She sat. She had to. Her knees were about to fail her. She raked back her hair and sighed. “I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not true.”

“Do you? Do you know what I’m thinking, Maggie?”

Though it was difficult, she met his gaze. “You think I’m in league with your enemies.”

“No. That is no’ what I am thinking.”

She gaped at him. Her lips worked. “Then…what?”

“I’m thinking you haven’t been truthful with me. From the start you’ve lied.”

“I have never lied.”

“You’ve not told the whole truth, Maggie.”

This she could not deny. “I told you, it’s a crazy story.”

“I think you need to tell me. You need to tell me everything.”

She stared at him, her heart aching, her mind in a whirl. If she told him, he would know, for certain who and what she was. Not a spy or an enemy. But a lunatic.

She wasn’t sure which was worse.