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The moment Konnor appeared in the courtyard, Marjorie saw them. She ran towards them with wide eyes and took Colin in her arms with a gasp. Tears ran down her cheeks as she hugged him so tightly, he groaned. She held him at arm’s length and looked him over, then she shook him.

“What were ye thinking!” she yelled so loudly everyone in the courtyard turned their heads to her.

“I wanted to avenge ye against the evil grandfather I didna ken I had.”

She groaned and brought him back against her. Then she looked at Konnor. “Where’s Tamhas?” she asked.

Konnor lowered his head and shook it. “I’m sorry, Marjorie. He died protecting your son.”

“No!” she cried, closed her eyes and pressed her lips against Colin’s head. “No… Nae Tamhas…”

Colin’s shoulders shook as he cried. Tears streamed down Marjorie’s face as she hugged her son. Konnor wanted to scoop them both into a hug and shield them from everything, but all he did was stand stiff as a goddamn statue.

They mourned the man who’d been good to both of them. The man who’d died for them. The man who could have been Marjorie’s husband and a great stepfather for Colin.

Konnor wished he could have saved him.

Marjorie wiped her tears and leaned back, pressing out a cheerful smile on her face. “Come, sweet, we canna help Tamhas nae more, but we can try and save those who are still alive. Let’s go and see if Isbeil needs help. Aye?”

Colin wiped his face with the back of his sleeve and nodded.

A gash on Marjorie’s shoulder darkened the tunic with caked blood. “Marjorie, ye need to go and see Isbeil about that wound,” Konnor said.

“Dinna fash.” She glanced at him. “There are others who need her more.”

“Then let me take a look—”

“Konnor”—she stopped and looked at him firmly— “my son needs me now. A wee scratch can wait.”

Konnor clenched and unclenched his fists as he watched her straight back as she walked away, anger and worry thundering in his gut. She was a strong woman, and there was no changing her mind if she’d made it up. And of course Colin needed her. But she needed someone to take care of her, too.

There was nothing he could do about it now, so he made himself useful. The day passed with them tending to the wounded, gathering and cleaning weapons and armor, and clearing the castle as much as possible. In the afternoon, Konnor stared at Marjorie’s door. He’d given up his bedroom for the injured. Thankfully, he only had a couple of scratches, although his ankle was killing him. He listened, and when he didn’t hear anything, he knocked.

“Aye?” Marjorie’s voice came from behind the door.

Konnor opened it.

She sat with her back to him in an undertunic that had slid off one shoulder, exposing delicate flesh, beautiful bone structure, and a caked gash. She was wiping the wound with a wet cloth.

Heat ran through him at the sight of her exposed body, and it mixed with the worry and anger at seeing her hurt. What was wrong with him that he felt desire even seeing her wounded?

All he could do was stare at her long, wavy hair spilled across her shoulders, free from the braid it had been in during the battle. She sat on the bed, one leg tucked under her, her back straight. Seeing her like this felt so intimate, so personal, like he was invading her privacy. He stared at the floor, forbidding his gaze to slide an inch higher.

He cleared his throat. “It’s me,” he said. “I’m not looking. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

The sheets rustled. “Thank ye, ‘tis verra kind. I’m decent now.”

Konnor fixed his eyes with hers. She’d pulled the sleeve up to cover her shoulder and was now sitting with her face to him.

“Konnor,” she said, and his name trembled on her lips. “Thank ye for saving Colin. I was so angry and relieved when I saw him, I didn’t even think about thanking you.”

“No need to thank me,” Konnor said, warmth spreading in his chest. “I’d never let him get hurt—or you. Is he okay?”

“Aye. He’s sleeping now, poor lad. He’d like to be more grown than he is, but he’s still more a boy than a man.”

Konnor nodded. He was. And he’d seen more than a child should. But then so had Konnor at that age.

“Do you need any help cleaning the wound?” he said.