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“So if it appears that we have taken the castle on our own, and the king can compel us to return it, he will have great bargaining power with March,” Cameron said. “And David will nae forget what I have done for him. He will be much more likely to nae force Sorcha to marry Hugo as the number of betrayers against him will be much smaller.”
“Verra clever, Brother,” Iain said.
“Ye are strong in body and mind now, Cameron,” Lachlan added. “Ye are a fine warrior. I’m proud of ye.”
For the first time in his life, Cameron felt like his brothers’ equal. His chest tightened with emotion, and he could do no more than nod his acknowledgment.
“Let us pray that this works,” Iain finally said, and with that, they parted ways. Iain and Lachlan were no doubt going to chastise their wives for the dangerous trip to the Fairy Pools, and Cameron was going to wake the woman he would wage war for.
She’d been awakened by a tender kiss to her forehead, then another to her chin, her nose, and finally, a long, belly-fluttering one to her lips. As she opened her eyes, the edges of a dream she had been trying to hold on to evaporated. She frowned, sensing something in the dream had been important, but when she drank in the sight of the virile man kneeling by the bed, her frown turned to a shy smile.
Sorcha didn’t have a single regret about what she and Cameron had done together, but she was slightly embarrassed about how wanton she had been. Did he think her wicked? She eyed him covertly as he brushed his hand gently over her forehead where her cut was almost healed.
He smiled at her. “Bean bhàsail, even watching ye sleep tempted me greatly to slide back into the bed beside ye.”
She laughed huskily at his admission. “Then why do ye nae?” she teased.
An intense expression settled on his face, and he clasped her hands in his. “Ye trust me, aye?”
She nodded. “Completely.”
“I need ye to vow something to me.”
The urgency in his words made her catch her breath. “What?”
“Vow to me that in spite of what ye may hear, ye will nae agree to marry anyone yet.”
Worry twisted in the pit of her stomach, and confusion blanketed her mind. “I dunnae understand,” she murmured. “Has the king returned? I did nae believe it was my choice but his command.”
“He has nae returned. He is traveling to his nephew’s home from the MacDonald hold. Sorcha—” Cameron glanced quickly behind him toward the door, as if he expected someone would burst through it at any moment. The tension vibrating off him curled around her like a mist, increasing the beat of her heart and the intake of her breaths. “We are on the verge of war between the clans in Scotland. The king means to use ye, and I intend to prevent it.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up his hand. “Let me finish,” he growled. “I dunnae have much time. If we dunnae appear in the great hall shortly, I’ve nary a doubt that Iain will send someone for us or come himself.” He took a deep breath. “What I intend to do will nae risk my honor, and I vow to ye it will nae be considered a betrayal by the king. Ye must trust me. When my brother asks ye shortly if ye are willing to marry by the king’s command, tell him ye are nae. King David will nae learn ye refused.” He slid his hands into her hair, his strong fingers curling around her head. “If ye truly wish us to have a future, ye must give me yer vow now, or all will most assuredly be lost.”
Anxiety tangled inside her as her thoughts raced. She wanted to give him her vow, but she feared making a choice that would endanger him.
A soft knock came at the door, which made Sorcha jump and Cameron spring to his feet.
“I’m sorry to bother you both,” came Marion’s voice, “but Iain says to tell you that if you do not appear within minutes, he will personally come haul you out, clothed or not. He’s truly very unreasonable at the moment.”
“A moment, if ye please, Marion,” Cameron said.
He picked up Sorcha’s léine and gown, which had been discarded on the floor, and motioned to her to come to him. She obliged without thought, and he helped her dress, putting on her léine first, then her gown. He shocked her by thinking to run a comb through her hair, and she knew her answer. She wanted this man in her life, and she hoped he would eventually be her husband.
“I will give ye my vow, but,” she said, watching the relieved smile that had come to his face become an instant frown. “But,” she repeated, praying for the strength to do what she must, “if there comes a time I fear yer sacrifices too great, I will make it known to all that I have reconsidered and wish to marry as the king commands.”
“That time will nae come,” he assured her, sealing his mouth over hers in a passionate kiss that stole her breath. He broke the kiss as quickly as it had begun, took her by the hand, and led her out the door to where Marion awaited them.
Sorcha felt all eyes upon her as soon as they entered the great hall. Cameron held her hand and did not release it, for which she was grateful. Upon the dais sat Cameron’s brothers, Alex MacLean, Bridgette, and Lena. No one else was present. It didn’t surprise Sorcha. The MacLeod laird seemed a very astute man, and the fewer people who knew that he was supporting Cameron in trying to stop the king from using her, the better. She took a deep breath for courage as Cameron led her to the front of the dais. Marion gave her a reassuring glance as she passed her and took her seat beside her husband.
“Sorcha,” Iain said, piercing her with probing eyes. “Cameron told ye why ye have been called here?”
She glanced to Cameron, and he gave her a small nod that it was safe to speak truthfully. “He said the king intends to use me and that we are on the verge of a clan war.”
Iain motioned her closer, so she released Cameron’s hand and stepped nearer to the dais. Iain stood and looked down at her. “Aye, we are on the verge of civil war. Unless we can prevent it, the devastation would be unthinkable. When such things occur, we weaken ourselves and become ripe for someone like King Edward to conquer us. I’ll be direct,” he said. “Our king has been delivered a resolution by barons, earls, and lairds who are rising up against him. In the resolution, they accuse him of using money that was supposed to go toward the ransom debt that he—and in turn, the people of Scotland—owe King Edward, for his own greedy gain. The truth is, the nobles who signed the resolution dunnae like David’s relentless promotion of his favorites, because his favorites dunnae include them but more common men who he considered loyal while he was imprisoned in England.”
“Men like ye?” Sorcha asked, wishing to make sure she understood.
“I am one of the king’s men,” Iain said, his words sounding carefully chosen to her, as if he did not wish to reveal too much, “but the king dunnae promote me. I already had land and wealth when he was released.”
“Aye,” she agreed, hoping she was not overstepping her boundaries with what she was going to say next, “but kinnae the king take away any man’s land if he wishes it and give it to another?”
