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“No, it isn’t,” Tara snapped. “I have no intention of returning home, and I have no intention of marrying the king.”
“You’re damn right you won’t,” Reeve said.
Bryce shook his head. “Do you both realize the difficultly and potential danger this causes?”
“No one knows that Tara is here,” Reeve said, going to her side and slipping a possessive arm around her waist.
She leaned into him, glad for his show of support, but had she expected any different? He had protected her from the very first day they had met, and he had never stopped. He would always protect her. She could count on it.
“Wagging tongues travel over the roads, valleys, and mountains of the Highlands,” Bryce said. “Soon someone is bound to put the pieces together. Then it will not be the king who comes to claim his intended. It will be her father, whoever he may be, and”—Bryce pointed at Tara—“she will have to go with him, and her bride price will have to be returned.”
“But that has yet to happen,” Reeve said. “We have time to find a solution that will benefit all.”
“This needs to be discussed between Da and our brothers,” Bryce said.
“And me,” Tara said curtly. “It is my future, my life that will be discussed, and I will not be left out of it.”
Bryce looked to Reeve. “This is your doing. Handle it.”
With that, he left the room.
Tara turned around and looked up at Reeve. “You send me to my death if I am sent to wed the king.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, his arms wrapping protectively around her.
“I believe the king only agreed to wed a death bride because he had plans to kill me before the curse could take him. He wants nothing more from me but my bride price.”
“Have you any proof of this?” Reeve asked, angry and concerned.
“Think about it, Reeve. Why would the king dare take a chance to wed a known death bride?” She shook her head. “King Kenneth is not an ignorant man. I overheard my father say that the king’s coffers were near empty, and my substantial bride price would replenish them quite nicely.”
“Your father knew this and agreed to the arrangement?” he asked incredulously.
Tara shrugged, though sadness filled her eyes. “I suppose it’s a small price to pay to finally be rid of me. After all, there was no man foolish enough who would agree to wed a death bride. And with things not going well in the clan ...” She shrugged again.
He took tight hold of her shoulders. “You’re a member of the MacAlpin clan, and here is where you will stay.”
“I want to believe that, but Bryce is right. If my father learns my whereabouts, then I will have no say in the matter; you will be forced to turn me over to the king.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Reeve said forcefully.
“How will you stop it?”
“I’ll find a way,” he said adamantly, “but you’re not going anywhere.”
“Believe me; I’m right where I want to be.”
His arms went around her. “And here is where you shall stay and where you belong.”
“Perhaps Bliss could help,” Tara said. “If the curse could be removed—”She didn’t finish, though she blushed. It was presumptuous of her to think that Reeve would wed her to save her from wedding the king.
“What then?” Reeve asked.
“I’d be free—”
“To still wed the king,” Reeve reminded.
“Or someone else,” she said cautiously.
