Highland Persuasion (The MacLomain Series- Early Years) (27 page)

“Ah.” He came closer.
“And what of your hair?”

She frowned. “What of it?”

By this time he stood in front of her. Alexander tucked a lock behind her ear. “I’m not sure the Hebrides laird would find your loose ends nearly as attractive as I do.”

No doubt she
had
rushed her ladies along.

Pressure once more squeezed her chest as she looked up into his face. His strong jaw and the very light layer of stubble on his face had her staring. Aye, it’d been there in the dungeon but now… now…

“Why did you look at me with such pity earlier?” Iosbail asked though she suspected she knew the answer.

“Because though you’re quick to run into a physical battle you’re far too quick to run from a battle of the heart.”

Not the reason she imagined. Iosbail tried to wrap her thoughts around his words but he spoke once more.

“It occurred to me earlier that I never asked you about our friends. I’m sorry for that.” He continued to tuck hair behind her ear. “How are they?”

“Well,” she said absently, caught by the feel of his skin against hers, by the smell of his skin, spicy, intense, and terribly masculine.
“In love.”

“In love?”

“I think.” She nearly leaned her face into his touch. “Caitriona is.
Shamus not so.”

“Well I never saw the two as a pair.”

“Not what I meant,” she whispered.

“Iosbail?”

“Aye?”

When she opened her eyes Alexander’s were on hers, his eyes swallowing the whole of her face. “We have a lot to talk about.”

How her legs still held her up she’d never know. His gaze, his nearness, everything about the Sinclair made her feel whole and alive and vibrant. Though she shook her head no she whispered, “Aye.”

Before she could escape he cupped her cheeks, his large hands warm. “Harm has been done but all is not lost for us. I want none of the bitterness… only you.”

“How can you say such? I’ve betrayed you.”

His fingers stroked her cheekbones. “Aye, you have. But have I not done the same?”

“Nay!
Not for a moment. You’ve been good and honorable and I’ve done nothing but wish you dead.” She bit her lip. “Until now that is.”

Alexander’s face came closer, his fingers gentle on her face. “Tell me, if you’d known I hadn’t killed your friend from the start would you have sought me out?”

She hated to say it but had to. “I would indeed. I needed revenge. My life has revolved around me kin. One way or another it has and always will.”

His thumb grazed her lower lip, his forefinger the tip of her cheekbone. “You’re mistaken if you thought my purpose any different… even if I am a royal bastard. Though Edgar forced our marriage I saw it as the perfect opportunity to infiltrate then slowly destroy the Brouns. And dinnae doubt for even a moment I didnae intend to hurt you far beyond that.”

Iosbail nodded, sad. How eager they’d been to destroy one another.

“But not now, not anymore,” he said softly.

“Why?”

Alexander’s thumbs stilled. “Because the only wrongs you did came from feeling threatened, from the need to protect your kin and bring justice.” His eyes grew pained.
“Because you were driven to use any means necessary to protect.
The Sinclair’s have done you harm and so you fought back.”

“I’m so verra sorry it was at your expense,” she said. “You are so much better than most men.”

“But just as susceptible to hurt and rage and retribution I’m afraid.”

So many emotions blew threw her even magic wasn’t enough to tame them. Aye, she was humbled by his words but what if? What if his were just sweet words meant to fade away? What if they loved only to find the love gone when he aged and she didn’t?

“My lady.”

Iosbail and Alexander pulled apart when
a lass
entered the room.

It was time.

“Give us a moment. We’ll be right down.”

The servant bowed and left.

“You are my wife,” Alexander said. “Dinnae allow that to change.”

“I told Adlin I would do this thing.” She sat on the edge of the bed, her thoughts muddled and her heart hurting. “’Tis the only reason you are free.”

Alexander crouched in front of her and took her hands. “The word given a brother from his sister is verra important but will he not forgive you if you desire to stay right in God’s eyes? You’ve made the vows to me and me to you even if we were not fond of the idea when it happened.” He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them gently. “I love you, Iosbail. I’m not sure exactly when it happened but I do. I would not take back our vows if Innis threatened all of the Sinclair’s and Picts alike.”

Her eyes watered. She should have never come to see him. Perhaps she’d thought he’d shun her and make everything easier. But Iosbail knew better. When she came seeking Alexander it was to make sure his love did not run as deep as her own.

Gods knew her love for the man ran deeper than she ever could have anticipated.

“I have hurt so many over the years to suit my own needs.” She shook her head. “And now I am given the chance to stand by my word with Adlin, to show him I value the MacLomain’s as much as I do the Broun’s.”

Alexander’s eyes studied hers and she knew he saw past all her words straight into her soul. “Aye,” he whispered. “You’ve a need to please your brother but that is not what sways you now. No, ‘tis fear at the root of you. Fear of love gained then lost.”

Iosbail ignored the tear that rolled down her cheek. “I am immortal or at least I have been thus far. You will age, Alexander. I will not.”

Even as he watched the tear he spread her thighs and pulled her against him. “I’m so verra sorry lass, for ‘tis more of a cross to bear for you than me.” He again cupped her face. “Yet, this love we share should not be abandoned because of the heartache it might cause but celebrated for the memories it will create. You should not run from something so great to spend the rest of your existence wishing you never had.”

Her heart skipped several beats. “Great love hurts long after ‘tis gone. You have no idea.”

“You speak of the child you left behind.” Alexander breathed more harshly, his emotions rising. “You did that so that he would have a better life. You did what you felt right. ” He shook his head. “I can assure you that leaving behind this love we share will do me no good, nor you.
‘Tis an entirely different thing.”

“Is it?” Iosbail touched his cheek. “This we share will do you only harm. You will age. I will stay young, at least for a while.”

He shook his head.
“I dinnae ken what you mean by a while?”

It was only then as she looked into his eyes that Iosbail realized that it didnae matter how she felt about aging. She was in love with the Sinclair and whether or not they were together she would eventually grow old now. What amazed her was that she still felt the same way.

Alexander deserved better.

Like the child she left behind, Iosbail cared so greatly for him that she wanted him to be truly happy. How content could he ever be
with a lass
who stayed young while he grew old? He deserved to go through all those moments of life and aging with a woman who experienced the same.

It would hurt terribly but this was for the best.

“Nay,” she cupped his cheeks and kissed him softly, slowly and for the last time. When she pulled back, Iosbail said, “I will marry Innis.”

Alexander looked at her for what seemed a very long time. His eyes turned dark, a muscle twitched in his cheek.
“A mistake.”

When he stood and strode to the fire, Iosbail felt that the world turned very fragile around her. It seemed in that moment that his very nearness had kept her strong and whole. Without his body close to her the air felt thin and sparse, not worth breathing.

“A mistake,” he said again softly as he stared into the fire.

“I’m so verra sorry, m’lady,”
came
a small voice from the door. “But they grow impatient below.”

“Of course.”
Iosbail stood, legs nearly buckling beneath her.

“Are you well, m’lady?” the lass asked.

Alexander turned and stood straight, ever the royal Scottish chieftain. He went to her and held out his arm. “Come, m’lady, the crowd waits.”

Grateful for his support but heartbroken nonetheless she took his arm and allowed him to lead her out. They were nearly to the top of the stairs when she stopped. “I’ll go alone now. ‘Twould not be proper to allow you to escort me down.”

Alexander’s expression grew stonier if possible. “Oh, but you see it is. Adlin annulled our marriage in his chamber not long before you arrived. I am but royalty escorting you to your new husband.”

It felt as though her world snapped shut in an instant. Iosbail gasped and nearly tripped on her gown but Alexander swiftly kept her upright and led her down the stairs. There was no time to say more as the pipes trilled and the clansfolk cheered. All she could do was hold on tight to the Sinclair’s arm and pray for this eve to be over soon.

How could he have said everything he did knowing they were no longer married?

Foolish question.
It hadn’t mattered to him. He’d offered her his heart and if she’d accepted, marriage or no, they’d find a way. In that he was a devoted Christian it told her so much about how he truly felt.

If the MacLomain clan wondered why Alexander—who’d been imprisoned—was now in full royal attire and escorting their laird’s sister to her betrothal, they did not show it in the least. Then again, her brother’s clan always did see the good side of things.

When they reached the bottom stair the Sinclair released her to Adlin’s waiting arm.

As her brother steered her away from Alexander, Iosbail wasn’t overly shocked to see Shamus waiting for his friend. The Irishman tossed her a less-than-impressed look before he faded into the crowd. That simple glance turned her stomach more sour than it already was.

The next thing she knew the crowd parted to reveal Innis waiting in front of the great hearth. As done up as Adlin and Alexander, the MacLeon laird wore his plaid of yellow and black. It was hard to believe they were cousins. He seemed so different than she and Adlin. Every step she took toward him felt heavier than the last. Whether it was because of the man she walked toward or the man she walked away from she couldn’t tell.

“You can still turn from this,” Adlin said softly.

Anger and pride made her response sharp. “Why when you so readily ended my marriage to the Sinclair.”

“I did what you asked, sister.”

“
Aye,
and quickly enough.”

“What other way was there with Innis set to marry you this eve?”

Iosbail detested his reasoning for no other reason than it wasn’t what she wanted. “I do this for you, brother, nobody else.”

“Dinnae fool
yourself
, Iosbail. You do this for you.”

Did she really expect her brother to be thankful?
Nay.
Adlin thought unlike anyone else. He acted and lived out his life far, far too differently.