Page 84 of Ashes of Betrayal

Clearing his throat, he met his friend’s eye once more. “How is everyone treating her?” he asked then, shifting to make himself more comfortable. The healer had given him something for the pain, but the throbbing was still there, a constant, like the beating of his heart. “If I hear anyone’s disrespected my wife, I’ll have their balls.”

Torran snorted. “Don’t worry … the men are all too scared of Bree to bother her.” He inclined his head then. “So, she’s coming back to Duncrag with us?”

“Aye,” he replied brusquely, even as tension coiled in his gut. Injured or not, he’d take on anyone who criticized Bree. “Have you got a problem with that, mac Rab?”

Torran merely smiled, folding his arms once more. “I suppose you want your old job back?”

Cailean stilled. In truth, he hadn’t given the future much thought. He hadn’t even spoken with Lara yet. “Would it bother you, if I did?” Indeed, Torran was the chief-enforcer these days; he might not want to give the role up. In his position, Cailean would have fought to keep it. He realized then how much he’d missed his life in Duncrag, his camaraderie with Torran.

To his surprise, his friend’s smile widened, his grey eyes glinting. “I’d take offense if you didn’t.”

“Cailean.”

A woman’s soft, hesitant voice intruded upon their exchange. Torran moved aside then, turning. Both men’s gazes settled upon the newcomer.

A tall woman with long dark hair and woad-blue eyes stood before them.

Cailean’s pulse quickened, his belly tensing. With everything that had happened, he’d almost forgotten that she was with the camp. “Enya.” He tried to push himself up and then thought better of it. “How are the lads?”

Her throat bobbed. “Bruised and bloodied … but they’ll all live.”

His stomach unclenched. “Good.”

Enya eyed him, tension vibrating off her. “I heard you’d been injured.”

“Aye.” His gaze roamed over her face, noting how strained her proud features were. “But I’ll be fine.”

She swallowed once more before nodding. Her hands flexed at her sides. “I wanted to thank you,” she whispered. “For saving us.”

Cailean stared back at her, and his throat started to ache. “It won’t make up for everything,” he said huskily. “But it’s a start.”

Her eyes glistened. “Aye,” she whispered. “It is.”

“I’m sorry,” he said then, the apology tearing from his throat. “My behavior was callous … selfish. I cared more about revenge than you, and I’ll never forgive myself for it.”

Enya stared back at him, her face softening. She knew what those words had cost him. Aye, Cailean wasn’t a man easily humbled, yet he’d swallow his pride now. “IfIcan let it go, then you should too,” she replied. “It’s time to let the past lie.”

Torran cleared his throat then. The enforcer was eyeing them, his face a picture of confusion. “Are you going to introduce us?”

Cailean huffed. “This nosy bastard is Torran … one of the few people I’d trust with my life,” he said, his mouth curving into a wry smile. “Torran, meet Enya … my long-lost sister.”

“Take his collar off.”

“Aye, Your Highness.”

The burly smith turned to Gil, favoring him with a brusque nod. “Kneel.”

Slowly, his expression still strained—even after Princess Lara’s command—Gil obeyed. Wielding a pair of iron pliers, the smith cut his way through the collar. Moments later, it fell away, thudding onto the sheepskins Gil knelt upon.

Without another word, the smith picked up the collar, gave a bow to the princess, cast Bree a glower, and left the pavilion.

Bree, Cailean, Torran, and Gil were alone with the princess once more. Lara had dismissed her servants, save Mirren, from the tent. Once they’d finished making camp at Dulross, the princess had called for them all.

Bree cut her husband a sidelong look. Leaning heavily on a stick, Cailean’s face was drawn with pain, yet his expression was determined. While she’d been helping make camp, he’d been busy setting up a meeting.

Lara watched as Gil rose to his feet. He then raised his hand, massaging his neck, eyeing her all the while. The princess’s gaze flicked to Bree. “You should have told me that your brother was here.”

She managed a tight smile, even as guilt twisted in her chest. “You had enough to deal with.”

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