Page 86 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
“Ye ken as well as I do what Laird Chalium is capable of. If ye refuse him, Olivia could pay a very hefty price. Are ye willin’ to put her life on the line? Ye cannae say that I’m more importantthan her, when she’s the one who is there in me stead, bein’ on the receiving end of his cruelty.”
Thomas’s face twisted in anguish, his eyes filled with a deep, stormy pain that made her heart ache.
“I would rather face a thousand battles than let him take ye from me,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion.
Astrid reached out, her hand brushing his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her palm.
“Ye have to, Thomas,” she pressed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Ye have to see that Olivia is the one who shouldnae be in this mess. She’s innocent, and she doesnae deserve to die. I cannae let that happen.”
“And just what exactly are ye proposin’? Ye think I’m goin’ to let ye just waltz right out of the castle? I’ll lock ye up in the tower before ye can even cross the bridge.”
“Is that right? And how well did that work out for ye the last time ye tried to keep me holed up?” Astrid asked. Her voice rose with her anger as she glared daggers at him.
How could he not see that this was their only option? Her path had been drawn since the moment she pulled her dirk on Laird Chalium and held his life in her hands.
She watched Thomas’s shoulders drop in defeat. She understood all too well the feelings that were coursing through him. The feeling of being trapped in a corner with only a spoon to dig a hole with.
Having to pick was tearing him apart, and Astrid couldn’t bear it. If anything happened to Olivia, Thomas would resent Astrid, and if Astrid died, he’d resent Olivia.
It was a predicament Astrid was glad she could wiggle her way out of.
“I’m goin’ to do what I must for our clan and yer sister,” she declared, her voice firm and ringing with determination.
“How are ye so eager to sacrifice yerself? Some of me best men still hesitate for their Laird, but ye… ye amaze me, Astrid. Yer strength and resilience are inspirin’. Ye make a fine Lady McFair,” Thomas said.
“I ken what ye’re doin’, and ye can stop,” Astrid said as she rested her head on his chest to listen to the steady beat of his heart. It was the only sound that soothed her nerves.
“I dinnae ken what ye’re talkin’ about.”
“Aye, ye do. But I’ll nae be buttered like a bird and put away till ye want me again. Laird Chalium willnae stop until he gets what he wants. And what happens next time when he takes Eileen? OrMelody? What about Alba? Ye ken he will snatch the lot of them if it means gettin’ his hands on me.”
“And ye think I’ll just stand by and let him threaten me family? Me clan? What sort of man do ye take me for?”
“Ye’re strong, but Thomas…” Astrid trailed off as he recoiled from her as if she were about to strike him.
“Either ye trust me or ye dinnae. It cannae be both ways.”
“Of course, I trust ye,” Astrid insisted. “Ye think I’d let just anyone touch me the way ye have? Ye think anyone could get as close to me as ye have? Trust isnae the issue here.”
“Clearly, it is!” Thomas shouted. “Because if ye trusted me, ye’d ken that I’ll find a way to save Olivia—one that doesnae entail ye offerin’ yerself up like a lamb for slaughter.”
“And we circle back to this,” Astrid grumbled as she stepped back from him, her frustration boiling over.
The fact that he was as stubborn as ever irked her. Why couldn’t he see that she had no choice? Laird Chalium wouldn’t stop. Only when the light left her eyes would she find the peace she had so longed for.
But what of Melody? How could she leave her daughter in such a cruel world? And once she was gone, what would stop LairdChalium from continuing his rampage and killing everyone she held dear?
“Why must ye be so stubborn?” Thomas huffed as he shook his head.
“I was just wonderin’ the same about ye,” Astrid retorted.
They were like boxers, each taking their respective corners.
Astrid was slowly coming to the realization that Thomas wouldn’t be persuaded. He wouldn’t cave, and he’d end up putting far more lives at risk. She couldn’t stand the thought of anyone dying for her.
“Why can ye nae see that I’m doin’ all that I can to keep ye safe?” Thomas asked, worry etched on his face.
“I see it,” Astrid answered as she stepped back toward him. “And I appreciate it, I do. But ye’re nae goin’ to change me mind about this.”
