Page 70 of Sins of a Scot
He was still grinning when he replied, “Aye, and that’s nae the first time ye’ve said that tae me either.”
For a long moment, Iseabail stood and gazed at him, a serene smile dancing on her lips. It had been a long three days waiting for him to awake, but now, as he gazed back at her, she had to admit, he looked far healthier than he ought. Thank all the gods for the powers of Ada. If it wasn’t for her, Iseabail was certain the circumstances would have been very different.
“So, tell me,” Owen said. “How did ye manage tae get me here from the boat? In fact, where is here?”
“We’re in a place called Huna. The boat that saved us was sailing here. I will admit,” Iseabail still felt a little ashamed, “I used me gift and compelled them tae help me. First, I compelled one o’ the sailors tae tell me where the nearest healer was, and then, once we were docked, I forced all o’ them tae help bring ye here.”
She sighed heavily. “I did feel a little bad about it, but at the time, I didnae care. I was desperate, and ye needed help.”
Owen shook his head. “Ye shouldnae feel bad, Iseabail. I’m sure those sailors returned home that night, proud o’ themselves fer doing something good.”
She considered his words, and then thought back to that night.
Iseabail had been terrified that they might be too late. His skin had been ice-cold, he had lost so much blood, for the blanket they had wrapped around him was soaked in it, and he had not shown any sign of consciousness for the entire journey.
Maybe she had used her gifts for her own ends, but she had saved a life. Surely, the gods could not be angry with her about that.
She gazed back at Owen warily, and then said, “I have another confession tae mak’.”
Lifting an eyebrow, Owen regarded her with amusement, as though nothing she could say would annoy him.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “I sent a missive tae yer fajther, telling him everything.”
That got his attention, and the amusement disappeared as he frowned a little. “But why?”
“Tae begin with, keeping this from Laird Sinclair was eating away at me soul,” Iseabail sighed. “I blackmailed his only son, heir tae his clan, forcing him tae come with me on what I kent would be a dangerous mission.”
“I’ve already told ye?—”
“Let me finish, “Iseabail interrupted him. “I ken ye’re here now by yer own free will, but the thing is, yer faither doesnae ken the truth. He was under the impression that ye were taking me back tae me faither’s castle, Owen. If anything happened tae us, he wouldnae ken where ye are. I cannae bear the thought o’ yer faither and Eden worrying sick about ye if we end up getting ourselves killed.”
Owen shook his head. “We’ve survived so far.”
“Only by luck and the grace o’ the gods,” Iseabail countered. “Even I could nae have foreseen the troubles we have encountered. I kent it was going tae be dangerous enough, but after that attack by Laird Sutherland’s men on South Ronaldsay, the stakes are now considerably higher.”
“I dealt with them then, and I will deal with them again,” Owen said confidently.
Iseabail was beginning to get frustrated at his stubborn and slightly arrogant attitude. He may well have dealt with them, but he also nearly died in the process.
“That is just it, Owen,” Iseabail cried. “By fighting them, ye have now made yersel’ nae only an enemy o’ Laird Sutherland, but a target.”
Again, Owen shook his head and, looking at her with a determined expression, he said, “I dinnae care. I told ye the other night, Iseabail. I’m nae leaving yer side, nay matter what happens. He can send his whole army after me, and I’ll still stand between ye and them.”
While his bravery was commendable, and a part of her loved the idea of how protective he was of her, Iseabail knew the strength of Laird Sutherland’s forces. Their clan had been forced to deal with attack after attack over the past year, and she had witnessed with her own eyes, the damage the laird was capable of doing.
Owen then grinned at her. “Besides, many men have tried tae kill me ‘afore, and, as ye can see,” he held his arms out wide, “they havenae succeeded. Dinnae worry about me. I’m a fighter.”
“Och, well, we ken that, all right,” she quipped.
Owen sighed, and then gazed at her. “So, me faither now kens everything.”
“Nae everything.” Iseabail shook her head. “I didnae tell him that ye were being hunted by nefarious men who wanted yer head, or the fact that ye were fighting tae raise the coin tae pay them. But aye. He kens the real reason ye came with me. I was honest and told him the truth about me faither and Keane. At least, if we ever mak’ it tae Laird Sutherland with this damnedcrystal, yer faither might ken where tae find ye, if anything does happen tae ye.”
Owen smiled then, and inclining his head, he said, “Ye ken, now that I’m awake, I am in need o’ something.”
“Anything,” Iseabail said, nearly kicking herself for not offering him something sooner. “Are ye hungry? Thirsty? Dae ye want me tae find ye some wine?”
“I’m nae interested in any o’ those things, Iseabail. What I want more than anything in the world right now, is a kiss. When I slipped intae the darkness, I didnae think I would see ye again. Now ye’re here beside me, I want ye in me arms.”
