Page 93 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
Noah frowned. “I daenae like the idea that me head makes me body incapable.”
“But ye have methods to help now,” she said. “Ye can fight it better now ye ken what ye are dealin’ with.”
But as he felt the pain recede and he gazed into those dark blue eyes, a feeling of deep sadness replaced the ache in his chest. Keira frowned at his expression as he looked at her gravely.
“Ye are safe,” he said quietly, trying to memorize her face as best he could, knowing that today might be the last time he ever saw it. “Nae need to stay the whole month now, lass,” he said with a small smile. “He is gone. Ye are free.”
Keira stared at him for a long time before she slowly pulled her hand away from his, looking at him as though he had lost his mind.
“We both ken we were nae destined to marry,” he said slowly, trying to bury the betrayal he felt in his chest. “We could nae have been happy lass, nae with what ye wanted from me. A separate life wouldnae have worked, ye said it yerself. But now the threat is gone. The bastard is dead. Ye can live yer life as it should be lived, nae tied to me, nae trapped by me.”
Keira’s eyes were banked by tears, and he looked away, hating to see it and desperate to wipe away the pain in her expression.
“Ye are sendin’ me away?” she asked, her voice small and barely above a whisper.
“Aye lass, it is for the best and is what ye planned all along after all. Unless ye can lower yer expectations of me, I willnae take a wife. Nae like that. Ye can be here and tend to the people, and yer braither and sister can be safe, or ye can go to the New World, and start a new life somewhere else. It is yer choice, but we shouldnae wed, it is better for ye that way.”
She shook her head. “But what if I want more than that?” she asked, leaning forward as he tried not to breathe in her scent. “What if I want ye for a husband, with a real marriage?” She swallowed. “What if we could be happy together?”
Noah’s chest throbbed and he shook his head. But his resolve did not waver.
“I told ye I cannae give ye more, and I wouldnae make ye happy lass, ye’d end up resentin’ me. I might end up hurtin’ ye.” He brushed his fingers against her cheek. “I have to keep ye safe. Ye ken I’ll give ye anything else ye ask for.”
Keira sighed, as her tears started falling. “Except the only thing I need.”
Noah struggled to draw in a full breath as he saw Callum approaching them. His man-at-arms was covered in dust, the sleeves of his léine charred and stained with ash, but otherwise unharmed.
“The people have left, Me laird.”
Keira stood up, looked at Callum, and nodded. “I shall see to those who need me help,” she muttered. "And once they are all taken care of, I shall take me leave, too.”
Callum’s eyes widened, and he looked at Noah in disbelief.
“It is time for me, Daisy and Scott to leave now that the threat is gone. Thank ye Callum, for all ye have done for us.”
Callum gave a shallow bow. “Of course, Miss Keira, ye have only to ask.”
Keira gave him a faint smile and walked back into the castle.
She did not look at Noah, and he could not bring himself to watch her walk away from him for the last time.
CHAPTER34
Keira walked backthrough the castle, trying her best to keep the tears at bay.
As she had finished sewing up Scott’s wound, she had been desperate to find out the outcome of the battle. She had gone down to the courtyard to find Noah and to thank him for saving her life. She wished she had not done so, now.
I cannot bear it anymore,she thought;I must leave this place at once. If Scott is well enough to travel, we leave tonight.
She reached her chambers, wiping furiously at her cheeks and trying to regain some of her composure before going back inside. She did not want Scott to think there was anything amiss.
It was a wasted effort, however, as he was fast asleep.
Keira moved across the room and sat beside him. There was a slight frown on his face from the pain he was in, his hand clutching the bedsheets at his side.
She looked about the rooms, bidding them a silent farewell as she took in the familiar brickwork and the merry little fire. She had grown used to them, and was aware that from the moment she set foot inside, she had felt comfortable and calm.
She wasn’t sure what her future held, but she could not imagine they would find a situation like this where they were going. It would likely be a life of traveling and uncertainty for a long while.
