Page 94 of The Highlander's Auctioned Hellion
Callum had anticipated that, however, and had his foot wedged in the gap and raised his eyebrows quizzically as she tried to push against it with all her strength.
“Ye might as well give up, lass. Feels like Raven is the one tryin’ to close this door. Ye have nay strength to speak of.”
Lydia glowered at him, releasing it and walking back into the room. She headed to the window, stroking Raven and staring out at the lands beyond without saying a word.
Callum closed the door.
“We will get them back,” he said, with more confidence than he felt.
“At what cost?” she asked.
“At any cost. Ye ken they dinnae wish to be with their mother.”
“No,” Lydia said, turning to face him. “No, they don’t wish to be with her, but then, perhaps they do not have a choice if she wants them back. Moira is their mother. And what will you do to retrieve them, start a war?”
“I will dae whatever is necessary.”
The tears were falling again. Callum frowned at her. He knew the situation was difficult, but he didn’t see why Lydia was so hopeless.
He would go to the castle the next day and bring them back.
“We should give Moira what she wants.”
A chill ran down his spine. “What did ye just say?”
“We should give her what she wants. She used her own children against you, and she clearly still believes that there is something between you.”
“Well, there isnae. There never was.”
“I know that. I believe that you never wanted her, but she wants you. She barely looked at the girls when she arrived. She only had eyes for you.”
“Well, that is her own problem.”
“She is dangerous, Callum. You cannot afford to start a war for her children. She has every right to ask for them to be returned to her.”
“What are ye sayin’?” he asked.
“I’m leaving.”
The world shifted, as though the floor had tilted beneath his feet.
Her resolute expression was hard to discern with the light behind her, but Callum could tell she was quite serious.
Lydia walked to the bed and placed the kitten gently against the blankets.
“The girls love you, Callum. I can see it in every interaction you have with them. You can care for them yourself now, just as I believe you always could have. With me here, Moira will never give up on you. She is going to fight to claim what she believes is hers. You heard her yourself; if I am no longer here, she will return Amy and Eilis to you. That is where they belong.”
“We have nay guarantee of that.”
“But I can’t be the reason you lose them. If there is any chance that my absence will make a difference, then that is what must happen.”
“Ye’re not goin’ anywhere,” he growled, closing his eyes in frustration.
He had not meant to say that.
“And what will you do? Keep me here against my will? You once told me that if I said I needed to leave, you would allow it. Have you changed your mind?”
“I am sayin’ that ye dinnae need to leave forthat. Moira is a duplicitous witch. Even if ye dae leave, there is nay way to tell she will follow through on her word.”
