Page 79 of Highlander of Steel
His eyes widened, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. “There’ll… never be peace,” he choked out. “I’ll… still… win.”
“Nay, Laird Ainsley. Ye’ve already lost,” Killian replied, pushing the blade in all the way.
Within minutes, Shawn Lyall, the Laird of Clan Ainsley, was dead, the light gone from his eyes. He lay still on the ground, though Killian was careful to check for a pulse before he drew back. But the man’s black heart was as still as the rest of his bloodthirsty, warmongering self.
A second later, Killian was back in the cell and on his knees in front of his wife.
“Ye’re safe now,” he soothed, reaching around her to untie the ropes that bound her wrists, an excuse to bring her close to him. “Ye’re safe.”
Ailis said nothing, though she leaned against his shoulder as he freed her. When her bonds had been removed and he hugged her tightly to him, she buried her face deeper into his shoulder. She tucked her arms in and allowed herself to be held, the dampness on her face and hair making it hard to know if she was crying or not.
I got here in time, love. I shouldnae have waited for so long, or at all, but I’m here now.
“Ye’re safe,” Killian repeated instead, willing her to wrap her arms around him.
She pulled back, her expression dazed. “Th-Thank ye,” she stammered, frowning. “I… um… aye, thank ye.”
Light pressure on his chest surprised him, the push of her hands taking her further away from him.
Not wanting to spook her after the ordeal she had just endured, he loosened his hold on her and let her take a few steps back.
“Congratulations on… um… the end of the war,” she said haltingly, her gaze darting between him and her brother. “And I’m sorry, Killian, for ever suggestin’ to anyone that it was yer clan that started it.”
Murdock cleared his throat. “Itwashis clan who started it.”
“It wasnae,” Ailis insisted. “I’ll explain everythin’ to ye later. There are things ye might think ye ken, and there are things I’m certain ye daenae. But, for now, ye should return to yer people and yer castle, Killian.”
Killian tilted his head, staring at her in confusion. “Ourpeople, lass.Ourcastle. Ye’re returnin’ with me.”
“Nay… nay, I’m nae,” Ailis replied, wiping water from her eyes. “The war is finally over, yer braither is alive and safe now, Skye is safe. Everythin’ is as we wanted it to be, so there’s nay reason to force this marriage on ourselves.”
Killian blinked, and even Murdock seemed surprised by his sister’s remarks.
“I’msafe here now,” Ailis added, with a tight smile to her brother. “Ye will nay longer be distracted from yer duties because of me, Killian. Heaven kens that yer people daenae need a constant reminder of everythin’ they’ve lost because of a war that me faither started out of revenge. Nae even against the MacNairns.”
What is she talkin’ about?
Killian hadn’t heard much of the conversation that had taken place between Ailis and her father, but he was clearly missing some important pieces. Yet, what was evident enough to him was that she was shunning him out of guilt. It was etched in her frown and her watery, sad eyes.
“Peter… is dead,” she said, her voice catching. “He refused to go back when I told him to. He wanted to escort me all the way, and… that man had him killed. I asked that his body be returned to yer lands, but I daenae ken if it was done. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry that Fraser was treated so horribly, though he assured me that the finger wasnae taken from his sword hand.”
Hiding her face from him, she turned and left the cell, walking the short distance to where Fraser was being held.
The door was half open already, Fraser blinking blearily. There had been guards on Killian and Murdock’s way in that had beenswiftly dispatched, and Killian guessed they were responsible for the bloody gash on the side of his brother’s head.
Peter is dead?
The revelation stung, a sharp jab under the ribs.
Friends weren’t something that Killian had plenty of, but he had counted his man-at-arms among them. Indeed, Peter had been at his side for so long, through battles and late-night ruminations over good whiskey, that he wasn’t sure what things would look like without his friend there.
Yet, it was precisely the sort of thing that Peter wouldhave done—protecting Lady MacNairn without any thought for his own safety.
Killian didn’t have much time to dwell on it, instinct compelling him to follow Ailis out. After all, he had a brother to take home, a clan to inform about the peace treaty, and a wife to soothe.
Evidently, she wasn’t thinking clearly, but that could be remedied with tenderness and encouragement.
“I wish ye all the best,” Ailis said to Fraser as she paused by his cell. “Please, give me love to Paisley and tell her that… I’m sorry for everythin’ she suffered because of me family.”
