Chapter 29

For what seemed like an eternity, no one moved. Macauley glanced at Kian from the corner of his eye, reluctant to take his gaze off Faolan and Cathleen but at the same time needing to know what his friend thought they should do. He knew Kian well enough to be certain that he would never allow Faolan to hurt Cathleen, but even so, he would also never let Faolan escape with his life.

"Let her go," Macauley said, though he was under no illusion that his words would have any real effect. He was only stalling so that one of them could come up with a plan of attack, a way to get Cathleen away from him. "Dae ye truly think ye can have what ye want now? Let her go an' perhaps the council will spare ye."

"The council?" Faolan asked with a roaring laugh. "Ye mean the council o' me men? Those who have sworn tae serve me?"

"Ye think I dinnae ken ye were never meant tae be the laird o' the clan?" Macauley scoffed, taking a few careful steps towards him and Cathleen before stopping once more when Faolan dragged her back roughly, drawing a terrified whimper from her lips as the blade dug in her skin. Macauley couldn't rush this. He had to think several moves ahead if he wanted to defeat Faolan. "How many o' them are truly loyal tae ye? How many o' them give ye their support nae because they are scared, but because they believe in ye?"

"What does it matter?" Faolan asked. "Either way, they are loyal tae me."

"Will they still be if ye kill Cathleen? She is the daughter o' their true laird. If ye kill her, ye will never have the clan."

Faolan exchanged a quick glance with the man who stood next to him. If he remembered correctly from what Bonnie had told him while they were camping near the castle, that man must have been none other than Faolan's closest advisor, Ronald.

There was a short moment between them in which they communicated without exchanging a single word. It seemed to embolden Faolan, who gave Macauley a sharp smile, all teeth.

"I think I will take me chances," he said. "Besides, with Cathleen an' Bonnie both dead, who else will have the clan? I should have done this from the very start. I thought I would be kind, ye see. I thought I would give them the option tae either wed me or help me attack the Drummonds, but I should have killed them in the first place."

Macauley chanced a glance at Bonnie. Even from a distance, he could see the disgust that twisted her features, all the warmth and kindness that he usually saw in her expression having melted away. She held no love in her heart for Faolan, and yet Macauley didn't want her to be the one to stain her hands with his blood.

In the end, they were still family.

But that didn't mean Bonnie couldn't kill Ronald. Perhaps a well-placed shot would be enough to distract Faolan and allow Cathleen to escape. Now Macauley only had to figure out a way to communicate his plan to Bonnie and let her know of the perfect moment to shoot her arrow.

"Ye are a cruel man," Macauley said, just to buy them all some time and distract Faolan long enough. "Perhaps ye should have done as ye say, but ye didnae. Ye sound terribly certain fer a man whose forces have been decimated."

For several moments, Faolan remained silent, only glaring at Macauley over Cathleen's shoulder. But then he only chuckled, shaking his head. "If ye're tryin' tae unnerve me, ye should ken better than that. I'm the one with the power here. I am the one with me blade on yer beloved Cathleen's throat. An' if it comes tae it, I will kill anyone in this clan who doesnae bow tae me. If that is what I must dae, then so be it. I'll find more men. I'll find more advisors. I am the laird o' this clan an' that isnae goin' tae change."

Macauley's words had the intended effect on Faolan, prompting him to monologue and giving him a chance to try and communicate his plan to Bonnie. His gaze found her again and this time, it stayed on her until she looked at him. When she did, he subtly tilted his head towards Ronald and Bonnie followed it, giving an almost imperceptible shake of her head.

She was scared. She was scared for her sister, and Macauley couldn't blame her. He only wished he could reassure her that he would never let anything happen to Cathleen, but there was no way for him to do that. He could only hope that Bonnie would take the plunge.

He gave her a small nod, his hand curling around the hilt of his sword. Still, Bonnie hesitated, making no move to shoot.

Come on Bonnie, dae it.

Macauley counted one second, then two, then three. On the fourth, an arrow split the air and found its target in Ronald, lodging itself in his shoulder and tearing a cry out of him.

For a few moments, everyone was stunned, but it was enough for Cathleen to slip out of Faolan's grasp. She must have been waiting for such an opportunity, Macauley thought, and she had taken it.

In an instant, Macauley ran towards Faolan, putting himself between him and Cathleen so that he couldn't get to her, while Kian dealt with Ronald, who was waving his sword around maniacally, enraged by his injury, yet still alive and standing. He was more resilient than Macauley would have thought, but there was no way for him to survive this.

Upon seeing Macauley, Faolan gave a short, bitter laugh and assumed a fighting stance, widening his feet and squaring his shoulders. "I see. Well, I suppose ye leave me nae choice but tae fight ye."

"Ye have yer chance tae kill me now," Macauley said, though it was more of a taunt than anything else. He doubted Faolan was much of a fighter, and even if he was, Macauley wouldn't let him win out of sheer spite. He wanted nothing more than to see that smile he always seemed to wear slip from his face as he realized he was defeated.

He should have already realized, Macauley thought. He should have known that he couldn't beat him. If he surrendered, then he would spare his life and allow the council of the MacLaren Clan to determine his fate, proving to him that he didn't have as many real allies as he thought.

That was the issue with the MacLaren Clan: after the late laird's death, those of the old council who remained had been thrown into a panic. With Faolan gone, Macauley would have to make sure that the advisors who would remain in their roles were loyal to Cathleen and Bonnie, sworn to protect them as they should.

Macauley remained still as Faolan circled him, trying to intimidate him. He only tracked the man with his gaze and then began to turn slowly as he neared his back, so that he kept him in his line of sight. He wasn't scared of Faolan, but he was no fool; he wouldn't leave his flank unguarded.

The blow came, quite predictably, when Faolan had already circled Macauley once. He ran towards him, brandishing his sword, and Macauley parried the blow easily, even in his state. Had he been at full strength, this would have been a quick fight, but with him weakened like this, Faolan would try his best to draw it out and exhaust him.

Macauley's lips were dry, his mouth parched. He craved the cool feel of water on his tongue more than anything else—more than rest, more than food. It slowed him down, but knowing that he was doing this to keep Cathleen safe was enough to give him the boost he needed. When Faolan attacked him again, this time aiming for his neck, Macauley met his blow with a grunt, the clang of their blades reverberating all the way up his arm. He spun back around quickly, dealing a blow of his own, but Faolan was just quick enough to jump out of harm's way at the last moment.

Faolan wasn't laughing anymore—he wasn't smiling either. He was entirely focused on their fight, watching Macauley like a hawk as they once again circled each other, trying to find each other's weaknesses. Faolan had many; he left himself unguarded often, fighting recklessly as he tried to deal the killing blow with little finesse. He was fast, though, faster than Macauley would have thought, and he kept slipping right out of reach.

Macauley had to pull him closer. He had to make him think that there was an opening, something he could exploit, so he would approach near enough for him to kill him.

Watching Faolan carefully, Macauley took notice of the way he moved, preferring his left side over his right. When he attacked once again, Macauley feinted a strike to his left, then attacked from the right, and Faolan managed to parry it, though with great difficulty. Still, Macauley had anticipated a reaction and he was quick to strike again, his blade finding its target as he slashed through Faolan's stomach in one clean arc of his sword.

Faolan gasped as the blade cut him, his hand dropping his own sword and flying to his stomach on instinct. There was nothing he could do to save himself, though. The cut was deep and the blood poured out of him with each heartbeat, soaking his fingers and slipping through the gaps. Quietly, he fell to his knees, then to his side. His chest rose one last, shuddering time, and then he was dead.

Next to him lay Ronald, his eyes devoid of any life. Kian had killed him and now he stood with Cathleen and Bonnie, the three of them watching the carnage before them.

The fight around them had died down. Kian's men were taking care of the injured and apprehending those few belonging to the enemy side who had been left alive. Macauley's gaze swept the battlefield and then eventually settled on Cathleen, who had been staring at him, looking as though she was about to collapse at any moment.

Even so, she ran to him, throwing herself in his arms. With a sigh, Macauley let go of his sword and pulled her even closer, holding her tightly, reluctant to let go for even a moment.

"Ye're alive," she whispered, grabbing his face and pulling him in a searing kiss. "Ye're here. Ye're alive."

It seemed that she was trying to convince herself, repeating those words over and over. Macauley held her and hushed her softly, tucking her head under his chin, both of them uncaring of the blood that stained them.

He didn't know how much time passed clinging onto each other. Kian and Bonnie left them alone for a while, allowing them to process their situation. Only when they finally pulled apart did Bonnie approach and in an instant, Cathleen was in her arms instead. Macauley could only smile at them, taking a step back to give the sisters a moment, just like Bonnie had done for them.

"I feared I'd never see ye again," Cathleen said. "I feared, I feared I'd never?—"

Her words trailed off and Bonnie pulled her in for another hug. "I'd never leave ye," she told Cathleen. "Never. I'd never let anythin' happen tae ye."

As the two of them talked, Macauley walked around the courtyard, helping the men with the injured. Kian was among them, too, giving orders and making sure no one succumbed to their injuries, though soon, he would be required to meet with Clan MacLaren's council. In fact, they all would, and Macauley only wish that he could take some time to rest before he had to sit in on any negotiations.

Once he was done helping with the men, knowing that the rest of them would be taken care of without him, he threw himself on the nearest bench and closed his eyes. It didn't take long for him to feel someone sitting next to him, though, and he opened them once more to see Cathleen there, hands hovering over him as if she wanted to touch him but wasn't certain if she should.

Macauley took her hands in his, gently guiding them to his shoulders. The gesture prompted a smile in her and Macauley watched as she visibly relaxed, her shoulders falling, the tension draining from her frame.

"I'm sorry," she said, voice soft and hesitant. "Fer everythin'. I should have never lied tae ye. I didnae… I never thought it would cause all this."

For a moment, Macauley stayed silent. Then, he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, so soft it was barely more than a brush of lips.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I ken ye didnae wish fer any o' this. Had I kent what ye went through, had I kent what Faolan had done tae ye an' yer sister, I would have done anythin' in me power tae stop him. Ye didnae deserve any o' this, Cathleen. An' if Deirdre forgave ye fer this, then so can I. I only ask that ye dinnae lie tae me again."

He didn't think he could bear it if Cathleen did. He could forgive her now because of everything she had gone through, but he didn't think he could ever trust her again if she betrayed him another time.

"Never," Cathleen said, fiercely certain of her words. "I will never lie tae ye again, Macauley. I promise ye. I never wished tae lie tae ye at all an' I will regret it fer the rest o' me life."

"I forgive ye," Macauley repeated, just to reassure her. "An' ye should forgive yerself."

Cathleen smiled softly, laying her head on Macauley's shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her, and for a while, the two of them simply sat there in silence, taking a much-needed rest.

"Me offer still stands, ye ken," Macauley said after a while.

"What offer?"

"Tae marry ye."

With a gasp, Cathleen sat upright so fast that she almost head butted Macauley in the face. "What?"

He couldn't help but laugh. Perhaps it was mad of him to ask her this now, after everything that had happened, but being imprisoned and seeing her almost married to another man before almost losing her forever made Macauley realize that he didn't want to spend another moment away from her. He loved Cathleen. No matter what had happened in the past, they could get over it all as long as they were together.

"Will ye marry me?" he asked. "I'd really like it if ye would."