Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

C astle MacGregor stood at the top of the hill under a canopy of thick, dark clouds, just as Alaric remembered it. Naturally, there couldn’t have been any major changes in his relatively short absence, but after everything he had experienced while being away, it felt as though coming back to an unchanged home was too strange of a thing, as though the very fabric of reality itself ought to have changed to accommodate everything else that had shifted in his life.

It was the only place where they could go. Alaric had to inform Evan of Callum’s plans and the collusion with Edward I, and there was no safer place for him and Lucia to stay, even if Lucia’s presence was bound to bring some questions their way.

He didn’t know how he would respond to any of them. He supposed he would figure that out as he went, terrible as that idea sounded to him. The thought of leaving Lucia behind while he went back home had not even occurred to him, but now that they had arrived, he couldn’t help but wonder what would happen once she met Kayla.

Alaric didn’t know what would happen once he met her, either. His feelings for Lucia were unbridled, unstoppable. Even if he had wanted to put an end to what they had, he didn’t think he ever could. Breaking her heart would only shatter him, too, but he knew he was about to do just that.

Should I tell her? Should I prepare her fer this?

Alaric suspected the answer to that question was yes, but even so, when he tried to part his lips to speak, no sound came out. Behind him, he felt Lucia lean over his shoulder to watch him, her fingers tightening around his waist.

“What is it?” she asked, and Alaric’s throat tightened at how unconcerned she sounded.

“Naethin’,” he said after a short pause. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t find the words.

Instead, he kept riding towards the castle, heart leaping in his throat with every beat. By the time they reached the gates, he didn’t know how much more of that he could handle. The anticipation of the disaster seemed worse than the disaster itself. But when the gates opened and Alaric rode in the castle grounds, nothing happened.

That, too, felt wrong. It was just like any other day, any other instance of him returning home. So much had changed and yet everything was the same, and Alaric didn’t know how to act or even what to think.

When they dismounted the horse, the guards welcoming Alaric as he walked by, he couldn’t help but notice Lucia, too, was apprehensive. She carried herself with a guardedness that was not her usual manner, but rather something that only surfaced when she thought she was in danger, and her discomfort was etched clearly in her expression. Alaric wanted to reach out for her, to pull her close and comfort her, but he refrained from doing so. The last thing either of them needed was to be seen like that by anyone in the castle, including the guards.

“Come,” Alaric told Lucia, gesturing to her to follow him. They had hardly made it to the main doors, though, when they burst open and Evan jumped out, instantly pulling Alaric into a crushing hug.

Alaric let out a breathy laugh, wrapping his own arms around his brother and giving him a few gentle slaps on his back. Evan didn’t let go of him for a long time, which could only mean one thing; he had been afraid something had happened and now his relief at seeing Alaric alive was overwhelming.

When Evan finally pulled back, he continued to hold onto Alaric’s forearms, not letting him get too far.

“Where have ye been?” he asked. “I received yer letter, but ye never said where ye were or what ye were doin’. Ye scared us all. An’ then… that man who came here with yer ring an’ demanded I pay him!”

Alaric’s eyes widened at the mention of the man he and Lucia had attacked. After everything that had happened, he had forgotten about him almost entirely, pushing those events to the back of his mind, but now the memory of what he had done to him had resurfaced.

“Did ye?” Alaric asked. “Did ye pay him?”

Evan blinked at him in surprise and frowned a little. “Aye,. but only because he promised me ye were alive an’ he told me ye were with some… some brigands!”

Then, as Evan spoke, his dark eyes scanned Alaric from head to toe, as if he was noticing the state he was in for the first time. Alaric knew what he and Lucia both looked like; though they had purchased new clothes for the ride and they had bathed, they were still bruised and swollen, looking as though they had been all but mangled. It must have been an unsettling sight for Evan; Alaric knew that if he ever saw his brother return home like this, he would be concerned too.

Up until that moment, Lucia had been standing to the side, letting him and Evan have a moment, but now Evan’s gaze slid over to her and Alaric could almost see the cogs turning in his mind. His brother glanced back and forth between the two of them a few times, before he seemed to remember his manners and gave Lucia a small bow, one that she awkwardly returned. It was the first time Alaric had seen her even attempt to act like a lady and under any other circumstances, he may have found it a little comical, a little amusing, but now it only served to fuel his panic.

Everyone will wonder who she is. She cannae pretend tae be a noble lass.

But Alaric didn’t want to force her to pretend she was a commoner in need of employment either. Even if it would be the cleanest, most hassle-free solution until he could explain everything to Evan and figure out what to do with Kayla, he didn’t want to put Lucia in such a position.

“I will explain everythin’, trust me,” said Alaric, laying a gentle hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Deep breaths, braither.”

Evan did as he was told, drawing a deep breath through his nose and releasing it through the mouth. Once he was calmer, Alaric patted his shoulder and turned to look at Lucia, who was standing to the side timidly, her nervous energy so unlike her that it gave him pause.

“Evan, this is Lucia,” Alaric said, gesturing to her to approach. “She… she will be stayin’ here fer a while. Lucia, this is me braither, Laird Evan MacGregor.”

Evan hesitated for a moment, surely not only because of the news that Lucia would be staying, but also because of the informal way in which Alaric introduced her. Still, he only smiled a little stiffly and nodded, calling one of the guards closer.

“Make sure Miss?—”

“Donnelly,” said Lucia without missing a beat.

“Miss Donnelly is settled in,” Evan continued. “Perhaps… a change of clothes?”

Lucia glanced down at herself, at the dirt that clung to her tunic and the threadbare cloak she wore, cheeks flushing. She nodded silently and Evan clapped his hands together, ever-cheerful.

“Excellent,” he said. “Please, rest until dinner. Ye will be called once it is served.”

“Thank ye, me laird,” Lucia said in an awkward, stilted and forced tone as she gave another unpracticed curtsy and scurried off after the guard.

Alaric didn’t have the chance to say anything to her—or rather, he could have found the chance, but was so uncertain of this situation himself that no matter what he could tell her, he doubted it would be any comfort. Besides, he could catch a glimpse of Evan from the corner of his eye and he could tell his brother was scrutinizing him still, surely wondering what was happening.

“Is there somethin’ ye wish tae tell me?” Evan asked when Alaric made no effort to explain. With a sigh, Alaric pinched the bridge of his nose, not even knowing where to start.

There was one question, though, that was already plaguing him.

“Where is me betrothed?” he asked. “Has she arrived?”

She must have. She was meant tae arrive days ago.

“Nay,” said Evan, much to Alaric’s surprise. “She’s been delayed. A letter reached us the other day. They claim clan matters, but she is due tae arrive any day. Why?”

Though Evan’s tone was nonchalant, Alaric was not convinced by his performance of ignorance. “Ye ken why.”

“Ach,” said Evan. “So, it is like that.”

“It is… somethin’ like that.”

How could Alaric explain what there was between him and Lucia when he didn’t even know himself? What was there to say to Evan so that he would understand just how precarious their situation was, especially now that Kayla would be arriving soon?

The fact that she was not there already was a small blessing, but one that was only temporary. Maybe now that he had the time, though, Alaric could explain the situation to her and hope that she would understand.

Understand? How could she understand? She will ken it fer the betrayal it is.

Evan must have noticed his gloomy mood, as he slapped a hand over his shoulder and pulled him inside, leading him straight to his study. Though it had been several weeks since Alaric had last been there, he instantly felt at home the moment he stepped into the warmth of the room. Evan poured them each a cup of wine and handed him one, and Alaric drained it all at once before holding out his hand for Evan to pour him more.

“So, care tae tell me what happened while ye were away?” Evan asked, taking his seat behind his desk, messy with papers as usual.

Alaric nodded slowly, tracing his finger over the carved designs on his cup. “Well… I completed the mission an’ then as I was on me way back, I was ambushed. Lucia, she… she saved me.”

Evan raised a curious eyebrow, leaning closer over his desk. “She saved ye? By herself?”

“Aye,” said Alaric with a nod. “She is deceptively strong. But she only saved me because she needed me help. Her… well, the Ravencloaks, they killed her brother an’ she wanted revenge, but she said she needed me tae infiltrate them an’…”

Alaric’s voice trailed off, knowing how it all must have sounded to Evan. His eyes were wide and though he was not saying anything, the shock Alaric’s words had caused was palpable.

“An’ ye infiltrated them?” Evan asked.

Alaric hesitated for a moment. “We did,” he said. “That’s why I had tae attack that poor man, it was a test. But I couldnae let him leave with naethin’, so I gave him me ring an’ told him tae seek ye out. An’ then we stayed with the Ravencloaks an’ we found evidence that their leader, Callum, is workin’ with the king. Letters between them that speak o’ destabilizing’ the clans.”

It was then that Evan froze, slowly lowering his cup to the table. He steepled his fingers together as he looked at Alaric, his dark eyes narrowing. “That is very concernin’.”

“It is,” Alaric agreed. “An’ we must dae everythin’ we can tae stop them. I dinnae ken what it is they are plannin’ but it cannae be good.”

Nodding solemnly, Evan took a sip from his cup and at that moment, the door burst open and Isabeau, their sister, and Bonnie, Evan’s wife, ran into the room with matching expressions of relief. The moment Alaric stood from his chair, Isabeau fell into his arms and clung onto him so tightly that Alaric almost feared she would tear his tunic to shreds.

“Where have ye been?” Isabeau asked, still holding onto him. “I’ve been so worried about ye! Why would ye nae send a proper letter?”

Alaric couldn’t help but chuckle softly, shaking his head. “Forgive me,” he told Isabeau. “I didnae wish tae make ye fear but I had nae choice. Where I was, I couldnae send ye anythin’. But I’m here now. I’m safe.”

For a few more moments, Isabeau held Alaric tightly and then she pulled back just enough for him to see the pout on her face.

“Never dae that again,” she said. “We thought ye were dead! And look at ye, full o’ bruises and cuts. I shall be taking care of those!” Isabeau added. She had always wanted to become a healer and spent many an hour in the healer’s hut and reading books about herbs and remedies. She had a good hand and was certainly not lacking the empathy required for the job.

“I promise,” said Alaric. “I promise.”

“It’s good tae have ye back, Alaric,” said Bonnie as she laid a hand on his shoulder, smiling. But then, her smile turned into a small frown as she regarded him. “I heard there was a lass with ye.”

Alaric froze under the scrutiny of his entire family, his throat suddenly going dry. Bonnie would find out the truth either way, as there was nothing Evan could keep from her. If Evan knew, then Bonnie did as well.

“She is… helpin’ me,” Alaric said. “An’ I am helpin’ her.”

He didn’t miss the way Bonnie glanced at Evan from the corner of her eye, and he knew the two of them would be having a discussion about this later, but he didn’t care to elaborate. As long as he wasn’t present to endure the embarrassment of the two of them discussing this, then they could do as they pleased.

“I see,” said Bonnie, a little too cheerfully. “Well, I have given her some clothes. Why have ye been travellin’ like this? Did ye see that poor lass’ cloak?”

“Trust me, Lucia is fine,” Alaric said with a firm nod. “She isnae the kind o’ lass tae be bothered by a cloak.”

“What kind o’ lass is she?” Isabeau asked, and though the question was entirely innocent, Alaric didn’t know how to respond to it.

How could he explain Lucia to them? Could he tell them the truth about her—or at least as much of the truth as he himself knew? Could he tell them about her upbringing, her brother, her past at all?

Could he reveal her plan to Evan?

“She is … different,” is what Alaric settled on in the end.

Different an’ infuriatin’ an’ wonderful.