Tempest Heart - Paula Quinn Page 0,80

battle fer King David as my cousins did at the time. When ’twas all over…” he paused. Now that he was explaining things, he wasn’t sure he wanted to continue.

“Tell me, my love,” she gently urged. “’Tis part of what has shaped you. I wish to know.”

He gazed at her face, the alluring contours of her cheeks and jaw, the warmth and love she felt for him open and bare in her eyes. He would be open in return. “I had become a livin’ weapon, skilled in every defense includin’ movin’ in the trees.”

She smiled. He forgot what they were speaking about.

“But killin’ so many in battle had its effects on me. I didna know who I was if I wasna killin’. I had created a shield against my own emotions and, after a while, I stopped feelin’ anythin’ at all. But—nae, dinna weep, love.” He wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb.

“I may weep if I wish,” she whispered and wiped her own eyes.

He smiled, loving her newfound sauciness and continued. “’Twas all inside me, twistin’ me up in knots. And then I saw ye…dyin’ in that pile and I felt somethin’ again. I was surprised to see ye alive. I admired ye fer fightin’ and I cursed the wretched sickness fer takin’ ye. When I saw the men with the torches…I couldna let them burn ye. I…” he shook his head a little, not understanding his own emotions. “That was when it started.”

“When what started?” she asked in breathless anticipation.

“My heart.”

Thomas Callanach lie awake in the middle of the night with his eyes closed. He’d let his Rose marry the man who had been sent to kill him. He’d gone mad thinking she’d been burned back at the castle. He’d been so relieved to see her alive, he’d let the killer have her. He ground his teeth. Of course, he wouldn’t let the murderer take her away from him. He thought about Neill lying a few feet away. Neill was the other reason the earl didn’t sleep. He’d returned. Thomas knew he would. He loved Rose, and he knew Rose was alive. Of course, he’d come back for her. That was why the gates had been fortified and locked. He also loved Thomas. Still. That was why he’d blamed everything on Thomas’ brother, Richard. After all this, Neill still protected him.

But had he forgiven him for exiling him from Callanach Castle six years ago? If he woke up, his bonds wouldn’t hold him. Would Neill kill him?

Unless Thomas could talk to him. Aye, hadn’t Thomas always been able to convince the lad of anything? Thomas would free him from this certain death and, in exchange, Neill would kill the murderous MacPherson.

Thomas would also promise Rose to him after MacPherson was dead. He knew Neill loved the girl. Of course, Neill would not touch her, for he was her brother, after all. No, Thomas wanted no other additions to the family. He wanted to live behind the gates with his children and die with them, and only them as a family. Aye. Neill would like that—and so would he.

Thomas kept his daughter out of his thoughts for the time being. She would forgive them after a while.

He finally sat up and looked around. The captain and his wife were a little way off. The captain was snoring—as was Jones. Thomas smiled and crept toward Neill. As he suspected, Neill was awake.

“Old man,” he hissed out from the dust.

“Son.”

That quieted him.

“Let me untie you.”

“Why? So I can light the rest of you up in flames? Where is Rose?”

“She is off with her husband.” Her father hushed his voice when Jones stirred.

Neill narrowed his dark blue eyes on him. “You let her marry? Who?”

“MacPherson.”

Neill tossed back his head as much as he could and laughed silently.

“’Twas all I could do not to lose her,” Thomas told him on a small voice. “I will set you free if you will kill him.”

“No,” Neill said, stopping him. “Not tonight. The way I am tied, they will know someone helped me. Your men will know ’twas you and they will tell MacPherson. Besides, I wish to meet MacPherson before I kill him.”

“Neill,” Thomas asked.

“What.”

“Why did you burn down my castle?”

Neill smiled thinking of it. “I wanted to show you that I could.”

If he was anyone else, Thomas would have killed him then and there. Good thing Thomas had a weapon sharper than any sword. “She stood over you with a sword pointed