Page 40 of Taken By the Exiled Laird

Noah placed a hand on Keir's shoulder again, this time not as a restraint, but as comfort. "He was goin' tae kill the lad. I had nae choice," he said grimly. "I turned on them that night. They had already branded me a traitor when I ran tae try tae warn the MacKenzies, but I sealed me fate when I killed me fellow commander for the sake of the enemy's bastard son."

Briana gasped. She could see it now. Noah, who had saved her so many times, giving up everything that he had ever known to save a scared boy and to try to save an innocent clan. Everything made sense, and though she cried, something in her heart lifted as she finally understood the truth.

"Tae kill a man tae defend another—aye, there's honor in that kind of warfare," Noah said. His expression darkened. "But tae ambush people in their beds? Nay. There's nae honor in that. That isnae what I wanted tae be. If that makes me a traitor, then I wear that brand with pride."

Briana clung to Theon, barely able to stay on her feet. The world was upside down. Everything she'd known was a lie. Or, perhaps, the world had finally righted itself. All of this death, all of this destruction, and for what? Land? Money? Power?

"They found me half-dead as they fled. I'd fought hard tae defend the castle village, but I was only one man. The rest of me brothers-in-arms were cut down before they could even reach their weapons," Graeme added somberly. "They saved me. And we've been together ever since. Sworn tae right the wrongs done tae us. The wrongs done tae our people."

An owl hooted somewhere in the forest. It was hard to believe that the Cameron men had been so nearby only a while before with the serenity of night all around them. Briana looked up at the stars shining overhead, little dots of light that saw everything and whispered the secrets of the world. How many betrayals had they witnessed? How much pain? How much hope?

She stepped away from Theon and bowed her head. "I didnae ken any of it. I… I thought…" She shook her head. "It doesnae matter what I thought. What matters is that I believe ye. I ken the truth in me heart and me soul, and I hope ye can forgive me."

"Forgive ye for what?" Noah asked. "The crimes were yer father’s, nae yer own."

But Briana shook her head. "I am a daughter of Cameron. I hold guilt for what he has done while I bear his name." She took a deep breath and gave Theon a nervous glance. He smiled and nodded at her, warm and encouraging. "I ken I am useful tae ye as a hostage and a barterin' chip. But I throw meself at yer feet and ask ye tae consider another path. Even if MacFarlane and me father agree tae yer terms, I ken now that they cannae be trusted tae keep tae their side of the bargain. So dinnae give them the chance tae betray ye. Let me stay."

"What?" Keir demanded, disgusted disbelief echoing from him. "This is madness. Ye're a liability. I accept that ye may nae have kent the truth, and perhaps ye're nae as cruel as he, but ye are still a Cameron. Ye dinnae belong here."

She met his gaze steadily. "Then help me belong. Teach me. Guide me. I want tae fight back against the monsters who have truly been the ones holdin' me hostage for so long. Let me wash the stain of me family name from this world with the sweat and blood of me toil. Let me do what I can tae make it right."

"It will never be right," Keir hissed.

But Noah smiled at her. "Me lady, I'd be honored tae fight by yer side. I've always kent how strong ye are. It would give me nothin' but gratitude tae let ye finally show that strength tae the world."

Briana nodded to him in thanks, her heart warm from the compliment. She had never stopped adoring Noah, a fraternal love so different from the romantic and spiritual love that had grown for Theon. It made her smile through her tears to know that Noah had never stopped being the man who deserved that adoration.

"I missed ye," she told him simply. He stepped forward and took her hand, raising it to his lips in a courtly kiss.

"Well, I already said I liked havin' ye around," Graeme added easily, his hands behind his head as he casually leaned back against thin air. "Ye've brought life tae this old group of sad exiles, Bri. Can I call ye Bri?"

She laughed, affection blooming in her heart for this silver-tongued warrior who found the joy in the darkest of places. "Ye can," she said, "but only if ye let me sew that awful shirt ye've let fall intae tatters."

Graeme grinned. He stepped forward too and took her hand, squeezing it once, and then he and Noah retreated.

Briana glanced up at Theon. He was watching her with a renewed warmth in his eyes, making her heart flutter just by his expression.

"Ye already ken me answer," he told her, and he leaned down and gently kissed her. Briana smiled against the light brush of his lips, feeling truly content.

The peaceful moment was shattered as Keir burst out with a furious stream of curses. He glared at each of them and then pushed past, storming right into the trees and away from the camp entirely. Briana watched him go, guilt twisting in her heart.

"I dinnae want…" she started.

Theon shook his head. "Let him work out his anger. He'll come back when he's ready." He took her hand and, with a nod to the two others, led Briana toward his cabin.

"Goodnight, Bri!" Graeme called after her, clearly very pleased with her new nickname. "Dinnae worry about our wee eejit. He'll be fine."

"Sleep well, me lady," Noah added. "Tomorrow we'll move on, but tonight ye may rest peacefully."

She bid them goodnight and followed Theon inside. As soon as the door closed behind them, he swept her into his arms and held her close. She leaned into him, enjoying his strength, his warmth—his everything. Tension left her, replaced by the same joy she'd felt in the cave. After some time, he led her to the bed and climbed onto it with her, and she settled down in his arms.

"Theon," she murmured. "I called ye such vile names, accused ye of the worst crimes, when all the while the truth was the opposite of what I thought I kent. How could ye let me believe such terrible things about ye?"

He stroked her hair. "I didnae make it easy," he said. "I hated ye just as ye hated me. We both thought the other was somethin' they arenae."

"But me father…" She sighed. "How could ye nae have told me earlier the truth of what he is?"

Theon pulled back to examine her face. "Would it have mattered? Would ye have believed me?"