Page 79 of Dark Rival
Royce sheathed his sword. “Dinna ye think to knock?”
The Black Macleod laughed. He was a big, muscular man with dark hair, swarthy skin and shockingly blue eyes. Except for his eye color and size, he and his sister looked very much like siblings. He wore a red and black plaid over his leine, and thigh-high black boots with huge, spiked spurs. “Yer fortunate,” Macleod said softly, “that I dinna take yer head.”
Royce braced for a battle of wills and words. “She’s sleeping. She needs rest. Step outside.”
“Aye.” Guy Macleod gave his sister one last look and whirled. Royce followed him onto the circular landing outside the chamber door.
Macleod now smiled coldly at him. “Ye sit and lust after her.”
Royce returned his look. “Yer sister is safe with me.”
Macleod laughed, mocking him. “No woman is safe with any Master, and we both know it.”
“She’s not any woman. She’s a great Healer—yer mother’s daughter.”
“Aye,” Macleod flashed. His brilliant blue eyes heated. “I will take her back to Blayde.”
Royce laughed with no mirth whatsoever. “She stays with me.”
The Black Macleod straightened. “So you can use her? I think not. She’s my sister and unless she has a husband, I have every right to bring her into my household. I am her lord and master now.”
“Yer mother,” Royce said, no longer smiling, “spoke to Ailios.”
Macleod started.
“Elasaid came to her just days ago, telling Ailios to trust me. MacNeil chose me an’ sent me to her. An’ we ken he sees what the Ancients wish for him to see. T’is my duty—my Fate—to protect her now.” He added, “I saved her this day from Moffat…not ye, not Malcolm, not MacNeil.”
After a pause, Macleod said, “Lady Elasaid is dead.”
“Aye, but she came to Ailios from the other world. Ye can ask Ailios yerself.”
Macleod was grim, but his eyes flickered with comprehension. “If MacNeil chose you, he must have seen something to make him do so. But I dinna like MacNeil choosing you and not me, her own brother.”
“I will tell ye this,” Royce said. “I will not use yer sister. I have no wish for my enemies to think us fond o’ one another. Today I spared her Moffat. I will die to do so again. There is no one ye can trust as ye trust me.”
Macleod stared for a long, assessing moment. “I have never doubted ye would give yer life for her, Royce.” He flushed. “I canna argue with MacNeil’s will, or the Ancients. But if ye touch her, if ye hurt her, ye will pay—and I will be the one to make ye pay. The Code be damned.”
Royce knew he meant his every word. Two hundred years ago Macleod had laid siege to a great fortress to force the lord there to release his daughter—and hand her over in marriage to him.
“Tell her I came. I’ll come again when I can. Tell her she is always welcome at Blayde.” Macleod vanished before Royce could respond.
Royce seized the door handle and thrust it open. He had expected a confrontation with Macleod, who was both ambitious and hotheaded. MacNeil had chosen Royce, not her half brother, to defend Ailios for the Brotherhood, and no one could argue over such a choice, as MacNeil’s wisdom had been proven by time.
He stepped inside and saw that she was sleeping deeply. As he covered her with a fur, he realized he was almost smiling—and that there was a smile in his heart, as well.
He didn’t like such weakness and he frowned.
His heart had no reason to feel pleasure. Resolved, he chased the lightness away.
ALLIE AWOKE to a strange chamber filled with shadows, illuminated by the fire dancing in the hearth, and Royce’s steady stare.
He sat in a chair just inches from her bedside, his gray gaze intent upon her. She smiled, thrilled to awaken to the sight of him there.
He smiled tentatively back. “Yer awake,” he said unnecessarily.
Her smile faded. She thought about the terrible battle of that day, the dead and those who had almost died. She sat up. “I have to pray. I have to go to the closest shrine.”
He reached out and clasped her arm. “Ailios. Ye were very sick. There’s a chapel at Dunroch, but ye need not leap out of bed as if it’s on fire.”
