Page 23 of Highlander’s Viking Sin

“Well, Rune needs tae learn that he’s nae living in Norway any longer, and he cannae expect tae take Isla’s child from her without a fight.”

Erik’s mouth twitched into a smile. “Ye care for her deeply,” Erik said.

Emmel shifted his weight uncomfortably between his feet, and his cheeks flushed crimson underneath his bruises.

“She is a remarkable woman,” he said.

“Hae ye told her this?”

“There haesnae been a good time. I hardly feel it is my place when her son is in danger. Besides, she haes made it clear that she is nae interested in anything like that. We hae been through a lot taegether, but she is still the same woman I knew from before.”

“Indeed, but the thing about women is that they are open to changing their minds if they have a reason to. Now, I suggest that you go and speak to her father while we decide what we can do to help matters,” Erik said.

Emmel nodded and tried to ignore the conflict within his mind. There were a lot of tumultuous feelings for Isla, but they would have to wait until this matter was settled. Even then, he didn’t know if she would respond positively to what he had to say. She had been treated badly in the past by Rune and admitted that it clouded her hopes of the future. But still, there had been moments passing between them that were difficult to ignore. He wished he had a window inside her mind so that he could understand how she felt about them and if she thought the same as him.

For now, though, he would have to live in mystery.

He went to gather Isla from Brenda, and the time spent with his sister seemed to have done Isla some good. He hugged Brenda tightly and told her to go and fetch Douglas because there was a chance for battle brewing, and they were going to need their finest warriors. Brenda’s eyes gleamed, and from her smile, Emmel knew that she relished the opportunity to go into war. Emmel just hoped that at the end of it all, Andrew would still be safe and with his mother again. Emmel would do anything to be able to keep his promise.

With that settled, he and Isla returned to her home, where Ewan was waiting for them and where Isla was going to have to tell him the truth.