Page 56 of Highlander’s Hope

Konnor! Who wasn’t from her clan, or even from her time.

Tamhas appeared by her side, rain dripping from his rare stubble.

“’Tis a smart move, mistress,” he said. “I’m glad ye’re nae going with them. I’ll stay with ye and make sure ye’re safe.”

She gritted her teeth and almost felt them crumble. She wanted to say she didn’t need his protection.

The gates opened, and the men poured out into the blackness of the night. Konnor looked up, and even in the dark, his eyes found hers. A wave of something washed through her—tenderness, warmth, and longing. He touched his forehead with his index and middle finger and made a short gesture forward with his hand… It looked like some sort of military salutation, probably from the future. Or a goodbye.

Tamhas kept talking about her safety, her protection, Colin’s wellbeing, loyalty, and some other things she couldn’t even register in her mind. She watched Konnor’s silhouette go farther and farther into the distance beyond the walls until he dissolved into the darkness completely, as well as the other men.

“I ken ye’re impressed by him, but I’ve been with ye yer whole life. I’ll die for ye, mistress. I’ve kent ye since we were children…”

She kept staring out into the night. She didn’t know how much time passed, but it felt like Tamhas went on forever. What if she never saw them again? What if she’d just sent Konnor, Malcolm, Muir, and almost two dozen men to their deaths?

What was she doing?

She was letting herself be weak. Once again, she was the lass that had been assaulted and beaten and broken, even though every single day for the last twelve years, she’d fought with herself—for herself. She’d fought for her honor and for her life.

And most importantly, she’d fought for hope.

She’d never felt such deep despair as when she’d been a captive in the MacDougall’s castle. When she’d started training, she hadn’t realized it, but every time she’d swung her sword imagining an enemy, she’d fought for her future. For the hope of recovering the lass she’d been before the nightmare that changed her.

And now, if she sat and waited and let others fight her battles, she’d never get a chance for that. She’d never be the strong warrior she wanted to be. She’d never be a good example for Colin.

She’d never have hope for a better future—not just for her, but for other lasses and women of her clan.

It was enough. Tonight, she would finally fight a real battle for the first time. It was time to rise.

“I’m going with them,” she threw across her shoulder to Tamhas, and without waiting for him, she hurried towards the tower and her chamber to put on her armor so she could give the MacDougalls what they deserved.

Chapter 23

Konnor crouched behind a pine and watched the mostly sleeping camp. The rain was pouring down now, drumming against the leaves and grass. Many of the warriors slept in tents, hiding away from the weather. Sentinels sat by the fires burning here and there, huddling in their coats. The noisy, heavy rain, although wet and unpleasant, were another thing on their side.

Someone crouched next to him, and he looked to his side.

Marjorie!

“What are you doing here?” he hissed.

“I’m here to fight,” she said.

“Go back to the castle this minute!”

Tamhas appeared and squatted by her side. “Ye think I didna try? At least we can agree on this. Her place is safely behind the wall.”

“Shut up, ye two,” she whispered.

Being very much aware of Marjorie next to him, he felt just like before his first battle in Iraq as a young pup. Almost shitting himself, his fists clenched around his weapon like iron clamps. Only this time, it wasn’t his life he was afraid for.

It was hers.

The woman he was falling in love with.

The thought made him very, very still. He stopped breathing.

Love?