Page 76 of Highlander’s Heart

Ian raised his eyebrows. “Ye marrit one?”

Craig nodded.

“So she’s staying with you—forever?” Kate said.

“Aye.”

Ian looked at Kate, and she returned his gaze, which was full of sadness. “I’m envious,” she said. “I can’t.”

Ian’s jaws played, pain thundering in his eyes.

“Let us go, lass.” He turned to Craig and Owen. “I must deliver her to Inverlochy. She needs to return home.”

Both men nodded in understanding.

Kate’s throat clenched. “To Inverlochy?” She swallowed to relieve the feeling of sandpaper in her mouth. “Already?”

“Aye. Fortifications will arrive soon, and I’ll be needed here again to throw this attack back. We’ll have to call the MacKenzies and other allies for help.”

He took her by the elbow and led her towards the horse.

“Goodbye, lass,” Owen cried after her.

“Take care of her!” Craig added.

Kate’s heart sank. This was it. She needed to go back to her duty, too. And sacrifice her happiness.

They came to the horse. “You’re right,” she said. “It’s just that I thought we’d have more time…”

He shook his head and looked down, hunching. “I had hoped for more time with ye, too, Katie. But we both kent this wouldna be forever. I promised ye. ’Tis time.”

He was right, damn it. Of course he was right. She was so caught in the ocean of happiness and joy with him, in a little honeymoon. But Deli Luck was about to go bankrupt and Mandy and Jax still needed her.

And now he’d need to leave his people during a difficult time for her. She couldn’t give him more concerns than he already had.

Kate took a step back.

“Look, I can go myself then,” she said. “Your people still need you.”

“The battle is almost over, lass. Owen and Craig are handling it. We won. The Sassenachs are fleeing.”

Kate fiddled with her hands.

“If there’s no more danger, I can go alone.”

“There’s nae way I’m letting ye go alone.”

“I don’t want to burden you with my troubles. Clearly, you have more things to think about here.”

“Ye are nae burden, Katie,” he said, his tone almost angry. “Now stop yer ninnying and let us go.”

And let us get this over with, said his tone. He most definitely wanted to get rid of her, the sooner the better. Even if he did have some feelings for her, they both knew their relationship would never last forever. He could go on with his life then. He’d come back from the dead, and now he had a second chance at life. And she wasn’t part of it.

Anyway, she had her own life to go on with. Her own people to take care of and save. He had done his duty. It was time for her to do hers, no matter how heartbreaking.

Kate nodded. “All right, Ian. Let’s go. You’re right—the sooner I leave the better.”

Chapter 28