Page 25 of Highlander’s Protector

“I ken he’s a Scot. He’s nae a young man. And I hear he’s a man of honor. But he is allied with our enemy.”

“Are you worried?”

“If he’s a kind man, ’tis all that matters.” She was silent for a moment. “Do ye have a betrothed? A wife?”

“No.”

The closest he’d had to a fiancée or a wife had been Jess. They’d been together for three years. Perhaps, in medieval terms, she was a bit of a princess. Jess wanted to be an influencer, and even in high school she had built a big social media following.

How could he explain that to Anna?

“But I used to have one,” he said. “For three years I”—he tried to think of the right term—“courted her.”

“Oh.” He felt Anna shift, her shoulder tense against his thigh. “Who was she?”

“She was…a noble lady, I guess.”

“Ye guess?” She laughed. “She either is or isna.”

“Well, then, yes, she was. But it didn’t work out.”

Jess was a smart girl, but she’d never shown it on social media, trying to fit into the image of a pretty girl who talked about brands, makeup, and wellness. She didn’t think she needed a college degree to be successful. To her, success was about the number of followers she had. She’d listened to podcasts and read books about entrepreneurs, so David knew there was more to her than that.

He often wondered if the popular-girl image was armor she’d put on to protect herself. To steer everyone away from seeing that underneath was someone who desperately needed to feel loved. That adoration and admiration from her fans was an attempt to gain the love she didn’t feel for herself.

“It’s the first time I’ve told anyone about her,” he said.

“Why did it nae work out? Didna yer clans arrange the marriage?”

Truth was, when they’d graduated, Jessica had decided to go on a global lifestyle tour. He’d been heading to Northwestern. It was an amicable separation. They’d ticked each other’s boxes for a while in high school. He was her jock. She was his prom queen. After graduation, their performance was over.

“She didn’t want it anymore, and I let her go,” David said.

“Did ye love her?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been in love with anyone. Not yet.”

In the golden darkness, she turned to look at him and their eyes locked. A question was in them, but before she could ask it, he said softly, “You should try to go to sleep. I’ll watch over you.”

She turned away from him, facing the fire. “What do ye do if ye canna sleep, David?”

He chuckled bitterly. “Recently? I drink. It’s the only way to reach oblivion.”

“Uisge?”

“Yeah. But before, when I was home, I used to read books. Um, stories.” Even though reading had been a struggle, he’d always loved the escape novels provided.

“I like that. Can ye tell me one?”

Tell her one…what could he tell her? Something medieval, something she’d understand and that wouldn’t make her ask too many questions… Maybe The Princess Bride? Rogene and his cousins had loved the movie. No, something that she might know, as well. A familiar story would comfort her.

Then he knew.

“Long, long ago, in the place called Cornwall, there was once a young prince named Tristan. He had lost his parents and King Mark of Cornwall raised him like his own. Tristan became King Mark’s most loyal and honorable warrior. That is why he sent Tristan to Ireland to bring to him Isolde, the fairest and most beautiful princess. The marriage would bring peace and end a long war between their two kingdoms.”

“Mhm…” she mumbled sleepily. “I ken that story…but nae how ye tell it. Please continue. Tell me what happened.”

“Tristan successfully reached Ireland. But when he saw Isolde, he fell in love with her. She was not just beautiful, she was everything. Smart, kind, and as courageous as a warrior. No matter how much Tristan resisted and tried to stay away from Isolde, on the way back to Cornwall, Isolde fell in love with him, too. Both knew they could never be together. Isolde was bound to be King Mark’s bride, and Tristan could never betray his adoptive father. Honoring his word and putting the king’s trust above everything, Tristan brought Isolde to his king. And just like Tristan couldn’t break his word, Isolde couldn’t be selfish. Her marriage would bring peace between their kingdoms and save many lives. So Isolde married the king.”