Page 26 of Forge of the Highlander’s Destiny

C ohen knew that his words wouldn’t be taken well, but he was still surprised at the outburst from his wife. She practically growled and shoved away from him. “Why? Ye promised me that ye would! How could ye!”

She turned away to pace in front of one of the hearths.

“We need to dae it, and we need to dae it now!” She clapped her hands.

“I cannae sit around and let me sister rot away in a loveless marriage, all because of me faither’s black heart and wicked ways.

I can help her! I will be goin’.” She pointed to her chest.

“Nay, Lass, ye cannae. It is too dangerous,” he said a little louder, stepping toward her again.

The thought of letting Arya go back to her father’s castle frightened Cohen to death.

Now that he’d found her, he could not lose her.

He wanted Olivia to be safe, but he couldn’t afford to lose his wife.

She was his everything now. He had never felt this way before, and now that he did, it was like having his heart outside of his body, exposed to all kinds of dangers.

“We will have to think of somethin’ else,” he added placatingly, and she threw up her arms enraged again.

“What else is there? I am the one who kens the castle. I am the one who will ken what to dae to get Olivia out of it. I will need to go if she is to be saved. If just yer men go, then they will cause uproar and a battle and perhaps even a war!” She started to pace again, and Cohen started to sweat.

He knew his wife’s strength and determination. She had made that very clear from the beginning of their relationship when she’d dangled the keys to his freedom in front of his cell.

“Arya, please, I am beggin’ ye, daenae go. I cannae lose ye.” His arm throbbed, and he reached up to grab the bandage. Arya threw him an angry look.

“I ken what ye are tryin’ to dae, Cohen, and I willnae allow it! I am nae somethin’ that ye can hide away, like some object or prize. Is this the way of all men? I could have sworn that ye were different.” Tears began to fall down her cheeks, but she wiped them away.

“Blast these tears!” she cried. “I willnae show weakness in front of men any longer. I am tired of this.” She threw him another glance, cutting him to the core, and then she stomped to the door.

“I think it is time that I take me leave. I am a married woman, but that is nay matter. I willnae stay in a home where I am kept prisoner. I have had far too much of that already.”

Cohen sat down when she left, feeling like his chest was sunken in. He leaned his head in his hand and felt a mixture of anger, guilt, and grief.

“I cannae lose her. How can I keep her safe if she willnae let me?” he said in a hoarse voice, looking to the flames for answers.

He had no doubt that Arya would leave him and head straight for her family’s castle, even though her father was not yet far away and might even come across her on her own as she traveled. He shuddered to think what would happen if she did.

“Me Laird,” Malcolm said when he entered the room, clearing his throat. “Ye must forgive me. We only let some of his men enter, and he seemed so desperate to speak to his daughter to offer congratulations, we let him in. I am sorry.”

“Nay, nay, ye were right to dae it. I wanted to see the man’s face anyway and hear what he had to say about it all.”

“And?” Malcolm asked. “Did he give ye any idea about the kidnapping? Or the arrow?”

“Nay.” Cohen shook his head. “But take a few men and search the forest, Malcolm. See if ye can find anythin’ to help us discover who did this.” He touched his hurt arm. “And remember, they tried to hurt Arya too.”

“Of course, Me Laird. Is she well?” he asked hesitantly, and Cohen shook his head.

“It is another matter, but I will need to speak to ye later about it. But first, go to the forest and see what ye can find.” He stood. “I need to speak to me wife.”

Malcolm gave him a hopeful smile and then asked, “And the Yuletide festival for the village? It is taenight.”

“Aye. But all the men will need to be on guard. Make sure that Laird Muir and his men have gone far enough away.”

“Aye.” Malcolm bowed his head and left the hall. Cohen followed him, slowly. He looked at the steps to the upper floors with dread. No doubt, Arya was packing right now, telling Sara what a mistake she made choosing Cohen.

“Ye can do this, Lad. Tell her how ye feel. Then she will understand. Ye can find another solution for Olivia.” He nodded to himself, took a breath, and wondered why he felt even more afraid climbing those stairs than he ever had on the edge of battle.

“Lady Sinclair, are ye sure about this?” Sara asked as she removed a gown from the wardrobe. “Ye daenae wish to stay and speak with the Laird first?”

“Nay, we have spoken enough,” Arya said, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. In her fury, it had dropped loose, and she felt like her stays were tighter too as she heaved in an angry breath. “I will be the one brave enough to go and save me sister from her terrible fate.”

Sara nodded meekly and continued her work. Arya felt the slightest pang of guilt for using such a loud voice. She came close and touched Sara’s arm. “Forgive me. Me anger is nae with ye.”

“Och, I ken, of course. I am only sad to see ye go. Ye willnae come back?”

“I,” she said, and then paused, a little confused. She hadn’t actually considered that. Once she saved Olivia, was she going to return to the husband she claimed was keeping her imprisoned? “I daenae ken.”

“Well, I hope ye do. I am certain that ye and the Laird can work somethin’ out between the two of ye. Ye,” she blushed a little, looking down. “Ye seem to like each other very much. That is more than many marriages can boast of.”

Arya nodded without response and resumed pacing. She had no desire to listen to why she should remain with Cohen or how much she really liked him, or loved him, in fact. It would only make leaving worse.

I must think of Olivia, she reminded herself, blinking back fresh tears.

Turning around to pace the next length of the room, she heard a knock at the door, and Cohen appeared, filling the doorway with his broad shoulders, looking at her with such affection that she nearly jumped into his arms, begging for forgiveness.

Instead, she quelled all impulses to touch her new husband and said, “What are ye doin’ here? Have we nae said enough?”

“Nay,” he said, coming in and shutting the door, walking toward her.

“I will leave ye,” Sara squeaked, and Arya stepped forward to stop her, but Sara was already out of the door, and it shut behind her. Her step brought her closer to Cohen, and she braced herself as he stood right in front of her, grasping the hand that had reached out for Sara.

“We have nae finished talkin’,” he said in a low voice which created a deep tingling feeling in her stomach.

She stiffened, ignoring the itch in her fingers to pull him close, to brush her hands over his bearded chin and through his brown curls. “I think we have,” she said tightly, lifting her shoulders just a little bit higher.

“Do ye?” he said, pulling her hand to his lips. A little gasp escaped her when she felt his warm lips on her skin. She wanted to pull away but found she couldn’t. What was the man doing? It was like she was caught in a spell.

Her anger was slowly fading, instead being replaced by a powerful desire.

Had she not just been with the man? It felt like it was hours ago, and she wanted more.

His brown eyes were soft yet fiery, and she closed her mouth to keep him from being able to hear her ragged breathing. He was far too close.

“Aye, I do,” she said with considerably less force. “Because ye willnae help me save me sister. Ye wish to leave her to her fate and keep me here like an animal in a cage.”

A little furrow appeared between his brows, and he shook his head, moving close to nuzzle in her neck.

He didn’t kiss her; he only moved close to breath against her.

She could smell his scent, and it drove her mad.

He whispered in her ear, “I didnae say that, Lass. Ye only think that I did. So, I must tell ye why I said nay to ye.”

Swallowing, she licked her lips and tried to keep her expression set as he pulled away, only inches from her mouth. Marriage was not going to go very well if she could not keep her head around the man. She wanted to be strong, fearless, forceful.

“Aye, tell me why ye said that to me,” she replied, trying to grip onto her anger, but it was fading away and fast.

He straightened. She felt slightly bereft when his hand left her side.

Tipping her chin a little higher to meet his eyes, he said, “Because, dear wife, I am hopelessly in love with ye.” His jaw clenched, and Arya’s mouth fell open a little at his bold declaration.

“I ken it is soon, and that it may make nay sense, but it is true. So, I cannae bear the thought of losin’ ye.

I want to find a solution to savin’ yer sister that will nay keep ye imprisoned but will keep ye safe.

A solution that will keep ye from ridin’ out on yer own, unprotected. ”

His eyes searching hers, Cohen fell silent as if waiting. Arya was shocked into speechlessness for the second time that morning, but now this time was much more pleasant. “Ye love me?” she asked. “Was that what ye were goin’ to tell me while we were huntin’?”

“Aye,” he nodded, and she could tell that he looked a little uncertain. Slowly, a smile spread across her face.

“Well, that is a good thing. Because I love ye, and I whispered it to ye last night, but ye didnae hear me.”

“That was real?” he asked in a breathless tone, and Arya grinned at his childlike joy. “I thought it was a dream, Arya.”

“Aye, I said it. I wanted to tell ye, but I thought ye only cared for me, nae loved, and that ye married me to protect me from me faither. I am grateful, but I…realized I wanted more.”