Page 106 of Love Me Forever

“He is not.” Royce tried very hard not to raise his voice, but his patience was fast slipping away.

“You do not know that. I want a troop of men sent out in search of him.”

“It is not necessary.”

She was adamant in her demand. “I say it is and Ian is my brother; therefore, it is my decision.”

He could not help but chuckle—not a wise reaction.

“You will not laugh at me; you will do as I say.” She all but stamped her foot in anger.

Silence filled the great hall and not a movement was made. All waited for Royce’s reaction.

He stood slowly in front of his wife. “You do not command this clan. I do. And while I understand your concern, I tell you there is nothing for you to fear. Your brother will arrive soon without mishap.”

“You will not do this for me?”

“It is not necessary.”

“I feel it is,” she insisted.

“I know it is not.”

She looked at him with fiery blue eyes, but it was the hint of a tear in the corner of her eye that caught him off guard. He stepped forward.

She stepped away from him.

“Brianna,” he said softly.

“You are cruel!” she shouted at him and fled the hall.

Royce followed, leaving a relieved William and John to themselves.

With her extra burden she was not as quick on her feet as she once was, and that only caused her more upset and caused her to try harder, tiring herself with each step she climbed.

“Brianna, slow down!” Royce called out.

It was meant with concern, but it sounded like an order Brianna intended to ignore. She kept climbing.

“Brianna.”

He warned her with a shout of her name, and she grew even more determined to have her way, as foolish as it was. Besides, was she not good at being foolish?

She was not far from the top of the stairs and thought victory close at hand when she heard his footsteps rushing up the stairs. Instincts would tell her to run, but she knew that was an unwise choice, she would never outrun him, and besides, her legs began to ache. She decided to stop, turn, and face him.

“Do not dare touch me!”

He stopped abruptly, never having heard those words from her.

The words surprised her as well, for there was not a time she did not wish him to touch her. She enjoyed his touch. It was gentle and caring and ever so pleasing. He never raised an angry hand to her or caused her pain with his touch; he only gave her pleasure.

She was being irrational and temperamental. She was striking out at him, for she had no control of the situation, no control of her life, and the thought terrified her.

He made no move to touch her, though her words wounded. He understood her anger, and he only wished to ease her worry. At the moment the best way was to allow her to have her way and remind her...

“I love you, Brianna.”

Her bottom lip quivered and she fought to control her emotions. She acted a fool and now she felt foolish.