Page 133 of Love Me Forever

Royce’s voice thundered with demand. “Where is Brianna?”

It was a quick decision for Arran, and one that could go in his favor or against him, but he made it with hopes that it would work to his advantage. “Brianna birthed your babe early this morning. She did not survive; the child barely clings to life. They lie together in the cottage.”

Royce stood silent, trying to comprehend the news.

Arran hoped his first thought would be to go to Brianna and the child. Then he could easily slip away before Royce’s men could reach him. He took a step aside as if offering Royce entrance to the cottage.

Fury raged in Royce’s eyes and he threw back his head and let out a tremendous roar that had the animals scurrying in the woods, the birds taking flight, and Ian and the men shivering.

Arran feared he misjudged the situation and attempted to convince Royce to go to her. “She called for you repeatedly, and even now I know she would wish you by her side. She loved you more than she could ever love me. And she begged that you see the child safe.”

His words worked the opposite of what he had hoped.

Royce grew enraged and drew his sword.

Arran held up his hands. “This will solve nothing.”

“A coward to the end, Arran?” Royce asked with a calm fury. “You think to take the woman I love from me and cause her death, and there will be no consequences? You are not only a coward, you are a fool.”

Arran did not care for this remark. “Who is the fool? Am I not the one who took her from the great Royce Campbell?”

Royce advanced on him slowly. “And are you not the one who is responsible for her death?”

Arran knew then there was no escaping him. He would have to fight, but he did not have to fight fair. He drew his sword. “You were the one who followed the wrong trail, so are you not the one responsible for her death? Did you not promise to keep her safe—and did you not fail her?”

His accusation pierced Royce’s heart, and he knew that when all was done, he would suffer as he had never suffered before, but right now at this moment he would make Arran suffer for all he had done to Brianna and for robbing him of her.

“I am about to rectify that,” Royce said and swung his sword.

Arran raised his sword to deflect the blow but was driven to the hard ground from the force of the powerful strike. The idea that he should be on the ground beneath any man infuriated him, and he lashed out, swinging his leg to catch Royce with a heavy blow to his knees.

Royce stumbled but righted himself quickly enough, giving Arran time to lurch to his feet and hold his weapon firmly in hand.

Metal clashed with metal, fists flew, blood poured, and the two men continued fighting. Arran was confident with his swordsmanship, though his strength was nowhere near equal to Royce’s. But he had no wish to die and no intentions of dying.

Royce gave thought to nothing but striking out at Arran, blow after blow after blow, and he was prepared for anything, not trusting Arran to fight fairly. Therefore, he was not surprised when in desperation Arran pulled a knife from his boot and lunged at his chest.

Royce grabbed for his hand, twisted the knife away from him, the end hitting him hard in the nose, and tossed it to the side. “You fight like a coward.”

“I fight wisely,” Arran said, wiping away the blood that spilled from his nose.

Royce raised his sword and edged him on with a wave of his hand. “Come on, then, and fight me like a man.”

Royce’s men and Ian had moved in closer and watched the fight with interest. Arran knew that he could not win; his only chance was to escape. He had grown tired, and Royce looked enraged with revenge, and that would provide him with the stamina to fight all day. He had to end this and quick.

Arran raised his sword and moved so that he was nearer to the woods and as their swords clashed, he maneuvered them closer and closer to the edge of the woods. His chance came when he fell to the ground, and Royce was about to lunge at his chest with his sword.

He grabbed a handful of dry dirt and threw it in Royce’s face, blinding him and giving himself enough time to attempt an escape. He ran straight for the woods with the speed of a frightened rabbit.

Royce cleared his eyes in seconds and followed him.

Arran was fast and Royce feared losing him. He stopped, raised his sword, and with two hands on the handle and all the force he could muster, he flung the sword at Arran.

Arran turned at that moment and with wide, horrified eyes, he watched the sword descend and pierce his chest. He fell on his back, hitting the hard ground and gasping for breath.

Royce reached him as his last breaths slipped away, and it was with a smile he said, “Brianna joins me.”

An agonizing roar echoed throughout the surrounding area, and Royce pulled his sword from Arran’s chest and rushed to the cottage. He stopped Ian from entering, handing him his sword.