Page 50 of Love Me Forever

She grew annoyed at such nonsense, broke loose from Royce, and stepped between them. “I will take my leave when I am ready, and presently I intend to go into the woods and collect the makings for my basket. You both can battle if you wish, but spill a drop of blood, and I will not return with either of you.”

She stomped off without a glance to either. She wanted neither of them to follow. She was much too annoyed at their ridiculous behavior. Each wanted his own way, each wanted to be in command of the situation, each wanted to protect.

She could not very well fault them for caring, but their behavior was simply not acceptable. Blair could very well see that Royce had treated her well, and Royce could very well see that Blair was a good friend relieved at finding her.

Why, then, the strange looks, the hushed whispers, and the on-guard stance each man took? None of it made sense to her. Royce was one lone man against many. He could cause them little harm, and yet they acted as if he could harm them all.

Royce was large and his scarred features probably made him appear all the more dangerous, but it was preposterous to think that one man could put fear in many men.

She marched forward into the woods, a recently fallen slim branch catching her eye.

Both men watched her walk away, and both kept a steady eye on her until she stooped down to examine the fallen branch.

Blair then looked to Royce. “You care for her?”

“I care for her, but that is for me to discuss with her brother.” Royce was firm in his response.

“Aye, it is for you to discuss with Ian, but answer me this.” Blair glared at him. “Brianna does not know who you are, does she?”

CHAPTER15

“Brianna knows nothing,” Royce confirmed. “And she will know nothing until I am ready to tell her.”

“Her brother Ian may disagree with you,” Blair advised, casting a glance toward Brianna. “He wishes his sister to find happiness.”

“She has found it with me.” Royce moved his hand off his sword, and all around him eased their rigid stances.

“Brianna knows not who you are,” Blair said, “when she discovers the truth—what then?”

Royce had no answer. He had thought often on the consequences of keeping his identity from her, but it was more important that she discover who he truly was and not who many thought him to be. He had revealed much about himself to her, much that he had kept hidden even from himself.

“Brianna once trusted a man and suffered for it. Her brother will not see her hurt again.”

Royce respected Blair for defending Brianna. “I would never hurt Brianna. I care too deeply for her. I will protect her with my life.”

“Yet you keep the truth from her.”

“She was ill and frightened when she first cast eyes on me. My thought was for her to heal—not worry over who tended her.”

“Your clan knows where you are?” Blair asked.

“Aye, and there is no need for concern. I have no grievance with the clan Cameron.” Royce glanced to Brianna and saw that she wandered farther into the woods. “We can speak of this later, though not in Brianna’s presence.”

“Ian will be grateful that you have seen to his sister’s care?—”

Royce finished for him. “But he will not be grateful that I care for his sister.”

“He loves his sister.”

“So do I,” Royce said and walked off to join Brianna.

He caught up with her as she was carefully breaking smaller branches off the large, fallen branch. He came up behind her and waited, thinking she would have her say. Instead, he faced silence as she continued her task, completely ignoring him.

Several snapping branches tested his patience until finally he said, “You are upset.”

She turned then, her eyes blazing. “I will not be ordered about by you, Blair, or my brother. And I will not stand by and watch as a lifelong friend and the man I intend to wed act ridiculously.”

He tried to temper her anger, but she did not give him the chance.