Page 60 of Love Me Forever

“You know Royce? He is not a stranger to you?” she asked, puzzled.

“I had the opportunity to see him fight.”

“He is a skilled warrior.” Once again she spoke with pride.

Ian turned his attention to his sister. “He is a legendary warrior.”

Her puzzlement grew. “Legendary?”

“His reputation precedes him.”

A sense of foreboding swept over her, and she attempted to ease her arm off his. Royce held firmly to her hand.

“What does my brother speaks of?” She could not keep the tremble out of her voice. “Who are you?”

Royce found it difficult to tell her. He knew her well and knew her reaction would not be to his liking. He simply said, “Remember.”

Brianna looked to her brother for an answer since she realized that she was the only one present who did not know Royce was a legend.

“He is chieftain of the clan Campbell. He is the infamous Royce Campbell.”

Brianna’s legs grew weak and her heart fluttered until she thought she would pass out, but she let no one know of her reaction. She stood straight and proud and spoke calmly, turning her attention to Royce.

“I have heard many stories of your exploits. You are known as a fearless leader who leads a fearsome clan. It is said you know no fear and yet men fear your presence, and women—women want nothing more than to please the mighty warrior. I have heard told that you have no tenderness or compassion in your heart. And it is whispered that you were born without a soul.”

A tear threatened to spill and she fought with all the courage she possessed to hold it back. She would show no weakness. “You were not truthful with me.”

“I told you no lies,” Royce said, making certain all heard him. “You asked few questions of me.”

“I thought—” She paused, thinking how foolish she had been yet again and shook her head slowly. “I thought the time would come when you would confide in me. I did not wish to intrude on what I thought were painful memories.”

She looked to Ian. “I am forever foolish.”

She moved to step away from Royce, but he kept a firm hand on her. “You know me.”

“I thought I did.” Sadness welled up inside her, and she could not stop the tear from falling.

Royce wiped it away with a gentle finger. “I love you, Brianna.”

“You kept the truth from me. How can I ever trust what you tell me is true?”

He wiped at the tears that followed. “Remember—that is all I ask of you. Please remember how much I love you.”

“At this moment I cannot. I am confused and hurt and can think of nothing else. I thought you a gentle man who cared.” She shook her head. “Your reputation speaks otherwise.”

At that moment his heart ached more for her than it did for himself. He had not wanted to hurt her, and he had thought it best she did not know his identity. He had not wished to frighten her any further than she was already frightened when he first found her. He was well aware of his reputation. He had forged it with his own blood and sweat and created a mighty clan whom all feared. He fought for kings and peasants alike, and he had fought victoriously and with honor. And many times he had fought with a cold heart—and, he often thought, an empty soul.

Those reasons had driven him to seek solitude after the last battle. He had not intended to completely keep his identity from her, but she had seemed so vulnerable, and when she began to speak of her past and her husband, he felt it was best that she did not know the darker side of him. So he had purposely remained silent.

While the legendary warrior Royce Campbell knew no fear in battle, he now feared losing the woman he loved, and battle was the only way in which he remained victorious, so he spoke as a man who commanded.

“Once we wed you will come?—”

She stopped him, yanking her hand forcefully from his grasp and stepping away from him. “Wed? I can never wed you.”

“I understand you are upset?—”

She stopped him again. “Upset? Nay, you understand nothing. But understand this—I will not wed you.” She looked to her brother. “I do not wish to wed him.”