Page 45 of Love Me Forever (Highland Duo #2)

F ear raced through Brianna. She shivered and sent a silent prayer to the heavens for Royce to hurry and rescue her.

“I inquired as to your birthing time, thinking that it might prove beneficial to me, and it certainly has. It is one of the reasons I waited to capture you. And do not think he will find us quickly. He would not think to go where I take you,” Arran said, pleased with the fear he saw on her face.

The bairn remained safe inside her. He would not take the chance of injuring the child if he felt he needed the child. It was a relief to realize that, at least, but his intentions still frightened her beyond all reason.

“I will treat the child well until he is returned to you.”

His tongue charmed, and most would believe him, but she knew better. “Nay

, you will not, and Royce will not let you take his child.”

“He will have no choice, unless of course he wishes to forfeit one life for the other. Who would he choose to live—you or his child?”

She would gladly give her life for her child and knew that Royce would do the same, but she wished for them all to live and share a long life together. She would not allow her husband to rob her of any more dreams.

She turned her startling blue eyes on him. “Royce will come for me before the babe is born, and then the problem will be yours.”

He forced a laugh, though Brianna could see she had cast doubt over his plans.

“Think what you wish,” he said, and having grown tired of tormenting her, he rode ahead.

Brianna took a comforting breath. She needed to keep her wits about her, and as much as it frightened her to consider such a horrible possibility, it was necessary.

Prepare.

She had to prepare for the possibility that Royce would not reach her in time.

If so, she needed to have a plan of escape.

She did not know where he was taking her, but when she learned of their destination, she would better be able to formulate a plan.

The plan would mean an escape, and provisions would be necessary.

She began making a mental list of all the things she needed and what things to look for. Her first thought was their destination. Where could he be taking her? Her mind listed the various possibilities, adding to that Arran’s devious mind.

A sudden thought came to her, but she disregarded it.

He would not be that foolish. Then it struck her and she slowly shook her head.

He would send his men to the keep, and he would take her to the cottage, where Royce had taken her to recover from her wounds.

And the men that had first divided off from them would circle back to the cottage and be his protection.

By the time Royce discovered his error, it would be too late. He would never be able to reach her before she birthed the babe. Now she realized just how much she truly was on her own.

Her hand went to her stomach. “It is all right, little one. I will protect you until your father comes for us.”

Royce would find them. He would hunt for them no matter how long it took. He would not give up until he found them, and she would be patient and do what must be done to survive.

* * *

Royce sat braced against a large rock staring at the night sky. Hundreds of stars sparkled against the darkness, almost as if each wished to prove their own brilliance. He wondered if Brianna looked on the night sky at this moment.

He shut his eyes tightly, opened them, and cast a silent prayer to the heavens that she was well and safe.

He had done that every day and night for the last two weeks.

They had found the one trail, and as thought, Arran was headed for the keep where he and Brianna had resided when together.

Every day had been a torture without her.

He was aware that she had become an important part of his life, but now he knew just how essential she was to his life.

He missed sleeping beside her at night. She would cuddle against him, and oftentimes he would feel the babe kick and marvel at the tiny being their love had created.

In the morning she would slowly stretch herself awake, and he would slowly caress her until she purred like a contented kitten. Throughout the day they would seek each other out to talk, walk, or share needed kisses.

But most of all he missed hearing her tell him how much she loved him. A day did not pass without her saying, “I love you.” He had enjoyed hearing those words over and over, though he had not realized how much until he had not heard them.

“Do you wish solitude, or may I join you?” Ian asked, walking up to him.

“Join me,” he offered. “I have dwelled on my problems long enough.”

“With good reason; you miss my sister and worry over her safety.” Ian sat opposite him a tree trunk as his backrest.

“More than I ever thought possible. Her safety was my concern, and I should have been more diligent. I failed her.” It had tormented him that Arran was able to abduct Brianna from the keep.

He had arrogantly assumed that any attempts would be met with defeat.

He rarely underestimated his opponent, and it would not happen again.

“I felt the same when my wife’s life continued to be in danger in our own home. If I could not protect her there, how then could I protect her at all?”

“Perhaps it has to do with love,” Royce said, attempting to understand.

“Love? What would that have to do with it?”

“We love our women. Arran loves no one and can therefore make decisions based on logic rather than emotions, which is how a skilled warrior handles battle.”

“Are you saying our love blinds us to the best course of action?”

Royce nodded. “If I thought more like a warrior than a man in love, my course of action would have been different.”

“How so?”

“If someone wanted something I had, I would have used it as bait to draw my opponent out instead of hiding it away.”

“But you could not use Brianna as bait because you loved her and worried over her.”

“Exactly,” Royce said. “I would not dare risk her life, and yet by not risking it, by not doing as I would normally do, I risked her life even more. And now she is on her own with no one to protect her.”

“The thought plagues my mind, for I feel as guilty as you in failing my sister.”

“I was so concerned with my own guilt, I had not thought about you.”

“I have thought much,” Ian said. “I failed in protecting her after learning how her husband treated her. I failed again when I assumed him dead, and now for a third time.”

“This was not your fault, it was mine,” Royce insisted. “She belongs to me now and is my responsibility. I was the one who should have made certain of her safety.”

Ian shook his head. “Say what you will, it was my fault. I should have made certain Arran was dead and not have accepted a ring and burnt corpse as the only evidence to his demise.”

“I think what troubles us is that Arran has managed to outsmart us both.”

“That does irritate me.”

“I agree. The man irritates me more than I care to admit.”

“Arran deceives with charm and character. He confuses his opponent, giving him ample time to attack or escape.”

Royce frowned. “Then he does not often make mistakes.”

“If he makes mistakes, he is often prepared with another plan. He never seems to be caught unprepared.”

“So he prepares for every possibility.”

“Moira believes so. That is why she spoke of being prepared to Brianna.”

“She did?” Royce asked with surprise. ‘Tell me what they spoke of.”

“Moira was educated by a monk who taught her many skills. The one skill she found the most useful was preparation, preparation in all her studies and writings and experiments. Without such preparation she believes she would have no success. She took that knowledge and applied it toward life. This is what she discussed with Brianna. She convinced Brianna that while she felt safe with your protection, there was always the possibility that Arran could succeed in his attempts to abduct her. What then? What would she do?”

Royce slowly shook his head. “You tried to convince me of this.”

“I know my wife well, and I knew she was concerned for Brianna. She had made instant friends with my sister upon meeting her, and she was aware, for a stranger sees with clearer eyes than a family member, that Arran did not treat Brianna well. She helped her to regain her self-esteem and self-confidence after Arran’s hasty departure. ”

“Moira did an excellent job. Your sister’s strength and courage saw her through the accident and helped her deal with a complete stranger she was entirely dependent on. Not an easy task for any woman.”

“Moira has done well with Brianna, which is why she wanted Brianna prepared for any possibility.”

“I am confused,” Royce admitted. “How could Brianna be prepared for her husband abducting her? I would like to think it was possible, but how?”

“I wondered the same myself. Arran ingrained my sister with fear. How could she possibly be prepared for facing a man she feared?”

Royce shook his head as if the answer finally dawned on him, and he found himself an idiot for not realizing it. “By showing no fear.”

“I felt as foolish as you for not realizing it myself.”

“That takes much courage.”

“You doubt Brianna has enough courage?”

“Nay,” Royce said, “she has the courage and more. I just feel foolish for being an arrogant fool and in believing I was her only defense.”

“Moira was raised in a convent since she was twelve and realized that while other women were there, she basically had herself to depend on. After all it became habit, and she looked to no one but herself to do what needed doing.”

“And she attempted to instill this in Brianna?”

“Aye, and I am grateful to her for it.”

“So am I,” Royce agreed. “It gives Brianna an edge over her opponent.”