Page 23 of The Rightful Highland King (The Last Celtic King #4)

"Hm." Neala fidgeted with her hands clasped in front of herself. "Did… that is… have ye been courtin' long, ye and Ansel?"

Ansel? Nessa blinked at that, taken aback by the familiar form of address. Why would Neala be referring to the enemy prince in such a way? "What concern is that of yers?" she asked, instantly suspicious, her sharp defenses snapping back into place.

"I'm sure she was just curious," Darren said quickly.

"Very curious," Neala replied. Her jaw twitched. "Is there a reason ye willnae answer? Did ye even wonder why he didnae come after ye?"

"I assume he's retreated tae plan," Nessa replied, folding her arms. "That's what he does, if ye dinnae ken. He's a very cunning man. More so than his father."

Something about that explanation seemed to anger Neala. Her eyes flashed and she shook her head. "Such diplomacy!" she said with a harsh laugh. "Nae wonder this is tae be the future queen. Ansel must have adored ye from the moment ye met."

The skin of Nessa's cheeks rippled with heat and she hated her body for showing her embarrassment and annoyance so plainly.

"I didnae ask for any of this," she snapped.

"I dinnae ken what yer issue is, but I didnae ask tae be wed tae that monster of a prince.

I didnae ask tae be forced tae watch as he slaughtered villages and followed his father's orders like a dog. "

"Like a dog!" Neala exclaimed. "Is that how ye talk of yer soon-tae-be-husband? Ye claim ye didnae choose this, but ye accepted the betrothal, did ye nae?"

"That's enough." Darren stepped forward in-between them, a new harshness in his voice that Nessa had never heard before.

"Neala, I dinnae ken what yer issue is, but we're all victims here.

Aye, Nessa may have accepted the betrothal, but so did Maeve and Breana when they were wed tae Malcolm and Kyle Darach. Would ye blame them, as well?"

Neala scowled, then turned and stormed away.

Nessa watched her go, shaken. She hadn't expected such an attack, though Neala hadn't been wrong—Nessa had accepted the betrothal.

When the offer had come, she'd even felt a thrill of excitement about it.

It had been everything that she'd been raised her whole life to want.

She'd always wanted the world to see the truth—that she had triumphed over Maeve, the bonny one, and been the one to be chosen as queen above her sisters.

Only after she'd arrived at Blackthorn Castle had her dreams soured and reality shifted in ways she didn't know how to handle.

"Are ye all right?" Darren asked her. "She's nae normally like that, I swear."

"I'm fine," Nessa replied.

Darren shook his head. "Ye're nae. But come on. Ye will be."

Nessa followed Darren into a building a little further away from the festival in the center.

She looked around and realized that they were standing in a vintner's shop, huge barrels of wine stacked up against the walls.

It smelled of sweet strawberries and fresh grapes, all muddled in with the heady scent of alcohol.

Darren winked and grabbed a pair of goblets from a table, then took them over to one of the kegs. He opened the lid of a standing barrel and spooned some of the rich wine into each of the cups.

"Ye cannae just do that!" Neala exclaimed.

Darren laughed. "I'll pay for it, never fear. The vinter kens me well. He keeps the castle well stocked. Come, drink. It's strawberry wine."

He held out a goblet and Nessa nervously took it. She sipped at it and gasped at how tasty it was, sweet and tangy and delicious. "It's good," she admitted.

Darren nodded. "It's me favorite," he confessed. "I asked Gerard—that's the vinter—tae make an extra barrel for me. I'm glad ye're enjoyin' it."

Nessa gazed at him curiously over her cup. "How is it ye have the power tae charm everyone? From the winemaker tae yer rebel council tae me sisters and even the king himself, everybody seems tae love ye."

With sparkling eyes, he beamed at her. "The king?" he asked. "Is that how ye're referrin' tae Cailean now? Or has Edric Ashkirk declared a love for me I dinnae ken about?"

Blinking rapidly in surprise, Nessa realized he was right.

She had referred to Cailean as 'the king'.

Just a few days ago, she would have never dreamed of such a thing.

What had caused that slip? She considered, then understood.

It was this place, these people. The castle residents and the villagers of the castle town spoke so highly of their king that it only felt natural to think of him in that way as well.

They loved Cailean McNair, not just for his name but for who he had consistently shown himself to be, and for the new Scotland he promised.

It was far, far too easy to get caught up in it.

She had never seen a person talk of Edric Ashkirk that way, not even those who had been his most loyal servants.

Things were so different here. Cailean was a king of the people—and so was his queen.

That still sounded odd to Nessa's ear. Maeve was the queen in the eyes of these people, and, if the rebels succeeded, Maeve would officially be queen of all of Scotland.

Of all three of the O'Sullivan sisters, Maeve would have been the last that Nessa had guessed would ever claim that title.

And yet, the more she thought about it, the more sense it made.

Maeve had always been a natural leader. She'd always been the strong one, the defiant one, and the one who followed her beliefs no matter what.

As a child, Nessa had secretly admired her, though she'd never have admitted it.

Well. None of that mattered now. Maeve hated her, Nessa was certain of it.

Her lightened mood soured as she thought of her confrontation not only with her sister, but also the one with Neala just a short time before.

The queen hated her, and so, it seemed, did the king's sister.

She put her goblet down, feeling drained and cold all at once.

Darren seemed to notice her shift in mood immediately. "What?" he asked. "What's wrong? Did I say somethin' foolish?"

Nessa shook her head. "Nay. I did. Darren, tell me truthfully now. Even if I was tae somehow change me ways—and I'm nae sayin' I will nor that it's even possible—but if I could suddenly be on the side of the rebellion and all that ye stand for, would I even be welcome here?"

"What do ye mean? We went tae all that trouble tae fetch ye.

What on earth makes ye think we'd send ye away?

" Darren frowned, setting his own goblet down beside hers and taking a step closer.

"Is it because of what Neala said? I wouldnae worry.

She's been all over the place since she returned, I think it's taking her time tae adjust. I'll talk tae her, or I'll talk tae Cailean, and?—"

"It's nae just Neala," Nessa interrupted.

She tugged at the sleeve of her dress, twisting the material around her finger nervously.

Her father had always yelled at her when she fidgeted, but she often found it was the only way she could stay calm.

"It's Maeve. Nay, that isnae right. It's everyone. "

Darren furrowed his eyebrows, looking irritated. "Who has been cruel tae ye?"

She shook her head. "Nay. It's just that they all ken who I am.

And, Darren, people dinnae like me . They never have.

Maeve has always been able tae charm people with her wit and her beauty.

Breana has a gentleness and a kindness that draws people in.

Ye—ye can make anyone like ye with a joke and a winnin' smile.

But it's never been like that for me. I make people feel uncomfortable and awkward because I dinnae think the way they do.

I cannae understand the different meanin's people hide in their words.

And so I've always taken refuge in bein' the good daughter, the one who makes her father proud, the one who survives as her mother taught her.

I do me duty because it's the only thing I've ever kent, and if it hurts people, well then, at least I kent I was doin' what I should be doin'. "

She twisted her sleeve so hard that the material tore, but she hardly even noticed. Her speech was coming faster, her breathing less steady, and tears were budding in her eyes. Nessa was losing control, and without control, Nessa had no idea who she was.

"But if I've been wrong me whole life, how can I fix it?" she demanded. "How will people ever forgive me? Why would they want tae?"

"Nessa—" Darren started.

She shook her head. "Only Breana wants me here. Only Breana, even though I was so cruel tae her. But she'll forget me when the bairn comes. She'll realize I'm nae what she wants in her life, just as she should. How can I ever make people like me? How can I?—"

Darren leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.

Nessa gasped against his mouth. His arms slipped around her waist, pulling her close, though giving her enough slack to pull away if she wanted.

Her mind went blank as the world narrowed to the feeling of the kiss, and her eyes fluttered shut, her hands resting on his chest. He tasted of strawberries and wine, and she lost herself in it.

The kiss was over in a matter of seconds, and when it was done, Darren gently kissed her forehead and then pulled her in for a hug.

" I want ye here," he whispered in her ear. "Ye've let me ken ye, Nessa, while ye scolded me on the road here and admitted tae yer woes. I ken ye, and now I want tae be around ye all the time. If ye let the others get tae ken ye as well—the real ye—then I guarantee they'll want that too."

He pulled back from the hug, though still stayed close. Nessa stared at his face for a moment, stunned. This was the last thing she had expected to happen right now, and yet it seemed all of a sudden like her entire life had been moving to this moment.

"Will–will they kiss me too?" she asked with a weak chuckle.

Darren laughed. "I hope they dinnae, though of course ye're free tae kiss who ye like." He winked. "I'd prefer it was me, though. I'm happy tae offer kisses any time."

Nessa's heart was thudding in her chest. She couldn't think. She couldn't breathe. All she knew was that she didn't want to move away from Darren right now, and that for the first time, she felt like she might at last be somewhere safe.

"I dinnae think this method will work on Neala," she said after a pause. "And even less so on Maeve."

With another laugh, Darren offered his hand. Nessa took it with only a little hesitation.

"Ye're right," he said. "Let's find another way tae approach them, then. There's nae time like the present. But first, we need tae find Breana and Eoin before they think I've spirited ye away tae be inappropriate."

Nessa giggled, scarcely able to believe how much better she was already feeling. "Ye did, in a way."

"Well, dinnae tell them that!" Darren replied.

"I'll think about it," Nessa teased as Darren led her back outside. "Though what will ye give me in return?"

"For yer silence? Tell ye what. In exchange, I willnae tell them that ye just told me a wee secret I dinnae think I am supposed tae ken just yet." He turned around and gave her a knowing smirk, then started walking again.

Nessa frowned, trying to understand what he meant. She realized in a sudden burst of chagrin. The baby! She'd mentioned the baby! "Oh, Darren, dinnae say a word ," she hissed. "I'm warnin' ye."

Darren snorted. "Guess we have a deal then?"

Both of them were laughing and teasing each other by the time they reached Breana and Eoin again. Breana had a worried look on her face, but she relaxed the second she saw Darren and Nessa approaching.

"What are ye two laughin' about?" Eoin asked, his eyes on their joined hands. He gave a pointed look toward Darren. "Been havin' fun, have ye?"

"Never mind that," Breana said quickly, cutting in before the conversation could continue. "Nessa, we saw what happened with Neala. I dinnae ken why—well, never mind. The important thing is, are ye all right?"

Nessa paused for a moment. She could still feel Darren's hand in hers, and she recognized the true concern in Breana's eyes. "Hmm, I think I might be."