“Did you not have time to ask as he stabbed a knife into your gut?”
“Hugh,” Honoria admonished. “Have you no shame?”
“I’m ensuring I don’t miss anything.” To Lash, he said, “Regardless, you will stay here until my brothers return and we are strong in numbers. Then we can figure out what to do.”
“You hospitality is generous, but Danior won’t stop until he finds me. As you might have gathered, it’s dangerous for me to stay here.”
Hugh’s lips flattened. “They cannot breach our walls.”
Lash shook his head. “They won’t have to, he will wait me out—he is that determined.”
“He may have believed us,” Honoria pointed out. “We might have convinced him you’re not here.”
“You were as convincing as a duck masquerading as a cat,” Lash muttered. His eyes turned grave. “They made a mistake by not confirming I was dead. Danior will be back, perhaps with more men. Seems he has formed a band of mercenaries.”
“Then we must come up with a plan,” Honoria announced. “If he won’t stop until he finds you, then we give him the proof he wants.”
“And how are we going to accomplish that?” Isla asked.
“I have no clue,” Honoria muttered.
“Nay, it is too risky,” Hugh said. He glanced at Lash. “Once you are healed and my brothers return to guard my sisters, I will help you find yours. For now, we remain on guard until Adair arrives and he decides what to do about your brother. At the very least, we will not be outnumbered should your brother return. In the meantime, you will stay inside where it is safe,allof you.”
“That is a bit dramatic, Hugh,” Honoria insisted.
“I still think it’s best if I leave,” Lash said.
Hugh shook his head. “Have a heart, man. If you go, you leave me with the impossible task of keeping my sisters from charging after you with swords drawn.”
Honoria pounced on that. “Aye, we will not let you face your brother alone.”
Isla nodded. “Aye, stay.”
Lash looked unconvinced, but he wasn’t arguing, and that was something. If he left today and she tried to follow him, she’d have a fight on her hands. In fact, she was sure he’d march her straight back to the castle. He needed more time to heal.
And she needed more time with him. That is, more time to convince him to take her and Isla to Edinburgh when he did eventually leave.
Thatwas what she meant.
Surely, he’d want to look for his sister in the city, wouldn’t he? The city would be a perfect place to disappear, too, if his brother was indeed in pursuit—something she wasn’t sure was definite, as she thought theyhadbeen rather convincing earlier. In any case, they’d help him search for his sister, and when they found her, then she and Isla would be free to live their lives on their terms.
It would all work out.
“Trust us, Lash,” Honoria ventured, moving to lay a comforting hand on his arm. “You are safe here.”
Trust us.
Everything in Lash protested at the idea of placing his life in the hands ofgadjos. And the MacCallans . . . He hardly knew them. They weren’t of his blood. They had no real obligation to protect him. And still they insisted upon doing that.
He should leave. That is what he ought to do. Turn on his heel and walk right out of their lives. He spent seven months searching for Syeira. Seven months of failing to find her. Now he was injured with Danior at his heels. He should leave this instant.
He did the opposite.
The image of Honoria following him on horseback, wrapped in plaid, sword drawn, ran through his mind, and his feet remained firmly rooted to the spot.
Lash realized then, his feet might always stay rooted where she was concerned.
Amber eyes lifted to meet his. Her vivid gaze a shock to his system. The blood quickened in his veins. His heart throbbed against his chest. How unnerving to think it took so little to stir his blood—her soft gaze pinning him. That was all. It was damn unsettling.
