“Ye can consider the threat on yer head expired,” the king announced to Cameron without preamble.
The pronouncement was not overly surprising since Cameron had recently delivered the killers of the king’s mistress to the king, but they were welcome words to Alex on his friend’s behalf. Cameron nodded and started to offer his thanks, but the king waved a hand for silence. Looking directly at Iain, he said, “I wish to speak with ye about Lena.” Without waiting for a response, he started away, motioning to be followed.
A distinct feeling of dread settled in Alex’s gut. The king surely couldn’t mean to use Lena already, could he?
Tension crackled in the air as Lena’s brothers moved as one to follow the king, but David stopped and faced them. “Iain and Alex only. The rest of ye are to remain here.”
Lena’s brothers exchanged quick, confused looks, and unease rippled through the air like a breeze. But at Iain’s subtle shake of his head, the younger three brothers obeyed. The king’s wish for Alex to be there shocked and perplexed him, but he wasted no time, falling into step beside Iain as he followed the king. If he could do something to aid Lena, he would, though in truth, he had no notion what that could possibly be.
Three
“I’ll nae bother mincing words,” the king said as the door to the solar closed with a soft click. King David faced Alex and Iain, who stood side by side to the right of the door. His gaze settled on Iain. “The Campbell has petitioned me to order Lena to marry his nephew, Daro—”
“Nay!” Iain bellowed, making the king’s eyes glitter with anger.
Alex had to clench his teeth not to voice his own protestation against Lena being forced to marry, once again, a relation of the dishonorable Campbell laird. Lena was not Alex’s sister. He had no claim or right to comment on the matter, though his throat burned with the need to do so. He swallowed the fierce yearning, and said, “I’ll wait outside while the two of ye discuss this.”
“Stay,” the king commanded. “I wish to speak with ye next and dunnae have time to waste on waiting for ye to return. I have a throne I’m fighting to keep!” he roared.
Alex and Iain exchanged a quick look of understanding. David was in a mood, and when he was like this, he was nearly impossible to reason with. Alex inclined his head in acquiescence while David paced in front of them for a moment, the soft clap of his shoes against the stone making Alex grit his teeth with mounting impatience. Finally, David paused and looked at them. His chin was set stubbornly, and his hands were clenched in fists.
“I am sensitive to the abuse yer sister suffered in her past, and how she may not wish to wed again,” the king said, his eyes locked on Iain. “But ye must ken my plight.”
When Iain simply stared at the king, David continued. “I’m certain the Campbell still plots with my nephew, the Steward, to take my throne, yet the Campbell dunnae do so overtly, which likely means he fears they dunnae have the forces to defeat me yet.” The king knifed his hand through the air. “I wish to occupy him by keeping up the pretense that I am striving to give him what he wishes.”
“And ye wish to do this by sacrificing my sister?” Iain bit out.
The king narrowed his gaze on Iain. “I have received information that two more lairds have signed my nephew’s false petition that declared I misused funds meant to pay the ransom owed to the king of England for my release. Ye ken—both of ye—” the king fastened his gaze on Alex briefly before returning it to Iain “—that though I have somewhat stopped the rebellion my illustrious nephew started and forced him to publicly vow his allegiance to me once again, it dunnae mean he has ceased his efforts. If the Steward has the support of two powerful lairds who have numerous warriors at their ready and they can convince other lairds to join them, the tide of rebellion could rise once again. I kinnae allow that.”
“I ken the Steward must nae be given the opportunity to take the reins of a rebellion against ye again,” Iain said in a clipped tone, “but I would be without honor to stand quietly and allow my sister to be returned as a sacrifice to the clan that abused her so grievously.”
“Aye,” Alex murmured, before he had even realized he’d let the word slip out.
The king turned a sharp look on him, then sighed, as if he too understood Iain’s point. “I kinnae deny the request while yer sister is unmarried without raising the Campbell’s suspicion. It could give him the provocation he needs to rally his men and others. But if she were to remarry someone else verra quickly, I could send word to the Campbell that his request had regrettably come too late.”
It was a solution, Alex knew, to save Lena from returning to the Campbells, yet his body still tensed.
“Lena will likely rebel against being forced to marry anyone,” Iain stated flatly.
The king’s nostrils flared, and he opened his mouth twice to retort before finally saying, “It is yer responsibility as laird to make her comply.” Alex had never heard David speak to Iain with such authority, as the two men had been friends since childhood.
“And if I refuse to compel her to marry?” Iain asked, his own voice vibrating with barely leashed anger.
The king’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Then perchance,” he said in a halting tone, “I will have to reconsider my pardoning Cameron for his part in the death of my beloved Katherine.”
The king knew damn well that his mistress’s death could have been avoided if she had remained quiet as Cameron had ordered when they had been under siege as they’d been escorting her to Dunvegan. It had been no fault of Cameron’s. But Alex understood the king and Iain were locked in a battle of wills. Alex also understood that he may very well have to make a dangerous choice in a breath—allegiance to his king or allegiance to his greatest and oldest friend. The thought brought a sharp sting to his gut, and he held his breath, waiting to see what would unfold.
A swift look of shock and betrayal swept over Iain’s face before a dark expression settled there. Alex focused on the king, silently willing him to offer something to stop the breaking of bonds that was unfolding before his eyes.
The king inhaled deeply, then said, “I am trying to save yer sister, Iain. I would do this for no other but ye. I am yer king, but I owe ye much, and I ken it. Meet me in compromise and let us keep our friendship.”
“Exactly where do ye wish me to meet ye?” Iain inquired, his tone slightly less surly than a moment ago.
“We will give her a choice of whom to marry. It’s more than most women get.”
“That dunnae make it right,” Iain muttered. Alex could not contain his grunt of agreement.
“Ye’ve something to add?” the king demanded.
