“In the great hall,” Thomas replied. “He’s quite eager to hear what ye have to say, but he sent me to greet ye and warn ye that if ye betray him, he’ll have yer head and those of yer party. Dunnae fash yerself about yer wife’s head, though. If ye betray the Steward, I’ll gladly make yer wife my own. I’m in need of a bonny bride.”
Lena had to clench her jaw to keep from spouting nasty words at Thomas, but when he turned his attention to her again, she forced another smile and prayed it looked enticing and not murderous. “Tell me, Lena—Ah, may I call ye Lena?”
She nodded, praying Alex would not kill Thomas here and now.
“Are ye with bairn?” he asked.
She was too startled by his blunt question to immediately answer. Beside her, she saw Alex’s sword start to rise once more, but Thomas waved a hand at Alex. “Dunnae take offense, MacLean. ’Tis just that Lena did nae provide an heir for her Campbell husband, and I am simply curious if she is able to bear children.”
Her own fears rose up to nearly choke her, but she heard herself say, “Dunnae fash yerself about my ability to bear sons, my lord. ’Tis the cold husbands I have been forced to wed that are the problem, nae me.”
Thomas chuckled at that. “I like yer spirit.”
She batted her eyelashes at him. “And I admire yer lack of concern for yer head. If ye continue this line of questioning, I fear my husband may lop it off yer body. It’s verra braw of ye.”
Thomas smirked. “I do try, Lena. There was a time I did nae feel so braw, but then I took hold of my fate.” His gaze trailed to Alex once more, and Lena got the distinct impression that Thomas was speaking in riddles purposely but that Alex understood the man’s meaning.
“Enough, Thomas. Take me to the Steward and have one of yer women show my wife and my men to their quarters.”
“I suppose I must, as the Steward is waiting. Lena, vow to me ye’ll save me a dance tonight.”
“I will,” she replied quickly before Alex could deny Thomas’s request. She avoided Alex’s gaze, though she could feel the heat of his anger directed at her. When he started away with Thomas, Alex turned to her briefly, his intense look impaling her.
“Remember yer vow, Wife.”
She nodded, as Broch and Donald flanked her, clearly recalling their own.
Sixteen
Lena was going to be the death of him. Alex gripped the reins of his horse, struggling to maintain control over his emotions. His fragile wife had become a bold warrior in her heart, and though her transformation made him happy, in this moment it concerned him more than anything. She was treading in dangerous waters. But he could not linger on the problem Lena presented now. He had to focus on the Steward and his vow to the king.
He turned to look at the man riding beside him, only to find Thomas staring at him. It had been nearly sixteen summers since they had seen each other. “Why are ye here?” Alex asked.
“I serve the Steward,” Thomas said easily.
It occurred to Alex in that moment that if Thomas served the Steward, then his father, Laird Fraser, had to be one of the unknown traitors.
“How did ye come to serve the Steward?” Alex asked.
“After the incident with Gillis, I asked the Steward to allow me to stay. Ye had already left with yer da.”
Alex had a thousand questions, but he kept his silence, allowing Thomas to talk.
Thomas stopped his horse and held Alex’s gaze. This man was not the same boy Alex had once called a friend. He could see it in the remoteness of Thomas’s eyes. It was as if a light had been extinguished. “It seems the Steward had grown tired of the problems Gillis caused him, but he’d nae found a good way to rid himself of his brother without incurring the wrath of his brother’s men. He was well pleased that I’d done him the favor, yet he was nae sure he could permit the young lad who had killed his brother to keep his head and still ensure the men were fearful of him. It did nae take him long to decide he wished to use me, to make me into a weapon. He made sure all kenned what his brother had done to me so they would give me their pity and ken why the Steward had allowed me to live.”
Alex winced at the shame it had to have caused Thomas. “Thomas—”
“I dunnae need yer sympathy,” he growled, his voice low but intensely harsh. “I lived through Gillis and through the shame. I sculpted myself into a warrior whom others fear. I have been betrayed and abandoned by friends and by family, but everything I endured made me strong. Fear me, MacLean, as ye should, for I have nae forgotten.”
Alex had lived so long with the guilt of not having prevented Gillis from getting his evil hands on Thomas that he took what Thomas said to him as his due punishment. The words the man had spoken to Lena earlier and his antagonistic demeanor had told Alex that Thomas was holding a grudge, and the man was right to do so.
“Thomas,” Alex said, even as he moved his hand to the hilt of his sword, “I should nae have left, but my da—”
“I want vengeance,” Thomas interrupted.
Alex swallowed the apology, sensing it would only anger Thomas in this moment. Alex nodded. “I can see that. I can even ken—”
“I kinnae take yer life presently,” Thomas interrupted again. “The Steward has hope that ye are truly joining his forces, but if ye prove yerself false, then ye have been given fair warning that I will be coming for ye.”
