He closed his eyes and then stared up at the clouds overhead. “Because Glenna is the reason I left the mainland.”
Confused, Simone waited for more. She knew his heritage, but he rarely spoke about his family, claiming he left because he didn’t like their way of life. What exactly were they capable of?
“Glenna is the evilest soul I’ve ever met. She’ll be hard to stop.”
Simone narrowed her gaze because she had a sudden understanding why this man who she adored was acting so strangely. “Glenna is the one who hurt my father, isn’t she?”
“Aye. If not for Broc, Logan would be dead. It was a goal of hers. She swore that before she died, she would see Logan and Kyla dead.”
Simone set her hands on her hips and said, “Artan, I love you dearly, but your sister is a dead woman. I will kill her with my bare hands if I must.” She had a fury inside her that would not be quenched until there was an arrow that pierced both sides of the bitch’s body and a dagger in each eye. “Do you wish to go with me or stay here? I’ll not tell you if you don’t wish to know.”
“I’ll go with you. If I must, I’ll put the sword in her chest myself. I know how she is. I’ll not hold it against you, Simone.”
She stepped closer and kissed a tear from his cheek. “I’m sorry, but I will do what I must.”
Artan sighed and said, “We must move. You cannot waste time when it comes to Glenna.”
“I’m ready.”
She was more than ready. A rage drove her forward unlike any she’d ever experienced before.
Glenna was about to meet her brother’s wife.
At the opposite end of her deadliest arrow.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Broc
Broc stood with Thane on the beach closest to MacQuarie land, watching the approach of a ship coming from Ulva. “Friendly, are they? Do you recognize them, Thane?”
“I believe it’s Artan and Simone. Simmy and Tanner. That looks like one of his ships that he keeps on Ulva.”
Merryn was inside bathing, something that calmed her, so Broc had promised to watch for Simmy. He’d hoped standing on the beach and taking in the sea air would give him the clarity and calm he needed.
Unfortunately, it didn’t give him anything but more worry, more concern, more fear.
What if he couldn’t help his mother? What if they couldn’t find the group anywhere?
Or what if they found everyone but Shealee? Kelvan was her sire, so could he keep her if he wished to? Would King Robert side with him?
Broc had fought with all the strength he had, had searched all the areas for hidden threats when they’d gone to Mingary, yet still he’d failed. Logan Ramsay had nearly died in his arms, and it would be a long time before Broc would get over that experience.
The pale skin, the ashen lips, the blood. So much blood dripping from his hands, on his tunic.
Thane said, “I’m going inside for a bit. I’ll return shortly.”
Merryn came out at the same time as Thane disappeared. “Is it Simmy?”
“I believe so.” He wrapped his arm around her, tugging her close. There was definitely a chill in the air, though it didn’t bother him a bit.
“What are you thinking about? You look verra serious, Broc.”
Should he tell her the truth? He decided it was time to open up a wee bit. “I’ll be honest with you. I’m unsettled about going to Tiree. After my experience at Mingary and what happened to me when I was young, I worry whether I’ll be able to hold up under the pressure of a sword swinging over my head.”
She peered up at him, looking surprised. “But you saved Logan. Why would you worry? And what happened when you were young?”
He sighed and turned his head so she could see the wound on his cheek. “This. You’ve seen it multiple times. I have this scar and a much larger one on my belly.”
