“What worries you?”
“Everything. Broc, what if we can’t find them? What if Kelvan has more men than we do? What if Glenna sells John and Lia before we find them? What if he cuts Alasdair’s hand off?” She couldn’t stop the tears from misting her gaze. “What if you’re hurt? Logan was stabbed, two guards were hurt. There could be many more injured the next time. And what if they come back for more bairns again?”
“Hush,” he said, setting his fingers to her lips. “You’re doing what I spent the last hour doing, and it gained me naught. We can’t begin to guess what is about to happen. We have to trust in the elders of the group.”
“But it didn’t work before. More were taken. Are you not afraid, Broc?”
“I am. I hate to admit it, but I am scared. I thought I would come back with my mother, but we failed. So I understand your fear.”
“Kelvan is so cruel. So evil.”
“He is, but this was a patrol we were on. The next one will be a full battle with the Grant warriors called in from home. He’ll not beat us. Trust me, lass.”
“If you trust them, then I will too. I want so badly to have this all go away, so we can …”
“We can what?” He grinned, tipping his head.
How did she tell him what she wished? That she wished they could marry because she knew Broc would never hurt her like Kelvan had done to Nara. After watching her poor sister’s relationship, she swore she’d never marry. She whispered, “So we can get closer.”
Broc made her feel differently. She wished for them to explore each other’s bodies, something she’d never thought to do before.
Never!
Now she wished to see what he looked like without his tunic on. With naught on.
Her dear mother was probably rolling in her grave at her thoughts.
He whispered, “I want the same. I wish you were mine. I wish we had the time to ride across the isle, to swim at the beaches, to hike over the mountain. Mayhap someday.”
He didn’t know how to tell her that, at the moment, he didn’t deserve her. He’d failed his mother, failed his father, failed Logan. It was as if there were a wild boar standing outside the castle looking at him.
You’ll never be rid of me, laddie.
Broc had the oddest wish to find a boar and stick his sword in its belly. But he’d yet to see a boar on Mull.
He held Merryn close. “Soon, lass. Soon.”
“Good, because I’m falling more in love with you every time we are together, Broc MacNicol.” His heart swelled at the words.
“I love you too, Merryn. Our time will come soon enough.”
What he didn’t say was that if he didn’t save his mother, he’d never be able to marry. He wouldn’t be worthy of Merryn’s, or anyone’s, love.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Simone
Simone and Artan sluiced through the water in the small ship, one they’d borrowed from Sloan, and headed toward Mingary.
“She’ll be there,” Simone whispered.
They reached the beach in Bloody Bay, landed the boat, and hid it in the weeds. There were no lights on around the castle.
Luckily, the half-moon gave them enough light to find their way to the curtain wall opening they’d used previously. “You’d think they would have filled it in.” Simone snorted.
“Never said she was smart,” Artan joked. “Slimy, crafty, and a liar, but never smart.”
Simone chortled. “I cannot wait to meet your dear sister.”
