Highland Blessings (13 page)

“We will now have our evening meal,” Bryce announced.

They walked back to the castle in silence.

During their meal Bryce seemed quiet, and the whole atmosphere held a bit of melancholy. His profound silence disturbed her more than she would like to admit. She welcomed the distraction from Sim as he sat by her side, trying his best to communicate with hand signals.

She lifted her goblet and drank her wine. Low conversation buzzed around her as she set down the goblet. Feeling uneasy, her gaze slipped in Bryce’s direction and their eyes met. Breaking eye contact, Akira shifted in her seat and reached for a block of crowdie from the platter. She could still feel him watching her as she chewed her food and wished he would forget her existence, at least for the moment, so she could eat in peace.

“Akira can hold her own with a sword against any man,” Elliot said across the table to Kian, “except for the fact that she lacks the strength of a man, but not the skill.” He grinned impishly and winked at her.

Akira frowned. “Elliot, please. This isn’t the time or place to speak of such things.”

“Elliot, do not give her reason to test her skill,” Bryce’s rumbling voice interjected. All conversation momentarily paused as everyone exchanged glances.

Elliot shrugged, grinning mischievously. “I merely speak the truth. I have no need to lie of my sister’s skill.”

Bryce leaned forward as he took a swallow from his goblet before replying. “Even so, Akira will be my wife and will conduct herself as such. Her life as a MacKenzie is over. I protect what is mine, and I intend for her to have no need of that skill.” Akira twisted in Bryce’s direction, a fervent denial on the tip of her tongue, but Elliot’s angry voice sliced through the air.

“Are ye implying that the MacKenzie clan doesn’t protect their women?”

She watched as something shifted across her brother’s features. A feeling of dread plummeted in her stomach. She knew him well enough to know that he was extremely offended by Bryce’s words. Her gaze shifted back to Bryce, hoping he would dismiss her brother’s careless question.

Bryce seemed to be considering his words carefully. “I am only saying what I will do as her husband. Surely, ye’d want yer sister to have a husband who would willingly protect her with his own life?” Bryce’s dark eyebrows lifted as he raised a chunk of crowdie to his lips.

The response served as a direct challenge that Akira knew Elliot hadn’t expected. When put so valiantly, he could hardly deny it, or appear to not care for Akira.

“Yer correct, indeed.” Elliot’s lips twisted. “But, Akira was betrothed to Evan, not ye.” Elliot picked up his goblet and watched Bryce’s reaction as he drained its contents.

Akira glowed with satisfaction as she waited for Bryce’s reply. Elliot had said exactly what she would have said, if Elliot hadn’t been creating such a spectacle of himself. She wisely reserved her comments in case she must plead Elliot’s cause later. Her brother’s presence gave Bryce something to use against her, and the knowledge of that power scared her. She would do anything to protect her brother, as Bryce, no doubt, knew.

Bryce pushed his plate to the side and linked his fingers on the table. “Elliot, I understand and respect yer point, but take a moment to view it my way. The signed agreement stained with my father’s blood says she will wed the MacPhearson chief, not Evan MacPhearson. Therefore, Akira was, and is, betrothed to the MacPhearson chief, and that is me.”

A sharp pain spiraled through Akira’s chest. She had never seen the written agreement her father had protectively guarded all these years. If what Bryce said was true, then he would have a legitimate claim to her.

Hushed whispers and soft gasps rippled through the great hall as people realized the impact of Bryce’s words. He simply rested his chin upon his knuckles and looked at her. His eyes mocked, daring her to deny the fateful trap he’d set for her.

Elliot’s response brought a smile to her face. “I’m afraid that’s an issue ye’ll have to take up with the MacKenzie chief.”

Akira’s heart filled with love for her brother; at least he still defended her. Elliot went back to eating his food, knowing there was no need for Bryce to reply. Akira could feel the lingering tension and finished her meal in silence as conversations began to stir again.

Desperate to escape, Akira asked to be excused. Bryce nodded and stood, assisting her. Akira’s stomach twisted into knots as he led her from the table. She had hoped to be allowed the privacy of her own chamber, but she should have known better. As they passed by, she gave Elliot a reassuring nod to keep him seated at the table and out of trouble.

“I would like to walk,” Akira said, removing his hand from her arm once they were out of sight.

“As ye wish, but I canna afford to give ye the luxury of being alone.”

He led her to the courtyard where Akira could smell the sweet night air as the balmy breeze stirred her senses. It had been a long day. With Evan’s burial followed by the tension at the evening meal, she felt drained of energy. How she wished to be safe at home in her father’s keep, away from this uninviting place. She missed her father terribly. She even missed her mother’s nagging objections to her unladylike behavior. Suddenly, she realized that the things she used to complain about were her most cherished memories.

The sound of running water caught her attention, and she followed it to a fountain filling a small, round pool of water encased in a bed of stone. Akira sat on the edge and lifted her head to the stars.

“Ye must be wishing ye were far from here.” Bryce spoke softly behind her, sending small shivers up her spine and tickling her neck. She sensed he was only a whisper away by the heat of his breath upon her neck. Akira shut her eyes, wondering what she should do.

“Ah, my guess must be correct. Ye close yer eyes as if ye wish I would disappear.” She neither confirmed nor denied his statement, opening her eyes once again to gaze into the night sky.

“I, too, wish I were far from here.” He paused a moment. “I’ve been left with a great deal of responsibility. I don’t wish to fail my people and many question my reasons for upholding the betrothal.”

“In that regard I am not much different from them.” She wanted to be civil in case there might be a chance of reasoning with him, but Akira couldn’t hide the biting edge in her tone.

“I made a promise, Akira.” His firm voice sounded as if he’d made up his mind.

“Yer promise is not my burden to bear.”

“That is where ye’re wrong. Ye happen to be the only daughter of the MacKenzie chief, and I will see my promise carried out.”

“Ye made a promise for Evan. ’Tisn’t fair for ye to expect me to spend the rest of my life keeping yer promise.” She shook her head in denial. “M’lord, ye ask too much.” She tried to control the rising anger as she fully turned to him, searching by the light of the moon for answers in a face of stone.

Bryce paced, rubbing the knotted muscles in his neck as he considered her words. “I only told ye a small portion of the story in the chapel. I’ll tell ye the rest now. Ye deserve that much.

“’Twas upon his return from meeting the MacKenzie chief and signing the betrothal that my da was mortally wounded by a MacKenzie warrior. Evan and I knew he should have returned, but rather than alert the clan of our worries, we went in search of him. We split up, and I was the one who found him. He still had the agreement and was insistent that I see the betrothal through. I couldn’t deny him his dying wish.”

Akira thought back to the evening meal when Bryce had said that the agreement was stained in his father’s blood. MacKenzie warriors killed both his father and his brother. She couldn’t knowingly commit herself to a marriage where she would most likely be a constant reminder of so much pain and loss. Too much of a legacy of hate existed between them, a lifetime built solely on one man’s promise with no foundation of love or loyalty to even bind them together. If only she knew God’s will. She was but one woman and Bryce one man. How could their union bring an end to decades of hate and bitterness between so many families among their clans? It would take a lot more than the two of them—a miracle.

“I understand the need to honor yer promise, but I canna willingly commit myself to a marriage neither of us want. What kind of life would that be? Yer people hate me. I couldn’t stand to be here for the rest of my life. Surely, ye understand that?”

Bryce stopped pacing and stood in front of her, his large shadow lurking over her in the moonlight. “Akira, I didn’t tell ye this to win yer agreement. I felt ye should know the reason for my actions.”

“I do. It makes sense now why ye took me and not Evan.”

“That’s not what I’m referring to, lass. I intend to wed ye, and wed ye I will.”

Akira shook her head in denial, fear rising to the back of her throat. “Nay. Ye’ll blame me for everything the MacKenzies have ever done. We should forget the betrothal.”

Akira rested her shaking palms against the rough stone where she sat. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her escalating nerves.

“I never break a promise, Akira. I’ll not lie to a dead man, especially my da.” He slowly approached.

Fear suffocated her like fingers crawling around her throat. She needed to be free of him, if only long enough to gain control of her swirling emotions.

Praying she could make it past him, Akira bit her bottom lip and broke into a run. Bryce lunged to the side and reached out a heavy arm, blocking her path from escape. He pulled her to him and tossed her over his shoulder, locking his arms around her legs like iron chains. Akira scrambled to breathe as his hard shoulder pushed the breath from her lungs. Taking a moment to recover, she managed a few grateful breaths and continued to struggle.

“Bryce, put me down.” Akira beat her fists upon his back.

He hauled her through the courtyard with only a few lit torches and the half-moon for light. She tried to ignore the discomfort in her stomach as she bounced on his shoulder. His brisk pace was much worse than being hauled over Ahern’s back. The corded muscle of his shoulder dug into her soft body.

They approached the tall towers near the gates to the castle. Hearing a sudden sound from the shadows, Akira clutched the back of Bryce’s shirt in her fists. A feminine giggle reached her ears. Akira relaxed, certain they were not in danger of being ambushed.

“Just a couple having a bit of sport,” Bryce coaxed, noticing her reaction.

“I’m not afraid,” Akira declared. “Merely cautious.”

A woman laughed, running from the shadows and looking behind her to make sure her lover followed. Bryce had no time to step aside. He lost his balance as she plunged into them. Bryce maneuvered Akira from his shoulder to cradle her in his arms as his large frame broke their fall. Akira remained unharmed, but she suspected Bryce’s hip would surely be sore by morning.

He uttered a string of incoherent words as he moved to a sitting position, glaring at the woman peering down at them with interest. “Mirana, if ye were a man, ye’d be feeling the brunt of my ire about now.”

“Aye, Bryce. As if ye’ve not made that promise before.” Her silky voice oozed with self-confidence.

Curious at the familiar voice, Akira pushed her nose from Bryce’s chest and turned to see the woman. Akira froze in sudden anger. It was the woman who had spit at her during Evan’s funeral. Akira started to rise, but Bryce gripped her arm and held her still.

“Akira, are ye all right?” His pretense of concern only heightened Mirana’s anger.

“Since when did ye become concerned about the welfare of a MacKenzie, Bryce?” Mirana interrupted, shrugging her lover’s hand off her arm when the warrior tried to pull her away.

Instead of answering, Bryce directed his attention to the warrior beside her. “Rae, take her away before I lose my temper.”

He nodded and grabbed her hand, but Mirana jerked away from him. “I have one last thing to say.” She stepped forward and spat on Akira again.

Appalled, Akira gasped and rose before Bryce could restrain her and slapped the wench as hard as she could. “That is the last time ye spit on me, ye foul—”

Bryce reached around Akira’s waist and pulled her from Mirana with such force that she had no choice but comply.

“I’ve had enough of her!” Akira warned through clenched teeth. “She spat on me at Evan’s funeral, and I’ll not tolerate someone treating me like that again.”

“Rae. Take her away—now,” Bryce ordered in a demanding tone.

“Aye, Bryce.” He scooped a whining Mirana up into his arms and carted her off in the opposite direction from whence they had come.

Akira shoved away from Bryce, but he wouldn’t let her go. “That isn’t how I would imagine my future husband taking up for me. This silly notion ye have of us wedding will not work and I refuse. Her spitting on me and her contempt is exactly what I was referring to earlier.”

“Ah, lass.” He shook his head from side to side and made a tsk-tsk noise. “Ye still don’t understand, do ye? Ye have no choice in the matter. I am the chief, and I command ye to wed me. As for Mirana, I’ll see that she’s justly punished. Her behavior at Evan’s funeral did not escape my notice.”

She stopped struggling against him and grew pensive. “Ye’re not
my
chief.” She kept her voice calm, but firm.

“I have a promise to fulfill, and ye will wed me.” His hands gripped her arms above her elbows and for a moment she thought he would throttle her. Instead, he searched her gaze in the moonlight. “Lass, don’t fight me on this. Yer efforts are futile.”