Quinn snorted. “You just wanted to give Lucan and Cara some time alone.”
“I did. There’s nothing wrong with that. If Lucan’s senses are right, they may not have any time after tonight.”
Quinn blew out a breath and nodded slowly. “Lucan’s senses have never failed him before. He’s always known where the boar or deer are when we hunt.”
“Aye. It’s why I didn’t question him.”
“The others don’t understand.”
“I don’t give a damn,” Fallon said. “As long as they stay on guard and alert us if they see anything, they can believe what they will.”
Fallon and Quinn stood quietly side by side for several moments before Quinn spoke again. “You would have married that woman, what’s her name, Da asked you to, wouldn’t you?”
Fallon chuckled. “I cannot even remember her name, either. And, aye, I would have. Da said it was for the good of the clan.”
“Regardless of what you wanted?”
“It didn’t matter what I wanted, Quinn. That’s the point of being laird. Sacrifices had to be made. The alliance with the MacDonalds would have been a great boon. Two of the largest, strongest clans in Scotland. It was Da’s goal for a long time.”
Quinn scratched his jaw and shifted his feet wider. “Your life could have been awful with that woman.”
“Maybe, but then I could live through you and your good life with Elspeth.”
He cringed and turned away, but he must not have been quick enough, for Fallon’s hand gripped his shoulder and turned him back around.
“I’m sorry I spoke of Elspeth. I know you don’t like to talk about her.”
Quinn looked over the moonlit land. “Speak of Elspeth as you will, Fallon. I didn’t speak of her because I failed her and our son. To make matters worse, I didn’t love her.”
“So why did you marry her?” Fallon’s voice was filled with concern and shock.
“It seemed the right thing to do. She wanted me, and I wanted a family. I knew Elspeth had always been of a gentle nature, but once we were married, it became worse. Much worse. I couldna get annoyed without her cowering in fear, even though I never laid a hand on her in anger.”
“I had no idea.”
“No one did. I wanted it that way.”
“There is more, isn’t there?”
Quinn leaned his hands on the stones and lifted a foot to rest it in the crenel, the opening between the merlons of the battlements. “Do you remember when my son was born?”
“Vaguely. It was a joyous day in our family.”
“It was hell,” Quinn said. “The labor was long and the baby had to be turned. Elspeth was so weak afterward and had lost so much blood that she nearly died. The midwife cautioned us about having any more children. In Elspeth’s mind, that meant I could no longer make love to her.”
“Shite,” Fallon murmured.
“The midwife had given her some herbs to take every day so she wouldn’t conceive again, but Elspeth refused to take them. And I refused to touch her unless she took them. I may have wanted more children, but I wasn’t going to risk her life for them. I was happy with my son, my family that I had.”
“Quinn.”
He shook his head. “Doona say it, Fallon. There’s no need. I married Elspeth because I wanted what Mum and Da had. Those special looks and secret smiles they shared with each other. I thought all marriages would be that way.”
“Nay. Not all.”
“I learned that too late. I see those same looks between Lucan and Cara, and I envy them what they’ve found. You’ve always been the eldest, the one in charge. Lucan has always been able to fix anyone’s problems, no matter how big or small. I had nothing. I was nothing.”
“You had us,” Fallon said as he faced Quinn.
“You are a MacLeod. A fine warrior, and a Highlander I’m proud to call brother.”
Quinn slammed his hand down on the stones, cracking them. “Look at me, Fallon. I cannot control the creature, and God help me, but I don’t really want to. I’m not fit to be near anyone.”
“The god chooses the best warrior from each family, Quinn. The god inside us chose all three MacLeod brothers. What does that tell you?”
“That the god is an idiot.”
“That all three of us are the best warriors.”
Quinn shook his head, desperately wanting to believe his brother. “You and Lucan are all I have now, but the rage inside me burns and grows the longer I watch Lucan and Cara. I’ve tried to control it. Lucan deserves joy. I don’t begrudge him in the least.”
“Neither of you left me while I stayed in my wine-induced haze. We won’t leave you now. We’ll get through this, Quinn, as we’ve done everything else. We’re MacLeods. We only have each other.”
Quinn opened his mouth to answer when something on the cliffs caught his eye. He narrowed his gaze and leaned over the battlements.
“God’s blood,” he murmured, and watched as a Warrior came in sight.
“I’ll go to Lucan and Cara. You tell the others,” Fallon said before he ran from the battlements.
Quinn’s gut clenched with unease while his blood burned for battle. He cupped his hands around his mouth and gave the whistle that sounded more like a bird than a man. Shadows moved on the castle letting him know they had heard and understood.
The attack they had been expecting for days was upon them.
Quinn tilted back his head and let the rage consume him.
* * *
Cara sat in Lucan’s lap, her head resting on his shoulder. She didn’t regret telling him of her love nor had she expected him to reply in kind. But she had hoped.
They had long since dressed, but they had been unable to stop touching each other. She closed her eyes as his fingers combed through her hair, prickling her scalp with delicious pleasure.
She didn’t understand his love of her hair, but she enjoyed it. She had a particular fascination with his body in which she could never look enough, feel enough of him.
Her hand moved over his heart. It beat strong and steady, just like him. She glanced up to find his gaze in the flames before them. He was thinking of the coming battle.
Since he was a Warrior, she didn’t fear him being wounded. And since Deirdre wanted all the Warriors, especially the Macleods, Cara didn’t worry about their heads being chopped off.
But Lucan worried about her.
Her gaze shifted to her sword, which stood next to the hearth, leaned against the stones. Her dagger, the beautiful dagger Lucan had made for her, was strapped to her hip. All they could do was wait.
Suddenly the sound of Quinn’s whistle, the alarm for danger, sounded. Cara jerked upright and met Lucan’s gaze. The battle was upon them.
The door to the castle burst open and Fallon rushed inside, slamming the door behind him. “Quinn spotted the first Warrior.”
Cara started to rise from Lucan’s lap when his hands held her down. She looked at him and saw the fear in his eyes.
“Stay with me, Cara.”
“I will,” she promised.
He slid his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her to his mouth for a kiss that was slow and sensual, full of passion and the love they had confessed. “We’ll beat the Warriors again,” he murmured.
When he released her, she rushed to get her sword and palmed the dagger in her left hand. She missed Lucan’s warmth already. She had dreaded this night, for she knew her life would be forever changed.
Fallon leapt on top of the table, two swords in his hands. She waited for Lucan to ask him to transform, but he didn’t. Lucan held her gaze as his skin darkened to black and his beautiful sea green eyes vanished beneath the
