- Why are you still here, Rose?
- We need to talk.
She approached me and touched my arm. The hand holding the stone handrail squeezed the roughness so tightly that the knots of my fingers turned white.
- We have nothing to talk about! - I fired with indignation. - Go away!
My anger wanted to dominate my body, but I tried to control myself to do nothing stupid that would bring me regret, or worse, many problems. Uncovering my arm from its touch, I began to climb the steps again.
- Our son is something we need to talk to each other about a lot. - she fired in a cynical voice. - I will not leave this castle without a fair repair.
Unbeliever, I turned to face her.
- Get a fair repair from the man who got her pregnant. - he said between his teeth.
- What do you mean by that? - she said hesitant. - You wouldn't happen to be trying to escape responsibility, would you? Because that's all I needed, the great Alec, to act like a coward and abandon the mother of his son.
Possess, I started to walk down the stairs and headed for Rose. I grabbed her throat hard and it scared her.
- What are you doing? What are you doing? Let go of me! - ...she's already out of breath. - Alec, you're hurting me!
- I'm not a coward! - he said between his teeth. - I don't know who you think you're talking to, but I'm the king's brother and I won't let you call me by my name. When you want to speak directly to me, say "Your Highness" instead of my baptismal name. Do we agree?
- Yes... Yes. - She whispered with difficulty. - Please, let me go! I can't breathe.
There was desperation in Rose's eyes and she was surprised by my attitude. I hated being fooled, and she'd crossed every possible line. I wanted to kill her for her lack of respect for my brother's crown, as well as her negative sense of decorum. I couldn't blame her either, since we gave Rose total freedom to behave like one.
- That's enough! - Alistair ordered it, leaving the side room. - Alec, let her go!
I was wondering for a moment whether I'd let her go or not. That's when I looked the other way and found the look in Aila's eyes that I took a deep breath. She nodded so that I would follow the order, so I let Rose go, and she fell to the ground. She coughed trying to catch her breath that she had missed.
- Miserable! - Rose whispered as soon as I took a little distance. - Everyone will know that you tried to kill me and our son too.
She threatened to use the wall next to her to hold herself. Rose slowly raised her hand around her neck.
- You won't do it, because there's no child. - shot Aila coming towards where we were. - At least one that belongs to Alec.
Rose frowned.
- Are you accusing me of being a liar? - Rose said indignantly.
I realized she was trying to keep her composure, but there was fear in her gaze. I could, Rose had never confronted anyone with Aila's level. She was perceptive and direct, and cold in her actions. Rose was used to having control, which was impossible to obtain, when Aila spoke.
- I'm not trying to say anything! - shot Aila. - I'm saying you're a liar.
Aila took a break and looked at me.
- You weren't with me that night, Rose, because you were too busy trying to take off my brother's pants, who was so drunk with wine and passed out. - said on an accusatory note causing her to shrink. - It was Bruce who found him and took him to a safe place before he did something stupid to repent of. I left the next morning after I said goodbye to my father and Alistair. If necessary, I can ask my father to come and testify that he was with me the whole time.
- Oh, my God! Oh, my God! - it was Aideen's turn to speak. - Did you take advantage of my mistrust and the deal I made with you to fool Alec too?
- What mistrust and what do you guys talk so much about? - I asked confused.
- When Rose said she was pregnant with Alistair, I realized that it would be impossible, since he had been on the front for a long time. As we were not sure, because the child could be yours, we agreed that Rose would stay in a chalet until the child was born.
- And how did you intend to make sure that the child would be mine? - I asked perplexed.
- For the eyes. - she answered. - Alistair said all MacCalister were born with blue eyes, plus a sign. If the child had these characteristics, we would know that it was his, because he was the only one with the time to be with Rose.
I snorted with indignation.
- Although your theory is plausible, what makes you think I'd lie with Rose after coming back from my years of study?
Aila gave me a sarcastic look and rolled her eyes.
- You said that your fame would still cause you trouble.
- Excuse me, little brother! - said Alistair, approaching and tapping on my shoulder. - You're the only one in the Highlands with a reputation as a seductive womanizer.
-
