“Your da feared the attack would come on your wedding day, but he couldn’t be sure,” Old Henry said. “He wanted as many powerful and skilled warriors there just in case.”
Oria turned a confused expression on Henry. “Why didn’t my da just tell everyone?”
“Lies and secrets have a way of growing with time. Your da was trusted by all, as was his word. If the truth were known, he feared all the clans would demand you be given to the Beast in exchange for him to leave them in peace. But worst of all, he feared once Royden learned the truth he might have second thoughts about taking you as his wife. Or worse, his da would forbid him from marrying you. Your da wanted you protected and safe. With all the years you’d been gone from your true family, your da didn’t think they would be so cruel as to kill your husband, the man you loved since forever,” Old Henry said. “Your da also worried what might happen if the Beast managed to stop the wedding and take Royden prisoner.”
“So my da devised the plan for me to wed Burnell,” she said, then shook her head. “They could have easily made me a widow. Why let me stay wed to him?”
“Demelza could probably explain that to you and also tell you all about your true family,” Old Henry said.
Another wave of shock slammed into her. Demelza had known from when they’d first met that they were sisters. How long did she intend to wait to tell her the truth? Another thought rushed fear through her. What would her clan, Royden’s family, and the other clans think when they learned of this? And Royden. What would he think? Was their love strong enough to survive this news?
Oria got to her feet. “I have to go, Henry.”
“Remember one thing, Mistress Oria. This changes nothing. You are who you’ve always been. A good, kind soul who loves her family, her clan.”
“Thank you, Henry, and thank you for being a good friend to my da. I only hope others feel the same as you,” she said and took off for the keep.
She entered the Great Hall to find Wren and Demelza talking. She thought to go straight to what had once been her da’s solar, knowing that’s where she’d find her husband. She had to talk with him, had to let him know, had to try—she shook her head, a sudden thought interfered and brought her to a stop near the table where the two women sat.
Wren looked about to wave her over to join them, but stopped seeing the angry glare Oria sent Demelza.
“You know,” Demelza said.
Oria couldn’t acknowledge her as her sister and never would she accept the Beast as her brother. What she did want was everything made clear to her. Her thoughts came fast and furious, connecting more and more pieces to the puzzle.
“I understand why your brother couldn’t let me wed Royden. He’d inherit this land through our marriage and be chieftain when my da passed, giving him ownership of a large swath of land and the power that goes with it. But why let me remain wed to Burnell?” Oria demanded, anger flaring in her eyes, turning the color a sharp green.
Demelza stood. “He was wise enough to know you wouldn’t want to leave the only home, only country you have known. When all was done, he planned on finding you a good Norseman to wed and return you to your clan where your husband would rule.”
She might believe that but Oria didn’t. “You mean he’d keep me safely tucked away wed to an old man while he made sure to see that his plan was carried out successfully.”
Demelza remained silent, giving Oria her answer.
“The Beast planned to take MacKinnon keep for himself, wedding Raven.” Oria smiled, realizing what Raven’s bravery had done. “He didn’t count on Raven escaping him, did he?”
“Raven is a prickly thorn in my brother’s side,” Demelza admitted. “But our brother—”
“He is no brother of mine,” Oria spat.
Demelza remained calm, though her hands trembled. “Wolf had no intention of residing at MacKinnon keep or marrying Raven. He intended to wed Raven to a Norsemen and have him rule over Clan MacKinnon, but that is no more. Our brother will reside in our ancestral home with a Norsewoman as his bride.”
“Learmonth,” Oria said. “Burnell told me time and again that his ancestors had once owned all the land as far as one could see from the top of the keep. The land stretches out endlessly. But time and battles lost much of it.” She shook her head. “Of course, the distant relative of Burnell’s that inherits the title and clan is your brother. That’s another reason your brother left me wed to Burnell, my deceased husband is somehow related to you. Couldn’t your brother be satisfied with Learmonth? Why come after all the other clans?”
“Our brother wants what is rightfully ours—the land that had belonged to us far longer than anyone else.” Demelza said. “It was a promise he made to our grandmother, born of this land, and our brother always keeps his promise.”
Promises. Oria hated promises. They often hurt more than helped.
“You must understand what it meant—how it felt—that after all these years of thinking you were lost to us forever, you were found. Mother and Father were elated. They cannot wait to see you,” Demelza said.
“Yet they let five years pass without acknowledging me,” Oria reminded.
“That was Wolf’s order,” Demelza said.
“And you always do what he orders,” Oria said.
“Everyone does. He’s earned his position, his power, and though he can be harsh at times, he is a good man,” Demelza said.
“Not in my eyes,” Oria argued. “How can you even say that when he takes men captive and forces them to battle for—” It struck Oria then. “Why didn’t I see it? Thinking back to Penn, Fergus, Wilfred, they all willingly joined the group of mercenaries your brother formed. He only took warriors captive from the clans he attacked to leave the clans vulnerable and unable to defend themselves so he could easily take command of them. He never had any intention of letting any of the captured warriors return home, including Royden and his brother. He formed the band of mercenaries for just that reason, to hold all those warriors’ captive and prevent them from ever returning home to help free their clan.”
“You have a sharp, intelligent mind just like our mother,” Demelza said.
“My mother is dead as is my father,” Oria shouted. “I will never acknowledge you and especially the Beast as family.” She shook her head. How could she face her husband with such news? How could she even accept it herself?
The sudden urge to flee gripped her. She didn’t want to run, didn’t want to seem a coward, but at the moment she didn’t think she could be rationale. She had to get away from everything and everyone. Her feet paid her thoughts heed and she turned and ran out of the keep. She heard Wren’s voice call out for her to stop, but she ignored her. Once outside, she ran to her horse, mounted, and took off. She needed to ride, just ride, not worry, not fear, not think. She simply wanted to feel free of—everything.
The wind stung her cheeks and tore at her braid, the strands that fell free whipping around her face, she rode so hard. Tears stung at her eyes, but she wouldn’t let them fall. She wouldn’t let herself feel. She was tired of the pain, the endless hurt, and suffering. The lies, secrets, promises had done her so much damage that she didn’t know if she’d ever recover from them.
She didn’t realize anyone had followed her until her husband was there beside her. The pain, the hurt, the fear of what this news might bring tore at something inside her and she burst into tears.
Royden thought his heart would break when he saw the pain that devoured his wife’s face, but when she exploded in tears, his heart completely shattered. He didn’t waste a minute. He judged the distance and when the time was right, he jumped, landing perfectly behind her and took the reins from her to slow the horse to a stop. Not comfortable with being out in an open field, he guided the horse to a tree near the edge of the woods, his horse following.
He dismounted, his feet barely touching the ground when he reached up and lifted her off the horse. Her arms immediately went around him and when her feet tou
ched the ground, she buried her face against his chest.
Royden locked her tight against him. She said something that he couldn’t understand, her voice muffled by his shirt. “What did you say, Oria?”
She turned her face away from his shirt, but didn’t look up at him. “Don’t hate me. Please don’t hate me.”
“I could never hate you, Oria,” he said, keeping a tight hold on her, the quiver that ran through her running along him, and her tears and words shattering his heart even more.
Oria didn’t want to leave her husband’s arms, didn’t want to face the truth, didn’t want to believe that her whole life had been a lie. She laid no blame on her parents. They hadn’t known she had been abducted. They had seen a wee bairn in need and had taken her and given her all the love they had to give. She couldn’t imagine, and she didn’t want to, the heartache her true parents must have suffered at losing her. But she simply could not accept a new family, not now, and not one who had caused the man she loved such harm and such suffering.
“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I love you and nothing will ever change that,” Royden assured her.
His words eased, a bit, the ache in her heart. As long as she had Royden’s love nothing else mattered to her. She had always trusted his word and now more than ever, she had to trust that he loved her enough for their love to survive this news.
Oria felt like a fool for crying. She wiped at the tears that had fallen before looking up at her husband.
“No matter what, I love you,” he whispered.
Tears threatened again, hearing him reassure her, letting her know that nothing could come between them, and she trusted him that it was true.
She plunged ahead needing to be done with it. “My da told Henry a family secret. It seems I’m not who I thought I was.” She stopped, took a heavy breath and forced the words from her mouth that she still couldn’t believe. “I’m Demelza and the Beast’s sister.” She felt the shock of her words tense his body, but he didn’t let go of her, didn’t shove her away. She hurried to explain all Old Henry had told her, adding what she had surmised herself, and the little Demelza had told her as well.
Some of what she told him stabbed at her heart and she finished the only way she could—with an apology. “I’m so sorry, Royden. This is all my fault. You suffered horrendously because of me.”
“That’s nonsense,” he said without hesitation while pushing the loose strands of hair tenderly off her face. “You weren’t what drove the Beast to do what he did. His plan all along was to take back his land. You accidentally fell into his plan and he altered it some because of you. You’re not at fault. You did nothing wrong. Your parents did nothing wrong. They took a wee bairn and gave her a loving home. I just wish your da had confided in me and that he had had enough confidence in our love to know that it would have made no difference to me. I would have married you regardless. I can, however, understand how the other clans may have felt and what they may have done. So in that regard, I’m glad he didn’t tell anyone. Your da did the best he could to protect you, even having you wed Burnell.”
His words brought a rush of relief to her and she hugged him tight, grateful for his love, his understanding, and for the honorable man she had always known him to be.
“What now? What happens when other clans discover who I am?’ she asked, only just considering what it might mean.
“Who is there left to complain but Galvin. The Beast has already moved his cohorts into the area. Trevor has the Clan MacGlennen, Fergus has the Clan MacDonnegal, I would think someone loyal to him will have Clan Macara, Clan MacKinnon remains mine, and he takes Learmonth for himself.”
“He surrounds us, Royden,” Oria said. “How do we ever get free of him?”
Royden responded honestly and with his own misgivings. “I don’t know if we do. He planned well and played a good game as my da suggested. He established himself here, planted roots or nourished his roots that were already here, digging in deeper. As much as I want revenge against him, I don’t think it’s going to be possible, not unless we want more bloodshed and loss. And I don’t believe anyone wants any more of that.”
“Are you saying we need to befriend the Beast?” she asked.
He tightened his arm around her waist. “I’m saying that I will do whatever is necessary to make certain no one takes my wife from me and that she remains my wife. I won’t lose you again, Oria, and if I have to make friends with the Beast to assure that, then I will.”
Oria opened her mouth but nothing spilled out. His words had stunned her and made her realize the depths of his love for her.
Royden kissed her when she failed to speak. He couldn’t help it. Her partially open mouth was just too tempting to ignore. His tongue slipped past her lips and at first he felt her surprise and then she responded as she always did as if she’d been given a gift to enjoy, and she did.
He stopped the kiss, his desire mounting much too fast and while he had a brief thought to take her quickly behind the tree, knowing her desire mounted as fast as his, he warned himself not to. There was no telling who lurked about. He was glad he’d decided against it when his wife spoke.
“I want to go home. I want to make love. I don’t want to think of anything but you and me. I don’t want to feel anything but the love we have for each other.”
Royden responded by scooping her up and placing her on her horse, then mounting his own.
Oria was surprised that he didn’t join her on her horse.
Royden smiled. “Let’s see who makes it to the keep first, though I warn you I—”
Oria took off, her laughter trailing behind her.
Royden took a moment to listen to it, the joyous sound swirling around him and filling his heart with relief, then he followed after her. He’d let her win, wanting to remain behind her or at her side to keep her safe. He’d pull ahead for a bit, so she wouldn’t figure out his plan.
That was until he realized she actually was beating him. That’s when the race became real.
Oria was waiting on the steps to the keep when her husband caught up with her. She was smiling. Her husband wasn’t.
“I’ll race you to our bedchamber,” she said with a laugh.
And when she saw that he didn’t laugh, she took off.
Royden caught her before she reached the door. He scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder. “You rode hard and fast and got your victory, wife. Now it’s my turn to ride hard and fast and—”
“Victory will be mine once again,” she declared with a laugh that grew louder when her husband swatted her backside.
Chapter 28
“What do you mean no?” Oria asked, surprised and annoyed.
“What further explanation of no is necessary? No is no,” Royden said, tucking his plaid in place.
“You’re refusing to make love to me?” she asked, not believing her own words. It wasn’t possible. Neither of them ever refused the other.
Royden walked over to the bed, trying to ignore the way her taut nipples pleaded with him. Or was that his aroused shaft pleading with him to get busy making love to his wife? He fought the urge, standing beside the bed, not trusting himself to sit. This had to be done. It couldn’t be put it off any longer.
“I’ve lost count of how many times in the last three days that we’ve made love, not that I’m complaining. But it’s time for you to stop avoiding what needs to be done.” Royden raised his hand when his wife went to argue. “You need to talk with your sister.” To Royden’s relief, his wife pulled the blanket up to cover her breasts.
“I haven’t avoided it. It’s been an endless thought that I can find no answer to,” Oria said.
“You’ll find no answer in your swirling thoughts and perhaps you won’t find one when you speak with your sister, but this revelation cannot be ignored. Your parents will want to meet you and one day the Beast will come here.”
She bristled at the thought. “I don’t want to meet any of them.”
She hesitated at first, not wanting to openly admit what she’d been thinking.
“Tell me, Oria,” he coaxed. “I’m here to listen, not to judge.”
He’d been patient with her since their return home. They had agreed that it would be best if no acknowledgment was made of her true heritage. The wounds of the attack had begun to heal and this might open them again. They had spoken with his da and Wren since they had witnessed and heard what had been said and both had agreed that the secret wouldn’t remain a secret for long, since servants in MacGlennen keep surely must have heard Oria and Demelza. Tongues would start wagging soon enough.
Wren had told them all would be revealed when the time was right. And Oria hoped her remark had been because of a vision and not just to ease her concern. They had spoken little of it since then and her husband was right. She couldn’t continue to ignore it. It wasn’t going to go away. It was there to stay.
She reached for his hand, hooking his fingers with hers, to hold on to them, needing that small connection with him and said aloud what had haunted her. “Once I acknowledge, accept, my true birth, I won’t be the daughter of William and Claire of the Clan MacGlennen anymore. I won’t be born of the Highlands, of its beauty and strength. I won’t be me anymore.”
Royden laced his fingers with hers and held tight. “I know who you are and who you will always be—my wife. But I also understand what you’re saying. So tell me who you think you will be if not you.”
“That’s just it, I don’t know,” Oria confessed, her heart heavy with sadness.
Pledged to a Highlander: Highland Promise Trilogy (Book 1) Page 27
