“Unless ye’re thinkin’ of swimmin’ across the Minch, ye’ll have to wait until they return. The galley—”
Lachlan flashed to Rory’s home on Skye. As he wrenched open the castle doors, Alex and Jamie barreled past him. His brother stormed after them without so much as a glance in his direction.
“Lachlan?” Aileanna frowned, coming from the grand hall with a plate in her hand. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to speak with Syrena,” he said, taking the stairs two at a time. “’Tis important.”
“I can see that. She just got the babies to sleep, so be quiet about it.”
Praying he met no one else, he strode down the long corridor to Syrena’s room. He groaned when Rory hailed him outside her chambers.
“Lachlan, ’tis glad I am to see you.” His cousin slung a companionable arm over his shoulder. “Come join me in the hall.”
“Yer father-by-marriage is here, isna he?”
Rory dropped his arm from Lachlan’s shoulder and grunted. “Aye, how did ye ken?”
“ ’Cause ye’re always lookin’ fer someone to deflect his attention from ye when he’s aboot. Why do ye no’ just ask yer wife to do it?”
“A lot of good—”
“MacLeod, where did ye get to?”Alasdair shouted from down below.
Lachlan ducked into Syrena’s room before his cousin could stop him. Syrena sat in a chair with one foot rocking the cradle in front of her. Pressing a finger to her lips, she stood and leaned over to check on the sleeping bairns before tiptoeing across the room to him.
She reached up to kiss his cheek, her brow furrowing when she got a good look at him. “Something’s wrong. What is it?”
“Evangeline.”
She clutched his arm. “Is she all right?”
“Aye, but Bana tried to kill her.”
“Come, we’ll go to Ali’s solar.” Closing the door behind her, she said, “Now tell me what happened.”
By the time they reached Aileanna’s solar, Lachlan had filled Syrena in on the morning’s events. She led him into the sun-filled room. “There’s something more, isn’t there?” She patted a spot beside her on the chaise.
“Aye. When Erwn found out about Bana’s death, he blamed Evangeline. He accused her of bein’ my father’s who—mistress and manipulatin’ me as she once had Arwan in her bid to take over the Enchanted Isles.”
“You believed him, didn’t you?”
“She admitted it, Syrena.”
She sagged against the bolster and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, sorrow shimmered in her golden gaze. “She hated him, you know. I didn’t realize how much until the day Arwan was murdered.” Syrena plucked at the folds of her pink gown. “I wondered at the time if she’d been the one to kill him.” Shaking her head as if the memory was too painful to bear, she rose from the settee and went to stand by the window. “It was obvious Arwan was enamored with Evangeline. He did little to conceal his lust for her even though he was wed. Morgana hated her, even before she found out she was Andora’s daughter. She was jealous of Evangeline’s beauty and the attention her husband paid to her.”
Lachlan’s hands balled into fists. Syrena, as though sensing his growing anger, looked over at him. “No, it’s not what you think. Evangeline was sent by Rohan to protect me. She arrived at the palace a few weeks before my eighteenth birthday. My father knew what would happen if I didn’t pass the test of my magick. If it wasn’t for Evangeline, I wouldn’t have.”
Syrena cleared her throat, then went on. “I never questioned where she’d come from. She was the only friend I had and I was afraid I’d lose her if I did. But others did. Like Morgana, they were jealous of her powers and beauty. She kept herself apart from them, further garnering their distrust. I imagine they took their suspicions to Arwan and she had no choice but to give herself to him to remain with me. She sacrificed her innocence to protect me.”
Lachlan’s gut twisted at the thought of what Evangeline had withstood. What the hell had his uncle been thinking, sending her in to that pit of vipers? He didn’t know how much longer he could sit and listen to what the Fae had put her through. Noting the pain in Syrena’s eyes, he said, “Ye doona ken that fer sure.”
“Yes. Yes, I do. Many of the men tried to gain her attention, but she ignored them. If they grew persistent, she didn’t hesitate to put them in their place.”
Lachlan could attest to that. She’d done it to him.
Shoulders bowed, Syrena returned to the settee to sit beside him. “I can’t bear to think of what she suffered on my account. All she’s ever done is protect me, and I didn’t protect her from him.”
“Ye didna ken. ’Tis no’ yer fault.”
“Nor is it hers, Lachlan.”
He scrubbed his hands over his face. Sweet Christ, had she truly sacrificed her innocence to protect Syrena? Evangeline was right, the truth had been staring him in the face all along, but he’d let his jealousy and pride cloud his vision.
“I ken that. It wasna.” His stomach roiled as he remembered what he’d said to her. What he’d called her. He left the settee and strode to the hearth, gripping the wooden mantel to keep from planting his fist in the wall. “Why could she no’ have told me?”
“Did you give her a chance, or did you let your anger and male pride get the better of you?”
“Christ, I’m no better than my father. I doona ken how I can face her after what I said.”
He didn’t realize Syrena had come to stand beside him until he felt the warm pressure of her palm upon his back. “Trust me, you are nothing like Arwan.”
She leaned against him, her tears dampening his tunic. He turned and folded her into his arms. “Oh, Lachlan, he was such a brutal man. It makes me ill to think what she suffered because of me.”
He swallowed the bitter revulsion that clawed up his throat when he thought of what Arwan might have done to Evangeline. He kissed the top of Syrena’s head and pulled away. “I should get back.”
“Make her talk to you. Don’t let her shut you out.”
“Before I can do that, Syrena, I have to find a way to ask her forgiveness. And God’s truth, I doona deserve it.”
“She’s given you her trust, and she does not do so easily. She cares deeply for you.”
“If ye mean to make me feel worse than I already do, then ye’re doin’ a fair job of it.”
“I’m sorry, that wasn’t my intention.” She hugged him. “And if you didn’t care for her as much as you do, you wouldn’t feel as bad as you do. I love you both and want the two of you to be happy. You need her as much as she needs you, Lachlan.”
“Am I interuptin’ somethin’?” His brother entered the room, his gray gaze intent upon his wife.
“Nay, I have to be gettin’ home.” It surprised Lachlan that he referred to the Fae realm as home, surprised him even more that he meant it.
His brother laid a hand on his arm as Lachlan went to leave. “Are ye all right, Lan?”
“Aye. Nay. I made a mess of it with Evie. I’m no’ sure I can fix it this time.”
“Yes, you can,” Syrena said, coming to stand beside Aidan, who wrapped his arms around her. “And until you make this right, neither of you will be happy.”
Lachlan didn’t know if he was capable of being truly happy, although of late, he’d thought with Evangeline there was a chance he could at least be content. But Syrena was right, if anyone deserved happiness it was Evangeline. But before he went back to her, Lachlan needed to be sure he could put her past with his father behind him. If he couldn’t, she would see the truth in his eyes and to remain together would do them more harm than good. He wouldn’t be responsible for hurting her any more than he already had.
Chapter 24
The mournful melody of the branches swirling across the windowpane in Lachlan’s chambers drew Evangeline deeper into despair. The image of Lachlan’s face when he discovered the truth about her would remain with her for eternity. His scathing condemnation of
her actions played over and over again in her mind. His revulsion mirrored her own.
Knowing she’d had no choice but to sacrifice her innocence to Arwan didn’t make it any easier for her to live with it. She’d felt like the whore Lachlan accused her of being. She’d used her body to keep Arwan’s suspicions of her at bay, to ensure her place by Syrena’s side. Withstood his brutal seductions time and time again until he grew tired of her inability to please him and moved on to his next victim.
How foolish to think Lachlan could forgive her when she could not forgive herself.
She had nothing left. She’d lost the two things that mattered most to her—Lachlan and her magick.
Unable to withstand the thought of looking into his eyes and seeing only disgust, she slipped from his bed, determined to be long gone from the palace before he returned. With one last look around the room that held the essence of the man she thought to give her heart to, she stepped from his chambers, closing the door on the hopes and dreams she’d hadn’t thought possible, hadn’t known she had until Lachlan.
Two servants looked up from polishing the gilded balustrade as Evangeline walked past. Their contemptuous whispers followed after her and she stiffened her spine. Donning the familiar mask of haughty disdain, she held her head high. If only it was as easy to rebuild the walls around her heart as it was to pretend their vindictive barbs didn’t meet their mark. With his companionship and tenderness, Lachlan had shattered her defenses, but she’d raise the shields again. She had to. It was the only way she knew to survive.
She ignored the pointed stares and derisive laughter as she made her way to the palace doors. The late afternoon sunshine offered no warmth; she knew she would never again set foot in the palace of the Enchanted Isles.
“Evangeline.” Fallyn hailed her, tossing a command to the royal guards who milled about the stables before striding to her side “What are you doing? You should be resting.”
“I’m leaving. I’m going back to Rohan’s court.”
Fallyn’s intent gaze searched hers. “It will pass, Evangeline. I’m accompanying the royal guards to make certain Erwn is well away from here and is no longer a threat to you or Lachlan.”
“The damage has already been done.” Evangeline wrapped her arms around her waist, trying to contain her sorrow, the tears that burned at the back of her eyes.
“He cares about you. Give him some time and I’m certain he’ll get past this.”
With a hollow laugh, Evangeline said, “Broderick loves you. Do you think he could forgive you if he found out you’d slept with his father?”
Fallyn took hold of her arm as she went to walk past her. “Stop this. I’ve heard enough about Arwan to know you did what you had to do to protect Syrena. So you just get back in there and wait for Lachlan to come to his senses. And if he doesn’t, my sisters and I will make certain he does.”
Evangeline gave a grateful squeeze to Fallyn’s hand, averting her gaze so her friend wouldn’t see how deeply her support had affected her. “Thank you, but I can’t remain here.”
“You’re too stubborn for your own good, Evangeline. If I can’t get you to change your mind, at least let me transport you to Rohan’s palace.” At Evangeline’s nod, Fallyn said, “Give me a moment, I’ll tell the men to hold until my return.”
As Fallyn strode to the waiting guards, Uscias and Aurora appeared in a burst of light. Uscias looked down at the little seer whose hand he held, then raised his gaze to Evangeline’s. “Aurora has had a vision. Lachlan’s in danger.”
“No, he can’t be. He’s in the Mortal realm. No one ...” Distracted by her concern for Lachlan, she hadn’t noticed Aurora had come to her side until she felt her small hand slip into hers.
Evangeline tried to free her hand, but Aurora tightened her hold and in that dreaded voice of an old woman said, “The time has come. The prophecy will come to pass. You are the only one who can save him. Go to him now. He rides his steed at Uig beach.”
Aurora released her hand. When she lifted her eyes to Evangeline’s, they were blue and filled with pity. Evangeline cringed to think Aurora knew why he’d left her. But with Lachlan in danger, there was no time to dwell on her embarrassment.
“I don’t know how to help him, Uscias, not without my—”
“Your magick will return,” Aurora said with confidence.
Evangeline took a measure of comfort from the child’s pronouncement, but if Lachlan was in danger now, she did not know how she could help him.
“We’d best go to him, Evangeline.” Uscias motioned for Fallyn, who had been making her way back to them. “Can you watch Aurora for me while I transport Evangeline to the Mortal realm? I shan’t be long.”
“Of course. I’ve been informed Erwn has some last-minute arrangements he wishes to make before we can leave.” She turned to Evangeline. “I’m glad you’ve come to your senses.”
“Aurora had a vision that Lachlan’s in danger.” How could she explain to Uscias that the last person Lachlan would wish to see was her? But she had no choice, if there was even the slightest chance Aurora’s vision was true, she had to go to him. Considering the validity of the child’s prediction concerning Iain, Evangeline had no cause to doubt her. Evangeline would protect him as best she could. And until her magick returned as Aurora promised, at the very least she could show him how to use her powers to his greatest advantage. She’d just have to convince him he needed her help.
Coming through the standing stones of Callanish in the Mortal realm of Lewis, Uscias’s brow furrowed. Scanning the hilltop they stood upon, he placed a hand on Evangeline’s arm. “Did you feel it?”
Her emotions in turmoil at the thought of facing Lachlan again, she was certain a horde of ogres could come upon her and she wouldn’t have been aware of them. She followed his gaze. “What do you think it was?”
“Magick. I felt its vibration, a leftover residue when I came through the stones.”
“Perhaps it was Lachlan.”
“Perhaps, but I don’t think so. Stay alert, Evangeline.”
“Of course I will. I may not have my magick but I’m far from inept.”
Uscias’s mustache twitched. “Good, now let us find him.”
The wizard must have sensed her trepidation, as he placed a comforting hand on her arm. “Evangeline, you’re as important to him as he is to you. Trust me in this, I know my pupil well, and together you will work through this.”
“I wish I shared your confidence, but until I have my powers—”
“You know that is not what I referred to.”
“I think we should—”
“Evangeline, look at me.”
She drew in a shuddered breath then did as he asked.
“What’s done is done. You must move beyond it. You have suffered enough. I wish Rohan had seen fit to take me into his confidence when he sent you to look out for Syrena. I would’ve found some way to protect you from Arwan had I but known.”
She didn’t like to think Uscias blamed himself for what had taken place. “It was Arwan who was responsible, no one else.”
A gentle smile curved his lips. “I’m happy to hear you say so. Now perhaps you will remember that.”
Before she could respond, he’d flashed them to a low-lying hill. The long white-tipped grasses swayed about her legs. In the distance, a great black steed pounded through the rolling surf, its rider as magnificent as the animal he rode.
“Go to him.” Uscias prodded her back with a crooked finger. Drawing in a steadying breath, she picked her way down the rocky incline, bending over to remove her slippers before walking across the golden sand toward Lachlan.
Lachlan’s heart thundered in his chest as loudly as his steed’s hooves pummeled the surf. Evangeline stood alone in the sand, the ocean breeze whipping her long locks about her face, molding the silken fabric of her gown to her womanly curves.
As he drew closer, she held her hair from her face and his belly clenched at the vulnerability he saw t
here. Her beautiful eyes bore witness to her tears and he damned himself again for causing her pain. He jerked on Fin’s reins, bringing him to a halt several feet from where she stood. He swung from the saddle. She stumbled as she backed away from him. He cursed under his breath. She’d mistaken his anger with himself—the rage that surely must be visible on his face—as if it were directed at her.
She held up her hand. “I know I’m the last person you wish to see, but—”
“Ye’re wrong. Ye’re the only person I wish to see.”
He took advantage of her stunned disbelief to close the distance between them. “I’m sorry, Evie. I’m sorry fer every misbegotten word that came out of my fool mouth.”
She turned away from him. Wrapping her arms around her narrow waist, she looked out to sea. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
He spun her around to face him. “Look at me when ye say that. Ye look me in my eyes and tell me I didna hurt ye, shame ye with my words. Fer Chrissakes, Evie, ye doona deserve my anger.”
She deserved compassion and understanding and instead he’d treated her with contempt.
She lowered her gaze from his and tried to pull away.
“Nay, I’m no’ lettin’ ye go until ye tell me what he did to ye.”
“No!” Her eyes wide with horror, she fought against his hold. “Please, let me go,” she begged, breathless from her frenzied struggle to break free of him.
“Nay, Evie. I ken ’twill be difficult, but ’tis the only way fer ye to get past it.” He sat in the sand and tugged her onto his lap. Drawing up his knees, he cradled her against him. “I ken Rohan sent ye to look out fer Syrena, and as someone ye’ve tried to keep safe, I ken ye would do so at any cost. Even if it meant ye put yerself in harm’s way. ’Tis why ye gave yerself to him, isna it?”
Lachlan rested his chin on top of her head, stroking her hair while he waited for her to tell him what she’d suffered at his father’s hand. No matter how difficult it would be to hear, it was important for both of them to get it out in the open. He could barely hear her when she began her tale.
King of the Isles Page 25
