Read Online Lured to the Night (The Brotherhood Series Book 4) by Adele Clee - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Adele Clee
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this has happened?” He stepped closer, moved as though he intended to rub her upper arms but his hands flopped awkwardly back to his side. “I’ll stay to hear confirmation that the bastard is dead. I’ll stay until I see you smile again, until the cure has rid you of these devilish aliments. Though I cannot even begin to comprehend what I have witnessed tonight. I’ll stay until the villagers no longer have a desire to drive you from your home.”
He would do what he felt was his duty. Then he would leave her.
“You do not owe me anything.” She wanted to put a hand on his cheek, to feel the tiny bristles brush against her palm. “If what these people say is true, my nightmare is finally over.”
He frowned as he stared at her mouth. “In the forest tonight, you could have told me about your illness. You told Douglas you could trust me. You listened to me mock the villagers for believing you had the ability to drain a man’s blood. You could have confided in me. Why didn’t you?”
“It doesn’t matter now.” She gave a sorrowful sigh. To reveal her true feelings would inevitably cause them both pain. “You did not come home to hear about my woes.”
“It matters to me.” His tone held a mild hint of reproof. “There was a time when we could tell each other everything, a time when we could be ourselves without fear of censure.”
“That time has long passed.”
“If I ever meant anything to you, then let me hear the truth fall from your lips now.”
If he ever meant anything to her? Although battered and bruised, her heart would always belong to him.
“Was it shame?” he asked prompting her to answer. “Were you too ashamed to tell me?”
“In a way.” After her shocking betrayal, he deserved to hear a few honest words. “The truth is I … I could not bear to see pity or disgust in your eyes. I want to remember the way you used to look at me. When our future together appeared bright and full of endless possibilities.”
Puffing his cheeks, he expelled a loud gush of air. There was a prolonged moment of silence as his penetrative gaze bore deep into her soul. “I cannot help but feel guilty for staying in Edinburgh when you were here suffering alone.”
“It was my fault you went away.” Isla forced a weak smile. “You mustn’t give it another thought. I’ve had Douglas and Malmuirie to keep me company. Even though she is often dramatic, she has been a great support to me since my father died.”
“Your father was a good, honest man. I do not blame him for breaking his oath, for falling under your husband’s spell.”
It had all seemed so simple at the time. It felt right to marry Nikolai. Her father thought so, too, and had been just as eager for the match. Any feelings for Lachlan had faded from both of their minds.
“Apparently, he is not my husband anymore.” She could not help but smile at the thought of being free.
Lachlan nodded towards the open door. “Then perhaps we should go inside and hear how he met his demise.” He raised a quizzical brow. “That is if you want me to stay.”
She did not have the courage to say that she wanted him to stay with her forever. He belonged with her; he always had. Nikolai’s death brought with it a glimmer of hope for her future. “You know you are always welcome here. I would not turn away a friend. But equally, I would not want you to stay out of a sense of obligation.”
“I once took your hand in mine and swore that I would always protect you.” His voice sounded an octave higher, perhaps a little croaky. “Let me be the friend I once was and I’ll not fail you again.”
He had also promised to love her, though he chose not to remind her of what she had lost. Forcing back the tears, she smiled. To embrace him would be a mistake. And so she tapped him playfully on the arm. “Come then, let us go inside and celebrate the fact I’m a widow.”
They joined the others in the Great Hall. Douglas was busy attending to
He would do what he felt was his duty. Then he would leave her.
“You do not owe me anything.” She wanted to put a hand on his cheek, to feel the tiny bristles brush against her palm. “If what these people say is true, my nightmare is finally over.”
He frowned as he stared at her mouth. “In the forest tonight, you could have told me about your illness. You told Douglas you could trust me. You listened to me mock the villagers for believing you had the ability to drain a man’s blood. You could have confided in me. Why didn’t you?”
“It doesn’t matter now.” She gave a sorrowful sigh. To reveal her true feelings would inevitably cause them both pain. “You did not come home to hear about my woes.”
“It matters to me.” His tone held a mild hint of reproof. “There was a time when we could tell each other everything, a time when we could be ourselves without fear of censure.”
“That time has long passed.”
“If I ever meant anything to you, then let me hear the truth fall from your lips now.”
If he ever meant anything to her? Although battered and bruised, her heart would always belong to him.
“Was it shame?” he asked prompting her to answer. “Were you too ashamed to tell me?”
“In a way.” After her shocking betrayal, he deserved to hear a few honest words. “The truth is I … I could not bear to see pity or disgust in your eyes. I want to remember the way you used to look at me. When our future together appeared bright and full of endless possibilities.”
Puffing his cheeks, he expelled a loud gush of air. There was a prolonged moment of silence as his penetrative gaze bore deep into her soul. “I cannot help but feel guilty for staying in Edinburgh when you were here suffering alone.”
“It was my fault you went away.” Isla forced a weak smile. “You mustn’t give it another thought. I’ve had Douglas and Malmuirie to keep me company. Even though she is often dramatic, she has been a great support to me since my father died.”
“Your father was a good, honest man. I do not blame him for breaking his oath, for falling under your husband’s spell.”
It had all seemed so simple at the time. It felt right to marry Nikolai. Her father thought so, too, and had been just as eager for the match. Any feelings for Lachlan had faded from both of their minds.
“Apparently, he is not my husband anymore.” She could not help but smile at the thought of being free.
Lachlan nodded towards the open door. “Then perhaps we should go inside and hear how he met his demise.” He raised a quizzical brow. “That is if you want me to stay.”
She did not have the courage to say that she wanted him to stay with her forever. He belonged with her; he always had. Nikolai’s death brought with it a glimmer of hope for her future. “You know you are always welcome here. I would not turn away a friend. But equally, I would not want you to stay out of a sense of obligation.”
“I once took your hand in mine and swore that I would always protect you.” His voice sounded an octave higher, perhaps a little croaky. “Let me be the friend I once was and I’ll not fail you again.”
He had also promised to love her, though he chose not to remind her of what she had lost. Forcing back the tears, she smiled. To embrace him would be a mistake. And so she tapped him playfully on the arm. “Come then, let us go inside and celebrate the fact I’m a widow.”
They joined the others in the Great Hall. Douglas was busy attending to
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