“Forgive me for intruding. I’ve powers that allowed me to see ye were gathered here. I thought it best to come before ye all at once.”

Maddock, God bless him. Despite his claims after meeting Machara that he was ready to kill Brachan, even though I knew my confession had him feeling betrayed and angry, he stood and put himself between Brachan and the rest of the men.

“We must hear him out, lads. He dinna have to come here. He could have allowed us to search for him.”

The rest of the men remained silent. As Maddock led Brachan over to the table, I glanced over to Nicol. He’d been standing, but he now sunk weakly back in his chair, his face going white. I could see his hand trembling from the other end of the table.

I couldn’t imagine what he was thinking. A son he believed dead, a son he’d hated, one who looked just like him, was now standing before him. And like Maddock had suggested, it had to be difficult to deny Brachan’s humanity when you listened to his voice and looked into his eyes.

Harry was the first one to speak after Maddock ushered Brachan over to my side. “If ye are not here to cause us harm, if ye doona mean to do Machara’s bidding, then how do ye know us? Ye dinna grow up here on this Isle. We would’ve seen ye before now if ye had.”

Before Brachan said anything, he turned to look at me and smiled. “Hello, lass. Thank ye for trying to keep my secret, and thank ye for standing up for me just now.”

I smiled and gave him a small nod, but his words made my stomach turn over. If my confession hadn’t been enough to make Maddock’s blood boil, Brachan had certainly driven the point home now. I gave him a careful glance, but Maddock wouldn’t meet my eye.

Brachan then turned his attention to the men and made his plea. “I have known for my entire life that the woman who raised me is not the woman who gave birth to me, but I only recently learned of my lineage. I assure ye, I wish I dinna know. It brought me no joy to learn that the lass who gave birth to me could be so evil, nor to know that my father believed me dead and was glad of it.”

Nicol looked as if he might be ill at any moment, but he said nothing. I wasn’t sure he was capable of it in this moment.

Brachan continued, “I was born with magic inside me—powerful magic that has allowed me to heal many. I have always used my powers for good, but as of late, I can feel them twisting inside me. I can feel Machara reaching out to me. I can feel her calling me to her.

“I am not here to help her, I swear to ye that. I am here to ask for yer help. Help in ridding me of the darkness that is beginning to overtake my mind. Help in severing any and all ties she may have on me.”

For a long moment, no one said anything. One by one they turned their gazes to Nicol as they looked toward their master for guidance.

Nicol cleared his throat and took a deep breath that caused some color to return to his cheeks. He planted both palms down on the table, and shakily pressed himself up until he was standing.

“Brachan, lad. Come with me. There is much we need to discuss, and I doona wish to have an audience.”

---

“Ye lied, lass. Ye knew where he was, and ye kept it from me. How long have ye known?” Maddock was screaming. The muscles in his jaw looked like they might break right through the skin of his cheek.

“I couldn’t tell you, Maddock. I promised him.”

“I doona give a damn if ye promised him, lass. I asked ye a question. How long have ye known he was here?”

I took a breath and closed my eyes. “Since the day before the wedding.”

“For days, lass? Ye’ve known for days, and ye said nothing. After everything we shared together, how do ye ever expect me to trust ye again?”

“Hang on.” I held up my palm to stop him, my own anger coming hot and fast. “Don’t you dare pull that crap. How could you trust a woman that breaks her promises to friends? Brachan was frightened, Maddock. Clearly he had good reason to be. Both you, Nicol, and Harry were ready to kill him before we walked into that room. I trust him. I believe every word he said at that table. He needs your help, not your anger.”

“Lass…”

“No.” I cut him off, opened the door to his bedroom and gestured with my hand for him to leave. “I’m not going to listen to you scream at me. Get out and cool off. I’m sorry if you feel betrayed, but I did the right thing. I don’t regret my decision. We can talk about this later.”

He looked a bit like a dog with his tail between his legs when he left.

---

Was she right? Was it wrong of him to be angry with her? It was true that his first reaction to Machara’s words was to wish Brachan dead, but he truly wouldna have harmed the lad without determining his intentions first. Would he?

He shouldn’t have yelled at her, he knew that much was true. She was right to send him from the room. The way she’d chided him, the way she’d stood up for herself and ordered him away…it made him hard just thinking about it.

God, she was strong and smart and funny and beautiful. He loved her. He’d loved her from the moment he saw her. He was angry with her now, but he’d forgive her. There was no other option. Now that he had her, he couldn’t live without her.

The garden was now everyone’s favorite place, but he was pleased that it seemed to be empty for the moment. He wanted to seek Freya’s council, and it would be good to check on the lass anyway. If news of Brachan’s arrival had reached her, she was bound to have her own feelings about the revelation.

“Freya, lass. Where are ye?”

He turned the corner by the fountain as she stepped into view.

“Over here, lad. I doona believe Nicol will be down here this evening.”

Maddock looked into Freya’s eyes, but they gave nothing away. “Why do ye say that?”

She dipped her chin to look up at him from beneath her brows as she bent to sit at the edge of the fountain. “I know, Maddock. I’ve known for a verra long time.”

“Ye what?”

She sighed as he sat down next to her. “Maddock, I am tied to Machara whether I wish to be or not. Much of what she feels is revealed to me. I’ve known that Brachan lived for as long as I’ve been here.”

She’d known for all these years? Why did the women of this castle seem to feel the need to keep such secrets?

“And ye dinna tell him?”

“What good would that have done, lad? I dinna believe he would ever see the child. I saw no need to cause Nicol pain.”

“But ye are his wife, Freya. There should be no secrets between ye.”

Freya laughed, a full, loud laugh that echoed throughout the garden. “What fool told ye that, Maddock? Every person has their secrets. They are necessary, and often they are kind.”

He frowned. “I’m not sure if I agree with ye, Freya.”

“’Tis fine. I doona need ye to agree with me. Now.” She gave his knee a pat, and as always, it passed right through him. “I can see that there is something that troubles ye. Go and work it out with her, lad. ’Tis never good to stay angry with those we love.”