Page 46 of In Bed with a Highland Beast

“I dae,” Alaric said. He knew there was no easy way out of this marriage. If nothing else, then they would lose an important alliance and that was the best case scenario. For all he knew, there would be consequences he could not even predict yet. “But I am only askin’ because I have nay other choice. I love her. I love her more than anythin’ an’ I cannae imagine bein’ wedded tae anyone else.”

He knew Evan could understand him. He adored Bonnie more than anything and if their roles had been reversed, he would have done the same for her. So, Alaric simply stared at him hopefully, waiting for an answer.

“Ye’re me braither an’ I want ye tae be happy,” Evan said with a heavy sigh. “But it willnae be easy, ye ken that as much as I dae. The political ramifications, the possibility that this will start a feud between clans…”

Evan’s voice trailed off, but Alaric didn’t need him to say anything else for him to know what he meant. The alliance was important and they would be losing it. On top of that, the Sinclair Clan could very well take offence and neither Alaric nor Evan could predict what would happen then. But Evan had already agreed and that was good enough for Alaric.

“I ken, braither, and I will dae anything I can tae keep the peace and avoid problems fer ye and the clan” he said, pulling himinto a tight embrace. “We will find a way taegether. Thank ye. Ye cannae imagine how happy that makes me.”

Evan chuckled, patting his back comfortingly. “I’m glad,” he said. “Ye deserve tae be happy. Ye must however speak to Kayla immediately and then I will write her family and reconfirm our alliance to their clan nonetheless,” he added, to which Alaric solemnly nodded.

When they pulled back from each other, they remained silent for a short while until Evan spoke once more. “I assume ye wish tae wed the lass, then?”

“Aye,” said Alaric. There was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to marry Lucia, but he knew this, too, could be a problem.

“I figured,” said Evan. “Ye are aware the council…”

The council may nae agree. She is a commoner, after all.

“I ken,” Alaric said with a nod. “But I must try.”

“I’ll help ye,” Evan promised. “I’ll come with ye an’ we will speak tae them together. Perhaps if they hear me, and they are reminded ye are nae the laird and dinnae have the same obligations as I dae, they will be more easily convinced.”

Alaric nodded, giving Evan a grateful look. He could not express in words just how grateful he was, not only for Evan’sunderstanding but also for his help. His brother had never let him down before, and Alaric was certain he would not start now.

“I’m happy fer ye, Alaric,” Evan added. “Lucia truly seems like a good lass.”

“She is,” said Alaric. “She is lovely.”

Preparing himself to confront Kayla was no easy task. In fact, Alaric thought there was nothing he could do to truly prepare himself. There was no getting ready for a conversation like that, no matter how much he tried and rehearsed in the looking-glass.

That afternoon, Alaric found Kayla in the gardens, taking a stroll by herself. When she spotted him, she stood a little straighter and came to a halt, smiling as she waited for him to catch up to her.

“Alaric,” she said in her sweet, melodic voice. “What a pleasant surprise.”

Alaric couldn’t help but wince a little at that. Kayla had no way of knowing what he was about to tell her and Alaric hated that he was about to shatter this illusion for her, but it had to be done. He couldn’t keep her in the dark any longer than he had already. The sooner he informed her of his decision, the easier it would be for them both.

“Kayla, I wished tae speak with ye about somethin’ important,” he said. It occurred to him that even now, he was delaying the inevitable, filling the silence with meaningless words instead of simply telling Kayla the truth.

“O’ course,” she said, turning to face him fully. “Ye can tell me anythin’.”

Alaric drew in a steeling breath. There was no going back now. He had to say it.

“I can only ask ye tae forgive me fer this, though I dinnae expect yer forgiveness,” he said, and the moment the words were out of his mouth, Kayla’s face fell. There was no smile on her lips anymore, no cheer in her gaze. There was nothing but a guarded blankness, as though a wall had been raised in front of her.

Alaric had never seen such an abrupt change in someone. It seemed practiced, as though Kayla had plenty of experience in hiding her emotions on command, and Alaric didn’t know what that said about her. Had she been feigning her sweetness all along or was she now trying to protect herself?

There was no other choice but to come clean.

“I am afraid I cannae wed ye,” he said. “Ye are a very bonnie lass an’ lovely, but another has me heart. It all happened after the agreement was made between our clans and me braither only just heard about it as well. I dinnae wish tae hurt ye, I promise ye. If I could, I would carry all that pain meself, but I’m askin’ ye tae please understand. I couldnae help but fall in love.”

That carefully constructed neutrality was instantly replaced by a mask of rage, Kayla’s beautiful features now contorting into something unrecognizable. She wasn’t trying at all to conceal her anger. If anything, it seemed to Alaric that she was amplifying it, letting it all come to the surface.

“It’s because of her, is it nae?” she asked, her voice dripping with venom. “All because o’ that lowborn.”

Alaric could understand her rage and her disappointment, he truly could; still, he couldn’t let her speak about Lucia like that in his presence.

“Her name is Lucia,” he said. “An’ this isnae her fault. If ye wish tae blame someone, then blame me. I deserve it, but she doesnae.”

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