Page 62 of Intrigued By A Highlander

“Aye, I am,” she said, confident her friends would not turn them away and hurried to give him directions.

Owen’s glance suddenly shifted. “He’s headed this way. I will always be grateful to you for the many times you helped me. Stay safe, my friend.”

Owen ran off.

Dru turned, her heart aching and praying that Owen and the others made it safely to Clan MacLeish.

“You frighten him.”

“Enough to have him tell you anything that may be helpful?”

Dru thought fast. “He did confirm that there was talk Autumn died soon after her mum. But no one attended any burial like they did for her mum, leaving many to believe she just disappeared.”

“Good to know,” Knox said and cast a glance at the sky. “Rain clouds gather we need to head back to the cottage.”

“Where is Mave?”

“She went ahead to fix you a salve for the bruise.” He took hold of her hand. “Hurry. We need to beat the rain there.”

They reached the cottage as thunder rumbled in the distance. Mave was walking to a cart where a young man waited nervously for her.

“A moment, Harold,” Mave called out to him and then turned a dismissive glance on Knox. “You as well.”

Knox glared at her. “What you say to Dru, you say to me.”

Mave’s chin turned up. “Have it your way.”

She steered them away from the cart to where they couldn’t be heard talking. “Fate spoke with me about you both. You need to consummate your vows and seal your marriage immediately.”

Dru shook her head when Knox turned an accusing scowl on her. “She didn’t hear we are not truly wed from my lips.”

Mave jabbed Knox in the chest. “Don’t you listen? I told you Fate spoke to me.”

“I don’t believe in fate,” Knox said.

Mave didn’t hide her annoyance. “Then I’ll be blunt. If you don’t seal your vows—make this marriage permanent—Dru will meet her demise before the next full moon.”

CHAPTER 17

Dru wiped her hands on a cloth after applying a salve Mave had left to help the bruising on her jaw. Mave’s prediction had struck them silent, not a word being exchanged between them since hearing it and entering the cottage. And it continued between them stretching, thick and unyielding, like the weight of the night pressing in around them. Knox stood near the hearth, one hand braced against the mantle, his jaw tight, his shoulders rigid. The flickering light cast sharp shadows across his face, making his expression unreadable.

Dru swallowed against the knot forming in her throat. She had expected anger, questions, some demand that she explain, but he had said nothing. And somehow, that was worse.

She set the cloth aside.“Knox,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He didn’t turn, but she saw the slight twitch in his hand, the only sign he’d heard her. Still, he remained quiet.

She hesitated, then stepped forward, closing some of the space between them. “This isn’t fair to you,” she admitted. “I—I never thought something like this could happen.”

Knox turned slowly toward her. His gaze locked onto hers, intense, searching. “And what is it, exactly, that has happened, Dru?” His voice was quiet, but there was an edge to it, a restrained force barely held in check. “Because all I know is that Mave spoke in riddles, and now you look at me as though I’m the one who’s cursed.”

Dru flinched, guilt twisting inside her.You didn’t know the half of it.If he did—if he knew the truth—he would never forgive her.

She clasped her hands together, suddenly cold despite the fire. “We can’t stay married,” she forced out, the words tasting like ash on her tongue.

A muscle ticked in Knox’s jaw. “Can’t or won’t?”

She looked away, unable to hold his gaze any longer. “Does it matter?”

---