Page 48 of Love Beyond Wanting
He ground his teeth as he nodded.“I only just learned that, as well.I can feel her calling me to her, lass.’Tis as if some evil has invaded my mind, and every day it is harder to fight.”
Brachan wanted no part of whatever evil plan Machara was brewing up, of that I was certain.
I reached for his hand.“Brachan, you should come with me back to the castle.Tell the men everything you just told me.They can help think of a way to free you from her.They will realize that you cannot help who your birth mother is.”
Panic flashed through his eyes as he pulled away from my grip.“No, lass.Speak to the men, I will, but I canna do so just yet.I need some time here to think of what I will say.I…I doona know how to meet my father.He hated me.He thought me dead, and he was glad of it.Please, Kate, I beg ye.Doona tell them that I am here.Give me some time—a day, mayhap two—to gather the strength I need.”
I cringed at the thought, and it pained me to know that it was true.But that was only because Nicol didn’t know.He didn’t realize that his children with Machara weren’t monsters.If he’d known, he wouldn’t have felt as he did, and he surely wouldn’t feel that way once he saw the man Brachan had become.
Although Maddock would consider it a betrayal if he found out I knew Brachan was on the Isle and didn't tell him, I knew that he would drag Brachan in front of Nicol the first moment he saw him, and I could understand Brachan's need to prepare for such an introduction.
“Okay.I won’t say anything, I promise.”
“Thank ye, lass.”He bent and pulled me into a hug.“Best ye go.Harry is on his way inside.I shall see ye again soon.”
He turned and ran away from the tavern, and I made it to my seat just as Harry entered the room.
Chapter 31
“Where are you two leading us?”
Laurel’s voice was excited, and she gripped my hand tightly as I guided her through the doors of the garden.
With the rest of the men already waiting inside the garden to see their reactions, Raudrich and I apprehended Laurel and Nicol the moment their horses reached the gate leading up to the castle.We couldn’t risk them seeing the new structure as they rode up the hill, so we forced them to walk up blindfolded, with only us to guide them.
“I wish ye would release me, Raudrich.I doona care for surprises.”
“Only a few more steps.Doona worry, ye have my word that ye will enjoy this surprise.”
Once they were both inside, we steadied them on their feet and made our way to stand in front of them before removing the blindfolds.We both wanted to see their faces when they saw the garden for the first time.
“Okay, guys, you ready?”
I looked over at Raudrich for approval, and together we uncovered their eyes and stepped quickly away.
It took them a moment to take everything in.As tightly as we’d bound their eyes, I’m certain they’d been blinded when first exposed to the light.But then, as everything began to register, their reactions couldn’t have been better.
Nicol nearly fell, but Paton was there in an instant to see him seated on one of the garden’s many stone benches.Silent tears ran down his cheeks as he took everything in.
Laurel’s mouth fell open as she looked at me for confirmation.“Is this…how did you guys?”
“Yes, it’s the garden.The guys did everything.They pooled their magic and worked on it every day since you two left.We wanted to surprise both of you.We thought this would be the perfect spot for your wedding tomorrow, and we thought this would be a gift that Nicol and Freya could enjoy each and every night.”
For the first time since seeing the space, Nicol spoke, his voice choked with tears.“Has Freya…has she seen it?”
“Aye, we made certain all designs were approved by her.It will, after all, be her home.”
Nicol broke down into a full-on sob, cradling his face in his hands as Paton wrapped his arm over his shoulder.
“Do ye like it, Nicol?”
He lifted his head, and the sight of him crying made me start to blubber, as well.
“Like it?I doona know if I’ve ever been so happy.The thoughtfulness of all of ye…” He paused as another sob overtook him.“I doona…I doona ever think I’ve been so overwhelmed.”
The men gathered around Nicol, each of them embracing in a big group hug that made me wish more than anything that I had a camera.
As I looked on, Laurel came up behind me and wrapped her arms around me.“This is the perfect wedding gift, Kate.”
