Page 60 of Wicked Highland Wishes
“Graham,” she called out. “Please dunnae turn Lachlan away. It’s nae his fault.”
Graham jerked his head in her direction, then back to Lachlan, anger twisting his features. “Even now, she pleads for ye. Are ye happy? Ye seduced her!”
“Nay,” Lachlan vowed. “I tried nae to even acknowledge how I felt.”
“Ye seduced her, and ye dunnae even care for her!”
“I do, brother,” Lachlan replied, his tone quiet and pained.
Bridgette’s breath caught. She had known Lachlan cared for her, but to hear him admit it in front of others filled her with wonder.
“Ye’re nae my brother any longer!” Graham declared. “From this day forward, ye are dead to me. Dunnae dare to call mebrother. We are enemies.”
Apprehension over the seer’s prophecy swiftly clouded Bridgette’s wonder.
“Graham!” Iain snapped out the one word with the force of a well-placed hit.
Graham dragged his gaze to Iain. “He’s nae my brother.”
“He is,” Iain countered. “Let yer anger abate. We’ll discuss this later.”
“He stole Bridgette from me,” Graham growled, staggering away from Lachlan. “My hatred for him will nae abate, whether ye wish it or nae. Whether ye command it or nae.”
Graham stalked around Iain, who was farthest from Bridgette. She rushed to him and placed a hand on his arm. “Please, Graham. I’m sorry.”
Graham shook her off. “I dunnae want yer pity. I wanted ye. For as long as I can recall, I wanted ye.”
“Wanting me is nae loving me,” she said gently.
His eyes widened, but then a scowl crossed his face. “He dunnae love ye,” Graham growled and motioned to Lachlan. “He just wished to best me as he always has.” With those final words, Graham stormed off.
Marion rushed to Bridgette and hugged her, and Iain came to stand by his wife and take her by the elbow. “I must speak with the king.”
Marion nodded. “I’ll come with ye back to the castle.” She tilted her head to Bridgette. “To give ye a private moment. But if ye wish me to stay…”
Bridgette shook her head, not daring to look Lachlan’s way. She feared he saw what she did: the seer’s prediction unfolding. She did not want an audience to her sorrow.
Marion patted her arm and left with Iain, leaving only Lachlan, Alex, and Bridgette.
“Come find me in the great hall when ye are done,” Alex said. “We’ve much to discuss.”
Bridgette turned to respond, certain her brother was talking to her, but Lachlan—whose back was to her—was nodding at Alex as her brother walked away.
Lachlan slowly faced her, and their gazes locked. Her breath caught deep in her chest at the look he gave her. It was raw and primal and said,Mine. She could not breathe. Her throat tightened, heat consumed her, and her heart roared in her ears, making them ring. God’s bones, she wanted to fling herself into his arms, but the seer’s prediction swirled in her head, a dark and deadly warning:As for the other brother, jealousy will drive him to his death, whereupon vengeance shall resurrect him.
She knew now which part of the seer’s prediction was about Graham. His jealousy over Lachlan and her would drive him to his death and he’d be resurrected for vengeance? In memory only? Would it be Lachlan trying to avenge Graham’s death?
“God’s teeth!” she moaned. “Ye ken as well as I do that the seer’s prediction has begun! How can we be together?”
“Because we kinnae stay apart,” he said simply.
