Page 126 of Love Me Forever
She had to prepare for the possibility that Royce would not reach her in time. If so, she needed to have a plan of escape. She did not know where he was taking her, but when she learned of their destination, she would better be able to formulate a plan. The plan would mean an escape, and provisions would be necessary.
She began making a mental list of all the things she needed and what things to look for. Her first thought was their destination. Where could he be taking her? Her mind listed the various possibilities, adding to that Arran’s devious mind.
A sudden thought came to her, but she disregarded it. He would not be that foolish. Then it struck her and she slowly shook her head. He would send his men to the keep, and he would take her to the cottage, where Royce had taken her to recover from her wounds. And the men that had first divided off from them would circle back to the cottage and be his protection.
By the time Royce discovered his error, it would be too late. He would never be able to reach her before she birthed the babe. Now she realized just how much she truly was on her own.
Her hand went to her stomach. “It is all right, little one. I will protect you until your father comes for us.”
Royce would find them. He would hunt for them no matter how long it took. He would not give up until he found them, and she would be patient and do what must be done to survive.
* * *
Royce sat bracedagainst a large rock staring at the night sky. Hundreds of stars sparkled against the darkness, almost as if each wished to prove their own brilliance. He wondered if Brianna looked on the night sky at this moment.
He shut his eyes tightly, opened them, and cast a silent prayer to the heavens that she was well and safe. He had done that every day and night for the last two weeks. They had found the one trail, and as thought, Arran was headed for the keep where he and Brianna had resided when together. Every day had been a torture without her. He was aware that she had become an important part of his life, but now he knew just how essential she was to his life. He missed sleeping beside her at night. She would cuddle against him, and oftentimes he would feel the babe kick and marvel at the tiny being their love had created.
In the morning she would slowly stretch herself awake, and he would slowly caress her until she purred like a contented kitten. Throughout the day they would seek each other out to talk, walk, or share needed kisses.
But most of all he missed hearing her tell him how much she loved him. A day did not pass without her saying, “I love you.” He had enjoyed hearing those words over and over, though he had not realized how much until he had not heard them.
“Do you wish solitude, or may I join you?” Ian asked, walking up to him.
“Join me,” he offered. “I have dwelled on my problems long enough.”
“With good reason; you miss my sister and worry over her safety.” Ian sat opposite him a tree trunk as his backrest.
“More than I ever thought possible. Her safety was my concern, and I should have been more diligent. I failed her.” It had tormented him that Arran was able to abduct Brianna from the keep. He had arrogantly assumed that any attempts would be met with defeat. He rarely underestimated his opponent, and it would not happen again.
“I felt the same when my wife’s life continued to be in danger in our own home. If I could not protect her there, how then could I protect her at all?”
“Perhaps it has to do with love,” Royce said, attempting to understand.
“Love? What would that have to do with it?”
“We love our women. Arran loves no one and can therefore make decisions based on logic rather than emotions, which is how a skilled warrior handles battle.”
“Are you saying our love blinds us to the best course of action?”
Royce nodded. “If I thought more like a warrior than a man in love, my course of action would have been different.”
“How so?”
“If someone wanted something I had, I would have used it as bait to draw my opponent out instead of hiding it away.”
“But you could not use Brianna as bait because you loved her and worried over her.”
“Exactly,” Royce said. “I would not dare risk her life, and yet by not risking it, by not doing as I would normally do, I risked her life even more. And now she is on her own with no one to protect her.”
“The thought plagues my mind, for I feel as guilty as you in failing my sister.”
“I was so concerned with my own guilt, I had not thought about you.”
“I have thought much,” Ian said. “I failed in protecting her after learning how her husband treated her. I failed again when I assumed him dead, and now for a third time.”
“This was not your fault, it was mine,” Royce insisted. “She belongs to me now and is my responsibility. I was the one who should have made certain of her safety.”
Ian shook his head. “Say what you will, it was my fault. I should have made certain Arran was dead and not have accepted a ring and burnt corpse as the only evidence to his demise.”
