Page 62 of Love Me Forever
“You should sit or your back will begin to pain you,” Royce said with concern.
Ian and Moira exchanged glances, both aware that Royce was sincere in his concern for Brianna.
“Your back troubles you?” Moira asked.
“It is fine,” Brianna said, though Royce had been right—the pain in her back had grown worse since dismounting the horse and standing as long as she had. She should seek her bed, but she had no thought to do that, for she would surely spend all her time there crying.
“She is being stubborn,” Royce said with an annoyed wave of his hand. “Her back troubled her on the journey here. We stopped once for her to rest, but she needs rest now. She should not be standing; bed is where she should be.”
“Brianna,” Ian said firmly, “do not be stubborn. We can discuss this matter tomorrow.”
“This matter will be settled now,” she demanded. “And in little time, for I will not wed him.”
“And if there is a child?” Royce asked, walking up to her.
Brianna did not back away from him, but raised her chin. “There is no child and you know it.”
“You are so certain that you cannot conceive a child?”
“Aye, I am.”
Ian and Moira let the two argue, taking each other’s hand as they listened with interest to the battle of wills.
“Then you should have no objection to agreeing to wed me if you are with child,” Royce said, his challenge issued.
Brianna did not hesitate; there was no reason. This was one battle he would lose. She suddenly wondered if he did wish to lose it. He knew that she could give him no children; perhaps this was his way of being rid of her. The thought brought a heavy weight to her heart, but she kept her chin high. “I will wed you if I am with child.”
“You give me your word on it?” Royce asked.
“Aye, you have my word and?—”
Royce did not allow her to finish. He turned to Ian.
“You heard her give me her word. You will honor this arrangement?”
“I will not object to it,” Ian said. “My sister has made her choice.”
Tears threatened Brianna’s eyes, and she wanted desperately to run from the room and never set eyes on Royce again, but her pride would not allow her to leave. She would stand firm and be courageous even though her heart was breaking.
Royce turned back to Brianna and leaned in close to her, his words meant only for her ears. “I never lose.”
CHAPTER18
Royce stood in silence, facing Ian. Brianna and Moira had taken their leave, Moira finally having insisted that Brianna should rest, and he could not have agreed more, though he kept his opinion silent. He worried that Brianna was being stubborn and ignoring the ache that he knew she suffered, for it had plagued her much on the journey.
He had spent much time considering the consequences of his decision not to inform her of his identity. At first the decision had been a practical one since she had reacted with fright to his appearance. There had been no point in adding to her fear, so he had kept his infamous identity from her. After fate had seemed to step in, he found himself unwilling to admit to his legendary exploits. He had wanted her to come to know him, not the legend. He wanted her to know that he had a heart and soul that ached to be loved as much as he wanted to love someone. He had found all his heart’s desires in her, and he had not wanted to lose them.
That had made the choice easy for him, though he understood there would be consequences to his decision. He now faced those consequences and would deal with them as a warrior who had just begun the fiercest and most necessary battle of his life.
“A drink?” Ian offered, the silence having grown too heavy in the confined room.
“Aye, a drink I could use right now,” Royce admitted, his voice filled with the confident arrogance of a warrior who demonstrated no fear.
Ian was a victorious warrior in his own right but often preferred to war with words. He walked to the narrow table, poured them each an ale, and returned to where Royce stood near the hearth. “It is only the two of us now,” he said, handing him a full tankard. “Say what you will.”
Royce grinned. “You remind me much of your sister. Brave even when faced with difficult odds.”
“I am not foolish enough to think that my clan can match your clan’s strength, but know I am not foolish in regard to my sister.”
