Page 27 of Tempting the Highland Devil
“Laird Loughty?” Arran asked again as the other laird gave him a cocky smile. “Too scared that ye will lose to me?”
Laird Loughty laughed, walked past Yvaine, then picked the penny on the ground to show he had accepted the challenge.
Arran bowed at the same time that he did, drew his sword, then turned to Yvaine briefly. “Forgive me,” he said to her, knowing he had acted purely on his jealousy and impulse. “I cannae watch ye make the wrong choice.”
He rushed into battle after that, determined to beat Laird Loughty at all costs.
14
It was the most intense fight Yvaine had ever witnessed. Both men fought like it was a real battle. Arran tightened his grip firmly on his reins and defended himself until he struck Laird Loughty hard and cast his sword to the ground.
Lily and Niamh celebrated Arran’s win with the rest of the crowd watching.
“It seems Arran is really interested in marryin’ ye,” Lily commented with a laugh as she applauded him.
Yvaine, however, burned with the heat of her embarrassment. “I am goin’ to kill him,” she fumed as Arran jumped off his horse, walked to her, and bowed. She repeated those words to him before storming away from the courtyard.
Yvaine made it to her brother’s study before Duncan entered alongside Amelia. Lily and Niamh followed then Arran walked in.
“What do ye think ye are doin’?” Yvaine thundered before Duncan could speak. “He isnae allowed to compete in the games, braither,” she said to Duncan. “Ye cannae let him do this.”
Yvaine’s eyes narrowed to tiny slits when he defended himself with the exact words she knew he would say.
“I am doin’ this to protect ye. The man ye chose must be strong enough to protect ye and willin’ to do anythin’ to do that.”
“Liar!” Yvaine accused then continued with rapid Gaelic as she walked to him and slammed her fist into his chest.
Arran seized her wrists and responded to her in the same heated tone, “Listen to me, Yvaine!”
“Enough!” Duncan shouted in Gaelic too, and he got them both to look at him. “I willnae have this, Arran. Ye dinnae intend to wed my sister, and so ye cannae make it to the finish line of the games. Ye two work together, and whoever Yvaine likes, ye must make sure to lose to him.”
Arran did not like the sound of Duncan’s suggestion, but he could not object either way because Duncan was right. He could not marry Yvaine.
So why did you jump in?He had never been so confused in his life. Arran never acted without thinking first. His heart pounded, and the harsh heave of his chest showed his labored breathing.
Sweat clung to his forehead, and he blamed his rash act on the effect of all the ale he had the previous night.
“Are we clear?” Duncan asked him softly again. Arran nodded to confirm.
“I do this for her, believe me.”
Everyone in the chamber watched the scene unfold quietly. When he looked at Yvaine again, she still wore the red, heated look that made him squirm inside.
She stormed out of the study, and he followed. “Yvaine,” he hollered, rushing to catch up with quick strides. Arran took hold of her arm and turned her to face him. “I ken ye hate me right now, but I am doin’ this for ye, trust me.”
“Ye are nay doin’ this for me,” she denied, shaking her head. “Ye are doin’ this for yerself. Ye are selfish. Ye hate that I will make a decision for meself, and ye want to stay in control. I thought that at least we were friends, Arran, but now, I ken that we are nay.”
She ran away from him while her words sliced deep. Arran turned around and rammed his fist into the wooden statue by his side, knocking it to the ground as pain erupted from his knuckles through his arm.
“That must have hurt,” Elspeth commented, and he turned to see her watching him with a disapproving look on her face.
“I apologize,” he said before picking the statue and returning it to its place. “I lost my temper.”
“Ye cannae always control everythin’ dear,” Elspeth continued in a soft voice as she walked closer to him. “People are nay to be controlled.”
“I dinnae wish to control her, I just…”
“I understand,” Elspeth said slowly then touched his shoulder. “Ye have ken Yvaine all yer life. She is family to ye, and ye care deeply for her. Ye want to see her happy, and yet at the same time if that happiness involves another man, ye want to claw his eyes out.”
