Page 44 of Sadie's Highlander (Highland Protector 1)

“Ye might as well tell him. Especially, since we’re no’ certain of how much time we truly have to do all that we hope to accomplish.” Sarinda rose from the depths of a leather wingback chair beside the shuttered window of the office. She bent and squinted up into the wide bowl of the stained-glass lamp shade and dimmed the light of the antique floor lamp standing beside the chair. Approaching the desk with both hands tightly clasped in front of her waist, she watched her son with a look that twisted the knots in Alec’s stomach even tighter. She stopped a few paces in front of the desk, turned back to Dwyn, and nodded. “And ye may as well give it to him. That must be dealt with as well.”

“Tell me what?” Alec dreaded hearing what Dwyn might have to say—especially since his mother had accompanied the demigod advisor to pass along whatever ill tidings had to be shared. Sarinda never allowed her children to face bad news alone. No matter what age they were, Sarinda swore that as long as she lived, she would protect her bairns, as she was still apt to call the lot of them.

“What the hell are ye t’give me?” Alec forced himself up from the chair, looking over the top of his mother’s head at Dwyn. He’d not take ill tidings sitting down. ’Twas always best to face a battle on yer feet.

Dwyn halted his pacing, shoved a hand deep in his coat pocket, then slowly drew it out. Cupping his fist palm down to hide whatever he held, he extended it to Alec and waited, staring down at the floor and not speaking a word.

“If that’s what I think it is…” Alec glared at Dwyn. It couldna be. She couldna have sent it back—she’d sworn…promised even. Alec stared at the back of Dwyn’s hand.Sadie—how could ye do this, m’love? And without a word?They hadna even had a chance t’clear the air betwixt them. Alec lifted his chin and clenched his teeth. She could not do this. Not after the way they’d connected—not after all they’d shared. Alec shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “I willna accept it. Not from you.”

“It is what ye think…” Dwyn waited a moment more, then gently placed the engagement brooch in the center of the desk. “And ye will accept it because it must be so—for now at least. Mistress Martha says the woman told her she canna bear t’face ye and begs ye t’do as she asks.”

Alec’s eyes burned with the need to blink as he stared down at the pin. He leaned forward, fisting his hands on either side of the precious memento that symbolized so much. He slowly sank back into the chair, the sight of the returned brooch twisting all hope from his heart. He finally looked up, first at his mother, then over at Dwyn. “Why d’ye say it must be so? Explain it t’me. Now. I can make Sadie understand if I just have the chance t’talk with her.”

“Mistress Martha has told me of the girl’s pain and suffering o’er what happened. And ye caught glimpses of Sadie’s troubles even though she tried t’hide them from ye. Ye saw the hurt in her eyes even when she scoffed at those people’s cruelty and did her best t’make ye believe she didna give a whit about how they treated her,” Sarinda said as she moved closer. “Dwyn has learned much about your lass—probably more than even she knows—or will admit. He’s learned her history and the mistreatment she’s endured from those who shouldha loved and protected her as caring foster parents would.” Sarinda stepped to Alec’s side and rested her arm across his shoulders. “Your woman has a sensitive soul—a softness and a vulnerability she hopes t’hide. D’ye no’ agree?”

“Aye,” Alec said softly. “I’d say ’twas one of the many things about her that drew me close. She’s as fragile and lovely as the silvery moon shining in the darkest night. She’s ensnared me. I am the wolf teased and bewitched by her subtle lonely light.”

Sarinda nodded. “And I’d also say your Sadie blames herself for all that happened on the mountain and is hell-bent on punishing herself for all her perceived wrongs of the past few days. We must help her get past all these things, son.”

Alec swallowed hard, gut tightening as he kept his gaze locked on the brooch.Máthairwas right. Sadie would blame herself for Delia’s atrocities. Alec closed his eyes and bowed his head. And her taking the blame was his own damn fault. One of the conditions he’d named for the filming was that Sadie would vouch for Realm Spinners Productions’ integrity and make sure her sister abided by the contract.

He knew the woman he loved better than she knew herself. When she made an oath, she took it to heart and meant it. ’Twas yet another reason he loved her so. She was just like him when it came to keeping her word. Alec scrubbed a weary hand across his face and rubbed the corners of his burning eyes. He’d been a fool to make Sadie think she was her sister’s keeper.

“Tell me where she is. I must go to her and explain.” He scooped up the pin and stood. “I will make her see. Make her understand.”

“No. I told ye that now is no’ the time. There is still much to be done and verra little margin for error in the plan the ladies and I are pulling together. I advise ye stay clear of her—for just a while yet.” Dwyn reluctantly shuffled two steps back, bushy red brows arching to his nonexistent hairline. The slight, balding demigod widened his stance, obviously bracing himself for Alec’s rage.

“I dinna give a rat’s arse what ye advise.” Alec stormed around the desk and headed for the door. Sarinda snagged his sleeve and yanked. Deeply ingrained respect for his mother kept him from snatching his arm away and charging onward. He came to a halt and jerked around to face her.

“Listen to Dwyn. He’s workin’ on a fine way to help the girl overcome her past and guide her to forgivin’ herself. We’d planned on doin’ this for her before the explosion, but now we’ve got to ‘tweak it,’ as Esme would say.” Sarinda pulled at Alec’s sleeve again and shook a finger at him with her free hand. “ ’Tis essential this be done exactly right. Wooin’ and winnin’ are more complicated now after all that’s happened. Ye must let us help her…and you.”

“I dinna need help from any of ye.” Did his mother think him completely incapable? Alec firmly but gently disengaged his sleeve from his mother’s grasp and turned back toward the door only to find Dwyn blocking his path. “Step aside, Dwyn. I mean to go get her and make her see sense. I’ll bring her back here and keep her locked in her rooms if that’s what it takes.”

“They call that kidnapping in this time—and unlike in medieval Scotland, it’s no longer considered an appropriate way t’take a wife. ’Tis a felony, in fact.” Dwyn lifted his short, outspread arms higher and spread his feet wider apart. “Ye need t’calm down and listen to yermáthair.I’ve already put a fine plan into play, but Sarinda, Esme, and I have a few more details that must be put in place afore ye go chargin’ in and makin’ a mess of things.”

The almost uncontrollable urge to snap Dwyn’s neck made Alec throw back his head and roar. Profanity-laced Gaelic burned free of his throat until both Sarinda and Dwyn squinted their eyes, covered their ears, and backed up a step. Chest heaving and the sound of his heartbeat pounding in his head, Alec finally stopped bellowing and shook a fist at both of them. “Yer killin’ me! The lot of ye are killin’ me!”

Bloody rage still burning through him, Alec shoved Dwyn out of the way, then yanked the office door open. He jabbed a finger at the hallway, clenching his teeth to keep from shouting again. “Out. Now. The both of ye.”

Dwyn yanked his suit coat straight and calmly held out his arm for Sarinda to take. “Perhaps it would be best if we gave him a bit of time to cool off and come to his senses.”

“If ye were no’ immortal, I’d kill ye, ye redheaded bastard.” Alec yanked the door open wider and thumped it hard with his fist. “Get out now and leave my affairs t’me. The most important battle of m’life must be planned, and then I mean t’go and win her back.”

“What are we to do?” Sarinda whispered to Dwyn as they hurried past Alec.

“Yer to leave me alone,Máthair,and allow me t’handle this as I see fit.”

Dwyn ushered Sarinda farther into the hallway, then turned back and reached for the door. “I’m doin’ this for yer own good, lad. Remember—I was sent here to watch o’er ye during just such times as these.” Then he quickly pulled the door closed and the locking mechanism in the latch rattled with an ominous clatter.

The realization of what Dwyn was up to came to Alec seconds too late. “Ye best not, ye son of a bitch!” He grabbed the brass door latch that had already taken on an eerie reddish glow, much like a burning ember pulled from a furnace. Scorching metal sizzled against his flesh.

“Damn ye straight t’hell and back!” Alec jerked his hand away from the handle just as quickly as he’d grabbed it. A painful streak of red burned across his palm. “I’ll snap yer neck for ye, ye meddlin’ bastard!” Alec kicked the door, then stormed across the room to the panel of windows behind his desk.

He yanked open the blinds and peered down, gauging the distance from the window ledge to the top of the porte cochere below. “I can make that easy.” He’d be damned if he’d let them lock him in his room like some unruly school lad sent t’bed without his supper. He halted his hand in midair, glaring at the window latch—the metal already radiating heat and glowing just as white hot as the handle of the office door.

“I’ll be damned if that stops me.” Alec grabbed his heavy desk chair by the armrests. Heaving it to one side in an arcing swing, he lunged and threw it at the wall of windows. Instead of shattering the glass, the chair hit with a solid thunk, then bounced back to the floor. “That son of a bitch.” Whatever Dwyn had done to protect the windows, he’d done it well.

“God damn ye, Dwyn!” Alec turned, grabbed hold of the edge of his desk, and heaved it over on its side. The light metallic clatter bouncing on the hardwood floor beside his boot made him look down. All anger drained from him, leaving only the darkest, bleakest sorrow in its place.

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