Page 38 of The Veiled Wish of a Highland Bride

Archibald could tell that the men were not convinced, but he was grateful when they went away without a word. He didn't care much for his reputation. He was already widely known as a lover of women, but he knew that Mia would be ruined and banished if they found out about the cause of their fight.

Bram clearly cared too much about his reputation to argue.

“If I had my way,” the Laird said when Archie turned to leave, “I would have had ye thrown in my dungeon to rot till yer very last days, but ye are key in ensuring that the Prince is safe.” Bram's fist was still tightened around the hilt of his dirk. “And if ye dinnae do as I say, I vow to ye that Mia will be punished for everything. I assume we both ken I do as I say.”

“If I leave now and get out of yer sight, do ye give me yerwordto nae hurt her?”

“Dinnae tell me what I should do with my wife,” Bram spat back, but when he saw Archie did not move even an inch, he backed down. “I vow to ye that I will nae touch her, but only if ye get out of my keep right this instant.”

Satisfied, Archibald merely picked up his weapon and stormed out of Bram's sight, charging down the stairs. He would never do anything that could put Mia’s life in danger. Even if it meant playing by the rules of that evil man.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

Archibald dashed into his room. He was in a hurry, but he also refused to let that excuse of a human unsettle him. He was well aware he had the upper hand over Bram—he could not try anything while the other Lairds were still in the castle.

He was going to leave, but he had to arrange a few things first—things that were essential for both the plan he had drawn out with Bram and for the battle that he was sure was ahead. He tried to be as quick as possible, not wanting to cause Mia any trouble.

He sat at the desk in the room and began leafing through the maps they had drawn to track the Prince’s movements. He had barely stuffed them into his bag when he heard the shuffling of feet outside his door.

Nae, Bram will nae dare, or I will kill the bastard this instant.

He grunted at his paranoia when Lennox walked into the room.

“Och, it's good that ye are finally here,” Archie said.

Lennox seemed to look angrier than he was.

“Archibald.”

Archie did not fail to notice the man’s tone. Lennox was here as a friend, not as his war chief.

“I heard yer voice and that of Laird Murray all the way from the room where I lay asleep. What troubles did ye cause the Murrays?”

“We have nae time for this, Lennox,” Archibald replied, getting up and walking over to his bedside.

“Aye,” Lennox said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “I assume we would havehadthe time if ye didnae go causing trouble.”

Archibald released a small breath to still himself. He was tired, even more so now that his feelings for Mia had been revealed. Still, he knew that he had no time to spare, even to finish flicking through the maps.

It wasn't as though he did not appreciate Lennox’s worry, because he did. They had been much like brothers their whole lives, and Archibald was immensely grateful to him for the many times he had helped him on the battlefield and outside of it. That was precisely why he had made him his war chief: for his prowess in battle and his unending loyalty.

As he packed the rest of his things, he massaged his temples hoping to loosen up the bolts that seemed to be tightly wound there.

He was exhausted and worried, but he was aHighlander. Highlanders could brave any storm. He walked over to the side of his bed where he had kept his most prized possession, handed down to him by his father. It was a five lobed blade from before Scotland’s first War of Independence, owned by Lairds of the Macnab family from time immemorial. He held the blade in his hands, staring at the engravings on it.

Timor Omnis Abesto.

Let fear be far from all.

Those were the words he lived by, and he hoped that he would be able to live up to his father's legacy despite all that was going on. He grabbed the sword and began to make his way out of the room.

“Archie, what happened?” Lennox’s voice was much lower now, almost pitying.

“There is a devil in this castle, and it is nae me.” Archibald was livid, even more than before. After pacing back and forth for about a minute, he said, “The bastard!”

He was trying to gather his wits before he walked out of the door. He was going to talk to Lennox about everything: about Mia, about Bram, about what had just happened, about just how much helovedher. But not now. Not here.

“Please,speakto me.”

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