Chapter 10 #2
"Because ye didnae participate in the things yer father did.
I did. Even if me participation was minimal, and a lot of it was used tae eventually pass information on tae the Sparrows, I still served as captain of the guard.
I still obeyed first Malcolm Darach and then me father, and I fought on their behalf.
I need tae make up for what those with me name have done, and what I have done, tae the people of this country.
" Eoin sighed, shaking his head. "I failed. "
"Everyone fails," Breana reminded him. She moved closer, touching his hand gently, and he didn't move away. "I failed tae protect me younger sister when Maeve was taken away from me. Both Maeve and I failed tae protect Nessa from turnin' intae a monster."
"That's nae the same—"
"Even the McNairs failed," Breana interrupted. "They were defeated, almost wiped from the face of the world. But look at Cailean now, fightin' with everythin' he has tae reclaim his legacy and protect his people."
"I'm nae Cailean," Eoin said, shaking his hand. "Me family legacy isnae one tae reclaim."
"But it is one tae rebuild from the ground up." Breana pressed her fingers into his hand as gentle comfort. "And it starts with ye."
Eoin took his turn with the bow next and hit slightly left of the target, not enough to get to ask his question. To her surprise, though, Breana managed to hit the bullseye again.
"Oh no," Eoin exclaimed dramatically, though he was smiling. "What will ye think of now?"
This time, the question came so naturally and quickly to her lips that it surprised even Breana herself. "What would ye be doin' if things were different? If ye didnae have the burden of yer family name, and there was no war?"
Eoin's reaction was immediate. His eyes widened even further, and he ducked his face away, hidden in the shadows. "I dinnae ken," he muttered. "I havenae really thought about it."
"Ye must have some idea," Breana insisted.
"What about ye?" Eoin asked, quickly changing his tone and giving her a questioning look. "What would ye be doin', if things were different?"
Breana shook her head. "It isnae yer turn tae ask a question, and ye havenae even answered mine."
In response, Eoin took the bow from Breana's hands and expertly fired a shot, hitting the bullseye with such precision that Breana gasped. Had he been holding back?
"What would ye be doin'?" he asked again.
Thwarted, Breana considered arguing that he hadn't answered yet, but then she found that, despite his deflection, she was really curious about her own answer.
What would she be doing? She had never really expected much from her own life.
She'd always known she'd be married off as soon as her father could find a man who would take her who would also be beneficial to the O'Sullivan name.
Until Maeve, Cailean, and Eoin had rescued her from Kyle Darach's clutches, she'd never dared to even wish for anything more.
Except… one thing. "It's silly," she whispered, feeling her cheeks grow warm.
Eoin waited, not pushing, but obviously giving her the space to say whatever she needed to. Despite her embarrassment, she found herself suddenly wanting to tell him—wanting to share a secret she'd never told anyone, not even Maeve.
Breana clasped her hands together in front of her, twirling her fingers around each other nervously.
"I… I always wanted tae fall in love. Real love, true love, the kind from the stories.
Maeve used tae tease me about it, in the way wee lassies tease one another, but I never minded.
She may have dreamed of adventure, but I dreamed of home.
A husband who wanted me nae for the power and gold I could bring, but for the love we shared.
Bairns, eventually, who were born from that love, and would grow up with parents who truly adore them. "
When she looked up again, Eoin was watching her intently. "That isnae silly," he said quietly. "Ye deserve that kind of love." He lowered the bow to the ground and stepped closer to her. "Ye deserve everythin' ye've ever dreamed of."
They stood very close to one another now. Breana only realized that she was crying when Eoin reached out to cup her cheek, gently wiping away a tear with his thumb. She leaned into the touch, closing her eyes, enjoying the warmth of him.
"It's just a dream," she murmured. "Just a fantasy. All wee lassies have them; it doesnae mean anythin'."
He spoke gently. "It doesnae have tae be. When this is all over, who kens who ye'll find. Who kens what will happen."
She opened her eyes, staring up into his face. "Eoin, I… May I ask a question?"
He smiled a little. "Since I didnae answer yer last one, I suppose ye must."
She hesitantly reached up and rested a hand lightly on his chest. "Would ye ever kiss me?"
Eoin blinked. "I…"
"I mean really kiss me," Breana clarified quickly. "Nae just because ye needed tae silence me or draw attention away, nae as part of a cover, but because I am me and ye are ye and ye just wanted to."
"Breana." His voice was hoarse. "I'd never take advantage of ye. I'd never—"
"But what if I wanted ye to?" she asked, her heart thrumming at their closeness, at the feel of his hand against her cheek, at the beating of his own heart under her hand. "What if it's all I've dreamed of?"
"I'm nae the man ye want me tae be," Eoin whispered.
"Dinnae tell me what I want," Breana replied. She moved closer, now only a breath between them. "I can decide that for meself. Tell me what ye want."
In response, the hand on Breana's cheek slipped back, cupping the back of her head and tangling in her hair.
His other arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her to him and closing the gap between them.
Their lips met in an inevitable collision, fitting together as though it were where they had always meant to me.
Breana's arms wrapped around him, and they held each other, the world slowing to a stop around them.
They'd kissed before, but this was the first time they were doing it just for them—just because they wanted to, just because they wanted each other.
It felt different and new, and yet strangely familiar, as though this was what Breana's body had been made for.
When his tongue pressed against her lips, she parted them willingly, deepening the kiss and leaning into him.
Though the passion was overwhelming, there was no rush, no hurry, to the way they held each other.
They were content to lose themselves within each other's arms, to forget everything for a moment.
Right now, they were free of all the expectations.
Everything in the past, everything in the present, and even everything in the burgeoning future vanished at once, all of it narrowing down to only this moment.
There was nothing right now beyond Eoin and Breana, nothing other than each other, and reality for now was nothing more than this.
When at last they separated, they stared into each other's eyes.
Breana's pulse was quickened, and her skin was tingling like it was on fire, and yet she longed to throw herself back into the flames.
She sighed, resting her head against his chest, and he held her close.
They stood like that for a moment, then Breana pulled back slightly, not to get out of his arms, but just so that she could look up at him again.
"Eoin—" she started.
Before she could speak, though, one of the horses let out a warning bray. Eoin was instantly on his guard, jumping away from Breana and reaching for his sword. Breana scooped up her bow, and just as she did, four men appeared through the narrow path between the hills.
Even in the dim light, Breana recognized them—they were the same men from the tavern, the same men who had announced that her father was dead. The same men Breana had insisted upon following had now found them, and were armed and dangerous as they approached.
"There ye are," one of the men said, and even in the dim light, it was clear he was wearing a sadistic grin on his face. "Did ye think ye could get away?"
"There must be some kind of mistake," Eoin said cautiously, positioning himself between Breana and the approaching men. "We're just travelers. Newlyweds."
All four of the men laughed, and the leader spat on the ground.
"We ken exactly who ye are," he said. "We kent it from the moment ye and yer whore followed us when we were drinkin'.
They said Kyle Darach's traitor son still runs with the rebels, but who would have thought he would turn up here, of all places? "
Breana gasped, covering her mouth in horror at the dawning understanding of what was happening.
They had both been worried about her being recognized, and rightfully so—but neither of them had considered that someone might spot Eoin.
True fear filled every fiber of Breana's body, washing away the indescribable joy she had been experiencing a moment before, and she raised her bow with shaking hands.
"Let us go," Eoin said quietly. "This doesnae need tae be a fight."
"It willnae be much of a fight," one of the men replied, and all four stepped forward menacingly, each raising their weapons. "And soon enough, we'll bring the king yer head."