Chapter 22
Liam found Niall in his office, surrounded by maps and what appeared to be correspondence about honey suppliers. The older man looked up as Liam entered, taking in his expression with a single sharp glance.
“That bad?” Niall asked, setting down his pen.
“I need to book a flight home. As soon as possible.”
Niall tilted back in his chair, studying him. “What happened?”
“Nothing. That’s the problem.” Liam strode to the window, staring out at the loch, where he could see the Teague brothers in their leopard forms, playing near the water’s edge.
Even from this distance, their joy was evident.
“Sienna can’t see past her guilt. She doesn’t believe that anyone would want her. ”
“And you’ve tried talking to her?”
“I’ve tried everything.” His laugh held every scrap of the bitterness he felt. “I told her I loved her. That I wanted a future with her, children, whatever they might look like.”
“But?”
“But she’s convinced it’s guilt or obligation. Or that I’ve somehow confused trauma with affection.”
Liam turned from the window, his jaw tight. “She thinks I’m with her because I owe her family for taking me in.”
Niall was silent for a long moment. “Do you?”
“What?”
“Are you with her because they gave you something you were missing?”
“No.” The denial came fast and fierce. “At least… I don’t think so.” But even as the words left his mouth, doubt slithered in. “God, what if she’s right? What if I can’t tell the difference anymore?”
“Liam,” Niall said, “I’ve seen the way you look at her. The way she looks back. That’s not duty.”
“Then why won’t she believe me?”
“Because she’s scared.” Niall stood, moving to the decanter on his desk and pouring two glasses of whisky. “Because accepting what you’re offering means risking everything. And for someone who has suffered like she has, it’s easier to push love away than to lose it later.”
Liam accepted the glass but didn’t drink. “So what am I supposed to do—keep beating my head against the wall until she believes me?”
“You could give her time.”
“Time to come up with more reasons we can’t be together?” Liam drained the whisky in one burning gulp. “I’m tired of battling for someone who doesn’t want to be fought for.”
Niall nodded. “And the family? They’re good people, and they care about you.”
“Yeah. They are. The best I’ve ever known.” Liam’s voice softened. “But I can’t stay unless she accepts me. It’s not fair to anyone, and it’s only going to get more painful.”
“Have you told them you’re leaving?”
“I will. But I need to ask them not to tell Sienna until after I’m gone.”
Niall’s brows rose. “Why?”
“Because if she knows, she’ll either try to stop me out of guilt or be relieved I’m going. Either way, it makes it harder.”
Niall pulled out his phone, already scrolling through airline websites. “There’s a red-eye flight tonight that connects through London. Gets you to Auckland tomorrow evening, local time.”
“Perfect. Book it.”
“Done.” Niall looked up from his phone. “Suzie and I will drive you to the airport.”
“Thank you for everything.” Liam headed for the door. “And Niall? Help them take Saber’s offer when they’re ready. They deserve a fresh start.”
“Of course. But you could still change your mind.”
“No. I couldn’t survive going through this again.”
For the next few hours, Liam sought each family member individually. He found Hedrek first, walking alone in the rose garden, his leonine features serene in the afternoon light.
“Hedrek, could I have a word?”
The older man turned, and his expression immediately grew concerned. “Of course, lad. What’s troubling you?”
“I’m leaving tonight. Going back to New Zealand.”
Hedrek’s face went blank. “I see. And Sienna?”
“Doesn’t know. Please don’t tell her until after I’m gone.”
“Lad—”
“Please.” Liam swallowed hard. “She’s made it clear she doesn’t want what I’m offering. If she knows I’m leaving, she’ll either feel guilty or relieved, and I can’t handle either reaction.”
After a long assessing look, Hedrek finally nodded. “If that’s what you need.”
“It is. But I wanted to thank you for welcoming me and treating me like family, for showing me what that even means.”
Hedrek’s gaze brightened with emotion. “You’ll always be family to us, lad. Distance doesn’t change that.”
They embraced briefly, and Liam had to swallow hard against the lump in his throat.
He found Tamsin in the kitchen, helping Mrs. Fraser with dinner preparations. When he asked for a private word, she followed him to the small pantry, her brow furrowed.
“You’re leaving,” she said before he could speak. It wasn’t a question.
“How did you—”
“You have the same look Sienna had when she came back from the gathering. Like someone who’d made a hard decision they didn’t want to make. Does she know?”
“No. And I need you to promise not to tell her.”
“Oh, Liam.” Tamsin reached up to cup his face. “What happened between you?”
“She can’t trust that I want her. And I can’t keep struggling to change her mind.” He covered her hands with his. “Take Saber’s offer. Go to New Zealand. You’ll be happy there.”
“Will you be happy there? Without us?”
“I’ll manage.”
Tamsin pulled him into a fierce hug. “You’re a good man, Liam. Don’t let anyone tell you different.”
Finding the boys required more strategy. He caught them one by one as they returned from their various activities.
Jago was easiest with his direct manner. “You’re leaving because of Sienna.”
“Yes.”
“She’s an idiot.”
“She’s scared.”
“Same thing, sometimes.” Jago gripped his shoulder. “Take care of yourself. And if she comes to her senses and follows you to New Zealand…”
“She won’t.”
“If she does, don’t make it easy for her. Make her work for it.”
Calan was harder. The quiet brother had always been more sensitive to emotional undercurrents. “You love her.”
“I do.”
“And she loves you too. She’s too stubborn to admit it.”
“Maybe. But I can’t wait forever for her to figure that out.”
Calan nodded sadly. “I understand. But I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
Kitto was the hardest of all. When Liam found him in the art room, sketching, the youngest brother took one look at his face and his shoulders slumped.
“When?” Kitto asked.
“Tonight.”
“Because of Sienna.”
“I can’t stay where I’m not wanted.”
“But we want you here.”
“I know. And that makes this so hard.” Liam settled beside him. “If she doesn’t want me in this family, I can’t force my way in. None of us would benefit from that.”
Kitto looked stricken. “Will we see you again?”
“If you come to New Zealand, yes. I hope you will. What about your art opportunities with London?”
“I’ll still take them. No matter where I am.” Kitto managed a watery smile. “Maybe I can visit you sometime.”
“I’d like that.”
He found Jamie sitting alone by the loch, skipping stones across the dark water.
“Leaving again?” Jamie asked without looking up.
Liam sat beside him. “How did you know?”
“Seen that look before. My dad had it every time he walked out.” Jamie’s voice was carefully neutral. “Difference is, you’re saying goodbye.”
“I’m not your father, Jamie. This isn’t about not caring.”
“I know.” Jamie looked at him. “Doesn’t make it hurt less.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Are you coming back?”
“Probably not.”
Jamie nodded and went back to throwing stones. “Thanks for not lying about it.”
At nine-thirty, Liam slipped out of the castle through the servants’ entrance, his single bag slung over his shoulder. The car was waiting, engine running quietly in the darkness.
As they pulled away, he caught one last glimpse of the castle’s lit windows. Somewhere inside, Sienna was probably still looking for him, wondering where he’d gone.
By morning, she’d have her answer.
And he’d be nothing but a memory.