Chapter 33
Leah's hair drifted through the tips of Killian's fingers as he stared at the wooden beams of his ceiling. His mind was troubled as he warred with himself. Leah stirred beside him, nuzzling her face into his side. She was far more comforting next to him than he expected.
"Why can I nae tell ye to stay?" Killian whispered.
He knew there was no way she was listening to him.
Her dreams had taken her to a happy place far from the likes of him and this place, no doubt.
She stirred next to him as her face scrunched to a pout that made Killian want to laugh.
How she managed to steal his heart was beyond him.
Yet, there was no doubt in his mind or soul that she would be the best person to have his heart if he gave it away.
"I love ye, Leah." His confession drifted on the breeze and floated out the open window as if he had never said them. He glanced at Leah, half expecting her to have woken. But she turned her back to him and drew the pillow to her chest.
"It's because of that, I cannae be selfish with ye. I have to let ye go. The council is in an uproar and me enemies have increased. I cannae keep ye safe. Maybe one day, ye'll understand, and ye'll see that I did ye a favor by releasin' ye."
Killian felt his chest tightening with each word he spoke.
And while Leah remained motionless at his side, he couldn't help but wonder if somehow she heard and understood everything he said.
The decision to slip out of the bed was the most difficult choice Killian had ever made.
With Leah's warm body inviting him to linger a bit longer, and remain complacent wasn't settling.
If he was ever going to have a future, he was going to need a council that would trust him, not work against him.
"Goodbye, Leah," Killian mumbled as he eased away from Leah and rolled off the bed. He held his breath as he waited for her to show some sign that she was aware he was leaving. But when she remained fast asleep, Killian took his leave.
Grabbing his kilt and his belt with his dirk and sword, Killian tiptoed to the door.
Stealing one more glimpse over his shoulder, Killian made sure to sear the image of Leah naked in his bed to memory.
He eased the door shut, trying to keep it from moaning as it closed.
The last thing he wanted was to wake Leah when she had been through so much as it was.
Making his way down the hallway, Killian secured his clothes. The halls were quiet, as long shadows stretched across the walls. With each step, Killian felt a little bit of his soul dying.
"Fraser," Killian barked through the servant quarters. "Arouse the council members, now."
"Me laird?"
"Ye heard me, awaken the council and have them meet in the Great Hall."
"Tis nae mornin', I doubt any of them will show," Fraser answered as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"Then tell them they will have a date with the edge of a blade to the back of their necks. I'm tired of the lot of them. They can all hang for all I care and I'll build a council who will all be in line with me vision."
Fraser's eyes widened with shock as he threw on his shirt and stepped up to meet Killian at the door.
"This should be interestin'," Fraser mumbled as he started down the hall. Killian watched as he noticed the young lass hiding in Fraser's bed. A small smirk tugged at his lips as he walked away.
"Traitors heads will roll tonight." Killian's voice echoed through the hall, awaking all who heard him.
Pacing the length of the Great Hall, Killian waited. With each passing moment, his impatience grew and festered. After some time, the doors opened, and Killian watched as the council members spilled through, confusion riddling their faces.
"What is this? Why have ye dragged us to a meetin' at this hour?" Edward barked grumpily as he looked about, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Is this everyone?" Killian asked Fraser the moment Fraser entered the room.
"Aye, except for two," Fraser answered as Killian counted the number of guards filling the hallway.
"Two? Who?" Killian asked as the council member's mumbles filled the room with their chatter.
"Sean and Alan," Fraser answered. Killian's eyes widened.
"Alan? Are ye sure?"
"I went to every house, pulled every man from his bed and dragged them here," Fraser said. "There was nay sign of Alan when I went to his place. It was as if he never lived there."
"That makes nay sense," Killian said. "He would have told me if he was takin' a trip."
"Unless…" Fraser said, jarring Killian. It was a small word, but it was enough to cause tremors through Killian.
"He's the traitor," Killian hissed.
"Say the word and I'll have the men drag him back," Fraser said as a loud commotion from outside rattled the windows of the great hall. The council let out a collective gasp of horror as the panes of the windows wobbled from the blast of the explosion.
"What in the…" Fraser gasped as Killian whipped around.
Through the smoke and flames, Killian spotted a carriage rushing through the courtyard going south. As the chaos ensued, Killian found himself trapped.
"There," Killian said, pointing to Alan's carriage. "I'll go after him, I want ye to ensure everyone is accounted for. That blast sounded as if it came from the trainin' field."
"It would be the cannons," Fraser growled. "He blew a hole in our wall?"
"See to it, but be careful, Alan is clever," Killian said as he left the chaos of the great hall to Fraser and went charging for the stables.
In the dead of night, Killian worked frantically to saddle his horse. He knew every minute would be one he'd have to make up. But there was no way he was going to let Alan get away with his treachery.
Killian eased the bit into the horse's mouth and led it out from the stable. With the open road before him, Killian mounted and took off after the carriage.
The sting of the crisp night air kept Killian sharp and wide awake. Darkness engulfed him. Trusting his horse to lead the way, Killian tried to spy through the veil of black any signs of Alan's carriage.
"Come on," Killian urged, squeezing his legs tighter, egging the horse to go faster. Racing up the hill, Killian caught sight of Alan's carriage against the star-studded backdrop. "A little further. Ye can make this. Daenae let him get away, or I'll have ye cooked into steaks."
The horse pushed onward, giving Killian every ounce it had. Killian raced down the slope and pulled ahead to cut off the driver. The driver's eyes widened as Killian pulled his dirk and threw it, hitting the empty space next to his head.
"Stop this carriage."
"How dare ye," the driver hissed as he pried Killian's dirk from the carriage. "Do ye ken whose carriage this is?"
"He kens," Alan said, his voice as deadly as a viper. "That's why he's here. Isnae it?"
Killian pulled his sword as he slipped from his saddle. His heart raced in his chest as it pounded the drums of war in his ears. There was no telling what Alan had up his sleeve. All Killian knew was that he couldn't be set free.
"But I'm curious, what grounds do ye have for stoppin' me carriage?" Alan asked as Killian watched Alan push open the carriage door.
"Ye are to be hung for treason," Killian said.
"That doesnae sound right," Alan said, tapping the tip of his finger to his chin. "In fact, what I think I'm hearin' is how ye’re goin' to rid the world of yer presence."
"I daenae think so," Killian chuckled darkly as he stepped closer. It would have taken Killian three long strides to reach Alan. But within those steps, Alan pulled Leah's limp body from the seat of his carriage. "What is this? What have ye done to her?"
"The same thin' I did to ye," Alan growled, using Leah's body as a limp shield.
"Leah, wake up," Killian implored as Alan smirked.
"She can hear ye, if that makes ye feel any better, but she cannae answer," Alan said. "And she can feel everythin' I do to her, just as ye did, if I recall."
"What do ye want?" Killian asked as he watched Alan draw a knife from his boot and scrape the blade across Leah's throat.
"I want ye dead," Alan confessed as the driver climbed down and stood behind Alan as a united front. Killian eyed them both. There was no doubt he could handle them. But it was Leah he was worried about. If there was one lesson Alan had taught him over the years it was to never get attached.
"And how do ye propose ye're goin' to do that?" Killian asked as he circled them, trying to find his way in. All he needed was one slip-up from either Alan or the driver, and he'd be able to snatch Leah from their grasp.
"I'm nae goin' to do a thin'," Alan said.
"Ye are. Ye see, I tried to have Mason hire people, but his ability to hire anyone skilled enough was a joke.
And since ye best me men, well, the only solution is for ye to take out yerself.
It's what ye've wanted to do since ye were a teenager.
And what did I do? I talked ye out of it.
Ye see, I thought I could train the evil out of ye.
But ye proved to be just as unpredictable and violent as yer faither.
And I wasnae about to let another man like that reign over MacMillan lands. "
"I trusted ye," Killian said through clenched teeth. "And ye poisoned Mason's mind against me. It was ye, whisperin' of a rebellion. Ye were the one underminin' everythin' I was tryin' to do."
"Aye," Alan confirmed. "And what was the first lesson yer faither ever taught ye?"
"Never trust anyone," Killian answered as Alan pressed the edge of his blade to Leah's throat.
"Good, now take yer dirk and do it. Cut yer throat and spare her."
"Let her go first," Killian said. "She's nay trouble to ye. She's passed out and she will wake up to me lifeless body next to her."
"Ye think me a fool?" Alan asked, his gaze stern and direct. "Keep this up and ye'll have her blood on yer hands."
"Daenae touch her," Killian growled. It soon became clear that the only way out of this was to do as Alan wanted. "I'll do it."
"What's that?" Alan asked, tilting his head closer to Killian. "I dinnae hear ye that well."
"I concede," Killian answered as he dropped to his knees in submission. "Just daenae hurt her."
"Ye always did have a soft spot for the weak. Now, take yer dirk and get it done."
Killian looked at the blade in his hand as his heart swelled. Out of all the lives he had claimed with his hands and his blade, he knew it would have to end with the spilling of his blood.
"How do I ken ye willnae hurt her?"
"Ye daenae," Alan answered with an impish grin. "I suppose that's just somethin' ye're goin' to have to trust me with."