Chapter 19
Aiden’s leg throbbed with every step, the hastily wrapped bandage doing little to stem the flow of blood from the laceration.
The morning light filtered through the trees as he and Malcolm hobbled their way back to the castle, the recent battle consuming their thoughts.
Aiden gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain as his mind replayed the fight.
“Ye’re as stubborn as a mule, Aiden,” Malcolm muttered, his tone a combination of admiration and frustration as he supported Aiden’s weight. “That wound’s nae deep, but ‘tis in a bad spot. Ye shouldnae be walkin’ with it.”
“I’ll be fine,” Aiden replied, his voice strained but firm. “’Tis just a large scratch, really. Nothin’ that’ll keep me down.”
“Ye’re bleedin’ all over, and that leg of yers will need more than a quick wrap,” Malcolm said, shaking his head. “As soon as we get back, I’ll bandage ye up properly and call for the healer to examine ye to make sure ‘tis nothin’ more serious.”
Aiden nodded, knowing Malcolm was right but unwilling to admit the extent of his pain. “Aye, but first, we need to deal with what’s left of Flynn. His body… it cannae stay where we’ve left it.”
Malcolm nodded, his jaw set in determination. “I’ll take care of it, Aiden. Ye can count on me.”
As they reached the castle and approached the side door, Aiden’s steps became heavier and slower as the rush seeped from his muscles and exhaustion finally caught up with him. Malcolm pushed the door open and helped Aiden inside.
As soon as they’d entered, they were confronted by Griselda, Aiden’s aunt, and her second-eldest son, Fergus. Griselda’s sharp eyes widened in shock, and her hand flew to her mouth as she took in Aiden’s bloodied appearance.
“Good Lord, Aiden! What happened?” she cried, her voice shaking with fright and worry.
Fergus stepped forward, his face pale. “Are ye alright, cousin? Ye appear badly hurt!”
Aiden held up a hand to forestall any further questions, his gaze fixed on Malcolm. “Get me upstairs please, Malcolm,” he said quietly, ignoring the concerned looks from his family.
Griselda wasn’t one to be dismissed easily. She moved closer, her eyes narrowing as she took in the severity of his injuries. “Ye cannae just brush this off, Aiden. What happened out there? And why are ye so bloodied?”
Aiden shook his head, his voice calm but firm. “Relax, Maither. ‘Tis nae as bad as it looks. I just need to clean meself up, and I’ll be fine.”
Griselda’s eyes flashed with frustration, but she knew better than to push him further in his present condition. Instead, she turned to Malcolm, her voice commanding. “Get him upstairs, and make sure he’s properly taken care of. I’ll summon the healer, but ye’d better make sure he rests.”
Malcolm nodded, already guiding Aiden toward the stairs. “Aye, I’ll get him sorted.”
As they made their way up the narrow staircase to Aiden’s study, Aiden leaned heavily against Malcolm, the pain in his leg growing more intense with each step. When they finally reached the door, Malcolm pushed it open and helped Aiden inside, quickly locking the door behind them.
Aiden sank into a chair, his breath coming in short gasps as he tried to steady himself. Malcolm knelt beside him, carefully unwrapping the makeshift bandage to inspect the wound. His brow furrowed as he saw the deep gash, blood still flowing freely from the deeply torn flesh.
“Ye’ve been careless, Aiden,” Malcolm muttered, his voice tinged with worry as he began to clean the wound. “Ye could have lost yer leg or worse.”
Aiden winced at the sharp, biting pain as Malcolm pressed a clean cloth against the wound. “I had to do it, Malcolm. Flynn wouldnae have stopped until he got everything he came here for. I couldnae let him get to Katie. He left me with nay choice in the matter.”
Malcolm’s expression softened slightly, though he remained focused as he worked on cleaning the wound. “Aye, I ken that. But ye’ve got more than yerself to think about now. Ye’ve got a wife… soon to be, at least… and she’s already endured more than enough strife.”
Aiden closed his eyes as the seriousness of Malcolm’s words sank in. “I ken it. Believe me, I do. But I had to make certain that Flynn wouldnae come back. I had to protect her and the rest of the clan, nay matter the cost.”
Malcolm nodded, hearing the unspoken dread in Aiden’s words. “Aye, and ye did. But ye’ve got to take care of yerself too, lad. Katie needs ye whole and healthy, nae limpin’ and bleedin’ out. Ye’re nae much of a groom in the shape ye’re in.”
Aiden managed a small, tired smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Aye, I suppose ye’re right. But Flynn… he wouldnae have given up. Ye ken that.”
Malcolm finished bandaging the wound, his expression grim. “Aye, I ken, and ye did what ye had to do. But next time, ye need to let someone else carry the burden for a while. Ye cannae handle it all by yerself every time.”
Aiden nodded, though he wasn’t sure he could ever truly let someone else bear the weight of his responsibilities. But as he thought of Katie waiting for him and worrying about him, he knew Malcolm was right. He couldn’t afford to be reckless anymore, not when their future together was at stake.
As Malcolm stood to leave, Aiden looked up at him, his voice quiet and his words heartfelt. “Thank ye. For everythin’.”
Malcolm gave him a firm nod, his expression soft. “Ye’re family. We look after our own.”
With that, he left the room, leaving Aiden alone with his thoughts.
Aiden leaned back in his chair, exhaustion finally overtaking him as he closed his eyes.
But even as he drifted off to sleep, he continued to think about Katie and the life they were about to share.
He had fought for her, bled for her, and now he would do everything in his power to cherish and shelter her.
After the healer had treated his wounds, Aiden had fallen into a restless sleep.
He awoke in the dimly lit room and stared at the bandage wrapped tightly around his leg.
The throbbing pain was a constant reminder of his vicious fight with Flynn, but it dimmed in comparison to his inner turmoil.
He could still envision Flynn’s mocking grin and hear his taunting words as he lay on the ground and his blood seeped into the earth.
Aiden knew he had won, but he had won at an alarming cost.
Aiden looked himself over and realized that he was truly a complete wreck.
The man Katie was supposed to marry in just a few hours was a jumble of anger, guilt, and self-loathing.
Aiden couldn’t shake the feeling that he had already failed her.
She didn’t even know how close she had come to losing him, or worse, being captured and molested by Flynn and his filthy gaggle of brigands.
His stomach churned and roiled at the image of Katie being torn away from him.
I had promised her safety, love, and a future together, but how can I hold meself to that promise when I’m nae even capable of shieldin’ her from the ghouls of me own makin’?
Aiden gripped the edge of his chair, his knuckles turning white with the effort he exerted to keep himself grounded.
He could still hear Malcolm’s voice urging him to rest, to put his leg up until the wedding.
The healer had been even more insistent that he remain motionless, but Aiden couldn’t stay still while his dark ruminations attempted to swallow him whole.
In order to clear his mind, he knew he had to move and find a way to make peace with what he had done.
But how could he, when every step reminded him of the man he had become?
He was no hero. He wasn’t the strong, noble defender Katie deserved.
He was a man who had killed, who had fought and bled, and who had been consumed by the shadows of his past. In a mere few hours, he was expected to stand before her and take a vow to be her husband and be the man she could rely on for the rest of her life.
It felt as though he was setting her up to be the victim of a cruel joke.
Aiden pushed himself to his feet, wincing as pain shot through his leg.
He tried hard to ignore it, determined to walk off the anxiety gnawing at him.
He couldn’t stay in this room any longer, couldn’t sit with his thoughts any further without losing himself entirely.
He needed air, space, something to clear the apprehension that consumed his mind.
He limped out of the study, his steps slow and heavy as he made his way down the hall.
Aiden turned a corner and came to an abrupt halt, his breath catching in his throat.
There, at the end of the hall, stood Katie.
Although she was facing a mirror and had her back to him, he could see the soft white fabric of her wedding dress and the delicate lace that cascaded down her shoulders and her slender arms. The dress hugged her figure perfectly, and its skirt flowed around her in gentle waves that brushed the floor.
Her hair had been expertly styled into a chignon and was adorned with delicate, tiny white flowers that complemented the simple elegance of her gown. She looked like an angel, like something out of a dream, and Aiden felt his heart expand in his chest at the breathtaking sight of her.
He didn’t deserve her. He had known it before, but seeing her like this, so beautiful, so pure, the realization struck him with such an intensity that it nearly brought him to his knees.
He couldn’t condemn her to a life with him—a man so broken and so tainted by his past. She deserved so much more.
She deserved a future filled with joy, with peace, with a man who could give her everything she needed without having to endure the constant conflict and chaos that surrounded him.
Katie turned then, her eyes meeting his, and she smiled a smile so full of love and warmth that it nearly broke him. “There you are,” she said softly, her voice like a balm to his aching soul. “I’ll be your wife soon, Aiden.”
Aiden nodded, his throat too tight to speak. He crossed the distance between them, his heart pounding in his chest. When he reached her, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, lingering there for a moment as though trying to imprint the feel of her on his lips.
Katie looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. “Where are you going?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and a tinge of concern.
“I need a walk,” Aiden replied, his voice rough. “To calm me frayed nerves.”
She tilted her head back and narrowed her eyes slightly as she studied him. “You’ll be back soon, won’t you?”
Aiden hesitated, his hand coming up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing softly against her skin. “Of course,” he said, the words catching in his throat. He forced himself to smile at her but knew that it looked hollow.
Katie leaned into his touch, closing her eyes for a brief moment before opening them again, her gaze soft and filled with trust. “I’ll be waiting,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Aiden nodded, but he couldn’t bring himself to meet her eyes again.
He turned away, walking down the hall without looking back.
Each step felt like a betrayal, like he was leaving behind the one person who had ever made him feel whole.
But he knew he couldn’t remain there while the shadows inside his soul threatened his sanity and colored everything going on around him.
As he walked away, her voice echoed in his mind, a soft plea that cut deeper than any wound he had ever received.
“You’ll be back soon, won’t you?”
The words haunted him as he stepped out into the daylight, the cool air brushing against his skin. He had made promises to her, but deep down, he wasn’t sure he could keep them. He was deeply uncertain that he could ever become the man she needed him to be.