Chapter 19 #2
“Come over here,” she murmured, placing a hand on Mason’s elbow and leading him to the stone bench. “Sit. Me Laird, could I have a cup of water for him, please?”
“Aye. Fergus is bringing a water bucket now.”
Skye inched toward the door, curling her fingers around the bars.
Neither Mason nor Leah noticed. They sat side by side on the stone bench, heads bent together.
Leah whispered urgently to him. He hung his head, nodding.
After a moment, he extended his hand, revealing a graze on his forearm.
He likely got it during the struggle with Evander.
It was hardly a serious injury, but Leah tenderly dabbed it with the same green paste she’d put on Skye’s cut.
Skye’s chest tightened.
Of course.
Fergus approached, carrying a bucket full of clean water. He and Evander whispered together, oblivious to Leah and Mason doing just the same thing in the cell.
“Leah,” Skye said.
The healer lifted her head. Her eyes were brimming with tears.
“Do ye ken why he has been arrested?” Skye asked.
Mason met her eyes pleadingly. Daenae tell her, his expression begged silently.
Skye closed her eyes briefly before continuing. “He was the one who kidnapped me. He willnae tell us who his conspirators are.”
Leah swallowed thickly. A fat tear escaped from one eye, streaking down her face. She glanced briefly at Mason and then away just as quickly.
“Oh,” she whispered.
Fergus and Evander had stopped whispering now. They stood silently, watching Skye.
“We couldnae understand why Mason was still lying to us, but now I ken. They threatened him. Isnae that so, Mason?”
Mason lifted his chin and drew in a ragged, tear-choked breath. “Ye think I am so weak as to be cowed by threats? I’m nae afraid of death, or pain, or anything.”
“Nay, ye arenae. But it’s nae ye they threatened, is it?”
Mason gave a low whimper, closing his eyes. “Daenae put me in this position, me Lady. Please.”
“I have to,” Skye whispered. “For all our sakes, nae just mine.”
“She’s right,” Evander muttered. “Listen to her, man. She’s got yer best interests at heart.”
Mason swallowed, his gaze sliding to Leah.
Of course.
“It’s her they threatened, is it nae?” Skye breathed. “They threatened to kill Leah. That’s how they forced ye to kidnap me and hide the truth if ye were caught.”
Mason gave a shaky sob, dropping his face into his hands. “I cannae say, I cannae say! He’ll kill her. He said he would, and he meant it. I’ll nae risk it.”
Evander surged forward, yanking open the cell door. He pushed his way inside, seizing Mason by the shoulders and hauling him to his feet.
Leah gave a strangled scream, throwing herself at Evander. “Put him down, me Laird. Put him down! Daenae ye dare hurt him. Daenae ye dare! He’ll tell ye. I ken he will. He’s no traitor, and he adores Lady Bryden. He always has! He’d never hurt her.”
“He never did,” Skye confessed. “He took care of me as best he could. Mason, I’m nae angry with ye. I can see how ye care for Leah, and I ken that ye wanted to keep her safe. But now that ye are caught, do ye really think she’ll be protected? Please, Mason.”
Mason opened and closed his mouth, his expression conflicted.
Evander growled low in his throat. Seizing Mason by the throat, he slammed him against the wall. Leah screamed, backing away, her hands pressed over her mouth.
“I swear to God, ye had better tell me,” Evander bit out.
“Enough of this subterfuge. If ye willnae answer honestly for yer own sake, think of Skye. Think of Leah. Yer choice is simple, which should make it easier for ye. I have run out of patience. Ye can speak, or ye can die. Whatever choice ye make, ye had better make it now.”
Silence descended.
Leah had pressed herself against the wall, her hands still pressed over her mouth. Glancing over Evander’s shoulder, Mason met her eyes, and something seemed to pass between them.
Leah glanced at Skye and swallowed. Letting her hands drop from her mouth, she looked back at Mason with a ragged breath.
“If ye love me at all,” she stated firmly, “ye will tell them the whole truth. Whatever they need to hear. Ye must, Mason, because me loyalty is to the Laird and to Lady Bryden. Please.”
Mason squeezed his eyes shut, breathing heavily. After a long, taut moment, he leaned forward and whispered in Evander’s ear.
Skye frowned. She couldn’t hear what he had said. Was it a name?
Evander’s face tightened. He abruptly released Mason, taking a step back.
“Are ye sure?” he asked sharply.
Mason drooped forward. His shoulders stayed against the wall as if stuck there, but his head flopped forward.
“Aye, me Laird. I’m sure. He spoke to me the day I came to the keep with Lady Bryden.
I… I could tell that he was trying to turn me against ye.
I daenae like ye, Laird Bryden. I didnae want Lady Bryden to be here, but I kent she would take care of herself if she had to.
Then, when I began to fall in love with Leah, he approached me again.
This time with threats. He made it clear what I had to do. Me Lady, I… I was meant to kill ye.”
Skye closed her eyes. “Aye, that makes sense. But ye didnae.”
“Nay. I couldnae. No threats would make me do that. And I… I’m sorry. I apologize to ye too, Leah. Ye must understand, me Laird, that Leah wasnae part of it.”
“I never believed for an instant that she was, but if I were a more paranoid and cruel laird, I might have chosen to hang her alongside ye.”
Mason flinched. “I have let everyone down.”
“So ye have,” Evander said briskly. “But ye have done the right thing now, and that’s nae nothing. Come, Skye. We have work to do. Ye can stay down here, Mason, until I decide what to do with ye.”
Mason nodded.
“I’d like to stay with him for a while, if I may,” Leah blurted out, glancing at Evander.
Evander paused, frowning a little. He glanced at Skye, and she gave a tiny nod.
“Very well,” he said. “Just for a little while. Come, wife.”