Chapter Twenty-One #2
He lowered his sister to the ground and propped her up against the wall. Mary brushed away her own tears and knelt down beside Sybella. Looking up at him, Mary smothered a sob.
“How could he do this? How?”
Colin studied Sybella, who sat with a glazed expression upon her face.
She still wore her nightrail, which was caked with muck.
She was filthy. Her hair was matted, and every spot of her ivory skin was covered with something unthinkable.
When a centipede slithered its way from under her hair, Colin reached over and grabbed it.
He threw it to the ground and crushed it under his boot.
Mary’s eyes widened and she told the cook to have a maid draw a bath for Sybella.
Anger lit Colin’s eyes and he replied sharply, “Are ye able to care for her?”
Mary nodded.
He took off as though his arse was afire.
He was furious and his thoughts raced dangerously.
His father had gone too far. His own daughter.
Colin’s sister! He remembered Sybella long ago as an innocent lass and how she used to spy on him.
And then he pictured her now. His breath came raggedly in impotent anger.
God help the person who stood in his way.
Several thoughts came to mind, but only one rose above all others.
It was time that Colin made his own choices—for better or worse.
He was no longer his father’s pawn. And neither was Sybella.
He spotted his father as soon as he entered the bailey. Barely giving himself enough time to recognize over the score of MacDonell men that had arrived, Colin drew his sword. When he heard his father’s words, there was no turning back. It was about time he stood as a man and protected his family.
“I want the stone. Give me the stone and I will give ye Sybella,” said his father. His father turned and his eyes widened. He looked down to find a sword in the middle of his gut being pulled out by his only son.
“Ceusda-chrann ort. An diobhail toirt leis thu.” The agony of the cross upon you. The devil take you.
His father fell to the ground with a thump.
Colin bent over, catching his breath. He was so furious that blood pounded in his brain.
He could barely think, anger consuming him.
His sire definitely had an easier fate bestowed upon him than the one Colin would’ve given him had he had ample time.
Colin lifted his eyes to find the MacDonell watching him.
“I am nae like my father, and if ye give Sybella a chance, ye will find she isnae like him either. She loves ye.”
“Where is my wife?”
***
Sybella sat in the tub as Mary and the maids bathed her—twice. “Ye should have left me.”
Mary rinsed Sybella’s hair. “I donna want to hear ye say that again.”
“Do ye think that Colin will be all right after…”
“Aye. I donna think Colin had much of a choice. Your father…lost his way. I want ye to think about yourself now. Colin did what was necessary and he will be a fine laird.”
“I love him, Mary.” Sybella closed her eyes as tears fell down her cheeks. “For as much as I jested with ye about Angus, I now see. I was such a fool for throwing it all away.”
Mary gestured for the maids to depart and she handed Sybella a drying cloth. Looking over Sybella’s shoulder, Mary smiled. “Mayhap ’tisnae too late.”
Sybella pulled her nightrail over her head. “Ye didnae hear his words, Mary. Ye didnae see the look in his eyes. He hates me.” She closed her eyes, placing her hand across her brow. “What have I done?”
“Mayhap ye made your husband realize what a dolt he can be.”
Her eyes shot up in surprise.
Alexander smiled with compassion and opened his arms. Mary quickly departed as Sybella ran into her husband’s embrace. “Alexander, I am so sorry! I love ye with all my heart. I donna want to lose ye. My heart truly breaks.” Tears streamed down her cheeks.
He looked down at her, wiping away her tears with his thumb.
“Ella, I was such a fool. Can ye ever forgive me? I didnae mean the words that flew carelessly from my lips. And ye were right. I was too blinded to see what was before my verra eyes. Tha gaol agam ort.” I love you.
“I want ye to come home where ye belong, by my side.”
She placed her head against his broad chest and held him tight. “Then ye must believe me that I donna have the stone. I—”
He pulled back and touched his finger to her lips. “Shhh…I know. Donna worry about it. ’Tis over.” He tucked a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. “Colin told me what your father did to ye. Please tell me ye are well.” He ran his hands up and down her arms.
“It was terrible, Alex, but I was more frightened at the thought of losing ye.”
He paused and pulled her close. “That will nae happen, lass. From this day forward, I promise ye that. Please promise me there will be nay more lies between us.”
“Aye.”
“Then if we are being truthful, there has been something I have been meaning to tell ye.”
She pulled back and her expression was puzzled. “What?”
“I loved ye from the first time I saw ye at the waterfall, Lady Sybella MacKenzie of Kintail. Ye plagued my thoughts for years and I always wondered what became of ye. Ye are the bonny lass that filled my dreams.” He smiled and gave her a roguish grin.
“And your lips taste of sweetened honey. In fact, I will tell ye a secret. I’d really like to taste them now. ”
He lowered his head and she licked her lips.
“Alex, ye are so verra wicked.”