Highlander Enchanted(24)

Some of his tension released, and he cupped her cheek in one hand. “Ye canna find peace in vengeance, Lady Cade,” he said with unexpected softness. “Ye canna e’er find peace in blood spilt.”

“What else is there?”

“Ye go home t’Saxony. If yer as wealthy as Richard says, ye sit atop yer gold and weep o’er yer finery and coin.”

“I cannot go home,” she replied. “It was never my home. I was but a guest, and Richard …” She stopped and stared at his chest.

Cade’s thumb stroked her cheek lightly. “Ye are no’ seillie, but I would swear upon the Light and Dark Courts both ye cast a thrall upon me.”

“I have no magic, no home, no strength to wield a sword and claim my revenge,” she said with a spark of anger and pulled away from his warm touch.

He chuckled. “Ye need this.” He lifted the pendant from her chest once more. “Yer heart is burdened.”

She saw his gaze fall to the medallion dangling beside the pendant. His amusement faded, and a shadow passed over him once more. Isabel gripped both of her talismans in her hand, hiding the medallion from him.

“You do remember my brother,” she said. “He wore a medallion like mine.”

“Doesna matter, lass,” he replied, gaze flickering to hers. “I can no’ change what happened.”

“What did happen?”

His features shuttered. “Ye need t’concern yerself with yer fate, not yer past.”

Isabel sighed. For a moment, she had been close to discovering more about her brother.

“Your ma was a MacCosse?”

She nodded.

“Yer the sole heir to their lands.”

“If I care to claim them.”

“Yer also a de Clare, with a claim to the Saxony lands.”

“Yes,” she said. There was more. So much more, but now was not the time to bring up how complicated her situation was.

“Yer father was wealthy?”

She glanced up and saw the thoughtful look on his features. “He was. But he left his wealth to my husband, as is custom. I cannot own land or wealth.”

“A clan wife is equal to her husband here.”

“Not in England.”

“And ye call me barbaric,” he said with a snort. “The writs ye secreted into my bags tell a tale both kings would find of interest, were I t’show them.”

“Those are my property. You have no right to read them!”

He gave her a knowing look. “Yer a wealthy woman with lands in two countries but ye have no home. How ye came to torment me, I doona ken.” He looked her over then shook his head.

He was calming and with him, the weather. The sound of rain had disappeared, and moonlight trickled through clouds that had begun to disperse.

At a loss what to do, Isabel swiped away angry tears and batted away the lanterns that buzzed her head.

“I need a wife,” Cade said.

Her gaze snapped to him.

“Preferably one with land.”

Isabel’s brow furrowed.

“Ye need someone t’protect ye from the man who wants to claim your land,” he added with some amusement. “A home and a clan chief t’back yer claim to the court.”

“You think I would consider the man who killed my family?” she asked in disbelief.

“I think ye doona want to die, and I ken ye doona want yer betrothed.”

“And you consider yourself worthy?”

“I consider m’self yer only choice. I’ll protect ye, and support yer claim t’the MacCosse lands.”

“In exchange for my lands and wealth.” Isabel was surprised the savage had a mind for such an idea. It was, in every way, a contract far less intimidating and scary than Richard’s.

“And an heir,” he added. “One who can claim MacCosse land.”

“Lands, wealth and an heir,” she said. “It sounds as if I do not need you in this deal at all.”

“Do ye not know where heirs come from?” he challenged.

“Of course I do. I can find any man to sire an heir.”

He laughed, a warm, rolling sound that surprised her. “Verra well. Ye can think on it.”

“What is there to think about?” she returned.

“Ye ‘ave nothin’ without a husband, and ye have two men to choose from.” He folded his arms across his chest.

The sinking feeling in her stomach bothered her. If she had known this was how her revenge would turn out, she would have stolen the horse earlier this day and fled. “You want me in your bed, knowing I might try to kill you?” she snapped.

“I’d gladly take m’chances.” The intensity of his look caused the warmth within her to rise once more.

What would it be like to be married to such a man? She was unable to fathom the idea, and was just as confused by who he actually was. Ready to throw her out one moment, asking for her hand the next, he was as unstable as the clouds.

“Give me yer answer soon, lass,” he said and turned away once more. “Or I’ll see ye married to yer betrothed before sending ye both back to England.” He began walking into the forest.

She watched the trees and brush move from his path with no small amount of unease.