Highland Warrior (Campbell Trilogy #1)(103)

She didn’t want to believe it. For a moment, she stood there in cold disbelief. Jamie had betrayed her. He was going through with it. But after what they’d shared . . . He’d promised . . . hadn’t he?

Not wasting another second, she raced from the bedchamber, down the stairs, and across the great hall, exiting the tower keep just as the men had started to ride through the gate two abreast in a long line.

“Wait!” she cried out.

Jamie halted at the sound of her voice but ordered his men forward. Droplets of rain needled her face like tiny darts as she sprinted toward him. She reached the gate just as Niall was about to pass through. Heedless of the others watching, she grabbed her brother’s leg, forcing the man leading him to stop for fear of crushing her.

“Niall . . .” She gazed up at her brother, tears streaming down her cheeks. The tightness in her throat made it difficult to speak. “I’m so sorry. You have to believe me, I never meant for this to happen.”

“Let go of him, Caitrina,” Jamie ordered, his voice devoid of emotion.

“It will be all right, Caiti,” Niall said, carefully untangling her from his leg and stirrup. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze but was forced to release it as he was led away. “Take care of Brian.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she turned on her husband, who’d pulled his mount up beside her. His jaw was set in a hard line, his expression unyielding and implacable. Every inch the Campbell Enforcer.

“How can you do this?” she cried. “I thought we had an understanding.” Emotion balled hot and prickly in her throat. “We made love.” She looked into his eyes but saw only the steely curtain of duty. “You said you loved me.”

He held her gaze. “I thought we had an understanding as well. It seems we both were in error. You confused my love for you with bending me to your will, and I confused your method of persuasion with true emotion.”

It took her a moment to realize what he meant. Her eyes widened with shock. “You’re wrong.” She hadn’t planned it like that. She hadn’t seduced him to try to persuade him. “I wouldn’t do that.” But even as she vehemently denied the accusation, she wondered if perhaps there was an element of truth to it. She’d been desperate, searching for any straw to hold on to. Had she unconsciously relied upon his desire for her? No.

“Wouldn’t you?” He stared at her a moment longer. “It doesn’t matter. As you see, it didn’t work.”

She looked out past the gate at the trail of men and horses, a cloud of mud and leaves splattering behind them as they galloped toward the sea. Her gaze flickered back to Jamie, seeing the resolve and determination etched firmly on his face. Immovable.

Her worst fears had come true. Her carefully rebuilt happiness was crashing down around her. And now she might lose her brother all over again.

She’d trusted him, and he’d failed her.

Rage born of helplessness took hold. She couldn’t think. All she wanted to do was stop it from happening. “I’ll never forgive you for this,” she vowed, her voice reverberating with emotion. There was only one thing left—one more gauntlet to throw down between them. “If you leave now, if you take my brother from here, I never want to see you again.”

Almost before the words were out, she wanted them back.

The raw emotion in his eyes burned a hole in her heart as her reckless ultimatum hung in the air between them. She wanted to think he wouldn’t be able to do it.

But in her heart she knew he would. He’d warned her not to try to come between him and his duty again, but she’d done just that.

His eyes locked on hers, not letting go, but she didn’t take it back. Finally, he bowed his head. “As you wish.” And without another word, he pulled his destrier around and galloped out the gate. Never once looking back.

Maybe that hurt the most. That after what they’d

shared, he could just cut her off without a moment’s hesitation or remorse when her world had just been destroyed.

He wouldn’t be coming back. To save her brothers, she’d gambled with her heart and lost.

There was nothing she could do. It was too late. Niall was gone. As was the only man she would ever love.

Desolation cut through her like a dull knife, the anguish unbearable. Her heart felt as though it were being ripped in two. She wanted to pour out her grief in a torrent of cries, but she was beyond the relief of tears. Dry-eyed, she watched him ride away, watched as his proud, strong back faded into the distance.

Gone.

A dry sob caught in her throat. Not again. She could not bear it. Never had she thought to feel this kind of pain again. Never had she thought to feel so alone.

Love had failed her.

She sank to her knees in the mud and dirt and bowed her head. Then an uncomfortable twinge penetrated her grief. Or had she failed love?

Jamie forced his gaze straight ahead as he rode away from Rothesay, knowing it would be some time before he returned.

It had taken every ounce of his strength to ride away, and he didn’t know when he dared attempt to see his wife again. Being near her would be impossible; the pull was too strong. It would be easier to sever all connection.

As if cutting out his heart were easy. There was a hollow emptiness in his chest that ached more than any wound he’d ever suffered in battle.

He squared his jaw, hardening himself against the raw surge of pain and loss.