Without waiting a response, she walked by the men and went down the stairs, Maddie on her heels.

“Give me the linens,” Maddie directed when they entered the hall. “You go take your fresh air. It’s been an exhausting night for you.”

Keeley offered no argument and headed for the courtyard, eager to feel the coldness on her cheeks. She closed her eyes as soon as the chill hit her. Exhausted to her core, she sank onto the steps. Birthing always scared her. Too many women died while trying to birth a child, and Keeley was determined that it wouldn’t happen with Mairin. She needn’t have worried though. It was one of the easiest births she’d ever attended. Still, relief was so fierce within her that her knees were weak.

So she sat there breathing in deep, steadying breaths.

“Keeley, are you all right?”

She yanked her head around to see Alaric standing in the shadows. Her pulse beat more rapidly as she drank in his appearance. ’Twas funny since it hadn’t been overlong since she’d seen him at all, but still she soaked him in like a parched plant soaked in rain.

“Aye, I’m well,” she murmured.

He took a step forward but stopped a respectable distance from her. “Keeley, I …”

She rose, moved by the discomfort in his voice. She pressed in close and put a finger to his lips. “Nay, don’t say it,” she whispered. “I’ve always known of your destiny—and mine. Yours is a noble one. You should have no regrets. You will be great, Alaric. You’ll be a great laird. I am proud to have called you mine even for so short a time.”

Alaric touched her cheek and then leaned in slowly and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. So sweet and fleeting. Brief. But she felt it to her soul.

“You, too, are great, Keeley McCabe,” he whispered. “My clan is better for having you.”

She leaned into his kiss, tipping her forehead to his. She closed her eyes, savoring the sweet contact. She breathed, allowing him to wash away the fatigue and grief.

Then she pulled away and steeled herself against the pain in her heart. “I must go now. I must see to Mairin and the new babe’s needs.”

Alaric stroked her hair away from her cheek and then cupped the side of her face in his palm. “I love you. Remember it always.”

She covered his hand with hers and smiled achingly up at him. “Aye, I will.”

Slowly, he pulled away and then stepped back so she could walk by him back into the keep. She went without looking back but felt the wetness on her cheeks before she mounted the first step.

CHAPTER 32

Laird McCabe stood atop the stairs to the courtyard, the tiny bundle of his daughter cradled in his massive arms.

“My daughter!” he proclaimed and held her high.

The gathered clan roared their approval. Swords thrust upward, shields banged, and a resounding cheer echoed over the land.

Ewan cradled her in his arms again, and his expression was so tender and proud that Keeley could barely swallow around the knot in her throat. Maddie smiled broadly beside Keeley and reached over to squeeze Keeley’s hand.

“ ’Tis a wondrous day for the McCabe clan.”

The older woman wiped at her eyes and sniffed noisily even as she offered a loud cheer of her own.

Warmth traveled through Keeley as she realized that the clan’s joy was her own. She was a part of the McCabe clan now. Their triumph was her triumph.

Surely there wasn’t a better feeling. Acceptance. She belonged.

As the cheers died and Ewan returned inside with the babe, the clansmen went back to their duties. Maddie excused herself to the kitchens, and Keeley returned indoors, her intent to check on Mairin’s well-being.

She hummed to herself as she mounted the stairs. The hallway was empty, a surprise since Gannon had become a permanent fixture outside the chambers. It seemed he rotated his duty. It was a great comfort to Keeley. She’d grown used to the gruff warrior and liked his company.

She hadn’t taken more than two steps when a hand snaked out, grabbed her wrist, and she found herself yanked into one of the bedchambers.

Before she could cry out, defend herself, or even process what had happened, her lips were ravaged in a brutal kiss. The chamber door slammed behind her, and her back hit the closed door with enough force to knock the breath from her.

Through her muddled senses she recognized one thing: It was happening again, only this time there was no effort to woo a young, inexperienced girl. Laird McDonald had no care whether he hurt her or not or whether she was willing.

As soon as his lips left her, she opened her mouth to scream only to have his hand clamp over it with bruising force.

“I could not believe my eyes when I saw you here,” he panted. “ ’Twas fate. I always knew you’d belong to me. I’ve waited years for this moment, Keeley. Years. You’ll not say me nay this time.”

Keeley stared in horror at the older laird. He was daft. Mad! He would attack her inside the McCabe keep?

His free hand went to her breast and squeezed painfully. He loosened the hand over her mouth but before she could gather breath to scream, his mouth covered hers again.

With all her might, she jerked her knee into his groin and when he dropped his hands down to clutch himself in agony, she shoved hard. He stumbled back and went down on his arse.

She turned to fumble with the door, desperate to get into the hall. It was locked! She yelled hoarsely just as the laird grabbed her by the hair and threw her across the room.

She landed in a heap on the floor, all the breath knocked painfully from her chest. He stood over her, his eyes glittering with rage. Spittle frothed on his lips and his cheeks were red with exertion.

“You little bitch. You’ll pay for your defiance.”

Her eyes narrowed in fury and she flew at him. She hit him hard and he staggered back, shock reflected on his features. He actually held up his arms to ward her off, but her rage propelled her on.

The slovenly little bastard sickened her. For years she’d viewed him as some demon from hell. Larger than life. Evil. Powerful. She’d lived in fear of him, building him up in her mind to be something he wasn’t.

“You’re a pathetic worm who preys on children,” she hissed.

She balled her fist and swung. Her knuckles exploded in pain as she connected with his nose. Blood splattered and the laird’s head jerked back, his hand flying to his face.

He bellowed with rage and struck out at her. She ducked but not in time to keep him from striking her cheek. She reeled and tripped over the bed.

“Exactly where you belong,” he spat as he advanced.

Several things happened at once.

The door splintered and exploded inward. The laird’s eyes widened with fear. And then suddenly he flew across the room, hitting the wall with a loud smack.

Keeley stared in astonishment as Caelen advanced on the laird, his entire body bristling with rage. She scrambled backward on the bed, hoisting herself so she could see what went on.

Caelen hauled the laird to his feet and then flattened him with a fist. Never had she seen someone so angry. If she didn’t intervene, Caelen would kill the other man. Not that she particularly cared of his fate, but the implications would be far-reaching.

Ignoring the fiery pain in her jaw and the cold shock creeping over her body, she ran toward Caelen and latched on to his arm.

“Caelen, you must stop!”

Caelen dropped the laird and whirled around, cold fury brimming in his eyes.

“You would defend him?”

She shook her head, precariously close to tears. “Nay. Leave him, though. Please. Think of what you do. Think of the implications.”

Her gaze skittered downward to the limp form of the laird and she shuddered in revulsion. Realization sunk in and her knees wobbled and she collapsed.

Caelen caught her and swung her into his arms. He strode from the chamber and down the hall to Keeley’s door. Not hesitating, he bore her within and gently set her on the bed.

“Do you want me to summon Maddie or Christina?” he asked in a quiet voice.

She shook her head and cupped her hand to her aching jaw.

“I’ll kill him,” Caelen bit out.

She shook her head mutely, too stunned to do more.

Caelen swore and then turned. “I’m going to fetch Alaric.”

At that, Keeley flew from the bed and grabbed Caelen. She pulled him back from the door and slammed it shut. “Nay! You cannot. Caelen, you mustn’t say a word.”

Caelen gaped incredulously at her.

“Think of what you do,” she said hoarsely. “If you tell Alaric, he will be furious. He’s already angry at what happened years ago. If you go to him with this, there is no telling what he’ll do.”

“Rightly so! No man tolerates such treatment of a woman,” Caelen growled. “He deserves killing. ’Tis an insult he’s offered to all McCabes. Ewan will never let him live.”

“ ’Tis exactly why you cannot breathe a word. This alliance is important to your …” She broke off and thrust her chin upward. “ ’Tis important to my clan. What think you Alaric would do? He cannot afford to insult the father of the woman he is to marry. Alaric is to take over as laird of the McDonald clan. His destiny is a great one. If he knew of what happened, he would be furious. He would retaliate.”

Caelen dragged a hand through his hair and made a sound of acute exasperation. “So you want me to do nothing?”

The question came out strangled, like he was close to exploding.

She raised her gaze, her eyes brimming with tears. She was holding on by a thread and very close to hysteria. It was either laugh or cry and she was unsure of which would win out.