Brotherhood - Claiming The Highlander Part 36

The one where Ceana had gone to hide.

Her throat tight, Maggie watched in horror as the fire ravaged the building.

"Braden!" she shouted, but he was already on the run toward it.

"Dear G.o.d," Robby's mother breathed. "Ceana!"

"Ceana?" Robby repeated.

"She's in there," Maggie said, then ran for the building with Robby hot on her heels.

Maggie watched in horror as Braden started to run into the burning building, but one of the men pulled him back.

" 'Tis too late," the man shouted above the roar of the fire. "There's no way she could still be alive in that blaze."

Maggie stared at the orange and red flames twisting through the building and shooting up toward the blue morning sky. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

How had this happened?

Oh, Lord, oh, Lord, oh, Lord, her mind reeled with terror and pain.

Ceana was dead!

And it was all her fault. It had been her plan. Her stupid, awful plan, and now poor Ceana was dead from it.

"Where's my brother?" Braden asked.

Covering her mouth with her hands, Maggie turned to look at Braden as he scanned the crowd for Sin.

A woman who stood beside her shook her head. "The Englishman ran inside to save the lairdess as soon as the fire started." The young woman looked away, her eyes tormented and sad. "He didn't come back out."

Maggie's legs went weak, and for a moment she couldn't breathe.

Braden's agonized cry was only second to that of the MacDouglas. The two of them sank down to their knees while they watched helplessly as the fire engulfed the building where Sin and Ceana had been.

Tears filled Maggie's eyes. This hadn't been the plan. Ceana was only supposed to wait in there in case the MacDouglas searched the castle. She was to come out the minute her husband started to leave to pursue her.

It's all my fault!

Pain lacerated her chest. She'd never meant for anyone to get hurt. Never!

How would she ever live with herself after this?

"Braden," she whispered, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry."

Maggie saw the agony in his eyes as he looked up at her, and it tore through her. She had caused this.

She had killed them both.

Why, oh, why had she started all this?

It was then the MacDouglas turned to them with a feral snarl curling his lips. Eyes narrowed, he looked at them as if he were seeing them for the first time.

"You spoke with a woman's voice," Robby said accusingly.

His breathing ragged, he slowly pushed himself up from the ground to his full towering height. The MacDouglas walked toward her like a lion stalking a hare. "You're that Maggie b.i.t.c.h, aren't you?"

Maggie couldn't speak as terror washed over her. Her eyes wide, she stumbled away from him.

With a practiced, deadly calm, Robby MacDouglas unsheathed his long sword. The murderous gleam in his eyes bespoke his intent loud and clear.

He was going to kill her.

Overwhelmed by grief, guilt and terror, Maggie backed away.

She'd only managed a step or two when her trembling legs buckled, and she found herself sitting on the ground, immobile. Completely paralyzed and stunned, she looked up helplessly at him.

His face deadly cold, the MacDouglas laird loomed above her like a mountain, his shoulders blocking the sun and the sky.

He raised the sword in both hands to plunge it down into her.

Just as Maggie was sure it would strike her belly, another sword flashed, deflecting the MacDouglas's sword away from her.

The MacDouglas cursed as he turned to face a furious Braden.

His eyes defiant and smoldering, Braden held his sword aimed at the MacDouglas's throat. "To get to her, you'll have to come through me."

"You want to die for her?" Robby asked.

"Aye," Braden said without hesitation. He glanced at her and for the first time she saw the love in his eyes. "I will die for her."

"Then die," Robby said before shoving Braden back and striking at him with his sword.

Braden skillfully met him stroke for stroke.

Maggie couldn't move, couldn't breathe as she watched the two of them. Worse was the fact it was obvious Braden held more skill. The MacDouglas fought bravely, but there was no doubt who would emerge the victor. And if Braden killed the MacDouglas, she and Braden were dead for sure.

The MacDouglas arced his sword for Braden's chest. Braden jumped back.

His reach overextended, the MacDouglas stumbled forward.

Braden bought his sword down toward the man's back.

"Hold!"

Maggie's eyes widened as she recognized Sin's voice.

But she didn't dare take her eyes off Braden as she watched in muted horror, antic.i.p.ating his blow.

Somehow, Braden stopped his blade an inch from Robby's spine and brought it up and away from his opponent just in time to save Robby's back from the death blow.

Maggie released her breath in a rush as Braden turned away from her.

It was only then she looked to where Sin was walking toward them, cradling his left arm with his right hand, with Ceana by his side. The two of them were covered in soot, their clothes torn and faces red, but they were mercifully alive!

The MacDouglas pushed himself up from the ground with a happy shout as he rushed to his wife, calling her name.

Still shaking, Maggie smiled as the two of them embraced. It was a beautiful sight. The MacDouglas scooped his wife up in his arms and kissed her fiercely.

Maggie shifted her gaze back to Braden. To her amazement, he didn't run to Sin's side.

He came to hers.

His eyes filled with concern, Braden held his hand out to her and helped her up from the ground. Then, to her utter disbelief, he wrapped his arms around her so tightly that she feared he would break her ribs.

"Thank G.o.d," he murmured repeatedly in her ear as he just held her close to him.

It was then she understood the truth. Braden loved her. He truly, truly loved her. Even though he hadn't said it, she could feel it in the tightness of his hold, hear it in the relief of his voice as he whispered her name.

Tears gathered in her eyes as she wrapped her arms about his waist. This was so much more than she had ever hoped for. In all her foolish dreams, she had wanted this. And now...

She felt like shouting, or flying, or singing, or doing something miraculous to celebrate the joy she felt.

Braden let go of her and cupped her face in his hands, then he kissed her fiercely.

Maggie felt her tears flow down her cheeks.

"Fetch a healer!"

The cry of alarm broke them apart, and it was only then Braden looked to where Sin had been standing.

His brother had fallen.

Ceana held Sin's head in her lap as she called for help. The MacDouglas was kneeling by his side.

Braden ran to Sin, with Maggie one step behind.

Her heart pounding, terror filled her again as she looked down at Sin. He lay on his right side with his left arm bleeding and burned.

"What happened?" Braden asked as he knelt down by Sin.

"He saved me," Ceana explained. "One minute I was just standing there, moving things around, then the fire started. I think I might have knocked the candle over, maybe I b.u.mped it with one of the sacks. I'm not sure."

Tears flowed down her cheeks as Ceana looked from Robby to Braden, then down to Sin's unconscious form. "I don't know what happened. I tried to get out, but my hem was caught. I couldn't move, and the fire was everywhere. I thought I was going to die, so I started screaming. The next thing I knew, Sin was there. He freed me, and just as we were leaving, a beam fell against him."

Her eyes wide, Ceana looked baffled by all that had happened. "He pushed the beam off and got us out.

I thought he was fine," she said breathlessly. "He said he was fine. He looked to be fine."

"He just collapsed on the ground," Robby finished for her.

The healer came forward out of the crowd and pushed them away as she examined Sin's body.

"We need to get him inside."

Robby ordered his men to help Sin gently to a bed.

Braden watched helplessly as Sin was taken away. He glanced to Maggie and felt a horrendous tearing in his heart. Had he not been protecting her, he could have saved his brother.

He had chosen her safety over that of his own blood.

How could he have done such a thing?

Why had he not run to Sin first? Sin was his brother. He was the one Braden was supposed to protect.

Maggie reached out to touch him, but Braden shrugged her off. He didn't want to feel her hand on his arm. Not now. Not until he could come to terms with the decision he had made. And the possible cost of his actions.

"Braden?" she asked.

"I need to see to Sin," he said dismissively.

Maggie frowned as Braden left her standing alone in the yard. Something wasn't right. Braden had been so tender until he had seen Sin.

What had happened?

More discouraged than she had ever been before, she followed them inside.

When she reached Sin's room on the upper floor, Braden ordered her out.

"Let me help," she insisted.

"You've done enough," Braden said, his voice edged with an anger she didn't understand.

Her heart heavy, she turned and went below to check on Connor.

An hour later, Braden stood to the side of the bed as the healer reached into her clay jug for a leech. As she moved toward Sin, Sin's eyes snapped open, and he reached with his good arm to stop the old woman from placing the vile creature on his skin.

"You put that disgusting thing on me, old woman, and I'll cut your heart out."

"But you need to be-"

"I'm bleeding quite enough, and I personally like the poison in my blood and have no wish for it to leave me," Sin said tartly. "Braden, get her out of my sight."

Braden didn't argue. He did as his brother asked, then returned to the bed.

Sin's face was pale, but Braden could see the fire of life burning brightly in Sin's black eyes. Relief poured through him as Braden realized for the first time since his brother had fallen that Sin was no longer in any danger.

"Where's Maggie?" Sin asked.