Laird of the Game

by Leigh, Lori

  Alex saw Evan leave the room with Melissa in his arms. He was suddenly terrified she would never come back. Amber yelled at him, and he truly hated to be rude to her, but he had to go to Melissa and explain. He ran for the door. Evan had just crossed over the ridge. Yorath hadn’t been unsaddled yet, and Alex mounted and headed for the ridge.

  The entire camp heard the argument, and the warriors decided to take matters into their own hands. The Laird’s entire camp was saddled and ready to ride in minutes. They had trained for a quick response, and they weren’t about to let her get lost now.

  Gideon, Iain, William, and Robert were also saddled and followed Alex. Daniel was left alone with Amber who was now completely furious with them for leaving and wanted to know where they were taking her sister now.

  Melissa had her arms around Evan’s waist, and her head rested on his shoulder. He could feel her anger through his body. In truth, he hoped she would scream or cry. The silence was unnerving. He still hoped there would be a happy beginning for them all. She had so much to forgive.

  They finally came to a stop, and she got off the horse and walked to the shore.

  She couldn’t speak to Evan or anyone else for that matter. Her thoughts were torn between betrayal and the horrible fear she would never see them again. She stood on the shore, hugging her arms around herself for comfort. Her heart was breaking. They couldn’t understand what she felt. Her trust was complete in them, and they didn’t trust her with the truth.

  Evan stood beside her, helpless.

  Melissa began to tremble and walked out into the waves. Her hands covered her face. “No, please not this. Oh, God, I can’t bear the thought of losing them all.” She dropped to her knees and sobbed hysterically into her hands. The waves crashed against her, soaking her dress, but she was numb to the cold water and her own heart. The pain was unbearable.

  Evan picked her up out of the water and brought her back to the shore. “Listen to me, Melissa,” he shouted at her to get through her hysteria. Laying her down on the ground, he began to pace, angry it had come to this day at last.

  “There is one person in this world that loves you more than life itself. That’s my idiot brother, Alex. He doesn’t deserve you, and we made sure we told him that every day. If there was any one of us who really objected to the relationship, it was me. I wanted Alex to send you back to your hotel. I didn’t want to go through this day and see you hurt or have our world turned upside down by a woman. But you brought something with you we hadn’t counted on. In your sweet innocence, you brought love back into our lives. We know you love us, too, so don’t give up on all of us because he’s a moron. We’ve had to learn to live with his eccentricities and hoped you would learn to love him enough to see past the Celtic God and know he loved you.”

  Evan stopped pacing knowing Alex was standing behind him. “Give him a chance tae explain, Melissa.” With his arms clasped behind his back, he strolled away with a scowl on his face.

  Alex’s heart said what he could not find words to say to her.

  I stand naked before you

  here in this one moment in time,

  I have lost you

  my love come softly now

  I must find you

  Can you hear me my dear

  Can you see me so near

  Desire

  Burns

  Forever

  Through the mists of time

  I will not give up what is meant to be mine

  The wind whispers in your ear

  Is it love that you truly fear?

  A dragon’s heart will beat forever

  Lost in a reign of fire

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Evan’s eyes narrowed, and his forehead wrinkled as he stood next to his brother. “Not once did she ask anything from us. She just loved us all. You’re not the only one who loses something today, Alex.” He walked away before Alex could respond.

  Alex reached down to pull her up against him.

  Melissa screamed back at him. “No, you don’t get to touch me again! You lost that right when your silence made choices for me, and you lied to me.” She walked along the shore. “I’m going home now. I won’t need a ride so don’t bother to lie to me about that, too! I’m just furious enough to walk all the way back to Glasgow.”

  It broke his heart to think she would leave him. He wanted to protect her from this terrible hurt and knew he was guilty as charged. He ran after her. “Melissa, don’t leave me. Let me explain.”

  She was furious and turned to face him one last time. Tears streaked her face, and she swung at him. “I said you don’t get to touch me again, Alex.” He ducked and caught her hand. “I was so in love with you. You must have thought I was so stupid and gullible, that I would believe anything you told me. You humiliated me!”

  Alex held on to her hand. “No, Melissa. Ye love in ways a mon can only hope tae find once in a lifetime. Please, luv, give me a chance tae explain.”

  Melissa didn’t see the warrior’s line up on the ridge behind her. The moved quietly and every man dismounted beside his horse. She turned to walk away and noticed warriors surrounded them. Alex’s brothers were at the front of the army that faced her, and they went down on one knee.

  “We are willing tae make any sacrifice ye want, Melissa. If ye want us tae throw Alex into the ocean, we’re more than willing tae accommodate ye. Whatever ye command, your orders will be carried out without question. Tell her the truth, Alex—all of it!”

  Alex wanted to crumble into dust. He looked at her angry face and gulped against a dry throat. “You already know we’re human.”

  “And you’re about to find out I’m no Angel! Why the hell did you all lie to me?”

  Alexander said with reservation. “The warriors train for a year to play for a month, and the rules state that once the game begins, we canna leave until it’s over, or we forfeit to the Prince. So once you were in our realm, you had to stay, or we would automatically lose. One of the warriors was called home on an emergency, so we put you in as his replacement.”

  Melissa’s mouth dropped open. “Is that what I meant to all of you? I was just a game token to toss aside once the game is over? I’ll spare you effort!”

  “No! Don’t leave.” Alex grabbed hold of her arm and turned her back to face him. Please, luv. Stay.”

  The warriors were prepared to torture Alex, certain that a few blood curdling screams was appropriate for his actions.

  Gideon watched her, and there was so much hope in his eyes she felt a twinge of regret.

  Iain looked just plain guilty as hell, and she could tell he felt responsible for his part of the deception.

  William looked furious and anxious. She wanted to hug him and tell him she still loved him.

  Robert looked like he was lost and near tears. It was Robert’s lost puppy look in his eyes that broke her resistance down, and she exhaled loudly. No one had moved a muscle while she considered the options.

  Melissa turned to look at Alex. She knew her face must reflect the agony she felt in her heart. She thought about losing him forever and the lifetime of pain that would fill the empty years of her life without him. The dreams of holding his children in her arms and loving him every day of her life were so powerful, she could never let go.

  “Melissa, please stay with me,” Alex implored her. He got down on one knee in front of the army. “I’m asking ye tae marry me, lass, now that I’m a free man. I would be honored if ye would be my wife.”

  There was so much hope in his eyes she just couldn’t stay angry at him for very long. She turned back to the warriors. “I command you to,” she took a deep breath, “return to the house.”

  They hesitated only a moment, and then William ordered them to follow their orders as commanded. They were ready to do whatever she wanted, short of murdering their brother.

  Melissa stood quietly watching the warriors move out. They would have done anything she asked, and she couldn’t hurt anyone, no matter how much
her heart was breaking. She hoped Alex had one hell of an explanation for his deception.

  She could feel him behind her long before his arms reached around her to hold her. Melissa waited until the last warrior had left the area before she turned around. The cold, wet dress clung to her body, making her shiver and his warmth surrounded her.

  “You’re cold,” he said huskily and sat down on the shore holding her close to his heart. He couldn’t believe how close to losing her he had been. It was his worst nightmare coming to life, and he couldn’t bear the thought of hurting her.

  “Melissa, please listen tae me,” he pleaded, gently caressing her. “Ye have every right tae hate me. I don’t even know where tae begin.” He paused to take shaky breath. “When we first met and I looked into your eyes, I wanted ye so badly I couldn’t think about anything else. That was lust. You were so sweet and innocent. I knew what I was doing. I didn’t think about hurting ye because I couldn’t feel anything. And when I did find ou’ that first night just how innocent and beautiful ye are, I knew then that I would do whatever it took tae keep ye. Ye brought something wonderful tae my world. I had found hope again.”

  His voice cracked from the strain of the emotions, all clamoring for relief at the same time. “It is my doing that my brothers became involved. In their defense, ye should know they were furious with me, but I was desperate. I asked them for help. Because they love me, they sacrificed their honor, too. It was a horrible thing tae ask them tae do. The blame belongs tae me. Please forgive them. They love ye, too, lass, and want ye tae be happy.”

  Alex stroked her hair and rocked her gently. “I love ye so much. But it was a greedy love that didn’t care who got hurt. Ye were so innocent, and I wanted that innocence tae restore my broken heart. It wasn’t fair tae ye because ye trusted me. The thought of being alone again frightened me worse than facing a hundred warriors. I thought I was only hurting myself because I couldn’t live in my dreary world without ye. I am so sorry.” He squeezed her to him.

  “My marriage to Catherine was arranged as a business deal. She had a title, and I had money. I married her, but I didn’t love her. She soon left. Two months later, I ran into a friend of hers at a party and asked about Catherine. She’d been staying at a flat in London, so my brothers and I went tae see her.”

  “Catherine laughed at me and told me she didn’t plan to ever return. She didn’t care abou’ me nor did she have any intention of returning to the marriage. It was just a business deal to her.”

  “Daniel told me several years later that I just stood up and walked out. I never saw her or mentioned her name again. It didn’t matter tae me. I went through the motions every day but didn’t feel alive. Not until an Angel dropped into my world. I held in the palm of my hand, everything I could hope for—but at a terrible price of hurting your tender heart.”

  “I couldn’t tell ye I was already married because in my mind, it was over so long ago, it no longer mattered. Daniel reminded me of the legalities and then forced me tae acknowledge the truth of the matter and make an end of it. Daniel just go’ the divorce settled, and I am now a free mon. He moved heaven and earth tae get my divorce filed before I would have tae tell ye the truth.” Alex couldn’t speak for a while and bent to kiss the top of her head. “My Anam Cara. I will no’ give up what is meant tae be mine. If ye leave me, I will follow ye. Forgive me.”

  “I love you, Alex, not the Celtic God.”

  His gaze turned upward, and he knew there was still hope. “Evan was right.” Alex continued. “You never asked us for anything and loved us all. I didn’t realize how emotionally numb we had all become until ye loved us. For the first time in years, I could finally start tae feel again, and my heart felt safe, even though my head kept telling it this day would come and ye would leave me. When ye held me in your arms, I could put all my demons tae rest. Please luv, stay with me. I am so lost without ye.”

  “William said you have the most perfect heart he had ever known, and he wanted tae marry ye tae save ye from any dishonor my actions had caused. It was a humbling experience tae have my little brother tell me I had screwed this up.”

  She tipped her head up to look at him, and his heart started hammering in his chest. She smiled, and his iron control broke down completely as a tear rolled down her cheek. “I couldn’t marry William! He’s like a little brother to me, and I’m so much in love with you.”

  “You were the strength for your entire family, Alex. They look up to you and respect you because you do make sacrifices for those you love. I knew you were haunted by something. It showed in my painting, and I didn’t ask you what hurt you because I didn’t want my own perfect dream to end. I would have to risk losing you because I wasn’t an Angel after all, just a silly girl who fell madly in love from the first moment I looked into your eyes. I didn’t want the magical dream to end, and I didn’t want to lose you, or your brothers. I want your heart to heal and you to feel the strength of my love. Ignoring someone can hurt worse than a direct confrontation. It eats at your hope until you have none left and then leaves you numb. In Catherine’s world, you didn’t matter. In my world, you are all that does matter.”

  “Please forgive me, my love.” Melissa said softly and looked down at her lap. “If I truly loved you, I should have asked you what haunted you.”

  “I want ye beyond anything I have ever thought possible. I will love ye forever and always. Melissa, will ye marry me?”

  She sat up and brushed a tear from his face. “Yes, Alex. I will marry you—the mortal man—not the Celtic God.” The words had bubbled out of her mouth, and she laughed at how wonderful it felt to reveal her fears and be honest with him. “Although, I do have to admit, you do kiss like one of the Gods.”

  He was laughing and crying at the same time when he pulled her to his lips. She was warm and salty from tears. She kissed him with her heart and fears clearly defined, and he responded tenderly and lovingly.

  His voice trembled. “Ye said yes?”

  “Yes,” she repeated.

  Alex laughed and pulled her to her feet. He hugged her and turned in a circle laughing and yelling, “She said yes! We’re getting married today,” he shouted before carefully setting her back on her feet.

  “Daniel has made all the arrangements—just in case ye said yes—and we can be married before dinner.”

  “Today? Alex, I don’t even have a dress.”

  “Yes, ye do. Ye have your tartan, which is a proper Celtic wedding dress. I won’t wait a moment longer, Melissa. If ye want a big church wedding, ye can have it, but I want the marriage tae take place today. I just canna go through this horrible fear of losing ye for one more day, or I’ll have a breakdown!”

  She laughed at the thought. Her warrior was very human, and it was a great relief to know he could feel love and loss. It made him even more real in her eyes, and she was grateful he really wasn’t a Celtic God, after all. Being human meant he was capable of making mistakes, and she felt the strain of the past few weeks drain slowly away.

  His brilliant smile and the soft glow in his jade eyes almost made her heart break again. She had almost walked out and left, and now they found they could face the worst of their problems and still love each other.

  Alex whistled for his stallion and pulled her up into his lap. He urged the horse onward at a walk as neither one of them was willing to give up their moments of privacy. Both their hearts and fears had been wide open. Now, together they could find peace and contentment. It was at this moment that their hearts beat as one in love.

  He bent down to kiss her again. He just couldn’t believe she’d said yes. Her mouth was soft and warm. The scent of fresh air and heather filled his breath. She was his Scotland, his love, and soon to be his wife.

  He would never forget their first kiss, or how every kiss and touch of her gentle hands brought him a moment of heaven. Alex couldn’t erase those years of pain and agony, but finally had hope for a future with a wife who cared about him. It was her lovin
g heart that had brought him to life, and now he would have a home and a future with her.

  “Alex, I do have to wonder if the man can make love half as well as you did as a Celtic God.”

  He grinned. “We will have to find out, luv. We are leaving tomorrow for our honeymoon,” he said against her lips. “I realized I had forgotten tae mention that I planned tae take ye tae The Isle of Mor in the Caribbean.”

  “But how can we afford that? Alex, from what I’ve seen, the entire clan doesn’t have the kind of money that a honeymoon in the Caribbean would cost.”

  “I think I forgot to mention that you would also be mistress of several houses.”

  “Several? So you’re not dirt poor?”

  “No. What made you think we were poor?”

  “You never ate anything you didn’t steal.”

  “That’s part of the Celtic Warrior Game. We get points for thieving. We just didn’t know ye didn’t like mutton, or we would have found something else for ye tae eat. We were half crazy trying tae get ye tae eat anything, lass.”

  The rode on for a few moments, and then he said softly in her ear, “tell me again. I need tae hear it one more time.”

  “You’re very demanding for a man I have just agreed to marry. Perhaps I should think about this just a wee bit longer?”

  “You’ve got ten seconds.” He smiled in a delightfully wicked way.

  “Yes,” she said softly. He nuzzled her ear and held the sensitive ear lobe between his teeth. She was wrapped up in his tartan, and he warmed her against his muscled body.

  “Yes,” she said again, and he chuckled softly and slid his tongue over her soft lips.

  “Oh God, yes,” she groaned. “That’s cheating!”

  “No, A Grá, that’s effective.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  I have an official invitation to the Victory celebration from the Laird of the Game. Prince George remains the favorite till the end. This is going to be an exciting evening when the winner is announced. The note I received also said there were still a few surprises in store for their guests so I’m ready for anything.