Timeless

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter 21

"The Lass approached me as her sister, accused me of treason, of murdering her brother. She was dressed as Ri, walked like her, spoke like her, I could hae sworn 'twas her–"

"Enough," Shaw growled. "I believe ye."

"But does she?" Iain seemed honestly concerned about the answer. Shaw heaved a heavy sigh.

"If she didna, I suspect ye'd be verra . . . uncomfortable right now."

"She's out for vengeance?"

"She was," Shaw corrected. "Just as ye and I were for what Fergus did tae our clansmen. But she spoke tae me in my fury, showed me the difference between vengeance and justice. I've tried tae do the same for her, though I suspect there will be a need tae show her the difference once more sometime in the near future. Until then, she's concentrating on her target."

"I'd expect tae see her charging about the castle, interrogating all of the warriors, feral in her intent. 'Twould be what I'd do were ye tae die," Shaw was startled by his brother's reluctant confession. He'd never considered them to be very close; then again, should Iain be the one to die, Shaw couldn't deny that he'd do the same. They were brothers, blood; no matter how strained their relationship might become, they'd fight and die for each other without pause.

"Nay, Ri's not been driven mad with grief. If anything, she'd seemed tae calm with Fiona's death, becoming more dangerous in doing so. I've ne'er seen a warrior so completely focused on the hunt. 'Tis incredible, admirable, and a wee bit frightening."

"Ye love her," Iain stated.

"I canna deny this," Shaw shrugged. It wasn't a revelation to him. He'd known ever since he'd first seen her. The fact that she was one of the fiercest warriors he'd ever met was just the delicious icing on top of an already delectable cake.

"Hae ye told her?" Iain asked, already seeming to know the answer. In a rare show of maturity, Shaw's little brother eyed him solemnly. "Ye should tell the next time ye see her. Ye doona ken how much longer ye hae with her."

"What's that supposed tae mean?" Shaw scowled at Iain's words.

"Just that, with all the death surrounding her . . ." Iain shrugged. "Whate'er happens, ye should be prepared."

"I'll take that tae heart," Shaw promised. Iain nodded.

"So, am I dismissed?"

"Ye're free tae go," Shaw confirmed. Iain left his office, leaving Shaw to amble out into the shadowed halls lit by flickering torchlight, contemplating everything that had happened. Whatever else his brother may (or may not, Shaw hoped) be, he was right. Shaw couldn't afford to waste what little time he might have left with Ri. He knew that he loved her, that he didn't want to be without her, and he was pretty sure she felt the same. All of this and more flashed through his head as he entered his bed chamber, catching sight of the woman in question curled beneath the furs. Shaw stripped off his clothes and slipped in beside her, pulling her to him and holding her close. Her breathing indicated that she was still very much awake. "Ye're resting,"

"I refuse to be exhausted when I finally get this bastard," Ri shrugged against him.

"Hae ye discovered any more of whom yer lookin' for?"

"No, nothing so far. There are plenty of people in the castle with grey eyes, but the only way of knowing for sure is to catch them in a lie. The documents are useless now, as is anything Agatha might've left me. Now, all I can do is wait."