Page 113 of Auctioned to the Cruel Highlander
He took up the glass again. “She is hurt. She has every right to be. Distance will let the matter settle.”
“The matter.”
He did not answer. He drank instead.
“She nearlydiedtoday,” Isobel hissed. “She was dragged to a cliff and almost thrown off it, and she came back to this castle only to pack. Because ofye.”
He kept his voice even with effort. “If she leaves, she will be among her own people. There will be peace there.”
“There would be peace for ye too, I suppose.”
He looked at her then. “Daenae.”
“Daenae what? Say what is so damn obvious?” She took a step toward him. “Ye keep wrapping yer cowardice in good manners and thinking ye are being wise, but I see right through ye, Ciaran. I always have.”
He set the glass down again. “Enough.”
“Nay.”
“Isobel—”
“I have watched her stay when any other woman would have left. I have watched her try to understand ye when ye barely understand yerself.”
His jaw clenched.
Isobel’s eyes flashed. “She thanked ye for saving her life and went upstairs to pack. Do ye understand what sort of hurt it takes for a woman to do that?”
He did understand. That was the problem. He understood too well and still reached for the same rotten shelter.
“She will have a better life away from me.”
Isobel stared at him as if he had spoken in madness. “Ye truly believe that helps.”
“It is true.”
“Nay.” Her voice cut hard. “It is easier. That is all.”
He said nothing.
“She loves ye, ye idiot.”
The room went still.
The words hit him with such force that for one raw second, he could not breathe properly.
He had known it in fragments, in glances, in surrender, in the way Ava stayed. Hearing it from another mouth stripped all mercy from it.
Isobel saw the blow land and did not soften it.
“And ye clearly love her,” she continued. “Anyone with eyes can see it. Yet here ye stand, drinking and thinking that allowing her departure makes ye noble.”
That was it. He’d heard enough.
He moved before he had made the choice. He crossed the room, caught Isobel by the elbow, and dragged her toward the door. She jerked against him in protest.
“Unhand me.”
“I have heard enough.”
