I put my hand weakly to my head and my eyes flutter closed. “My father—”
“Will be summarily dealt with,” Mac says, his lips thinned. “Leith has been informed about what’s happened, what he put you up to. And my mother told him everything.”
I sigh, and he holds me closer. “How could you tell my sisters, but you couldn’t tell me?”
There’s a deep well of hurt in his eyes. “Because he would’ve hurt you,” I whisper. “And I love you. I only told them so they could help me rescue you.”
He glares at me. “You thought killing yourself would save me? Honest to fucking God if you weren’t hurt, and in this bed—”
“Relax,” I say, shaking my head. “I didn’t take the damn poison. I took a sedative. I don’t know why my head hurts so badly…”
He frowns. “You whacked it on the bar when you fell.”
“Oooh.”
He shakes his head. “Bloody hell, woman. You took a sedative.”
I nod. “Plan was to let my father think that I took the poison instead. It’s why I asked you to take a picture and send it to him.”
“Oh, I sent him more than a picture,” Mac growls.
I smile, even though it hurts, and place my hand on his cheek. “You’re so sexy when you’re all angry like this, do you know that?”
He cracks a smile, that dimple forming in his cheek. I sigh.
“I love you.”
“And I love you.”
“Let’s run away together. Just me and you, Mac.”
He holds me, and I feel a bit nauseous. Not just from the sedative, but because I need to know what happens next, how we get out of this.
“We won’t have to, Bryn. Leith has worked out a compromise with your father,” he says.
“Has he?”
“Oh, aye,” Mac says soberly. “Your father put a hit on me. Clan bylaws say we have a choice. We either go to war, or his life is forfeit.”
I look up at him and blink. “Really?”
“Aye.” He smiles. “But we managed to work out a third option.”
“And what’s that?” I sit up, wincing as my head moves.
“Poor lassie,” he says softly. “We’ll get you some pain meds, love.”
“Tell me the plan, Mac.”
He smiles. “Leith has managed to convince your father that if you marry me, we’ll forgive his grievances against us.”
My jaw drops. “Marry… you?”
He grins. “You act as if that’s the worst possible choice.”
“Oh, God, no, Mac! It’s just that… how will my father agree to that?”
He shrugs. “Well… it’s a bit archaic, but Leith has offered an ample dowry, and your fuckin’ father’s easily swayed when it comes to money.”
“Ample dowry. For me?” It feels bittersweet, but the momentary stab I feel at being literally—bought?—quickly dissipates at the possibility before me.
Me. Married to Mac. A member of the Cowen Clan?
He scowls. “Of course for you! Jesus, woman. Do you doubt your worth?”
I love him.
I shake my head. “But Mac, this is so confusing. I thought you broke up with me. I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me. I don’t understand…”
He closes his eyes briefly and holds me to him again. “I’m so sorry about that, sweetheart. So bloody sorry. It was Leith’s idea.”
“Leith has a lot of ideas,” I say, frowning. He grins.
“Aye, love, but he’s also fuckin’ brilliant.”
“He told you to break up with me!”
“But listen, lass, it was temporary and there was a reason.” He explains everything, and when he’s finally done, I mull it all over. “But still,” he says when he’s done. “That was bloody awful, I’m fully prepared to fucking grovel for you.”
Swoon.
Happy sigh.
“Well, don’t let me dissuade you from that.” I sigh. “But honestly, Mac, you don’t need to grovel, because I’ve things to tell you as well.”
He waits, giving me a curious look.
“So I…” I sigh. “The day we met. You came into the shop.”
“Aye. And my plan was to seduce you.” He winces.
I blink in surprise. “That was no accident?”
He shakes his head. “No, and I’m so sorry, Bryn. I want to go back to the earlier me and kick my own fuckin’ arse.”
“Mac, what a bloody mess we made of everything,” I say. “That very same afternoon, my father gave me an ultimatum. He said I had to either agree to an arranged marriage, or… seduce you. He wanted me to ruin you. Wanted me to… kill you.”
He nods. “Figured as much, after reading his texts. I hate that he used you like that.”
“You’re not angry with me?”
“Angry with you? How can I be? He coerced you, love. But hold the phone, I want to get you the meds you need. Is there anything else?”
I shake my head, thinking, really, I have everything I need right here. He places the call, and a moment later, he’s joining me on the bed. He’s already lost his suit coat, and his white shirt is stained with blood. He looks more tired than I’ve ever seen him, and I can tell that it’s more than just physical weariness. But there’s relief on his face as well. We both have made it through.