After their confessions and kisses in the courtyard, Alex could not hide her sleepiness for much longer. Even with the nap she had that afternoon it had not helped enough from the sleep she had missed last few nights, so as soon as Kieron caught her latest yawn he immediately escorted Alex to her chamber.
Within a few minutes of him leaving her and after saying their “good night”, Megan entered the room to state that Kieron had returned to the hall in search of her and had sent her up to help Alex to bed.
As soon as Alex was dressed in her night gown and crawled into bed, and while Megan put her lovely new gown away, the maid began to fill her lady in on all Kieron and she had missed in the Great Hall during their absence.
“Ye should have seen yer father’s face when Elliot fell over the chair in his drunken state. He must have been sneakin’ a little from everyone’s mugs as they were dancin’ cause the maids had been told no to give the two young brothers anythin’ to drink but mead.” Alex could not stop from joining Megan with her laughter...it must have been quite a scene. “Poor Sweet Evan had to carry his brother to their bedchamber so Kieron could stay and try to calm yer father. Ye know how yer father feels responsible to look after the young Lairds as his own when they are here, especially now so since they will be stayin’ on permanent bases.”
“Stayin’ on a permanent basis? Ye mean they are no just here for their yearly visit?” Alex asked in shock. It looks as if this night is just full of surprises.
Megan turned to look at her lady with a scowl on her face. “Well if ye listened and went to meet yer father for fast this mornin’ then he would have told ye himself. Obviously Kieron will be stayin’ for he is to become yer husband and our future Laird. As for his two younger brothers, they will be stayin’ as his First and Second Commanders to train the men. But no…ye had to be ye usual stubborn self and go to the courtyard instead of spendin’ time with him. Then ye were hurt and needed ye rest durin’ the noonin’ meal and he no had time to speak to ye at this evenin’ meal with the announcement and all.”
Meg was right. Alex had been stubborn a lot lately and seemed to be taking it out on her father. She just couldn’t stand it when they were alone together and his constant look of sadness and concern in his eyes when looking upon her. It was the same sadness they have held since the death of her mother and sister. And she knew his concern for me as if he was just waiting for her to break.
“I will start to join him for mornin’ fast again startin’ on the morrow,” Alex promised Meg. The maid gave her a smile and then quickly finished with straightening the chamber before heading off to her own for the night.
“Alex,” Kieron’s voice broke the silence. She turned to look at him and watched the tears that where falling from his eyes. He knew what was to come and was trying to save her from seeing it, but something deep inside Alex knew she needed to watch and remember.
Her head returned to the clearing just as the commander removed his sword from its sheath while the other three soldiers in his command held her mother down on her knees. As he raised his sword, her mother’s face turned to look directly at her youngest daughter’s. Though she knew no one could possibly see the four of them hiding in the tree, her mother somehow knew where they were. Their eyes met and held just as his sword came down onto her neck. Alex cried out but was not heard as Kieron quickly covered her mouth with one of his hands to silence her.
“KIERON! OH KIERON! NO!”
“Alex wake up. Alex, please wake love.” She heard his voice as she felt her body being shaken. Alex opened her pale green eyes to look straight into Kieron’s dark green ones.
“Kieron?” she asked is confusion.
“Aye ‘tis me Alex.”
“Oh, Kieron!” Grabbing onto him for comfort and safety, Alex began to cry against Kieron’s chest while he wrapped his arms tightly around her trying to sooth her as he did that day up in the tree.
“Shh Alex, I am here and always will be from now on…I promise ye.”
After awhile the tears finally stopped and Alex was able to pull herself away enough to look up at Kieron once again.
“Are ye alright now?” Kieron asked as he used his thumbs to try and dry the tears from Alex’s face.
“Aye I believe so. Thank ye,” she answered in a whisper still staring up into his eyes. There was no sadness or concern held in them, only the look of love and…longing.
Reaching up and placing a hand behind Kieron’s neck, Alex pulled him down towards her so their lips could meet. It was soft and gentle at first, and then she shifted her body so both of her hands to hold onto his broad shoulders. She could now feel the heat coming from his body through the thin material of his tunic.
“Alex,” she heard Kieron whisper her name when his lips left hers for a moment before they came crashing back down making this kiss more demanding while pressing our bodies closer together. The next thing she felt were his hands sliding down her back and then came to a stop to cup her bottom. Alex could not stop the small hiss from escaping her mouth as Kieron accidently touched her cut causing it to sting. The sound made him immediately release her.
“Oh Alex…I’m so sorry. Did I hurt ye?”
“’Tis alright Kieron, it was the sting from my cut.” Then she began to laugh as she was reminded where it was and Kieron joined in as he too realizes the same thing. Then he suddenly stopped and his face became serious.
“Alex, I no want ye to trainin’ and practicin’ with the men in the courtyard.”
“WHAT?” She could feel a new heat rising in her body, but it was not from passion this time but from anger.
“Ye heard me. Ye are no longer allowed to train with the men. Ye are goin’ to be me wife soon and Lady of the keep and cannot be runnin’ around in tunics and braies sword fightin’ with the men.”
Alex moved her hands to his wide chest and pushed with all her might catching Kieron off guard as he tumbled and fell off the bed to the floor. When he looked up still in shock of what she had done, Alex decided to give him a piece of her mind.
“I maybe goin’ to be ye wife soon, but ye are no me husband yet Sir Kieron. Ye cannot tell me what I am and am not allowed to do like me father,” she yelled at him causing his face to turn from shock to anger now matching her own. She watched as Kieron jumped from the floor in one fluid motion and was now standing above her as she stayed in her bed.
“YE FATHER! Ye do no even listen to yer father.” Alex gasped in shock at his statement. “Do ye want to know what yer father told me bout becomin’ yer husband? He said he knows that I already love his daughter and will be a good husband, but that she will require a firm hand to break her from what she believes she must do and hoped that I’m up for the challenge.” She stayed silent but her eyes grew wide with what he was telling her. “And do ye know what I said?” She still could not speak so simply shook her head. “I said ‘tis not a firm hand but firm lips that will break her down.”
Then Kieron did just that. He grabbed both of Alex’s arms in his large hands to pull her against him as he kissed her with those firm lips he had just spoke of. But as sudden as it all started it stopped and he pulled away releasing her. “And I will accomplish but with one kiss at a time me Lady.” Then she watched as he turned and left the bedchamber slamming the door behind him.
Slipping from her bed, Alex curled up in a ball and began to cry. They had never yelled in anger at each other, not even when they had been kids…and she hated it. She loved him and he loved her. And he was only trying looking out for her and keep her safe as he always has. And what was Alex doing? Being her same usual stubborn self.
She stood up and wiped the tears from her face before grabbing the cloak and slippers by the chamber door. She had to go to him and apologize as she knew she would not be able to sleep with this pain in her chest…not her chest but her heart.
Just as Alex opened the door she found a folded piece of paper on her floor and realized it must have fall out of Kieron’s pocket. Picking it up to take it with her was when she noticed that it had been addressed to her father, and when turned over she saw the family seal of her Uncle Ean from the Lowlands on the back. Why would Kieron have a letter from Uncle Ean that was sent to me father? Well that answer was clear, her father had given it to him. But why? Well there was only one way to find out. Alex walked over to her chair near the still burning fire for light. As she read it contents her eyes widened and she was seeing red.