He decided to simply ask her.

Alex walked to the great hall and stopped at the clan crest. He never would’ve noticed that the stone was different in the eye of the raven if Aunt Iseabail hadn’t told him. Now he could see it as clear as day. He bent down and tugged at the rock, making sure it was still secure in its place.

“Alex.”

He stood as John walked toward him, a troubled expression upon his brow.

“What is it?”

John lowered his voice. “Mayhap we should go to your study.”

Alex nodded and once again found himself walking to his study. When John closed the door behind him, Alex grunted.

“Am I going to need another drink? I’ve already had my fill with Aunt Iseabail.” When John merely nodded, Alex sat down behind his father’s desk and poured them both some ale. He handed John a cup. “I am almost afraid to ask.”

“Alex, I am your friend. We are as brothers, but ye also made me the captain of your guard. I have a duty, responsibility.”

Alex spoke hesitantly. “Aye…”

“There is nay easy way to say this, but I must.” John took a drink from his tankard and then met Alex’s gaze. “Did ye speak with your wife about the dungeon?”

Alex shifted in his chair, studying John for a moment. “Aye. She told me she was there.”

“She told ye?” asked John, surprised.

Alex didn’t really want to share Sybella’s fears with John, but his friend was troubled over something. “She wanted to see where we held the MacLeod. She is fearful of me taking my leave to Lewis and thinks I leave her unprotected with MacGregor.”

“The MacLeod man is dead.”

“I tried to tell her the same, but ye know how lasses worry over naught. What is this about?”

“When I saw your wife from the wall, her behavior was odd, almost as if she didnae want to be spotted.”

“I’m sure she didnae. I would have throttled her myself had I seen her. ’Tis nay place for a woman.”

“I had one of my men follow her.”

“What? For what purpose?”

“I donna know, Alex. Something isnae quite right. And being that ye spend many an eve tupping the lass, mayhap ye are blinded by her actions.”

“What are ye saying? I think with my coc—”

John dropped a missive on the desk before Alex. “Read it.”

“What is this?” asked Alex, picking up the letter.

“Read it,” repeated John.

Alex read the words and his heart stopped.

Colin,

I found what you and Father seek. Please stop this madness before it is too late.

Ella

Eighteen

Sybella walked along the garden path, contemplating how she was going to free the stone from the great hall floor. She would need to find some kind of tool to loosen it. Perhaps she’d check the stables when everyone was asleep. She had another disturbing thought. Once she removed her clan’s stone, there would be a hole in the floor. She needed to find another rock to replace the one she would take.

She sat down on a bench and watched Rosalia and Ciaran play with Lachlann. Ciaran held his son up in the air and Lachlan smiled from ear to ear. When Rosalia reached out and touched her husband’s arm in a gentle gesture, his eyes held a tremendous amount of love for the woman standing by his side.

As Sybella watched the family together, she didn’t notice her own lips curving into a smile. From what Alexander said about his cousin, Rosalia had suffered hardship and discomfort before meeting Ciaran. But no one could tell from looking at the woman. Rosalia was proud, strong. And Alex’s cousin had certainly found her inner peace and her one true love. To be honest, Sybella was blissfully happy for Rosalia. And if Sybella was truthful with herself, perhaps she was even a bit jealous of the woman who stood before her. One thing was clearly evident: Rosalia was a survivor.

Every time Rosalia’s eyes met Ciaran’s, it was difficult not to notice the heartfelt love, understanding, and compassion that were exchanged between them. Sybella hoped that perhaps one day Alex would feel the same about her—well, as soon as she could clean up this mess her clan had created.

With that revelation, Sybella stood from the bench. “Pray excuse me. I think I will take a quick walk to the loch.”

Rosalia turned. “Do ye want us to come along with ye?”

“Nay, ye stay with your bonny lad. I will return soon.”

Sybella walked casually to the loch, her eyes searching the path along the way. There were no stones or rocks that would serve her purpose. She thought perhaps there might be more of a selection next to the water—at least, that was her hope.

Reaching the loch, she took a moment to merely stand there and admire the view. The sun was starting to set below the horizon, and the leaves rustled in the wind. She took a deep breath and let the fresh air stimulate her senses. When another round of painful memories started to invade her thoughts, she began to walk.

Tiny pebbles rolled onto the sandy shore. When she almost stumbled, she looked down and spotted a rock that would suit her purpose. She picked up the stone and wiped the gritty sand off the surface.

On safer ground now, Sybella paused to reflect a moment. She was astonished at the sense of completeness she felt at Glengarry. She truly loved everything about this place. From her home to the loch to her new kin, she could easily live out the rest of her days here. And as long as the man she loved was forever by her side…She smiled at the thought.

* * *

Alex couldn’t deny the evidence any longer. His wife was a traitor. A MacKenzie through and through. Curses fell from his mouth, and he knew that when he was crossed, his temper could be almost uncontrollable.

“What will ye do?” asked John.

Alex ran his hand through his hair, his movements agitated. “Before or after I kill her?”

John’s eyes widened. “Alex…”

Alex looked up at the ceiling. “God’s teeth, I can hear ye now, Father. I should’ve known the lass was naught but trouble from the start. Why in the hell would I even think about wedding a MacKenzie. Why?”

“Do ye really want me to answer that?”

Alex glowered at John, and the man had the nerve to raise his hands in mock surrender. “May I offer ye a suggestion?”

Alex closed his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his nose. “What?”

“Ye arenae going to speak with her now, are ye?”

“Speaking, nay. Throttling or running my sword through her, mayhap. Howbeit I donna trust her to speak the truth, and besides, she hasnae yet taken the stone. If I question her, she would simply deny it.” Alex paused, his thoughts racing. “I want ye to keep to the shadows and watch her every move. I entrust ye to do this, nae one of the men. After she takes the stone, I want to see her hand it over to the MacKenzie. We will deal with the two of them at the same time.”

“I am truly sorry, Alex. I thought the lass—”

“The lass doesnae matter.”

John nodded and simply walked out.

Alex sat down and pounded his fist on the desk. “An diobhail toirt leis thu!” The devil take you!

The MacKenzie clearly had played him for a fool. The arse hadn’t hesitated when Alex demanded two hundred fifty cattle as Sybella’s dowry. No wonder! The woman was planted under his roof to deliver the seeing stone to the MacKenzie seer. How utterly convenient.

He shook his head in awe at the lengths of the MacKenzie’s machinations. He could imagine the man sitting behind the desk in his study, a smug expression upon his face. The bastard had deceived a MacDonell—or so he thought. But maybe it wasn’t too late. The MacKenzie still didn’t have the stone. Perhaps there was time…

Alex couldn’t calm his thoughts. What the hell was he going to do about the MacLeod? The man had tried to kill Alex’s wife. The MacLeod would just have to wait his turn. Besides, Alex couldn’t think about that now. He needed to solve one problem at a time.

Sybella’s missive to her brother continued to haunt him. What did she mean when she wrote, “Please stop this madness before it’s too late”? Was marriage to Alex so unbearable? She was clearly going to leave him after she delivered the damn stone to her father.

Alex’s heart hardened, and he refused to think of Sybella and her innocent touches. He banished the thoughts of their stolen moments. The woman was nothing more than a MacKenzie wench who had played him for a fool. And to think he cared for the lass, thought of her as one of his own.

He walked briskly to the parapet before he attempted to do something he would surely regret. He wasn’t sure how long he remained there, nor did he care. The silence was a blessing. Only when his head bobbed and jolted him awake did he finally seek his bed. But no sooner did he close his eyes than the adjoining door opened and closed.

Alex watched his wife as she approached his bed. At least he’d had enough sense left to keep the bedside candle lit. He closed his eyes and feigned sleep, not giving Sybella the chance to place a dagger straight through his heart. For a moment, she merely stood there and watched him, no doubt planning his untimely demise. When she reached out to touch him, he whipped out his hand and firmly grabbed her arm.

Sybella gasped.

“What are ye doing?” he asked, his voice hardening ruthlessly.

“Praise the saints, ye frightened me. I wanted to make sure ye and Aunt Iseabail were all right.” When he didn’t respond and his eyes darkened, she gently pulled to free herself from his grasp. “Alex…”

He released her arm and his eyes roamed to her nightrail. He could see her creamy breasts through the thin material. “Seek your bed, Sybella.”