“And she filled your head with nonsense and lies,” Lachlan said.
Ronan hesitated to respond. He still wasn’t certain who Carissa was. One minute she was the coldhearted Carissa, and another the kindhearted Hope. He simply didn’t know how to reconcile the two.
“You’re not sure who she is, are you?” Artair asked.
“Honestly, no,” Ronan admitted, shaking his head.
“The only one who truly knows Carissa is Dykar,” Hagen said. “And he does not share the knowledge with others.”
Ronan felt a twinge of jealousy and before he could speak his mind, Cavan asked what he wanted to know.
“Who is this Dykar to her?”
“I truly don’t know,” Hagen said. “All I know is that Dykar protects her with his life and would easily die for her. But then there are many in the troop who know her that would do the same.”
“Perhaps she bewitches men,” Lachlan suggested.
“Not in the way you suggest,” Hagen said defensively.
“The only way this matter can ever be settled,” Artair said, “is for Carissa to be brought here.”
“Unharmed,” Ronan added quickly.
“Why such concern?” Cavan demanded of his brother.
How many times would he appear a fool this night? When he had told Bethane that Carissa had taken his pride, it was truer than he realized. But truth be known, his wounded pride would need to wait to be healed. He first had to think of Carissa.
He admitted a concern that had suddenly dawned on him when Hagen had suggested that Carissa could suffer at the hands of the mercenaries before she was turned over to Cavan.
“She may carry my child,” Ronan said.
Faces couldn’t have expressed more shock than those around him did, and silence hung so heavily that Ronan thought it just might crush all of them.
“I have no time to explain it all now,” Ronan said. “My concern is to see Carissa safe, then I will discuss my dilemma with you.”
“This changes everything,” Cavan said standing. “An unborn child of a Sinclare could be in danger.”
Artair and Lachlan nodded in agreement.
“I think Zia should come with us,” Alyce said, “in case Carissa requires a healer.”
“I agree, and I’ll come along as well,” Addie said.
“That’s not necessary,” Hagen said, and for once, the Sinclare men sided with him.
Addie, however, would hear none of it. “I’m going, and that’s final,” she said.
“Where are you going?” Zia asked, returning with Honora.
Once Alyce explained the situation, Zia said, “I’ll get ready.”
Cavan looked to his wife. “Don’t dare tell me that you’re coming too.”
Honora shook her head. “No, though I would if I wasn’t with child.”
Cavan stared dumbfounded at her.
She went to her husband, took his hand, and rested it against her stomach. “I planned to tell you differently that you would be a father once again, but hearing about Carissa, I felt the need for you to know. And I ask that you protect Carissa, who may also be carrying a child, as much as you would me.”
At that moment Ronan dearly loved his sister-in-law, for nothing he could have said would have had as much impact on his brother as Honora’s words.
Cavan took his wife in his arms, hugged her, kissed her soundly, then said, “I give you my word.”
Honora smiled and turned to Ronan. “It will be wonderful to have another woman pregnant along with me.”
“I don’t know for sure if she is with child,” he said.
“We will know soon enough,” Honora said. “Until then, we will all get to know her.”
“Do not forget,” Cavan reminded, “that she is our enemy.”
Honora nodded. “Yes, but didn’t you tell me that it is wise to know your enemy well?”
“And you did say you wished to know the leader of the mercenaries,” Alyce said. “This would give you that chance.”
“I would like to know her myself,” Addie said.
“Her father was responsible for our father’s death,” Cavan said, annoyed.
“True, but not all the sins of a father,” Addie said, “can be left on a child.”
“The women have banded together,” Artair said. “We don’t have a chance.”
Ronan felt his heart swell, realizing how good it was to be home among family. This was what he missed. This was what he feared he had lost and could never regain, but these women, two of whom he had only just met, had made his dilemma theirs and offered their help, as did his brothers, even though they doubted.
Cavan looked to Hagen. “We need to reach your troop before Carissa takes leave of them.”