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didn’t hear her. He kept walking, his stride inexorable, his hands clenched into fists of violence and hate.
    “Wait, I said!” Her command bounced from the stone walls of the hall, its echo fading to utter silence.
    Duncan had stopped at the authority in her voice. Now he turned with slow deliberation. His head tilted slightly down and to the side, and she felt a sharp piercing sensation in the area of her heart when his gaze locked with hers.
    “You dare to forestall me longer?”
    “I stopped you because I—” she faltered, twisting her fingers in her plaid, “—because I wish to accept your terms of agreement.”
    Duncan stiffened, staring at her in silence, while Robert clamored protests. Aileana simply shook her head and held firm.
    Shifting his weight forward, Duncan bridged the distance between them. When they stood less than two paces apart, he came to a halt. “The agreement is for you to come with me as leman . You will hold none of the privileges of wife, though I will be taking a wife later. You will still be required to remain with me, to use ordiscard as I see fit.” He knew his words were harsh, but he wanted them to be, to ensure no misunderstanding in their bargain.
    Aileana didn’t answer right away. She was looking at a point above his shoulder, and as he waited, he saw the color of her cheeks intensify. Finally, she nodded. “I understand.”
    Duncan stood still, unable to pull his gaze from her; shock swept through him, mingled with disbelief, hostility, and desire. He’d never thought she would be so bold as to accept the offer. A tiny flicker of respect for her courage filled him, but he quenched it. This was revenge, pure and simple, though it meant he’d have to forego the pleasure of killing Gavin MacDonell. But Gavin would suffer endless agonies over his sister’s humiliation, and that kind of living hell would be almost as good as the death he’d planned to inflict on him.
    “Very well.” Looking over his shoulder, he called to the men holding Gavin, “Release him.” Then he gestured Robert toward Aileana. “Say your farewells. We’re leaving.”
    As he waited, Duncan struggled to control the warring emotions that besieged him. He didn’t like the turn the day had taken. It created a host of new problems. But Aileana MacDonell had called his bluff on the challenge he’d been so reckless to throw at her, and honor demanded that he go through with the deal.
    Her proximity to him would have one added benefit, though; she would be under his power, making it easier for him to force her to reveal the Ealach ’s location. Images of the methods open to him, of her beauty and the pleasures she could provide, drove lancets of desire through him. But then thoughts of her kinship to Morgana doused the flames in a shower of ice.
    Facing her again, he issued the order to leave. He forced himself to remain impervious to the wrenching loss painted across her delicate features, trying to ignore the worry so obvious in Robert’s eyes. It was what they’d agreed to, damn it. And there wasn’t another instant to waste. It was time to go.
    “Come. We’ve miles to cover before sundown.”
    Aileana fixed her grief-stricken face forward, refusing to meet his gaze. As he took her arm and led her through the door, Duncan closed his ears to the soft sounds she made as she clearly struggled to hold back tears. But at the portal she twisted round in his grasp, craning her neck to see her brothers for as long as possible until the solid wall of stone blocked their view. Still he led her on, pushing ahead until they reached his stallion.
    He hoisted her in front of him astride Glendragon’s saddle. As they began to ride, a coppery wave of her hair slid across his face, and, annoyed, he brushed it aside. But not before its fragrance wafted to him, sweet honey and clove. The pure simplicity of it twisted a knot in his gut and played havoc with his senses.
    As if she somehow discerned his reaction,