“He was at my cottage after I left here.”
“How did he know where to find you?”
“Meranda. She arrived after he left and explained how he’d tricked her into giving him the information.” As if I needed another reason to loathe the pirate.
Keelynn pressed a pale hand to her forehead. “Have you told anyone?”
I shook my head. “Not a soul.”
“Of all the infernal, foolish things you’ve done, this one tops the list. We could have helped you get out of this, and yet you were determined to deal with everything on your own.” Her hands balled to fists in her lap. “And you said you’re supposed to meet him tomorrow?”
Nodding, I dropped my head into my hands. I’d wanted to tell her the truth the night I’d spent with her at Ruairi’s, but she’d already been dealing with so much between the wedding, Tadgh’s son, and leaving the castle, it didn’t seem fair to burden her with my problems as well.
Keelynn braced her hands on the stones and rose to her feet. The silk of her gown caught the moonlight streaming through the high windows, making the material shimmer like a lake beneath a full moon. Before I could ask what she was doing, she pounded a fist against the door.
“Keelynn, stop.”
She pummelled harder.
I stumbled to my feet. Even when I caught her arm, she remained undeterred, using her other hand to slam against the barrier.
“You cannot tell anyone. Please. I don’t want them to know.”
The door swung open. Tadhg stood on the other side in a fresh shirt and black breeches.
When I tried to grab my sister’s wrist, she yanked free. “Please, Keelynn…”
Tadhg frowned at us both. “I apologize for letting Rían lock you in the tower—”
Keelynn cut him off with a wave of her hand. “We have more pressing issues to deal with. Where are Rían and Ruairi?”
The two men appeared behind Tadhg. Rían’s black eyes found mine and did not stray. My throat swelled, and my protests fell silent.
Keelynn was right. I should’ve told them the truth the moment Caden had returned to my life. We may not be bound by blood, but we were a family all the same. And family helped each other no matter what. Wouldn’t I be furious if Keelynn had kept such a secret?
Keelynn braced her hands on her hips and leveled my prince with a narrowed-eyed glare. “Is there any way out of a bargain?”
His gaze flickered to her before returning to me. “That would depend what was promised.”
Keelynn caught my wrist and dragged me forward. I stumbled into her, but instead of letting me go, she held tighter. I opened my mouth to explain, but no words emerged.
Keelynn’s fingers squeezed mine. “Tell him.”
Rían’s brow furrowed. “Tell me what?”
“When Caden and I first met,” I said, ignoring the way Rían winced when I said the pirate’s name, “I promised him something. Now I have no choice but to leave Airren with him.”
Rían’s shadowed eyes began to glow. “Like hell you will.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have a choice.”
“You do if I kill him.”
Surprise, surprise. Rían wanted to murder someone. “He’ll only come back.” And I’d still be as bound to him as I was now.
A maniacal gleam flashed in his eyes. “Not if I use the dagger.”
“You’d really rather waste your life ending his than find some other way out of this?”