Page 20 of Redemption

She handed him the bottle.

He took a long swig, then rested it on the mattress between them and looked at her. “Three years ago, my brother stole the Faery Flag.”

“What?” Helena blurted. “He stole the flag?”

“Aye. I was furious. But it was my fury that got him charged with treason and hung.”

Her head whirled. “How did ye get him hanged? It was he who stole the flag.” She couldn’t believe it.

Kaden took another drink of whisky. “There was a woman, someone I… She testified against him.”

Helena’s pulse quickened. Someone he what? Loved? Aye, loved. He hadn’t said it, but the truth was clear.

“You confided in her and she told your father,” Helena said.

He nodded. “My brother was guilty. Still, I didnae believe my father would hang Liam, especially given that the flag was a forgery.”

“A forgery?” She had entered a nightmare. “I-I dinnae understand.”

He gave her a gentle look. “Love, the real Faery Flag, if it ever existed, was lost long ago. Who knows how.” He laughed. “Someone probably stole it. When I was a lad, my father told me it was a forgery. Each laird is told the truth—but we are sworn to tell no one. That’s why Liam didn’t know.”

“But why?” she asked. “Why maintain the lie?” But before he answered, she knew. “The flag is the MacLeods’ greatest treasure.”

He nodded.

“But why hang your brother? Why not just replace the forgery with another forgery?” she asked.

When my mother died four years ago, my father changed.” His eyes clouded. “He saw conspiracy where there was none. He was convinced Liam intended to kill him and claim he was laird. Still, I never believed he would hang Liam. I thought he simply intended to punish him, but when Rhona came forward it pushed him over the edge.”

The pain in his voice made her want to cry. “A forgery or no, that flag is cursed,” she muttered. A thought struck. “If ye knew I stole the forgery, why protect me?”

He brushed her cheek with a finger. She was relieved to see his hand no longer shook. “I told ye. I did no’ want anything bad to happen to ye.” He shrugged. “And you had to decide on your own to return it.”

“Just as your brother should have.” She laid a hand on his and he turned his hand, palm up, and clasped her fingers. “It wasnae your fault your brother stole the flag,” she said.

“Nae,” he said. “But I had a hand in his death.”

She cupped his face with her hands. “You no more had a hand in his death than you did in his stealing the flag. Did he offer to return it?”

Kaden shook his head and she reluctantly released him. “Two days after he stole it, my father’s men caught him on Donald land with… By God,” he blurted in unison with her gasp.

“Sweet heaven,” she whispered. “Is it possible your brother…” She couldn’t finish.

“Really did commit treason?” Kaden finished for her. The dull look was gone from his eyes, replaced by blazing fury. “I cannae believe it is a coincidence that he was on Donald land and Malcom sent ye here to steal the flag.”

Helena shook her head. “He has lusted after the flag for many years. I wondered why he sent me in the dead of winter to steal it.” Understanding struck. “Gwen.”

“What?” he demanded.

“Gwendolyn, the laird’s new wife.”

“She is Malcolm’s spy,” he said.

Helena nodded. “When she didnae return to the abbey, we thought she met an ill fate. Malcolm must have been furious when she married the laird.”

Kaden gave a slow nod. “And he decided to extract revenge by stealing the MacLeod’s greatest treasure.” Kaden slammed his hand down on the small table beside the bed. Helena jumped.

His head snapped in her direction. “Forgive me, lass.” He released a breath. “I didnae mean to frighten ye.” His eyes narrowed. “Is Malcolm responsible for the bruises on your arm?”