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All wrong. All lies. But it was better this way, anyway. Better she believed that and left and never returned. He walked to the door, opened it, but turned to look at her for the last time.

“If I never see ye again”—his throat fought the onslaught of emotion—“I want ye to ken ye’re the best part of my whole life.”

He left, aching as though he’d just torn his heart from his chest and left it with her.

Chapter 30

They marched early the next day. As the castle got smaller and smaller in the distance, Owen finally allowed himself to look back at the tower where his bedchamber was, hoping he’d get a final glance at Amber. The window was heartbreakingly empty.

Leaving without saying goodbye to her was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.

The back of his horse swayed as he rode. The trees to the right rustled in the wind. Loch Awe to his left was stormy and gray with angry waves clashing against each other. They went northeast to bend around the loch’s most northern point.

The Bruce was worried that MacDougall had planted scouts that would spot the army moving, so James Douglas had gone ahead with his archers to position them above where the ambush would take place.

Owen rode next to his father, Craig, Ian, and Domhnall. Their whole clan rode behind them, along with the Mackenzies, Camerons, Macleans, Mackintoshes, MacKinnons, and others. The king, Uncle Neil, and the rest of the knights rode in front of them.

The way was windy and cold after the storm of last night. Even the small army of men following him wasn’t enough to make Owen focus on the task ahead. Even with the wind blowing in his face and the breathtaking beauty of Loch Awe that opened up in front of him, all he saw in his mind was the beauty of the woman he loved.

Time passed quickly, even though they made one quick stop to rest. The closer they got to the Pass of Brander, the tenser the men got, the wearier their faces grew.

They arrived early afternoon on the same day. Through the gaps between branches and leaves, Owen saw three birlinns, West Highland ships, on the river.

“MacDougalls,” he muttered and pointed for his father and his brothers to see. He exchanged a glance with Ian and Craig.

Tension in Owen’s shoulders released. The enemy was here, just like he knew they would be. He hadn’t let his king and his clan down.

“Ye were right, son,” Dougal said, narrowing his eyes at the river.

“Aye,” Craig said. “Well done, brother.”

They reached the mouth of the Pass. To their right, the steep flank of Ben Cruachan started. Owen saw a small mountain path starting between rare bushes and trees up the slope. He’d take that path with his men as soon as the king gave him the signal.

To their left, behind the bushes and undergrowth, there was an almost vertical drop into the river. The path before them grew more and more narrow and would soon become only a few yards wide. No one from the birlinns could see them through the bushes.

The Bruce stopped the procession, and they waited until a figure climbed down the steep slope of Ben Cruachan—the messenger from Douglas to say that he and his men were in position.

Owen rode forward to the king.

“’Tis all true,” the Bruce said when he saw him. “There’s an ambush. The road is blocked. Douglas has taken up his position. Are ye and yer men ready?”

Owen’s heart beat hard against his rib cage. Was he ready? Was he focused? Would he lead his men to victory?

He inhaled deeply, his chest rising, his shoulders straight, his head high. Amber’s face was in his mind, and her sweet voice rang in his head. But surprisingly, that didn’t feel like a distraction. She gave him strength and power.

She gave him love.

Now he knew who he wanted to fight for. He wanted to fight to come back to her. To tell her he loved her.

He only hoped he wasn’t too late.

“Aye, Your Grace,” Owen said. “I’m ready. So are the Highlanders.”

The Bruce’s eyes shone with dark determination and a fierce, unapologetic drive for victory. “Then let’s finish the bastart MacDougalls.”

“Aye,” Owen said. He would have roared, but they still needed to be quiet.

“Go. As planned.”