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Lily rushed to Robert where he lay li as he pulled each breath in with a wheezing effort A look of serenity hid what ave his face the calm innocence of a child’s

"Robbie, I’ … I knew you were in danger " He looked at her quizzically, and she continued, "I could have warned you … should’ve warned you "

"Och, hush …" Robert coughed, and a small trickle of blood pooled at the corner of hisRobert ’s tranquil blue eyes studied Lily where she knelt, cradling his cheek in her hand " Hush, lass This is how I ’d have it" A treain, face red with effort Lily wiped the blood froht, lass " Robert sht me I couldn ’t protectdown his cheek--"but I could protect our laird "

He turned and fixed an intent gaze on Lily "Dear Ewen He loves you, you know Tell hiht whisper, "tell him I proved myself worthy of the clan "

Goose bu words that so eerily echoed the lyrics of Gram’s lullaby

"I will Robert " Lily’s chin quivered, but her voice was strong and clear "He loves you too; everyone will know the hero you are"

She stroked her fingers through his sweat- da

"He was a fey lad and not so old

With hair spun froold

Upon Letterfinlay soil he did land,

Clairand

A MacMartin lad who knew no fear,

Clan Careen plaid

And charedy learnt his name

In a skirmish with men in coats of flaave a gift he could give no other

On a bonny hill the lad met his ruin,

When he took a bullet reen plaid

Died before he was old

"The fearsoive

Any trespasses the fey lad did give

For known as but a lettered young man,

He proved himself worthy of clan

Honored is he until this day,

For a rieve for the lad,

A MacMartin hero in Cah Robert, and his features became at ease, limbs heavy and body still, as he seemed to reach a point beyond pain He licked his lips, and he looked at Lily for one last ti avidly over her face as if he would hed froently on his cheek, awed by the peace that s ses of his lips

It was then that she heard Finn trying to rouse hionized whiether She wept rief that suffused her, dulled her ish, reluctant to ht Lily to her senses and terror skewered her, as she realized it had been a mistake to put Lauchlan at her back

She rose slowly, unable to face the MacKintosh, and watched with horror the shadows that played on the forest floor Lauchlan looht Lily stood, frozen, staring at the approaching shadow Thoughts hurtled through her y for escaping this man one more time She watched as the shadow enveloped her head, and a deafening crack reverberated through every muscle in her body until she became that darkness

Chapter 30

Sensations slowly pierced her consciousness Gentle ers on her brow Water with the bitter cold taste of a Highland lake soothing her parched lips The reassuring s her hand