The Ghost by Greyson, Maeve (best motivational books to read .txt) 📕

clan. They tossed her out into the cold with no one to protect her. No one but me. His name is Magnus de Gray. But as ye know, I prefer to call him the great and mighty deceiver.”

“Is it true what she says?” Keigan took another step toward the heartless rogue who had ruined their lives.

The muscles in Magnus’s jaw flexed. “Aye, I left yer mother. I went to fight in a senseless war when I shouldha stayed at her side to protect her.” After a shuffling of his feet, he lowered himself to one knee. “But I beg ye to believe me when I say, I didna ken ye were in her belly. I didna know when ye were born, nor that yer sweet mother had died while giving ye life.” The man’s pale brows knotted. Regret darkened his features. “I ask yer forgiveness, Keigan, and I also ask for the chance to make this right.”

Brenna held her breath. Whilst she would give her last coin to see de Gray reduced to nothing more than a pile of ash, her sweet lad had a say in this matter, too. And she also owed it to Bree. For some reason, her sister had befriended this lying womanizer, and her dying wish had been for her son to know his father.

Keigan frowned, then placed his bow and throwing daggers on the ground. He marched forward until he stood mid-distance between Magnus and Brenna. His little head slowly tilted to one side. “Ye favor me. Just bigger.” The boy pointed. “Our hair’s the same. Granny Wick called the color of it snow on the mountain.”

A sad smile made Magnus appear almost wistful. “Aye, my mother called mine frost on the heather.”

A sudden vision of de Gray snatching up the boy and taking flight made Brenna step forward and stand next to her nephew. Let the bastard try it. She would stab him through the heart.

“Why did ye not come when I was born? I dinna believe it when ye say ye knew nothing about me.” Keigan thrust out his little chin with the accusation. “Auntie gave Granny Wick the letter to send right off. It told about Mama going to heaven and how I needed a da right away. She told me so, and Auntie never lies.”

“I met yer Granny Wick on the way here. She told me she didna send the letter until a few weeks ago because she loved ye and feared I would come and take ye away.”

“Would ye have?”

“Aye.” Magnus gave another solemn nod. “I wouldha come for ye quick as I could ride to Inbhir Ùige, and then I wouldha brought ye back to Tor Ruadh.”

“Then why did she send the letter for ye to find me now?”

Brenna smiled proudly. Her sweet lad was not a fool and had always been far wiser than his years.

“Because ye left yer Granny Wick, and she feared ye needed my protection.” Magnus settled a hard stare on Brenna. “She knew yer auntie had suffered greatly and was afraid she would suffer more without me to care for the both of ye.”

“Me and Auntie do just fine,” Keigan said. “We protect each other.”

“Of that, I have no doubt.” Magnus blew out a heavy sigh. “But I am yer father, and I wish for the chance to be a good one to ye. If ye will allow it.”

“Auntie says ye killed Mama,” Keigan accused.

Brenna’s heart swelled at the sight of her sweet bairn’s hands fisted at his sides. Such a brave little man, her dear Keigan. This was so unfair to him. She wanted to grab him up and hold him but held herself back for his pride’s sake.

Magnus stared down at the ground for a long while, then lifted his gaze. “I would never have hurt yer mother. But sometimes things happen. Things we canna foresee. Whether ye believe in fate or God, all of us are at the mercy of this world and what it does with us. I could not have saved her even if I had been at her side—as I shouldha been. All I couldha done was offer her what comfort I could as she passed through the veil to a better place.”

“Would ye have?” the boy dared as Brenna struggled to swallow the emotions knotting in her throat. Her sister had suffered so very much, bringing this sweet lad into the world.

“Aye, lad. I wouldha done anything I could to ease her way.” He clenched a hand atop his knee, flinching as though in pain. “What say ye, Keigan? Would ye at least be willing to grant me some of yer time? Time to get to know me?” After another glance at Brenna, he continued. “Then if ye tell me to go, I will go and trouble the two of ye no more.”

The child frowned at him, studying Magnus with repeated up and down looks. The only sound in the clearing was the wind shushing through the trees. The boy sidled a glance up at Brenna. “What should I do, Auntie?”

The trust and confusion flashing in her precious one’s eyes stopped her from blurting out that he should tell de Gray to go straight to Hell by the quickest route possible. Nay—she saw her sister in those trusting eyes. Again, she heard her sibling’s dying wish that Keigan know his father. She gritted her teeth, knowing what she needed to say. But, damn it all, she didn’t want to say it. With the lightest touch, she tapped the center of the child’s chest. “What does yer heart tell ye, my brave little warrior?”

He looked back at the kneeling man and frowned. “I dinna ken for sure, but I kind of would like to talk to him a while since he knew Mama, and his blood flows in my veins, too.” He drew up a shoulder and rubbed his cheek like he always did when thinking hard. “Do ye think she would want me to know him?”