“Where is Sin’s plaid? (Lochlan)Plaid cloth is for people of true Scots blood, Lochlan. They are not for half-blooded Sassenachs. (Aisleen)(He had found Sin later that day, alone in their room. Sin had been sitting in the middle of the floor with his arm cut open while he let blood trail from the wound into a bowl.)What are you doing? (Lochlan)I’m trying to get rid of the English blood in me, but it doesn’t look any different than yours. How can I make it go away when I can’t find the difference? (Sin)”

“She is beautiful, isn’t she? (Lochlan)Like the first day of spring after a long, harsh winter. (Sin)”

“Heard from whom? (Lochlan)From me, you worthless lickspittle. So tell me what miracle dragged the three of you from your holes and got your lazy hides all the way here. And a day early, no less. (Sin)”

“Mmm. Let me guess. I like to drink the blood of innocents, feast on the entrails of knights and eat the hearts of small children everywhere. (Sin)Aye, that was much the consensus. (Callie)Well, I hope you didn’t go to such trouble to feed me. I fear ’tis off season for good blood, and knights can be rather testy when you disembowel them. (Sin)”

“It seems the women have decided I must put a stop to the feud against the MacDouglas or else they’ll serve us no more. (Lochlan)In any capacity. (Ewan)By Satan’s hairy toes, Sin, it appears I’ve died and gone to hell. (Braden)”

“What did they do to you, to make you withdraw so far into yourself? (Sin doesn’t answer.) You’ve left me again, haven’t you? I can always tell. Your eyes turn dull, cold. Very well, I shall leave you in peace. But know this: One day I am going to find the heart you have buried away from the world. (Callie)And what would you do with it if you found it? (Sin)I would hold it safe and keep it from the hurt that has shriveled it. (Callie)”

“I love you, Lochlan,” she said, hating the fact that her voice broke as she spoke the words. “I will always love you and you alone.”