Page 59 of Hollow Court

Had anyone discovered that I was missing yet? Had I been wrong about the dangers to my clan, my family? Would they pay for my decision to leave?

And the one thought that resounded above them all… Was it worth it? Had I overreacted to a little manhandling? Or would I have gotten better at keeping Alexei happy in time?

In the rare moments that I could quiet the maelstrom of questions about my home, different worries crept in.

Was Davin in danger because of me? Were we going to make the tensions here worse?

When a knock on the door startled me from my thoughts, I would have been grateful, except that I was still barefoot and hadn’t yet put on my jewelry.

“I’ll get it, milady.” Anna was already moving toward the door while I tugged my slippers on.

I was sure it was only Gallagher. He always escorted me to dinner. Still, I couldn’t quite quell the part of me that panicked whenever I was running behind.

I was already talking when Anna opened the door.

“Apologies, I’m not quite—”

“Take your time,” a deep, cultured voice cut in.

I froze, my foot halfway into my shoe. Though the accent was the same, I would recognize that voice anywhere, and it most certainly did not belong to Gallagher. Belatedly, I realized I should have recognized the knock, but I was tired, distracted.

“Welcome home, mi’laird,” Anna said, her tone warm and familiar.

I didn’t turn around. I wasn’t ready to see him yet, to burst the bubble of whatever semblance of peace I had found at this estate.

His estate, I reminded myself.

“Thank you, Anna,” he said kindly. “It’s good to be back. Would you mind giving me a moment with my betrothed?”

That last word was said with just a bit of emphasis, enough that I abruptly remembered we were supposed to be putting on a show. Pulling on my shoe the rest of the way, I rose to my feet.

Instead of leaving right away, Anna hesitated. “Do you need anything else, milady?”

Was she seeking my permission to leave? Or making sure I felt safe with her going?

I didn’t have to feign the blush on my cheeks as I finally looked up, though I faced her rather than Davin.

“No. Thank you, Anna.” My voice was steadier than I felt. “I can handle the rest.”

Only then did she leave.

“I thought we should talk before we go down to dinner,” he said once we were alone.

“Of course,” I responded, finally forcing myself to look at him.

I promptly wished I hadn’t. That somehow, I could avoid ever looking at him again.

Though he had been dressed formally at the Obsidian Ball, most of my memories of him were as a guard or in travel clothes. The sight of him now, outfitted unmistakably as the laird of this estate, was almost shocking.

His navy jacket was tailored to perfection, a pristine white shirt peeking out from underneath it. His hair was perfectly coiffed, his face freshly shaven. He looked…

Like the man who had seduced half the court in Socair, and here as well,a small obtrusive voice in the back of my head reminded me.

It was enough to pull me from my thoughts, to notice that there were shadows behind the gaze that was just this side of too intent.

“Did something happen on the road?” I asked, realizing I didn’t know if everyone had made it safely. “To Gwyn?”

He blew out a slow breath. “Gwyn is safe, though I’m sure she’ll be touched that you were so concerned, given how close you two grew on the road. Were you desolate in her absence?”

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