Page 35 of Kilted Abduction
“In the hall, waitin’ fer ye.”
“All right, let’s go.”
Kai fell into step beside her as Magnus led them the rest of the way across the land bridge then through the portcullis that guarded the entrance to the castle. Up close, she thought it was even more beautiful. The stones were smooth and etched with what looked like a family crest and as they walked through the yard and into the castle proper, she saw that everything was clean and bright. Servants bustled through the halls, looking as if they were putting up decorations in preparation for a Yule feast and celebration.
Her own father hadn’t celebrated Yule in many years—not since she was a girl—and Ciara missed it. Yule had always been her mother’s favorite celebration and she had always made sure to go all out with decorations, feasting, and the joy she spread to everybody in the village beyond the keep. Her father had tried to curtail the expense of feasting with the common people, but her mother refused to hear of it, making sure everybody was invited to celebrate with them. Seeing the unbridled joy and love her mother had spread had quickly made Yule Ciara’s favorite feast day.
Ever since she’d died though, and her father had canceled all feasting with the common folk, Yule had made the absence of her mother all the more pronounced. It was a memory that sent fresh pangs of grief through her heart.
“Ye have a lovely home,” she said, genuinely impressed.
“Thank ye,” Kai replied. “Our maither, God rest her soul, believed in keepin’ a home warm, lively, and clean. Especially around the feast days. Yule was always her favorite.”
“Mine too,” Ciara said with a small, sad laugh.
“Is yer maither?—”
“Gone,” Ciara answered.
“I’m sorry tae hear that.”
“Thank ye.”
They arrived at a pair of large, wooden doors and Magnus brought them to a halt then turned to his brother.
“Escort her tae me chambers. And dinnae let her out of yer sight. She’s a clever one,” Magnus said then stopped a pair of serving women who were bustling down the corridor. “Fetch her some hot water tae let her bathe and some clean clothes, please.”
“Right away,” said the woman who looked at him with undisguised affection.
“Kai, also make sure she eats,” Magnus ordered. “And I’m serious, keep a close eye on her. Dinnae let her get the drop on ye.”
“Aye,” he said with a grin then turned to Ciara. “Made him look a fool, did ye?”
Ciara shrugged. “A couple of times.”
“Good on ye.”
Magnus glowered at them both for a moment then fixed his brother with an icy glare. “Just dae what I say. Be sure ye’ve got eyes on her at all times.”
“Aye. Aye,” Kai replied. “Go and see Domhnall.”
Magnus’ gaze lingered on her for a moment and Ciara felt her heart flutter, recalling the feeling of being in his arms in that icy river. She couldn’t say it was horrible—no more horrible than waking up in a tangle of limbs with him on the floor of the lodge—but she couldn’t admit that, so she fixed him with a haughty glare instead.
With a curt nod, Magnus turned away and stepped through the large doors then closed the door behind him. Kai turned to her and frowned.
“These willnae dae anymore, methinks,” he said and motioned to her hands. “If I unbind ye, will ye give me yer oath tae behave?”
“I suppose it depends on what ye mean by behave,” she replied. “I promise I willnae kill ye.”
Kai’s laugh was warm and infectious. His demeanor was easygoing and even kind. It was hardly the sort of treatment she had been expecting from the family who’d abducted her. Ciara couldn’t help but smile along with him.
“I suppose that’ll have tae dae,” he said as he started to untie her hands, then paused. “Ye’re bein’ true, eh? Ye’re nae goin’ tae dae anything clever?”
“Right now, I’d like a hot bath and some fresh clothes,” she replied. “I’ll worry about bein’ clever after that.”
“Fair enough.”
He unbound her hands then tossed the rope to the ground and ushered her down the corridor. As they walked, Ciara took in her surroundings. There was just something about the place and the smiling faces of the servants they passed that told her something was different about Dunvegan and the MacLeod family. They had abducted her, yes. But given the circumstances and what they believed she was, Magnus had treated her kindly. He’d been gentle and even solicitous. Perhaps she was naïve, or just foolish, but Ciara was getting the sense that they never meant her any true harm.
