Page 39 of Kilted Abduction
“Dinnae be stupid,” he grumbled. “I dinnae even notice how comely she is.”
His face reddened as they burst into laughter.
“Why dae ye let them sit in on these meetin’s when they cannae be serious about anythin’?” Magnus asked.
“Because we’re part of the family,” Thora said.
“And because they sometimes amuse me,” Domhnall added, drawing more laughter from their sisters. Magnus simply rolled his eyes but he felt warmness at the sight of his family.
“Personally, I think it’s good that Magnus fancies somebody,” Enya said. “I was beginnin’ tae think he wasnae capable of it.”
“Shut it, Enya,” Magnus grumbled.
Ever since they were kids, his siblings had always teased him about his lack of emotion, often comparing him to a statue or a stone wall. He had emotions, he just knew how to control them. He knew how to compartmentalize and cut through all the emotional noise to see through to the truth of a matter. It was part of the reason he was such a good strategist and one of Domhnall’s most important advisors—logic and clarity, rather than emotions, informed all his decisions. It was something his siblings failed to understand.
“So, she could be on the run from her faither and a forced marriage tae a monster, which could be true given the fight she put up after you kidnapped her” Domhnall said. “Or she could be a spy trying to weaken our clan and make it ripe fer the picking.”
“How are we goin’ tae find out which answer is the right one?” Enya asked.
Domhnall pursed his lips and seemed to think it over for a moment. He took a swallow of wine, his expression thoughtful and focused. After a moment, he raised his gaze to them.
“Well, given that Kai told us that yer gifts didnae work on her, which is a whole different thing tae investigate, I’ll send Kai tae speak tae his informants. See if any of them can give us the truth of the matter,” Domhnall said. “Magnus, I want ye tae shadow Ciara. Right now, she is our guest, so treat her with all due respect. But watch her closely.”
“Braither, I think I should go and try tae verify her story. Let Kai watch Ciara,” Magnus said. “He’s got a better way with people than I dae.”
“I’d have tae agree with that last bit,” Thora said. “If Ciara is our guest, dae ye really want tae inflict this one on that poor lass? Bad enough she’s had tae travel with him.”
Magnus bit back the scathing reply on his lips since she was essentially arguing his position for him, albeit in a way that made him want to thump her upside the head.
“Nay. Kai is the one who brought us the rumor to begin with. He’s our chief scout and has all the contacts out there. He’ll go tae verify this woman’s story,” Domhnall said. “Also, I dinnae trust him around any lass,” he added with a chuckle, that his sisters echoed.
Magnus frowned. “Braither, I think it would be best?—”
“Ye’ve got me decision and me orders and we’ll talk nay more of it. Ye ken I hate forcin’ me word on ye but ye dinnae give me an option, braither.”
“I’m nae a bleedin’ babysitter, Dom,” Magnus said. “Why cannae Thora or Enya watch her? Ciara might feel more comfortable around another lass.”
“Because ye’ve traveled with her. Ye ken her?—”
“I wouldnae say I ken her.”
“But ye’ve got a relationship with her already,” Domhnall said. “She’ll be more comfortable around you than a complete stranger, lass or nae. And ye have more practice and physical strength if she tries to pull another escape or trap.”
“But—”
“Enough, Magnus. Please, respect me word. Stick tae the lass like glue. We have tae be extra careful, as the lass may have powers.”
Magnus sighed. The last thing he wanted was to spend more time with Ciara. She clouded his mind. Clouded his judgment. And she filled him with emotions that were unfamiliar and uncontrollable. But he did have to factor in the fact that she was immune to their gifts.
“Fine,” Magnus said.
He got up, gave both his sisters a kiss on the heads like he often did, and stormed out of the hall. He disagreed with Domhnall vehemently, but he was a loyal soldier and would always follow the orders of his laird, no matter how uncomfortable they made him. And these orders made him plenty uncomfortable.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Can I go fer a walk?” Ciara asked.
“We were told tae keep an eye on ye,” said the guard on the left side of the door.
