Page 52 of Kilted Abduction
Ciara pushed through the doors that led to the yard outside. The ease that had developed between her and Magnus after his midnight confession had led to a greater level of trust between them. He had allowed her more freedom to walk about, with the one restriction that her walks had to be kept to the castle itself. She was not allowed to go beyond Dunvegan’s walls, not without him. It wasn’t ideal, but she would have to make it work.
As she’d hoped, the yard was a busy place. With workers running about all over the place, it was bustling and chaotic. It was just what Ciara needed. Several wagons loaded with supplies were making their way toward her. Ciara snuck a glance over her shoulder, measuring the distance between her and the guards, trying to time things just right. Getting it wrong would undoubtedly lead to her being locked away in Magnus’ bedchamber once more.
As a wagon drew near, Ciara’s body tensed and when they were close enough, she darted around the lead wagon, putting it between her and the guards. She heard them shouting behind her and once she was clear, she dashed into the crowd. Moving quickly, she wended her way among the workmen and serving girls, losing herself in the throng of bodies.
Grinning to herself, Ciara darted into the stables. She knew the alarm on her flight was probably already raised and Magnus would be out looking for her. In fact, she was counting on it. The sables were thankfully empty, and she dashed along the row of pens until she found one that was vacant. Stepping inside, she closed the door behind her and huddled in the corner, pulling foul-smelling hay on top of her for cover.
Ciara sat there, beneath the hay, for many long moments. It was itchy and smelled terrible. She knew she would need a hot bath in whatever inn she managed to find on the road after getting away from the castle. Her body tensed taut as a bowstring as she listened to the footsteps that entered the stables. And when she heard Magnus’ voice, her heart leapt into her throat as her stomach flip-flopped inside of her.
“She cannae have gotten far,” Magnus said. “Take a few men and spread out through the village. Somebody will have seen her. Clap her in irons and bring her back and I swear tae God, she’ll be spendin’ the night in the dark cells.”
She quivered in fear at the anger in his voice. Despite all that had happened, despite the fact that he’d abducted her and dragged her to Dunvegan in the first place, she didn’t want Magnus angrywith her. Perhaps it was absurd, but it hurt her to think that he was cross with her. However, she could not stay in Dunvegan. She had to get away and put some real distance between herself and Fairfax. She couldn’t let her father find her and drag her home. She would rather die.
Ciara listened to the sound of his heavy footsteps retreating. She waited for a few moments longer, ensuring he was gone. Pushing the hay off her, Ciara slowly got to her feet. With Magnus and his men in the village, it was all going according to her half-baked plan. It was time to go. Ciara opened the door to the pen and stepped out, then stopped short, her heart falling into the pit of her stomach and a low groan escaping from her mouth.
“Clever lass,” he said.
Magnus leaned against the door to the pen beside the one she’d been sheltering in, an amused grin on his face. Twin threads of defeat and rage twisted around her heart and pulled tightly.
“How did ye ken?” she asked.
“I asked meself, if I were a clever lass like Ciara, how would I go about escapin’?” he replied. “And then I said, if I were a clever lass, I’d create a distraction and get everybody lookin’ one way, and while they were, I’d slip out the way they werenae lookin’.”
Ciara’s shoulders slumped and she frowned. “Ye have tae let me go. ‘Tis dangerous tae keep me here. Ye ken what a monster Fairfax is.”
“Aye. We dae. But we’re ready fer him.”
“Ye’ll never be ready fer him.”
Somebody called for Magnus from the other end of the stable and when he turned, Ciara broke for the door. She ran for all she was worth but just before she reached it, Magnus’ large arms encircled her waist from behind and he pulled her to him. She squealed and squirmed, fighting to break his grasp. All she managed to do was get herself turned around and without thinking, delivered a slap across his face. And the man had the nerve to laugh.
Perhaps seeing the anger in her eyes, his smile fell away. “Sorry.”
“Is this funny tae ye?”
“Aye. A little.”
She scowled in outrage, which only managed to draw another smile from him. Ordinarily, she enjoyed seeing him smile and hear his laughter. But not now. Not while it felt like she was being mocked and made a fool of.
He set her back down on her feet and took a step back. As she held his icy blue gaze, the air between them crackled with energy that lit Ciara up from the inside. Her insides tuned over on themselves and she was overcome with the wholly inappropriate and wildly absurd urge to kiss him again. It was confusing. Confounding. She couldn’t go on like this.
“If ye’re goin’ tae force me tae stay here, I need me own chambers,” she said.
“Ye demand yer own chambers after gettin’ caught tryin’ tae escape? Again?” he said with a chuckle. “Ye’re a cheeky one, lass.”
“I give ye me word I’ll nae try tae escape again.”
Magnus studied her for a long moment, his lips pursed, and his arms folded over his broad chest. In his eyes, she thought she saw the same confusion and longing she felt. Ciara knew she was in no position to bargain for anything, not after being caught trying to run yet again, but she thought perhaps being forced to share quarters with her was a situation as confusing and untenable to him as it was to her.
“Ye give me yer word then?” he finally asked.
“Ye have me word.”
“Ye’ll still be under guard,” he said softly. “I’m sorry but I cannae give ye free run of the place fer obvious reasons.”
Ciara nodded. “All right.”
Magnus nodded. “All right then. I’ll make it happen.”
