Page 65 of Kilted Abduction
“Aye. ‘Tis the best way tae see what I wanted ye tae see.”
“And what’s that? Meself fallin’ and dyin’ on the rocks down there?”
She laughed and shook her head. “Nay. I wanted ye tae see that.”
She pointed toward the sea and Magnus turned to see the sun beginning to crest the distant horizon. The sky was immediately set aflame in hues of pink, orange, and red and the sun glittered off the surface of the ocean like liquid gold. He drew in a breath and watched as the fiery orb made its way skyward. He was so rapt by the beauty of the sunrise before him, Magnus stopped feeling the chill in the air.
“’Tis… stunnin’,” he said reverently.
“Aye. ‘Tis,” Ciara replied. “Dae ye see what ye miss when ye dae nothin’ but keep yer head down and follow orders all day, every day?”
“’Tis me duty.”
“I ken it is. But sometimes, ye need tae look around. Sometimes ye need tae see the beauty in the world around ye if fer nae other reason than tae remind yerself what it is yer doin’ yer duty and what yer fightin’ fer.”
Magnus gaped at her for a long moment in silence. It was such a simple statement and yet it was profound. It was a way he hadn’t considered seeing things before. He had always been so wrapped up in doing his duty that he hadn’t ever, like Ciara had just said, stopped to see what he was doing it all for. He shook his head and tried to find the words he wanted to express but found none. She gave him a gentle smile and squeezed his hand.
“Look,” she said.
Magnus turned and watched the riot of colors painting the sky above them. He fought to keep it from his face, but it was an emotional moment for him. His heart raced and his belly churned as he took in the most beautiful sunrise he’d ever seen. He had lived through plenty of sunrises, of course. But this was the first one he’d ever really seen. The first one he’d ever stopped to appreciate. And that was thanks to Ciara.
He snuck a glance at her again. She had a wild, untamed spirit about her that he found magnetic. Compelling. She was the opposite of him in every way, but he felt drawn to her and the chaotic energy she emanated. He loved that she could see the beauty in the most mundane things and seemed genuinely excited about things he found trivial. He saw the world abouthim differently through her eyes. It was both intimidating and exhilarating at the same time.
She made him feel things he didn’t recognize. Things he didn’t understand. But he liked the way she made him feel. Liked the way she made him see the world around him. It looked different than he’d ever seen it before. Simpler, perhaps. But more vivid. More vibrant. And infinitely more beautiful. Like her. Ciara captivated him in ways he couldn’t express. He didn’t have the words to explain just what he was feeling. But when she turned and their eyes met again, he saw understanding in her face and in how she gently squeezed his hand.
“What dae ye think?” she asked.
“’Tis the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he replied.
Her cheeks flushed, but this time it wasn’t from the chill in the air. Their eyes lingered on each other for a moment before Magnus turned and gazed at the sun climbing into the sky. The world around them grew lighter as the day chased away the night. His heart soared and he couldn’t keep the smile from his lips as he enjoyed the beauty of a sunrise for the first time.
Being out on that ledge was foolish, there was no question, but it was also exhilarating. And he must have been infected by Ciara’s untamed spirit because for the first time in his life, Magnus felt truly free.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“Icannae believe ye’ve been up there on yer own,” he said.
Ciara smiled.
The clouds had moved in swifter than they’d anticipated, swallowing up the sun as it continued its trek through the sky. They had barely gotten off the ledge and onto stable ground when the first drops of rain and started to fall. It was fortunate because the stones on the ledge would have become slick and difficult to navigate safely had they stayed any longer.
“‘Tis dangerous. A hard gust of wind or a slippery stone could be fatal,” he said. “Ye’d really give up yer life just tae see somethin’ beautiful?”
She turned to him. “Aye. the beauty in the world makes life worth livin’. Without enjoyin’ the life we have, it isnae worthlivin’. We’re in this world for such a short time, we might as well be dead already if we dinnae.”
Magnus studied her like she was mad. But she could tell that he was listening to her. Absorbing her words. And on some level, she thought maybe she was getting through to him. On the ledge, she’d seen a different Magnus than the one she’d know until then. For the first time since they’d met, he’d seemed free. Unburdened. He’s had an open, genuine smile on his face. And Ciara realized she wanted to see more of that from him.
“Have ye ever stopped tae enjoy the beauty around ye, Magnus? Have ye ever just let go and had some fun just fer the sake of havin’ fun?”
He pursed his lips. “When I was a bairn, aye. But I cannae say I have recently, especially since me parents died. I have me duty tae be done.”
“I understand ye have yer duty and orders tae follow, but again, without fun and the beauty in the world, what in the hell are ye fightin’ fer?”
Magnus fell silent as they walked through the open field. The rain wasn’t falling hard, but it was steady, and Ciara shivered. It was getting cold quickly and she knew the rain would likely turn to snow soon. They should probably get back to the warmth of Dunvegan castle. Before they did though, she wanted to see Magnus smile. Wanted to hear him laugh. Just once more before they slipped behind the walls of the castle again.
Ciara looked down at the small, muddy puddles already forming in the grass field. She cast a sly look at Magnus and grinned.
“And what’s so funny?” he asked.
