Page 8 of Trapped By the Wicked Highlander
“I just… I daenae like nae knowin’ where ye’ve gone, when I'm alone in a place I daenae ken.” Her shoulders slumped slightly, the walls she had built around herself beginning to show cracks. Hunter found himself oddly moved by the vulnerability she showed, even if she was still too proud to admit it fully.
Hunter took another step closer, his voice now gentler.
“Ye daenae have to like it, lass,” he said, his tone softening. “But ye’ll need to trust me when I say I’m doin’ what’s best for ye—and for everyone.” He placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze, his gaze locking with hers in a way that made his heart race. Despite everything, despite the walls she’d built around herself, he could see the flicker of trust beginning to burn, and it made him want to protect her more than ever.
Hunter watched as Cassandra’s cheeks flushed, her gaze dropping to the floor, clearly embarrassed by her words. It wasn’t often he saw her flustered.
She straightened herself up, clearing her throat before she quickly changed the subject. “I’m hungry, perhaps a quick bite before we return to the road,” she said, her voice steady again, but Hunter could hear the slight tremor beneath it.
He gave a small nod, sensing her desire to move past the awkwardness. “Aye, we should go downstairs, then,” he replied, his tone soft but steady. He grabbed his cloak from the back of a chair, moving toward the door while Cassandra quickly straightened the bed and gathered her things.
It was a small gesture, but it told him she was ready to move forward, putting aside the tension that had briefly built between them.
Once they were ready, they made their way downstairs to the inn’s tavern, the low murmur of voices and the smell of cooking food greeting them as they descended. The hearth fire was crackling, casting a warm glow over the room, while the smell of fresh bread, sizzling bacon, and eggs filled the air. Hunter couldn’t help but notice how her shoulders relaxed as they approached the long wooden table. The smell of the food seemed to ease her discomfort, and he was glad to see her in better spirits.
The innkeeper greeted them with a warm smile, directing them to a corner of the table where a hearty breakfast was already laid out. A steaming pot of porridge sat at the center, along with a basket of freshly baked bread and a small bowl of butter.
Crispy bacon, sausages, and fried eggs made the spread even more inviting, and Hunter could feel his stomach growling in response. He pulled out a chair for Cassandra, then took a seat across from her, his gaze briefly meeting hers before he reached for the bread.
“Aye, this looks like a proper breakfast,” Hunter commented, grabbing a slice of bread and slathering it with butter before taking a bite.
The warmth of the bread and the rich taste of the butter made him feel more at ease, and he could see Cassandra do the same, her movements slower, more deliberate now. She picked up a piece of bacon, her hands slightly trembling as she began to eat, and Hunter couldn’t help but notice the subtle way she tried to avoid meeting his eyes. Still, he could tell that the food was doing its job, and the tension that had lingered between them began to fade.
They ate in relative silence, the occasional clink of silverware the only sound between them. Hunter had just finished the last bite of his bacon when the peace of the inn was shattered. The sudden sound of shouting and the scraping of chairs against the wooden floor cut through the air like a knife.
His eyes flicked to a group of men had gotten to their feet, and before he could react, a brawl erupted. Tables were overturned, mugs of ale splashed across the floor, and one of the men, losing his footing, crashed right into Cassandra, knocking her out of her seat with a loud thud.
The man, groaning as he tried to push himself off her, looked down and blinked for a moment, dazed. His eyes quickly fixed on Cassandra, his gaze roving over her with a leer that made Hunter’s blood run cold.
“Ah, ye look fine enough, lass,” the man slurred, his tone thick with drunkenness as he reached out to touch her arm. Cassandra flinched, her face twisting in discomfort as she pulled away, but the man wasn’t deterred.
“Come on, now,” the man coaxed, his breath smelling of whiskey as he leaned closer, a smirk curling on his lips. “Daenae be shy, lass. Give me a kiss.” His words were accompanied by a crude chuckle, and Cassandra recoiled even further, clearly unsettled by his unwanted attention.
Hunter’s muscles tensed, his anger rising. With a growl that echoed across the inn, he rose from his seat and moved toward them, his boots heavy on the floor.
“Enough,” he snarled, his voice carrying an edge that silenced the room. “If ye continue touchin’ her, ye will lose yer arm.” The men froze, the loud chatter of the tavern fading into a tense stillness as all eyes turned to Hunter.
The man who had been bothering Cassandra quickly backed off, his face going pale as he muttered a hasty apology.
"Sorry, this lass belongs to ye?" the man said.
"Aye, she does," Hunter growled. “And if ye touch her, ye will lose the hand ye use.”
The innkeeper, a burly man with a nervous look, quickly moved to calm the remaining rowdy patrons. But Hunter’s attention was solely on Cassandra now.
He moved beside her, his gaze softening as he looked into her eyes, searching for any signs of distress.
“Are ye alright, lass?” he asked, his voice gentler than it had been moments before.
Cassandra nodded quickly, but her hands were trembling, and her eyes didn’t quite meet his.
“Aye… I’m fine,” she said, but her voice was shaky, and Hunter could see the lingering fear in her expression.
It took everything in him not to reach out and hold her close, but he knew now wasn’t the time. Instead, he placed a firm hand on her shoulder, his voice steady.
“We’re leavin’ now.”
Without waiting for any more words, Hunter grabbed her arm gently but firmly, leading her toward the door. The quiet of the inn seemed to press in around them as they left, the tension still thick in the air.
