Page 52 of Princess of Pride
“Yes.” I try to wiggle from his hold, my anger giving me strength I didn’t have before.
He allows me to turn so my shoulder rests against his chest, keeping me close with his grip on my arm while I stare up at him. “Centuries ago, a feud began on the Scottish side of my family that endures to this day. An earl from the 1600s had two castles—one in the highlands and one in the south. He left the northern one, his land, name, and even his noble title to his mistress and her son from another man, whom the earl had raised as his own. That decision fractured the MacReid bloodline. My cousin Angus, a direct descendent of the earl and full-blooded MacReid, believes the estate is his birthright. Legally, he has no claim, not unless I relinquish it. I’ve been working on a solution to appease him for some time. The airport was a message—he’s tired of waiting.”
I take a moment to let this brief history lesson sink in, as so many different things fight to get to the forefront of my mind. My conversation with my mom in the bathroom. Vomiting. Being stabbed in the neck—with what I now know was a needle. I was drugged. Prickles of ice coat my skin, and I shiver.
“He wanted me kidnapped as leverage?” I whisper with fear. What is wrong with families and old legacies? Even my dad adheres to archaic traditions, like marrying off his daughters, although that seems minor in comparison.
“Yes,” Lachlan answers.
“But you stopped it.”
“Yes.”
“What would they have done to me if you hadn’t?”
Lachlan pulls me tighter against his chest. “They shouldn’t have gotten close to you at all. It won’t happen again.” His tone is like a vow.
“What if they do? What will happen?” As ridiculous as it sounds, my brain conjures an image of me being tortured in a dungeon. I can handle a lot on an emotional level. I can’t say the same about pain.
“They won’t,” he says with finality.
Laughter twists up my throat. “I’m surprised you didn’t let them keep me. We’re already married. Having me removed from your life would have made things easier for you.”
“But much less fun.” His gaze falls to my lips, the ghost of a smirk at the corner of his mouth.
He’s turned on again? “I don’t understand you.”
“You don’t have to understand me. But I am a man of my word. I will keep you safe.”
It would make my life easier if I could believe him, but I’m not there yet. Still, I nod and force down my fear. “My father doesn’t know about this, I take it?”
He drags his gaze up to my eyes. “It won’t affect my business with him.”
“If I go missing, it will affect him.” Probably not—the man gave me freely to Lachlan. Still, it feels good to say.
“You won’t. My castle is secure. No one gets in or out without my knowledge.”
Meaning, I can’t leave without his permission. “So I’m to be your prisoner.”
“The feud will be over soon enough. Until then, consider my castle and all the land around it your playground.”
“Like I said, a prisoner.” I cross my arms, my elbow pressing into his muscular abs. “What if I want my mother to join me?”
“And risk putting her in danger too?”
I didn’t think about it like that. Dammit. There goes that plan. Stifling a groan, I spin on my heel to walk away, not wanting to be near the man who nearly got me kidnapped and plans to trap me in his castle.
Lachlan’s hand stays on my arm. Good thing. Dizziness swarms my head, and I teeter, almost falling down.
He scoops me up into his arms, bride-across-the-threshold style.
“I can walk,” I argue, although that is debatable.
“You could also stumble down those metal stairs and land on the asphalt, scraping up this beautiful face and skin. “It’s my job to keep you safe.”
“And what an excellent job you’ve done so far.” I hold his gaze.
His jaw ticks again.
