Page 53 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
Skye's eyes grew wide. "I forgot," she said.
The cows had been born a few days ago, and Lana and Skye had taken frequent trips to visit them. The animals were the perfect distraction, and Skye forgot all about her grumpy father.
Lana took Skye's hand and led her out of the room, but she looked over her shoulder at Daniel with darkness in her gaze.
"Daenae get too attached," Daniel called after them, disliking how she seemed to judge him. "If ye bond with one, ye might stop drinking milk."
Lana rolled her eyes at him, but then she stopped. She turned back, still holding Skye's hand.
"Speaking of bonding," she said, holding his gaze. "Perhaps ye should come. Ye could learn what it means to love something."
Lana turned away and began swinging Skye's hand, focusing her full attention on the little girl. Daniel watched them leave, feeling the sun beat down on the side of his face as he watched the infuriating woman disappear.
22
Cameron entered the room as Lana and Skye skipped out of it. He gave Skye a pat on the head as she rushed past him.
"Look at this place," he said, looking around the extremely bright room. "I've never seen the castle look like this."
Daniel grunted. "Lana did it."
"Ye daenae say." Cameron laughed. "And here I was thinking ye were desperate to greet the morning sun. Me mistake, Brother."
Daniel felt his muscles twitch with annoyance. He wanted to hit something, and he knew if he wasn't careful, he would lash out at Cameron simply because of proximity. Well, not only proximity. His brother had a smart mouth that sometimes deserved a good smack.
"I need ye to call the council," Daniel instructed. "It's time to talk about MacDougal and his appearance last night."
"Now?" Cameron asked. "It's the day after yer wedding. Surely ye want a bit of time to celebrate."
"Nay," Daniel said. "I want to get on with me life. Lana is caring for Skye, which is the only reason I wanted marriage in the first place. Mission completed."
Daniel crossed the room, heading for his study and the darkness he would find there. That room only had one window, and he always kept the curtains drawn.
"Is that all ye care about?" Cameron asked, rushing after his brother. "Surely ye feel differently now that ye have gotten to ken Lana. Now that ye are wed."
"Nay," Daniel uttered. "I am the same."
"Ye are nae!" Cameron cried out.
Daniel was growing more and more frustrated with his brother. His fists clenched harder at his sides.
"I ken ye better than anyone. Ye are different!"
"Leave me be, Cameron."
Daniel strode into the hallway and felt relief as the bright light in the great hall receded. The hallway was cold and dark, exactly how he liked it, though a chill ran up his spine as he left the warmth behind.
"Tell me what ye feel," Cameron urged, at Daniel's elbow. "How does it feel to be married? To have all this new sunshine in yer life? Ye must see that it's good for ye."
Daniel stopped and threw his arm against his brother's chest, knocking him against the wall. He held him tight, his eye flashing with annoyance.
"I feel that I'll get burned if I'm nae careful."
He shoved his brother's chest one final time, pressing his back against the cold stone wall. And then he pulled away and stormed down the hallway.
"Has he always been like this?" Lana asked, feeling her shoulders slump as she leaned against the kitchen table.
Genevieve and Mary were kneading dough across from her, the tangy smell of yeast overpowering in the room. The kitchen door was open, and the sound of children's laughter floated to them as Skye and Clara, Genevieve's daughter, played in the courtyard.
