"Nay."
The flat refusal hit her like a slap. "Why nae?"
"Because ye'll use it tae seek help. Tae plan another escape. Tae send word tae someone who might try tae retrieve ye." His green eyes bored into hers. "I'm nae that foolish, lass."
"Foolish? Ye think keepin' me from me own sister is wise?"
"I think it's necessary." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. " The sooner ye accept that ye’re stayin’ here, the easier this will be fer both of us."
"I'll never accept it!" She wrenched against his hold, but he was immovable. "Ye can force me through a ceremony, ye can lock me in that chamber, but ye'll never have me willin’ cooperation in any of this!"
"I dinnae need yer willin' cooperation. I just need ye here."
"Fer what? So ye can parade me around as yer trophy? Proof that ye outwitted me faither?"
"So I can keep ye safe from the men who would actually harm ye!" His voice rose to match hers. "Ross, the other man that bid fer ye, would have beaten ye, have ye nay idea of his reputation? At least here ye'll be protected!"
"Protected?" She laughed bitterly. "Is that what ye call this? Ye're nay better!"
"Arenae I?" He released one of her wrists to cup her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Have I struck ye? Starved ye? Threatened ye with violence?"
"Ye tied me up!"
"Tae keep ye from killin' yerself roaming around in the Highland winter at night!" His thumb brushed her jaw, "There's a difference between protection and abuse, lass. Learn to see it."
"The only difference is how ye justify it tae yerself." She jerked her chin from his grip. "Now let me go."
"Where will ye go?" He didn't move. "Back tae Foulis on foot? It's a three-day ride, and winter's comin'. Ye'd freeze before ye made it halfway." His voice hardened again. "Ye're stayin' here, Liliane. Accept it."
"Never."
They stared at each other in tense silence, both breathing hard, neither willing to yield. Then, with a sound of frustration, Liliane wrenched free from his remaining grip and shoved past him toward the stable doors.
"Where dae ye think ye're goin'?" he called after her.
"Back tae me prison!" she threw over her shoulder. "Since that's what ye've decided me life will be!"
"Liliane."
But she was already gone, storming across the courtyard with tears of frustration burning in her eyes. Behind her, she could hear his footsteps following, unhurried but relentless.
She burst through the keep's entrance and nearly collided with Daemon, Tòrr’s brother.
"Careful, lass," he said, steadying her with one hand.
"Sorry," she muttered, trying to move past him.
But Tòrr had caught up, his presence filling the corridor behind her. "Daemon."
The dark-haired man's eyes flicked between them, taking in Liliane's disheveled state and Tòrr's grim expression. "Braither."
"Walk with me."
It wasn't a request. Daemon fell into step beside Tòrr, and Liliane heard their low voices as she fled toward the stairs.
"Post guards outside her chamber," Tòrr said quietly. "Two men. Rotatin’ shifts through the night."
"She tried tae leave?"
