Niall gripped his arm. Hard. “Look at me.”
Obligingly, he faced Niall, but Lachlann deeply resented the man bothering him right now, and he didn’t bother to hide his irritation. “Why?”
“Ye’ve not let the lass out of yer sight.”
“Not true,” Lachlann said, but when he turned to search her out again, Niall moved to block his view so they were again eye to eye.
“Aldred is taken to task every time he behaves like a lovesick little puppy, andyeare the one most strongly admonishing him.” Niall’s face was tight.
“Aldred is out for a quick tumble with no care for the lass, andthatis what I object to.”
Niall shook his head. “Ye’re enamored with her.”
Lachlann opened his mouth to defend himself, but no words came to him. His shoulders dropped, and he slammed his lips together, snorting like a bull. His face heated. Either from embarrassment because it was true, or irritation at the suggestion. He wasn’t certain which.
“She’s beautiful.” Niall’s matter-of-fact tone, though still quiet, had lost its edge. “I can see why ye’d be attracted to her.”
“Ye’re seeing something that’s not there.” Lachlann sounded far too defensive so he took another breath and started again. “She’s spirited despite the way she’s treated. She’s stronger than she realizes.”
“She’s a virgin.”
The word hung in the air between them, but Lachlann refused to address it. It mattered little since she would be another man’s wife. Although he doubted it would be Uradech. That man had no abilities at all that Lachlann had seen. But then again, it didn’t matter what he thought since no one sought his council.
“I’ve no interest in the lass. Ye are wrong.” Lachlann hadn’t meant to sound quite so emphatic. “Where is Aldred?”
When his search of the cave stopped on Ethne smiling at Finn, who growled like some fierce animal beside her, Lachlann couldn’t help but smile despite the gnawing worry about Niall being correct.
“Lachlann, I—” Niall said.
And Lachlann didn’t care.
“Is that a bear, I hear?” he asked, feigning fear and totally dismissing Niall.
“It is!” Ethne beamed up at him as he approached.
Lachlann settled beside the boy. “I canna tell what type of bear ye are.”
“I’ve never seen a bear.” Finn’s face scrunched up in his confusion. “What types are there?”
“Well…” Lachlan lowered his voice. He glanced around before leaning in closer. Ethne’s scent drifted to him, and he stilled. She was lovely, her eyes bright with excitement, delicate lips slightly parted, her breath gentle on his cheek.
Niall was wrong.
Lachlann turned his gaze to Finn. “I have heard of bears as white as the snow.”
“No!” Finn’s exclamation came on a sigh of disbelief.
“Tell us,” Ethne prompted.
Lachlann’s gulp was painful. “They’re to the north. Far, far north.”
“By the lights,” Finn said. “Have ye ever been there? Have ye ever seen the lights?”
“Oh, no. Not me.” Lachlann shook his head as if afeared to even consider the trek. “I am not a wild man.”
He moved in close and tickled the boy. Finn laughed and rolled onto his back.
Ethne laughed at their antics. “Ye are verra entertaining, Lachlann.”
