Maia's headsnapped toward him. "Wild boars? Are there really wild boars?"
"A few."Ewan's lips twitched, almost like he was fighting a smile. "But they tend to keep to themselves if ye daenae bother them."
"I'd like to see one,"Maia said without thinking. "From a safe distance, of course. But I've only ever read about them, and I?—"
She stopped abruptly,her cheeks flushing. There she went again, chattering about everything that popped into her head. Ewan probably thought she was a fool.
He already kensye're a fool. Ye kissed him back. Ye kissed yer kidnapper back like ye were starvin' for it.
"Is there a lake?"The question burst out before she could stop it. "I ken ye said there was one near the inn, but is there one here? Near the castle? Because I've always wanted to actually swim in a lake, nae just look at it from a distance."
"Aye, there's a lake."
Maia's heart leaped."Really? How far? Can I go? Would I be allowed to swim?"
"The weather'snae right for it just now." Ewan's voice was firm, but not unkind. "Too cold still. Ye'd freeze before ye made it ten feet from shore."
"Oh."Disappointment settled heavily in her chest. "Right. Of course."
"In a few weeks,maybe. When the water's warmed up a bit."
Maia looked at him sharply."Ye'd let me swim? In a lake? Without bars or—or guards standin' over me?"
Ewan's expression shifted,something dark flickering across his face. "We'll see."
It wasn't a yes.But it wasn't a no, either.
In a few weeks.
That meanthe was planning on keeping her here for at least that long. Planning on her still being his prisoner when the weather warmed and the lake became swimmable.
She should feel trappedby that knowledge. Should feel the walls closing in.
Instead,she felt an inexplicable flutter of something that might have been hope.
"Come on,"Ewan said, urging the horse forward. "Let's get ye settled."
They rodethrough the gates into a bustling courtyard. People were everywhere—servants carrying baskets, men-at-arms practicing with wooden swords, children playing some sort of game near the stables. Everyone seemed busy, purposeful,happyin a way the people at Castle MacMahon never had been.
Maia stared around her,drinking it all in. This was what a castle was supposed to feel like. Alive. Thriving. Not the cold, oppressive silence her uncle had created.
Ewan dismountedand reached up for her. His hands settled on her waist—just like they had in the village, just like they had a dozen times during their journey—but this time Maia's breath caught at the contact.
She couldn't stop thinkingabout those hands tangled in her hair. Couldn't stop remembering how they'd felt against her jaw, her waist, pulling her closer.
"Careful,"Ewan murmured as he lifted her down. "Ye've been in the saddle a long time. Yer legs might be unsteady."
He was right.The moment her feet touched the ground, her knees wobbled. Ewan's hands tightened on her waist, holding her upright, and suddenly they were standing far too close.
Close enough thatMaia could see the darker flecks in his brown eyes. Close enough that she could smell leather and pine and that uniquely masculine scent that was justhim. Close enough that if she leaned forward just slightly?—
"Thank ye,"she said quickly, stepping back and nearly tripping over her own feet in the process.
Ewan caught her elbow,steadying her. "Ye alright, lass?"
"Aye.Fine. Just, just tired from the ride."
She was babbling.She needed to stop babbling.
