Draven throws open drawers and cabinets and even a full on walk in gun safe hidden by a massive painting. Although, it’s not only guns in the safe. There are axes, swords, and all sorts of weapons. He’s tucking things in the pockets of his snug fitting tactical pants. Then he slides on two holsters. He puts a gun into one and slides his axes into the other.
He lets his gaze flit across me where I sit. “Shoes,” he says, and I tighten the laces, tying my shoes as commanded.
His demeanor scares me. “Draven, is it him?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
DRAVEN
“I dinnae ken,but dinnae fash yerself. There’s a spot in the castle I can tuck ye away iffn it is. Ye’ll be safe.”
He disnae understand how fucking petrified I am. I’m close to losing it. He keeps saying he trusts me to protect him. Well, Simon trusted me, too, and look where that left him. Taking a dirt nap, six feet under.
He walks up next to me, tucking his hand into the crook o’ my arm before letting it trail down my arm to my hand. Grasping it, he looks up at me from just above my elbow. His beautiful face with those full lips and deep, dark, expressive eyes have me wrapped around his little finger. I could stare at him for months and never grow tired. All I want is to drag him back to bed and stay there, locking us away from all the crazy and danger.
Shaking off the trance he has me under, I pull him into the closet, flicking the switch to open the door to secret passage within the walls o’ the keep. The ornate mirror mounted to the wall creaks open, and I pull it open further.
“Holy fuck!” he exclaims.
“The family used it for many things over the years, but nae for this purpose for a very long time. We Sinclair’s, my mother’sfamily, hid people and also valuables here from the Vikings, the English, and the Jacobites.”
He laughs mirthlessly as he peers inside. “So, pretty much everyone.”
“We protect our own. Now, get inside. Please.”
“Where’s it go? How do I get out?”
“There’s a latch inside, just there,” I say, pointing to the switch on the wall. “If ye follow the passage, ye’ll come to a large circular room. Go to the left, it will lead ye down to the coast. Iffn ye go straight, ye’ll end up in the stables and the right takes ye downstairs to the atrium. Those are the exits, but there are other rooms and bedchambers that dump into the circular room, too. Iffn ye have to get out, stay on the left passage, and ye’ll be fine.”
“How do I get out of the passage if I need to?”
“All the latches are the same.”
I stare at him incredulously. “A latch? You’re shitting me? Your castle has multiple hidden passageways with several secret entrances, and they’re only protected by a latch? No locks or keys or I don’t know, keypads with a secret code or a retina scanner?”
“It’s never been a problem, pojke.”
He rolls his eyes at me, shaking his head. “It never is until there is. There’s always a first time.”
“Och, aye. Now in ye go.”
“We’ll be discussing security issues when this is all said and done, Draven. I’m surprised you’ve not had your fool neck slit yet,” he scoffs, admonishing me.
The lad is right, but I willnae be telling him that. The bell at the door buzzes through the house again.
“Lilla du, please, get in the damn passage.”
Stretching up on his toes and pulling me toward him, he says, “Hurry back to me.”
“I will. Get in there and stay quiet. I’ll come back for ye?”
“When?”
“As soon as I can, but we arenae expecting anyone and with the cover o’ night and the hat the person’s wearing, I cannae tell if it is him.”
He nods and steps into the passageway, pulling the door closed. Making sure it latches completely to hide the hinges, I take off through the house, racing toward the stairs. On the second floor, I turn away from the grand stairs, choosing to take the back stairs instead. I want a look at whoever is standing at my door.
Stepping off the bottom step in the back hall, I sneak through the downstairs, turning towards the atrium. I should be able get a better look at the nyaff standing on my stoop.
