He listened as she stomped out of the stable. Only when she left his sight did he walk to the doorway to watch her enter the courtyard.
The rest of the day he avoided her—he had to—but he had Eric keep watch on her from afar so that he could know her whereabouts without being near her. He did not trust himself not to kiss her again.
The next day, the wind howled along the cliffs, whipping the rain onto the castle walls. Caiden sat in his study, the fire flickering weakly as rain lashed the windows. He was reviewing the castle accounts when the door burst open, and Eric stumbled in, soaked through to the bone.
"The boats, Laird," Eric panted, dripping water onto the floor. "They've all been brought up on shore. The storm looks something fierce the likes of which we've nae seen in moons."
Caiden nodded sharply, his stern expression softening for a moment. "Aye, ye did well, lad. Ye've kept the clan's fishin' vessels safe, as I asked," he said, pride threading his voice.
But Eric lingered, shaking his head, water running down his face. "There's somethin' else, Laird… I lost sight of the lass. Last I saw her, she was on the beach. I daenae ken if she's returned."
Caiden's chest tightened, his heart dropping hard to his stomach. The firelight blurred in his vision as he imagined her struggling against the wind and the waves.
"Damnation," he muttered, clenching his fists. The storm outside felt suddenly more vicious, more dangerous, and he knew he could not let her be caught in it.
Without a second thought, he abandoned the study, his boots splashing through the wet stones of the courtyard.
"Check the eastern shore. I'll check the west!" he shouted.
"Aye," Eric said.
Caiden burst out onto the castle grounds and down to the beach. The wind tore at his tunic and hair as he ran, the castle walls looming behind him like stone sentinels. Every step pounded in his chest, the thought of losing her driving him faster. He reminded himself with a grim clarity, this storm would not claim her if he could help it, and he would reach her before it did.
Waves battered the rocks, froth spitting high as he saw Maisie, soaked through, gripping the net alongside Aimen.
Her skirts clung to her legs, and the storm tossed her hair like a dark banner in the wind. Fury flared in him, sharp and dangerous, and yet beneath it ran a bitter thread of fear for her safety.
"Maisie!" he roared, his voice nearly lost in the gale.
She turned, water dripping from her hair and eyelashes, her face bright with stubborn defiance.
"I'm helpin'! Aimen needs me! Ye dinnae ken what it's like to-"
"Daenae speak!" Caiden cut her off, his hand latching onto her arm with iron grip. Without waiting for protest, he hoisted her into his arms, ignoring the squirm of her body as she gasped.
"I can walk, ye brute! Put me down this instant!" she sputtered, her cheeks flushed with cold and indignation.
"I'm nae lettin' ye drown like a fool," he growled, the wind tugging at his coat as he turned toward the castle. "Ye have nay business here in this storm. Yer safety is me concern whether ye like it or nae. Aimen, damn the nets and get yerself inside."
Aimen nodded and ran toward his own fishing hut.
Maisie kicked lightly, trying to wriggle free, but he only tightened his hold. "Ye have nay right to keep me like this! I'm nae yer prisoner when I'm helpin'!"
Caiden's jaw clenched, and for a moment he considered letting her protest, but the lightning that struck nearby, casting silver across the waves, reminded him of the danger.
"Ye are mine to protect while ye're here," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I daenae care if ye think me a brute, Maisie. Ye willnae get caught in the storm's teeth and perish."
She pressed her face into his chest, shivering, and muttered, "I daenae need yer protection. I can fend for myself."
His fingers flexed against her arm, steadying her as the rain soaked them both. "Aye, ye can fend for yerself in calm weather. Nae in a gale like this. I will nae let ye risk yer life like some reckless lass."
Her voice twitched in a mix of anger and helplessness, and he caught the glint of fear hiding beneath her pride. "Ye daenae understand, do ye?" she said, voice muffled. "I am nae scared."
"Enough talk," he said, his tone sharp as thunder. "I'm carryin' ye to the castle, and ye will stay inside where it's safe."
Lightning lit the sky again, and the roar of the waves underscored every step as Caiden trudged through the mud, holding her close. She was damp, trembling, and defiant, and yetin that closeness, he felt the dangerous pull of desire tighten like a cord around his chest. He ignored it, though barely, his mind focusing on getting her to shelter before the storm could take another life.
By the time they reached the castle walls, Maisie's protests had quieted into mutters, and Caiden's grip never wavered.
