Conall recognized that look. He'd seen it before, when men were starting to question their orders. Starting to develop inconvenient attachments.
"Ye care about her," Conall said quietly. "Dinnae ye?"
Donnan's jaw tightened. "She's yer daughter, me laird. Of course, I care about her wellbein'."
"That's nae what I mean." Conall circled him slowly, like a wolf stalking prey. "Ye've always watched her a bit too closely. Always found excuses tae be near her. Even when she ran away, ye volunteered tae find her. Nae because of duty, but because ye wanted tae be the one tae find her."
"I… that's nae true me laird."
"Dinnae lie tae me, Donnan. I've kent about yer... interest in Ada fer years." Conall stopped directly in front of him. "Ye want her. Have wanted her since she was barely grown. Havenae ye?"
Donnan's silence was answer enough.
"There's nay shame in it," Conall said, his voice almost gentle now. "She's a beautiful lass. Smart. Kind. Any man would want her. But she was promised to others—and ye've had tae stand by and watch, unable tae claim what ye want."
"What's yer point?" Donnan's voice was hoarse.
"Me point is that I can give her tae ye." Conall let the words sink in. "When this is over, when Haraldson is destroyed and Ada comes home, she'll need a new husband. Someone loyal. Someone who understands what she's been through. Someone who's proven himself worthy."
Donnan's eyes widened. "Ye'd let me marry her?"
"If ye dae exactly as I say. If ye help me bring down Haraldson and the Pact. If ye prove yer loyalty beyond any doubt." Conall smiled. "Then aye, Ada will be yers. I'll arrange it meself. And ye'll have everythin' ye've ever wanted."
He watched Donnan's face carefully. Saw the hunger there. The desperate want of a man who'd loved someone from afar for years with no hope of ever having them.
Perfect.
Men driven by desire were easy to manipulate. Easy to control. All ye had to do was dangle what they wanted just out of reach, and they'd do anything to grasp it.
"I'll dae it," Donnan said finally. "Whatever ye need. I'll dae it."
"Good man." Conall clapped him on the shoulder. "Now, tell me more about the keep's defenses. Where are the weak points? Which guards are laziest? Who can be bribed or threatened?"
They talked long into the night. Donnan providing details, Conall filing them away for later use. By the time Donnan left to ride back to Dun Barra, careful to arrive before dawn so nae one would notice his absence, Conall had a clear picture of exactly how to proceed.
The poisoned well had been a test. The fire, another. Both had shown him that Magnus Haraldson was strong, capable, beloved by his people.
But every man had weaknesses. And Magnus's weakness was becoming clearer by the day.
It seemed that he cared about Ada. Genuinely cared. Maybe even loved her, though it was too soon to tell for certain.
And caring made a man vulnerable, reckless. Made him do foolish things to protect what he loved.
Conall would use that. Would push and push and push until Magnus made a mistake. Until he failed to protect Ada in some critical way. Until the marriage crumbled under the weight of suspicion and fear.
And when it did, Conall would be there. The loving father. The devoted protector. The loyal subject who'd saved his daughter from a savage Norse husband.
The king would have no choice but to reward him. To give him everything he'd ever wanted—land, title, power beyond what any MacTavish had ever held.
And if Ada had to suffer a bit in the process? If she had to be scared, or hurt, or used as a pawn?
Well. That was what daughters were for.
And if it didn’t work? If Haraldson kept her safe despite everythin'?
Conall stared into the fire, watching the flames dance. Then he would escalate. Push harder. Get more creative. He smiled, cold and sharp. One way or another, Magnus Haraldson would fail. And when he did, everything he'd built would come crashing down around him.
And Ada would learn a valuable lesson about loyalty. Conall's smile widened. That the only person she could truly trust was her father. Who'd been workin' to save her all along.
