The tower room was cold.
Ada pressed herself against the stone wall, trying to make herself smaller, invisible. Her father's footsteps echoed on the stairs—heavy, purposeful, coming closer.
"Ada." His voice was pleasant. Too pleasant. "I ken ye're up here. There's nay point hidin'."
She didn't answer. Couldn't answer. Fear had stolen her voice.
The door opened. Her father filled the doorway—tall, imposing, his face cast in shadow. "There ye are. I've been lookin' fer ye."
"Please," Ada managed. "I dinnae want tae marry him. Please dinnae make me marry him."
"Ye'll dae as ye're told." Her father moved closer. "Ye're me daughter. Me property. And I'll use ye however I see fit."
"Nay."
His hand closed around her throat. "Ye'll marry who I say. Live where I say. Dae what I say. Because that's what daughters are fer, Ada. Tae be used."
She couldn't breathe. Couldn't scream. His grip tightened.
"Ada! Ada, wake up!"
Ada jerked awake with a gasp, her hands flying up to her throat. Strong arms caught her, held her steady.
"Ye're all right. Ye're safe. It was just a dream." Magnus's voice, low and urgent. "Breathe, Ada. Just breathe."
Ada gulped air, her heart hammering so hard it hurt. The tower was gone. Her father was gone. She was in Magnus's chamber—theirchamber—and Magnus was holding her, one hand cupping the back of her head, the other wrapped around her waist.
"I'm sorry," she managed. "I didnae mean tae scare ye."
"Dinnae apologize. Ye had a nightmare." Magnus's thumb stroked gently against her hair. "Are ye all right?"
"Aye. I—aye." But she was shaking. Couldn't seem to stop shaking.
Magnus pulled her closer, tucked her head under his chin. "Talk tae me. What did ye dream about?"
Ada closed her eyes. She should pull away. Should put distance between them. But his arms felt safe, solid, and she was so tired of being brave all the time.
"Me faither," she whispered. "The tower he locked me in. After I ran away."
Magnus's arms tightened fractionally. "Tell me."
So, she did.
The words came haltingly at first, then faster. She told him about running away after overhearing her father's plans to marry heroff. About surviving for months by hiding among healers and widows, always moving, always afraid. About the festival at Arisaig where his men had finally caught up to her.
"That's why I kissed ye," Ada said, her voice muffled against his chest. "Because I was desperate. Because ye looked strong enough tae protect me, and I had nay one else tae turn tae. I kent it was wrong. I kent ye'd have every right tae be angry. But I was so scared, and—" Her voice broke. "And it didnae even work. They found me three days later anyway."
"What did they dae tae ye?" Magnus's voice was carefully controlled.
"Dragged me back. Threw me at me faither's feet. He didnae even look at me. Just told his men tae lock me in the tower until he decided what tae dae with me. He had a healer check if I was still… untouched. And then left me there." Ada's hands clenched in Magnus's shirt. "I was in the tower fer three months. Nay visitors, nay sunlight. Just bread and water and the knowledge that I'd failed. That I'd always be his property, nay matter how hard I tried tae escape."
"And then the Pact."
"Aye. The king issued his decree, and me faither saw his opportunity. Nay one wanted tae give their daughters tae savage Norse lairds, nay offense."
"None taken."
"But me faither didnae care about me wellbeing. He saw a chance tae prove his loyalty tae the Crown and rid himself of a troublesome daughter in one move." Ada lifted her head to look at Magnus. "So he offered me up. And I thought—I thought I was bein' sent tae me death. That ye'd be cruel, or violent, or that ye really had murdered yer first wife and I'd be next."
