“Stay behind me,” Aiden ordered, his voice dropping to a deadly calm.
He moved quickly, placing himself between Katie and the approaching danger. The bandits, seeing him draw his sword, hesitated but continued their advance, clearly underestimating him.
“Walk away,” Aiden warned, his voice cold and commanding. “Or this will be the last mistake ye ever make.”
The leader of the bandits sneered, lifting his blade in a taunting gesture. “Yer gold or yer lives,” he growled, believing they had the upper hand in the situation.
Aiden’s response was swift and brutal. With a speed that took the bandits by surprise, he lunged forward, his sword slicingthrough the air. The first man didn’t even have time to react before Aiden’s blade cut him down, the force of the strike sending him crumpling to the ground.
The others charged, but they were no match for Aiden’s skill and ferocity. He moved with lethal precision, his sword glinting in the sunlight as he dispatched one after another. Blood splattered across the grass, and the air was filled with the sounds of clashing steel and the dying cries of men who had foolishly chosen to cross him.
Katie watched in horror, her heart pounding as she took in the scene. She had never seen such violence up close, and the ease with which Aiden dealt with the bandits left her both terrified and awed.
As the last bandit fell, Aiden grabbed the man by the collar, lifting him off the ground. “Who ordered this?” he demanded, his voice a low, dangerous growl.
The bandit, bleeding and gasping for breath, stared at him with wide, fearful eyes. “Nay… nay one… just saw an opportunity…” he wheezed.
Aiden’s gaze hardened, and with a final disgusted look, he let the man fall to the ground, unconscious. He wiped his sword clean and turned back to Katie, who was standing frozen in shock.
“’Tis over,” he said, his voice softer now, though the edge of danger still lingered in his tone. “Ye’re safe.”
Katie looked at him, her eyes wide and her breathing shaky. “How can you be so calm after… that?”
“Because, lass,” he said quietly, “there’s always another fight. Ye just have to be ready for it.”
“That’s a sad way to live,” she remarked, the words slipping sorrowfully past her soft pink lips.
“Aye,” he agreed, a grimace spreading across his face. “Are ye afraid of me now, lass?”
“No,” she responded, her eyes never leaving his.
The bravery that his little mouse showed was inspiring but also dangerously tempting.
“Ye should be,” he whispered, the low rumble in his chest making her blush instantly.
It brought him more joy and excitement than he wanted to admit, but that look of determination in her eyes as she stared him down only spurred the raging beast inside.
CHAPTER 4
His chest was still heaving slightlywith exertion, although his expression remained stoic. He glanced over at Katie, who was still wide-eyed, struggling to process what had just happened. Blood stained the grass, and the silence that followed the violence felt suffocatingly heavy.
Katie took a hesitant step forward, her gaze darting from the fallen bandits to Aiden. “Thank you,” she managed, though her voice wavered. Her mind was racing, trying to find the words to make sense of the situation. “Why… why did you think the attack wasn’t random?”
Aiden sheathed his sword, his eyes narrowing as he considered her question. “A man like me has many enemies, lass. The kind that willnae hesitate to strike when they see an opportunity.” He looked at her, his expression unreadable. “Scared?”
Katie nodded, unable to hide the trembling in her hands. “I suppose… I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
He stepped closer, his tone shifting to something almost teasing. “Mayhap that’s why I need a fake betrothed,” he said.
But his attempt at lightening the mood fell flat, as Katie blinked in surprise and then quickly shook her head.
“I’m not afraid of you!” she exclaimed, her voice sharp.
As the thrill from the fight began to wear off, she suddenly felt lightheaded. Her vision blurred, and she swayed on her feet.
Before she could collapse, Aiden caught her in his strong arms. He held her close, his grip firm yet oddly gentle. “Easy, lass,” he whispered, his voice a soothing rumble. “Ye shouldnae worry. Whoever threatens me betrothed, real or nae, dies.”
Katie looked up at him, her heart pounding for reasons that had little to do with the danger they had just faced. His face was close, too close, and she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin. The intensity in his eyes made her shiver, but not from fear.
