"I kenthis isnae what any of us wanted," he said, his voice carrying to every corner of the room. "But we cannae back down now. Lady Sophie is under our protection, and we will nae abandon her to a cruel fate."
He meteach council member's eyes in turn, gauging their reactions. Some looked worried, others determined. But none, he was relieved to see, showed any sign of wavering in their loyalty.
"We need to prepare,"Kenneth continued. "Strengthen our defenses, gather supplies, call in favors from our allies. I want every man who can hold a sword to begin trainin' immediately."
The council burst into activity,each member offering suggestions and taking on tasks. Kenneth listened, offering guidance where needed, his mind working furiously to anticipate every possible scenario.
As the meeting wore on,Kenneth found his thoughts continually drifting to Sophie. He worried about how she was coping, whether the gravity of the situation had fully sunk in.
For a moment,doubt crept in. Had he made the right decision? Should he have found another way to help Sophie, one that didn't put his entire clan at risk?
But then heremembered the fear in Sophie's eyes when she spoke of her brother, the way she had blossomed in the short time she had been under his protection. No, he had made the right choice. Sophie deserved a life free from fear and abuse, and he would ensure she had it.
As the councilmeeting drew to a close, Kenneth felt a new sense of purpose settle over him. Yes, they faced a formidable enemy. Yes, the road ahead would be difficult. But they would face it together, as a clan united in purpose.
"Me laird,"Lachlan's voice cut through his thoughts. "The riders have been sent, and the guard doubled as ye ordered."
Kenneth nodded his approval."Good. And what of our defenses?"
"We're shorin'them up as we speak," Lachlan reported. "Every approach to the castle is being fortified. If Mason Allen wants a war, he'll find us ready and waitin'."
"Excellent work,"Kenneth said, clapping Lachlan on the shoulder. "Keep me informed of any developments."
As Lachlan leftto oversee the preparations, Kenneth thought of Sophie, of the way her eyes had widened when he'd declared her his. There had been fear there, yes, but also something else. Something that made his heart race in a way he wasn't entirely comfortable with.
Kenneth shook his head,trying to clear it of such distracting thoughts. He couldn't afford to be distracted, not now. He had a clan to protect, a war to prepare for.
And yet,as he turned away from the window, ready to throw himself back into the preparations, Kenneth couldn't quite shake the image of Sophie's face from his mind. Nor could he ignore the fierce protectiveness that surged through him at the thought of her.
"She's mine now,"he had told Mason. The words had come unbidden, driven by an instinct he didn't fully understand. But as he reflected on them now, Kenneth realized they were true in more ways than he had initially meant.
Sophie was his to protect,yes. But she was also becoming something more. Something he wasn't ready to name, but something he couldn't ignore.
With a sigh,Kenneth pushed these troubling thoughts aside. There would be time to sort out his feelings later. For now, he had a war to prepare for, and a vow to keep.
CHAPTER FOUR
Kenneth stood in the shadows of the great hall, his eyes fixed on the entrance. The heavy oak doors creaked open, and in strutted Eli, the first of the potential suitors for Sophie. The laird's jaw clenched, a muscle ticking beneath his skin as he fought the urge to intervene immediately. He had promised Colette he would find Sophie a suitable match, and he intended to keep his word.
But as Eli'sgaze roved over Sophie's form with undisguised interest, Kenneth felt a surge of possessiveness that took him by surprise. He watched Sophie's reaction, and his resolve began to waver. The lass, usually so vibrant and talkative, had withdrawn into herself, her eyes downcast and her posture rigid. It was as though all the light had been snuffed out of her.
"Me lady,"Eli drawled, bowing with exaggerated flourish. "I've heard tales of yer beauty, but they pale in comparison to the vision before me."
Sophie remained silent,her fingers twisting nervously in her skirts. Kenneth's brow furrowed. Where was the spirited hellion who had defied him at every turn? The lass who couldn't seem to stop talking even if her life depended on it?
Eli,undeterred by Sophie's lack of response, moved closer. "Come now, lass. Surely ye have a sweet voice to match that bonnie face?"
Kenneth's handscurled into fists at his sides. He had left them alone, with only a chaperone present, to give them privacy. But every instinct screamed at him to burst through the doors and put himself between Sophie and this presumptuous fool.
"Perhaps a demonstration of me...affections would loosen yer tongue," Eli murmured, reaching for Sophie's hand.
A small yelpechoed through the room, and Kenneth was moving before he even registered the sound. He burst through the doors, his eyes wild as he took in the scene before him.
Sophie had stumbled backwards,her eyes wide with fear as she tried to avoid Eli's touch. The chaperone looked on helplessly, clearly at a loss for how to handle the situation.
In two long strides,Kenneth was at Sophie's side. He placed a steadying hand on the small of her back, a low growl rumbling in his chest as he glared at Eli.
"I believethe lady has made her feelin's quite clear," Kenneth said, his voice dangerously calm. "Ye'll be leaving now."
