It didn't take longbefore the room was filled with the heavy sound of Izzy's breathing. A peacefulness flowed through the room as if it came off the mountain like a fresh breeze. He turned to watch her. How lovely she looked with her eyes closed. The fire danced against her skin, giving her a bronze glow that made her appear celestial to his weary eyes.
"Areye nae the loveliest thing I've ever seen," he whispered so low he doubted she could even hear him. A faint smile pulled at the corners of his lips as he fiddled with the tips of her hair, ensuring he didn't disturb her sleep in any manner.
Izzy letout a long heavy sigh and rolled to face him. Aaron pulled back, hoping not to get tangled in her arms as she shifted. He watched as she snuggled and kissed her goose down pillow. Never in his life had he been so jealous of a pillow. It was as if even in her sleep she was tormenting him with her sultry ways.
Swallowing hard,Aaron rolled over to face the fire. If he was going to survive the night and keep his word not to touch her, he was going to have to try harder. Yet, Izzy was making it impossible for him to live up to his word. Every little moan that escaped from her sent chills coursing through Aaron's body. Every shift, she'd pull the covers off him and swim in them. She taunted him with every passing moment.
"My Laird,"Izzy mumbled sheepishly in her sleep. Aaron glanced over to look at her. A smile played at the corner of her lips as she reached for him. Aaron froze as her arm snaked over his ribs. She snuggled into his back and let out a heavy sigh the rippled through him with such pleasure that it stirred the longing in his loins.
Aaron's chesttightened as the air whistled through his dried cracked lips. His eyes rolled back in pleasure as the scent of wildflowers and moss filled his head. In a blink of an eye, Aaron was no longer in his chambers but in the bales of hay. And just as quickly as the memory skipped into his thoughts, it was gone. The memory rattled him to his senses. He glanced at Izzy's arm dangling over his body. Carefully, he grabbed her by the wrist and drew her arm off him.
Trying notto disturb her too much, Aaron slipped off the bed and drew the blankets over her. Izzy's face scrunched with irritation that was all too fleeting. Aaron exhaled the second her face relaxed. Moving with purpose, he snatched his shirt from the corner of the room and slipped it over his head as he marched for the door.
The empty hallwaywas eerily quiet, and only his footsteps accompanied him. A soft melody filled the silence, and as much as Aaron wanted to see who all remained in the great hall, he turned for his study instead. Sealed within the somber room, Aaron noticed a shadow lurking in the corner.
"If ye value yer life,ye'll come out," Aaron announced as his mind skipped over the different weapons he had stashed within his study.
"Easy now,nay need to be all up in arms. I take it if ye're here, the night daenae go as ye planned?" Ryan asked as he stepped into the light of the room.
"Why mustthat lass vex me so?" Aaron grumbled as he ran his fingers through his hair. "One minute she has me tied up in knots, and the next I cannae get far enough away from her."
"Welcometo the wonderful world of marriage," Ryan chuckled whole-heartedly.
"As if yehave any clue what ye're talkin' about. 'Tis nae as if ye've lived through such things."
"Out of thetwo of us, I'm the only one smart enough nae to get married."
"Ye speakas if I had some say in the matter," Aaron huffed as his frustration only grew. "The King made the decree, and all I can do is see it through. And the sooner Izzy is with child, the sooner I can stop worryin' about her and focus on other things."
As he rubbedhis temples trying to come up with some way to woo his wife, Aaron watched Ryan move to the small table and pour two drams of whiskey from a bottle that had arrived earlier in the day as a wedding gift. An odd aroma wafted from the uncorked bottle that unnerved Aaron. It was something he'd smelled before, a vile stench he was certain would only bring death. Aaron's attention shot to Ryan as he watched Ryan lifted one to drink.
The color was wrong,a bit too amber. Without hesitation, Aaron darted to Ryan's side, and slapped the dram from Ryan's hand.
"Daenae drink that,"Aaron barked as the whiskey dropped to the ground. A ribbon of white smoke rose from the bear skin rug as a foul stench filled the room. "Poison."
"This is getting'too close. This was meant to send a message," Ryan said as he looked at Aaron with terror flashing through his gaze.
"Izzy."Panic shot through Aaron as he started for the door. He charged for his chambers as worry pummeled him. His footstepsechoed through the empty hallway like thunder rumbling through the valley. Holding his breath, he pushed open the door. His ears rang as he tried to listen for any unusual sounds. The only thing he heard was the soft snore escaping Izzy with each exhale.
"Is she in danger?"Ryan asked with his hand on the hilt of his blade. Aaron shook his head as he pressed a finger to his lips.
"She sleeps,"Aaron answered as he closed the door. "But I daenae think it's safe for her to be in the castle."
"Aye,"Ryan said with a sharp nod. "Tonight was a warnin'."
"I needto take her somewhere she'll be safe. Somewhere I can keep an eye on her while ye look into who sent the poison," Aaron said.
"There's always the gardens.Ye ken the flowers will be bloomin'. The lasses always love that spot," Ryan said with a smug smile that made Aaron cringe.
"Nay,I need someplace nay one will be lookin' for us. A place that's strategic yet nae too far…" Aaron snapped his fingers as the idea popped into his head. "The loch."
"Are ye sure?Ye'll be on yer own if anythin' happens."
"Have someone on the watchtower.They'll be able to hear if I blow a horn and send help. But I think Izzy will enjoy thepeacefulness of the place. And there's a mineral spring right there she might like. I want ye to stay here and get to the bottom of who sent the whiskey."
"I'll havesomeone in the dungeons before ye get back," Ryan said with such conviction that Aaron couldn't help but believe him.
"Daenae let me down.Whoever it is, is gettin' bolder, and I willnae have Izzy put in the middle of my troubles. It's nae fair the king dragged her into this, but I'll be damned if I daenae do everythin' in me power to keep her safe."
