"Daenae play coy with me," Mason said. "Are the rumors true? Did me brother… kiss ye? And daenae lie. There's more than enough witnesses."
"Aye," Leah answered truthfully. "We shared a moment."
"A moment? Is that what it was to ye?" Mason asked, his voice icy.
"Nothin' more, nothin' less."
"Killian laid out yer meal on the terrace did he nae?" Mason asked as Leah's eyes shifted once again to Alan.
"Aye. But he had me give him the report on ye," Leah answered.
"And ye think that makes this any better? Me brother is up to somethin'. He cannae be trusted. Ye must nae trust him." Mason's gaze, usually warm and friendly, darkened with concern.
"Yer brother is nay threat," Leah said, trying to diffuse the situation before it got out of hand.
"Leah," he began, his voice low and hesitant. "I've heard the whispers... me brother force himself on you."
Leah's heart sank. It felt like a heavy stone dropping into the depths of her stomach. She paused her movements, focusing on the task at hand to avoid meeting his piercing gaze.
"It wasnae exactly like that," she finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced at Mason. He frowned with an intensity that made her uncomfortable.
"Were ye forced in any way?" he pressed, concern etched deeply on his features. The question hung in the air, and Leah let out a dark, humorless laugh, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet room.
"Nay, nae in the way ye're thinkin'," she said, her voice shaky. But even as she spoke, doubt clawed at her insides. Killian had been so charming, so persuasive. Had he really set her up for this?
Mason's expression remained serious, and Leah could see he wasn't satisfied with her answer. "Leah, ye can tell me the truth. I ken me brother can be… overwhelming. If ye need help gettin' away from him, I'll do whatever it takes."
She looked up at him then, startled by the sincerity of his offer. The thought of him offering to help her escape sent a shiver down her spine, both for the kindness and implications it carried.
"Mason," she said, her voice firmer now. "I assure ye, nothin' has happened against me will. Aye, Killian stole a kiss, but that's all it was. A kiss."
The words felt strange on her tongue, and she could almost hear the echo of that moment—the way her heart had raced and desire had flickered to life in the depths of her being. But she was determined to keep the memory from overpowering her reality.
Mason studied her, his expression shifting to one of confusion mixed with disbelief.
"Just a kiss?" he repeated as if trying to comprehend the weight of what that meant. "Leah, it's nae just a kiss if it's wrapped up in all this... tension. Ye deserve better than to be caught in a game between brothers."
She felt a surge of emotions at his words—gratitude, frustration, something softer that she didn't want to name.
"I daenae want to be a pawn in anyone's game," she replied, her voice trembling. "I just want to find me own way, but the paths are all tangled right now."
Mason's gaze softened, and he reached out, placing his hand over hers, warm and reassuring. "Ye're nae a burden to me, Leah. Ye’re the only one who treats me like a person, not an invalid. I've grown fond of ye—more than I expected. If ye need someone to help ye navigate this, I want to be that person. I think of ye like the sister I never had. Please, I ken that I may nae be as old as ye, but I can still be of some use."
His words hung in the air, a lifeline she hadn't expected to grasp. Leah felt a rush of warmth that chased away the icy tendrils of isolation she had been carrying. But she also felt the weight of her own heart, the confusion of her feelings for Killian clashing against the clarity Mason offered.
"I appreciate that, truly," she said, squeezing his hand gently. "But Killian... he's more complicated than ye ken. I daenae want to make things worse between ye two."
Mason nodded, though his eyes still held a flicker of determination. "I willnae let him hurt ye, Leah. If ye ever feel cornered, if his charm turns to something darker, ye can come to me. I promise."
Leah took a deep breath, trying to sort through the whirlwind of emotions swirling within her.
"I'll keep that in mind," she said, her voice steadying. "But please, believe me when I say that nothin' has happened that I didnae want. I need ye to trust me on that."
Mason's expression softened further, and he nodded in understanding. Leah's eyes shifted to Alan, who seemed to be like a sponge, taking in the scene around him. Leah couldn't help but feel as if no matter which way she went, someone was going to get hurt.
"Just remember, ye're nae alone in this. Ye have me, and I'm nae goin' anywhere."
14
