“Ye dinnae have tae dae this,” he whispered to her. “Ye dinnae have tae speak of it if ye dinnae want tae. I’d never force ye talk of something ye dinnae wish tae speak of.”
“What is this?” Laird Finley said with concern, his voice tight. “What dae ye mean…?” He looked between Kai and Ava.
“It’s time,” Ava whispered to Kai. “It’s the only way tae make him understand that ye are the only man I trust in the world.” She squeezed his hand, gripping tightly onto him as she shifted her focus to her father. “Kai kens what happened tae me when I was young. It’s why he’s trying tae protect me now but I ken… I must.”
“Speak of what?” Laird Finley leaned forward across his desk. “Ava, what is it I dinnae ken?”
Ava looked at Kai who entwined their fingers together. If she was determined to speak of it, then he would be here for her.
“I was attacked when I was young. Kai kens and has been gentle with me. Ye want me tae marry a man who will make me happy? Then pick a husband fer me who will take me hand and walk with me. Pick a man who will care fer me every step that I take.” Her hand tightened around Kai’s own.
The warmth that filled Kai up vanished the moment he saw Laird Finley’s expression. The laird capitulated into his chair behind his desk. He was pale, a mere husk of the impressive man he had been seconds before.
“Who? Who hurt ye?” he said with venom.
“That nay longer matters. It was a long time ago and I dinnae ken who he was. I managed tae escape him.” The pain in her eyes was visible. Kai raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back, wishing he could take the pain away from her.
“I would never hurt her, me laird,” Kai said quickly when he sawn Laird Finley’s expression. “I’ll guard her with me life.”
Laird Finley raised his hand, his eyes on his daughter.
“Why did ye nae tell me?” he pleaded, his voice desperate.
“It isnae something that is easy tae speak of.”
“But that man… he…”
“He didnae get what he wanted,” Ava said firmly. “Yet now ye ken Faither, why I trust Kai more than any other.” She blinked away the last temptation of tears, looking Kai in the eye.
Kai wished to say again that he intended to marry Ava, but he sensed Laird Finley’s mind was already working fast. He felt he owed them both the truth of what he had overheard Laird Grant discussing with his advisor, how his plan was to use Ava for an alliance with her clan and that of the MacLeods all along. But most of all, he wanted them to know how the laird had spoken of Ava and his voracious taste for women and certain preferences, despite playing the smitten betrothed. He furthermore questioned who had attacked him on the treasure hunt in the forest. He had his suspicions but so much hadhappened in the past two days, that he hadn’t truly had time to think on it.
Ava gasped at hearing his words, even more fearful of how that man would treat her in the marital bed. Her father had paled as well, listening to Kai’s words.
“I need tae think.” Finley stood slowly, leaning on the desk, for his legs almost seemed no longer strong enough to bear his weight. “Even with this, even if Kai is the man ye say he is…” He looked at Kai, his nervousness palpable in the air. “Ye and I have still given our words tae Laird Grant, Ava. That… I dinnae ken how we can rescind. It was our idea tae begin with, to save yer sister and the clan.”
Ava hung her head. Kai didn’t need to hear or see the tears. He felt her sadness and held her tight, pulling her into his side so that she could cry on his shoulder. Her tears filled the air.
Laird Finley, who now looked worried and as if he had suddenly aged twenty years, went over to embrace his daughter.
“Ava, I am sorry I wasnae more understanding, but there was much I didnae ken. And I cannae pretend I am nae still very worried fer Lyla. However, I will try everything I can tae change this situation, that I promise ye”.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Ava dried the tears from her cheek as she turned away from Kai and her father. She had been told to return to her chambers, leaving the two of them standing at the top of the landing in the castle, talking together. She longed to hear what more her father had to say to Kai, but he made it clear he was not going to talk anymore in front of her.
Wiping her cheeks with the sleeve of her gown, she turned into the corridor that led to her chamber, then jumped back at a great hulking form in her way.
“Oh! Me heart.” She laid a hand to her chest as she found herself staring up into the face of Laird Grant. His expression was barely visible thanks to the shadows between the burning torches. “Ye frightened me, me laird.” He was eerily still, his arms folded in front of him. “I thought ye were at the feast.”
“That is where we shouldbothbe.” His voice darkened to something raspy. She shifted, taking another step back away from him. “Where have ye been? Ye disappeared.”
“I needed some air.” She tried to walk around him, giving him a wide berth. “If ye’d forgive me, I am rather tired. I think I will retire fer the night.”
“Nae yet.” He reached out, his hand grabbing hold of her arm.
“Oc, me laird, ye are hurting me!”
He took her wrist.
