“Out!” he bellowed. “Everyone out!”
They all left hastily.
He stalked over to his horse, a beautiful black stallion who could sense his master’s unease. The horse stomped impatiently at theground as Finlay set to work saddling him up. A long, hard ride was exactly what he needed.
Thalia entered just as he was finishing.
“Finlay! Finlay, will ye please wait?” she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“What is it now?” he growled, turning to her.
She gaped at him. “Why did ye accept?”
“Would ye rather I had cut yer uncle down?” he hissed. “Because that was me first plan.”
She gasped, looking away and blinking rapidly. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I… I didnae mean to take things this far.”
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Aye. I almost wish I had thrown ye out when ye showed up at me door yesterday.”
“Ye do?” she asked quietly.
“I said ‘almost’, did I nae?”
She laughed softly, relaxing at the reassurance. “I promise I’ll make it up to ye somehow, Finlay.”
“Oh, I ken, me Lady.” He smirked, thinking back to that moment before they were caught. “I’m confident ye’ll make it up to me.”
CHAPTER 9
“What does that mean?”Thalia asked, eyeing him with suspicion.
He had that teasing glint in his eyes again, the same one he had when they were both in the study alone together. When he had almost?—
“It means that for the next year and a day, as long as our betrothal lasts, ye’re mine.” Finlay smirked.
“Fakebetrothal,” she corrected him.
“Fake betrothal, with a very real bride.” He stepped closer to her, and heat filled her body.
She scoffed. “Ye’re just teasin’ me again. I daenae like it.”
“Nay, I’m bein’ serious,” he said, stepping forward again. “Ye belong to me now, lassie. Ye should have been more careful when ye walked into the Wolf’s den.”
Thalia stood her ground, glaring up at him. She was sure now that he was just teasing her again, and she wasn’t going to put up with it. Especially not with the way he was talking to her now. Fake betrothal or not, she wouldn’t put up with that from anyone.
“Careful, Finlay. Remember what I did to me previous betrothed,” she hissed.
He raised his eyebrows. “Are ye threatenin’ me?”
“Nay, I’m givin’ ye a fair warning.” She jabbed her finger into his chest and was surprised to find it was nothing but a solid wall of muscle. She swallowed. “Ye willnae do anythin’ to me that I daenae want.”
“Ye think ye really have a say in that?” he scoffed.
“Aye. Because I ken ye, Finlay.”
“What makes ye think ye ken me that well, lass?”
“And what makes ye think I’d manage to run from one trap only to walk straight into another?” she shot back.
