Jarred by his father’s violence, Adam gave him a wicked smile. “Ye canna declare love for me mam while admitting ye lusted after another man’s wife at the same time. Ye defiled yer wedding vows the day ye felt anything other than kinship for Kali’s mother. And I willna change me mind about it.”
“Get out!” his father yelled.
“With pleasure,” Adam said. “But know this. You’ll never strike me again.” He stormed out and sought peace outside, away from his men and anyone who might provoke him.
The truth scorched him. There was no denying his father’s words, for the man had always treated his mother as a saint, openly expressing his love and affection for her. She had everything her heart desired, and with every child she bore him, his sire only doted on her more. But lust could destroy the best of men.
Where lust and love collided, the gateway to hell opened wider and became more inviting.
Chapter Ten
Kali had been working on dresses for the girls for two days now—avoiding the fact that she was falling in love with Adam—despite their argument.
Adam was the first man she had ever been drawn to, ever trusted enough to put her hands on. Ever been attracted to. But his constant presence threatened the future she had promised her sisters, and she could not allow that to happen. She must choose her mind over her heart.
“Have ye heard, lass?”
As she often did, Raini appeared out of nowhere and startled Kali.
“Heard what?” She looked up from her sewing and pricked her finger with the needle. “Ouch!”
“’Tis rumored the laird and Master Adam have quarreled.”
“Don’t fathers and sons normally argue?”
“It depends on what it is about.”
That caught her attention. “Not the children, I pray.”
“Nay,” Raini said. “About ye.”
“But why?” She set her sewing aside and waited for the seer to explain further. Worry exploded in her heart, for she didn’t want Raini to know she loved Adam.
“I will let Adam have the privilege of telling ye.”
“Well…I am avoiding him right now.”
“Why is that?” Raini invited herself to sit in the chair next to her.
“’Tis a private matter, Raini.”
“Not so secret if I can see what ye did.”
“That isna fair, Raini. Ye must stop reading me mind or whatever it is ye do to gaze into my heart and soul.”
The old woman chuckled. “That would be the same as asking me to stop breathing. The Lord gave me the gift of sight, lass. I canna extinguish the flame of visions like ye can snuff out a candle.”
“What if I bundled meself up in leather and furs like a caterpillar’s cocoon? Would that block yer visions about me?”
Raini chuckled again, a delightful sound to Kali’s ears. She adored the elder woman.
“Nay, lass. Yer heart song canna be hidden.”
“Ye know we kissed?”
“Aye.”
Kali’s cheeks burned. “It mustn’t happen again. If we were ever caught…”
