Lorna flattened a palm across her mouth.Gillean had not been able to secure the isle by marriage as he had hoped so now he intended to join forces with the Vikings.After the failed Norse invasion of Bute, Scotland had hoped that would be the last of the Norse threat but clearly not.And now she had found herself caught in the middle of a war.
“Ye shall fight yer own countrymen?”
Ronan lifted a shoulder.“We Scots have been fighting between ourselves for many years.‘Tis in our nature, my lady.”
“Nature is no excuse for greed.”
“I am bound by oath to my laird and I wouldnae dishonour myself and my family by going against him.”
“What honour is there in taking land that does not belong?”
“That, I cannae tell ye until I have taken some.”
Unable to resist, Lorna released a spluttered laugh at the man’s audacity.Her laughter jammed in her throat and she froze, when Logan stood in her path, arms folded, his expression like thunder.Lorna gulped.
***
Tèile had to admit Ronan was better at flirtation than she had anticipated.If she had learned one thing of human males, it was that they guarded their women fiercely.And Logan might not want to admit it, but he was as connected to Lorna as Tèile was to the faery woodlands.The few little whispers she had put in Ronan’s ear about Lorna’s beauty had worked like a charm.She grinned to herself.She was getting better at this matchmaking business.
Now Logan looked as if he wished to tear the lad apart.From her perch on Lorna’s shoulder, she had a fine view of his deadly expression.Her grin dropped.She hoped he did not do anything drastic.The fae council would not take kindly to her provoking murder.
He appeared to take a breath before stalking forward.“Ye have been out here long enough.”
“I have been out here mere moments,” she protested, dropping back.
Logan stepped closer and reached out to grab her but Ronan stepped forward.“She isnae causing any trouble.”
“Step aside, Ronan,” Logan growled.
Tèile rolled her eyes.The man really was not himself.It was all too tempting to give him a little tap on the head and return him back to normal, but she’d already learned meddling with fate had dire consequences.
Both men squared up to one another, chests puffed, jaws tight.Before Tèile considered intervening, Lorna stepped between them, a hand to their chests.
“Enough,” she declared.“If ye wish to tear each other apart, mayhap ye can wait until weapon’s practice.”
Logan glared at Ronan, then at Lorna, before backing down.“Gillean’s messenger arrived earlier.He should be arriving at Kilcree on the morrow.Why do ye no’ make yerself useful and oil the gates before the laird arrives?”
“Ye are serious?”
“Aye, I am serious.”
With a huff, the man stalked away but not before dipping to Lorna and bestowing a charming smile on her.Tèile rubbed her hands together as Logan’s eyes darkened.Her plans were coming together nicely.
Chapter Seven
Logan turned to Lorna and gripped her arm.She winced and he relaxed his hold, drawing in a breath through his nostrils.Damn Ronan.He had no business making her laugh, or looking at her so.He had even seen him touch her as she stumbled.White hot fury still simmered in his veins and refused to abate.The lass was a prisoner, not a guest.
Aye, that was what had angered him.Nothing to do with the fact he wanted to be touching her or making her smile.
“Ye’ll be returning to yer chambers.Ye look well enough now.”Too well.Her increased colour had clearly drawn attention.Mayhap his rash actions that morning had not helped either.Giving a castle full of lusty men a look at a fine woman in little more than a slip of fabric had not been his cleverest idea when he thought on it.
“Are ye sure ye trust me enough?Mayhap I shall seduce my guards or fill their ears with falsehoods.”
Eyes narrow, he contemplated her.“Ye are right.Ye can come with me.”
“Come where?”
“To the village.”
