“Tha mi beo leis a chlaidheamh,” Killian recited, slowly enunciating the words till she lifted her head to look at him. “It means I live by the sword.”
Lily looked down at the dirk one more time before she handed it back. “I have never seen that dirk before. I don’t think it belongs to Laird McLennan either.”
“What makes ye so sure if ye have never seen it before?”
“I have seen the inscription elsewhere,” she admitted.
Killian noticed she was pale, and she did not meet his gaze anymore. He could tell she knew more, as she avoided his gaze again. He needed her to speak up.
“Lily, ye must tell me what ye ken,” he said, putting a hand beneath her chin and tipping it up so she stared at him.
Her eyes searched his, and she finally told him in a cold tone, “I have seen that inscription on a sword before, but it belonged to the late Laird MacGregor… He was a vile man—very capable of murdering your brother even if your brother was his ally.”
15
“Liar,” Killian accused after her revelation.
“I would not lie to you,” Lily insisted, her frown deepening. “I know you think I am trying to protect Laird McLennan because I am loyal to him, but I am telling you the truth, Killian. This is the truth.”
“Laird MacGregor was killed by Laird McLennan. The entire Highlands heard of the battle between both clans. It raged on for years. Am I meant to believe that one of Laird MacGregor’s sins was also my brother’s death?”
Lily did not expect him to believe her, but this was what she knew. Duncan would never betray a friend or kill one. She knew deep down if they could just get to McLennan Castle, they could settle this.
But how do I convince him to come with me?
Killian was already very skeptical. The only chance she had was to win his trust, but she didn’t know how. She also couldn’t risk spending too much time with him. Her nerves could not take it.
Even now, standing in his study alone with him made her aware of everything. The steady flutter of her heartbeat, the low timbre of his voice when he spoke, and the refreshing, earthy scent that clung to him when he came closer to her.
The low hum in her blood was not going anywhere. She had realized that after spending the entire evening away from him, lost in her thoughts as she had walked around the castle grounds.
Still, she thought of him… Still, she wanted to feel his kiss.
Lily backed away from him as the flames of her desire roared inside her. “I have told you what I know. I wish to help you, Killian, but you have to trust me. I do not think Laird McLennan did this, and together, we can find the culprit.”
Killian released an exasperated sigh before he turned away from her and combed his fingers through his hair again. “All right,” he breathed. “First, we must find out if Laird MacGregor did business with my brother. I have records, we can go through them.”
Lily blinked. Her first instinct was to reject his offer. It meant she had to stay here with him all night. She could barely stay a few minutes without wanting to touch him already.
How am I supposed to survive an entire night?
“Books do not interest me,” she said, aware of the hoarseness of her voice, and silently damning herself because she sounded that way. “I would rather… I should retire to my chamber and—”
“Sit with me, Lily,” Killian insisted as he walked over to one of the shelves and took out a stack of scrolls. “Let us read through this together. Ye read, do ye nae?”
His question irked her. It was easier to deal with that emotion than the heat tunneling inside.
“Are you saying that servants aren’t supposed to read? How typical of a laird.”
Killian turned to her, his chin lowered a little. “What? Nay, that isnae what I meant at all… I merely asked… I didnae mean to insult ye.”
Hearing him stumble over his words of apology elicited laughter from deep within her. Lily tried to hold it back. She muffled her sounds at his expression.
“Wh—Are ye laughin’ at me?” Killian queried as he returned to where she stood, dumped the scrolls on the ground, then braced both hands on his hips. “Ye find me amusin’?”
Lily snorted before she could hold it back. Then, she burst into a loud rumble of laughter, and a hand flew to her mouth to suppress the sound, but it did not do much.
Soon, Killian joined in the hearty laughter, and the air around them lightened a bit. His eyes crinkled at the corners as their laughter died down. His smile stayed still, and he shook his head while staring at her.
