When Lily didn’t respond, Killian took her arm and spun her around to face him. She gasped as her steps halted. “Do ye hear me? I willnae let her fight in battle, so dinnae put any ideas in her head.”
“You are too stubborn,” Lily huffed as she met his gaze. “Your sister wants to learn to fight so she can help you. She loves you, Killian, and she never wants to be the reason why you feel the pain of losing someone else you love… She wants to be strong enough to help you, so why don’t you let her?”
Lily’s words echoed right through him just before he shook his head. “Because I am to protect her.”
The tension edged on with each hushed whisper, and Killian could feel his muscles tighten in response to it.
“Just listen to me for once!”
He fought his hunger with his fierce words. Truth was, he tempted himself far too often these days.
If I taste her again, I’ll make her mine.
The scorching thought was enough to have him reeling with desire.
“I hear you,” Lily whispered back, fire burning in her eyes. “Let me go,” she said next. Her breath fell on his face, making him realize he inched closer to her. Her next words were a tantalizing whisper against his face. “You cannot protect everyone, Killian, and you cannot win every battle alone.”
Her scent wrapped around him once again, and he leaned closer, wanting more of it.
“People will see,” Lily murmured. Her throat bobbed twice as she swallowed hard, and her full lashes fluttered closed to cover the desire in her eyes.
Killian’s grip on her arm was light, but when he dropped his gaze there, he slowly released her. His heart pounded hard enough to make him gasp for air.
Lily staggered away from him, stiffened her chin, and then spun around and hurried after Niamh while calling for her.
“Ye need a moment?” Fletcher asked behind Killian, making him gasp from shock as he turned to the man.
“Fletcher,” Killian said, clearing his throat to get rid of the hoarseness there. “Ye’re supposed to be bringing Richard Easton to me.”
“Aye, m’laird,” Fletcher answered with a soft bow of his head. “I have a dozen of my trusted men on the mission at the moment. They shall return here before the wee hours.”
Killian nodded. “All right.” He turned to walk away but paused and looked at Fletcher again. “Do ye think I am stubborn?”
“M’laird?” Fletcher’s brows furrowed together, and his lips formed a thin line. “What do ye mean?”
“It’s just… I am nae stubborn, am I? I do let others help me… I let you help me, do I nae?”
Killian combed his fingers through his hair, then looked at Lily and his sister as they edged on farther towards the fields.
Why do I let her words bother me?
Fletcher cleared his throat.
“Never mind, Fletcher,” Killian said as he looked back at his man-at-arms. “It’s naethin’. I do what I must to protect my people, and if that means I am stubborn, then so be it.”
“Ye’re a laird,” Fletcher answered as Killian met his gaze. “The people need someone fierce and strong-willed to guide them. If ye’re stubborn, then it is a good trait. Yer brother was the most stubborn man I knew, but he was a good laird.”
Killian smiled as a memory of his brother flashed in his mind. He remembered training in these fields with Peter when they had been younger. Each time, Killian would win in a sword fight, and their father would give him the chance to skin his own deer as a prize.
The first time Peter had won against Killian in a fight, Killian had been the proudest of him. His brother had gotten to hunt and skin his first deer for everyone in the keep. Seeing the pride in his brother’s expression as he had brought his kill back home on his shoulders to show to everyone in the keep had made him realize Peter had one thing he could never have—the desire to lead.
“Thank ye, Fletcher,” Killian said with a sigh as he brought his mind back to reality.
Fletcher only nodded, then walked away, and Killian continued towards the fields to join Lily and his sister. They were already training when he arrived there.
Killian drew out his sword, then joined right in, lunging at Lily first because he knew she was skilled enough to ward him off.
“Watch me,” Lily said to Niamh before thrusting her sword out to clash against his. “The first thing you need to know is this…”
