I take the bread and sit on the mattress beside him. “Thanks, I was starving.”
The words are barely out before I’ve snarfed the wad of bread and cheese so quickly, it’s stuck like a lump in my throat. Just as well. I lost the capacity for speech the moment I perched next to him on his mattress.
“Oh, Rosie-love, had I known, I’d have saved you more.” He hands me his water skin, which I chug from until I need to catch my breath after.
I wipe my grinning mouth. “No, that was perfect. Thank you.” Never have I known such simple contentment. To be so hungry and then finally get fed is practically a miracle.
“Why were you nae at supper? I waited in the kitchens for you.”
“You waited for me?” The words slip out before I can stop them, making my cheeks burn.
He doesn’t notice, just shrugs and says, “I sat with Aoife for a wee while, but I reckoned if you weren’t coming, why sit there when I can sit here? The only reason I go to the kitchens is to see you.”
There’s a flutter in my chest as I realize I’ve not been running into Callum because our schedules match. I’ve been running into Callum because of Callum.
I can barely look at him. I frown and focus my attention on his belongings instead, such as they are. But they’re all he needs. His sword. Some bread and cheese at the end of the day. He’d like his family name back. Other than that, Callum seems at peace. As if his fulfillment comes from inside.
Unlike Hamish.
Thinking of Hamish makes my jaw clench. He’s the sort of person who’ll never be satisfied. What’ll happen the next time he corners me? One of these days, it won’t end well.
Callum’s gentle fingertip under my chin turns me to face him. “What’s fashing you?” He sounds on alert, as if he might hop up this moment, grab his sword, and slay a dragon for me.
The thought that I’m not alone—that this person is here and will stand by my side—disarms me, and I let my anger become fear. Vulnerability. A tear spills onto my cheek and I quickly scrub it away. “Sorry. I’m being stupid. I’m just tired. I’ll be better now that I’ve eaten.”
“This is more than hunger.” He waits for me to say more, and when I don’t, he stretches onto his back and laces his hands over his belly. “I’ll wait.” He lifts his head, eyes steady. “And I’m a verra patient man.”
I have to laugh, and with a shake of my head, I wipe my face again. “I believeyou. But really, it’s no big deal. I was taking care of the chickens when Hamish?—”
The shift is instant. Callum bolts upright, and the look on his face is dangerous. “What did the bastard do?”
It scares me. Not because I think Callum might hurt me. But because I know he’d hurt Hamish. I can’t have him endangering himself.
“Seriously, Callum. It’s no big deal. Hamish came around and was acting like an ass. I flashed him this”—I pull the witch’s stone from my pocket—“and he backed off. End of story.”
Unlike Hamish, Callum doesn’t recoil. He leans in, studying the stone, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. His fingers hover over it before he finally murmurs, almost reverently, “Rosie-love…do you ken what this is?”
“Hamish told me. It really freaked him out. He said it’s agleh…gluh…”
“Gloine nan Druidh.” Gingerly, he takes it and holds it up to catch the moonlight. “A hag stone. ’Tis precious indeed. They say ’twill guard its owner from magic.”
I expect him to simply pass it back, and I go still when he takes my hand instead, placing the stone in my palm and gently wrapping my fingers around it. Keeping my hand cradled in his, he says, “They say a witch’s stone appears only to the most special among us.”
“I…I’ve found the same one twice now.”
A slow smile spreads across his face. “I kent you were extraordinary the moment you landed in my arms.”
Extraordinary.I’ve never been called such a thing. I forgot the word even existed.
Just when I think he might do something like, I don’t know,kiss me, Callum nods briskly. “That settles it. Youneed a way to protect yourself. Hamish willnae like that you’ve found this. You’ll be safe for a time, but you need a weapon. A wee dirk, mayhap.”
His mind is on weapons, not kissing. I knew the sexual tension was all in my head.
It takes a half second for me to catch up and ask, “You mean a knife?”
“Aye. A blade suitable for a lady.”
And now my mind is on weapons, too.A blade. Suitable for a lady.
