The man starts to protest, but a knife flashes into Callum’s free hand. He presses it to the man’s throat. Suddenly, I’m stumbling free.
The guy sputters, “Och, lad, she’s your girl, is it? I can see that. I ken you. You ken me, aye?” He talks fast, desperate. “From the stables. I meant no harm. Just wanted a bit of fun. Didnae ken she belongs to you.”
Callum releases him.
The man bolts, tripping down the hall, disappearing down the stairs.
But Callum’s grip shifts to me, holding me tight. Too tight.
I claw at his arms, mind spiraling from what just happened. “I’m not ‘your girl.’”
“His words. Nae mine.”
The man’s touch still clings to me—his hands, his stench, the way he trapped me against the door. I can’t shake it. My throat tightens, ragged, animal sounds escaping me. “I donotbelong to you.”
Callum turns me to face him, holding firm. “Be still, lass.” His voice is strained, tight with frustration.
“Get your hands off me.”
“Hush. You’ve put us both in danger coming here.” Another squeeze, firmer now.
My skin burns from before. Too many hands, too much touching.
I lash out, slamming my palms against his chest. It feels like I’ve hit a wall, but he stumbles back, eyes wide with surprise.
I duck past, spinning to face him as I back away. “Next time I aim lower.”
My head’s spinning. I need to get out of here. Now.
He shakes his head, looking gratifyingly thrown. But then his eyes snap back into the moment, and he lunges for my wrist and drags me down the hallway.
I try to wrench free, but this time, my struggles do nothing.
“Let me go or I’ll scream. I swear I will.” I dig in my feet. Suck in a big breath.
He twirls me, and I slam into his chest with anoof, quickly muffled by his hand, which he’s pressed over my mouth. The second his palm touches me, something cracks inside me.
Too much. Too much.
“Wheesht. You don’t understand the danger you’re in.” His arms cage me in. I’m immobile.
Fear floods through me, disorienting me. A small, broken whimper rises in my throat. I feel helpless. For the first time in my life, I have the bone-deep sense of just how vulnerable I am against someone this size.
I jerk my head back to look at him.
He startles, dropping his hand, eyes flashing with something like horror. “Och, lass. Be easy. Please.”
“Don’t hurt me,” I plead.
His eyes widen with alarm. “Nae. I’d never.” This time, his grip is featherlight. An apology in touch.
He guides me into an empty room.
Panic hums in my bones, but I force myself to see the moment clearly. I stand quaking in the shadows, waiting for what he’s about to do. Scanning the room for anything I can use to defend myself.
“Please, quiet yourself. I’ll nae hurt you. Never that. I swear it.”
His voice softens, thick with guilt. He carefully pats my shoulders like he’s found an injured creature and doesn’t know what to do. “Do you not see? I’m trying to help.”
