He did not look back at her as he untangled a knot in the reins. “Aye.”
“Are the MacCairns not an ally to the?—”
“They’re no friends of mine,” he replied, cutting her off before she could go any further, much to her chagrin.
“But—”
“Let’s move.”
With that, he reached for her with his good arm, grasping her around the waist and lifting her up onto the horse. She loathed that it was so easy for him to move her to and fro, regardless of her protests. It didn’t matter what she might have said to him, he could overpower her in an instant, and that was all there was to it.
The strength of his grip around her waist, even after the blow he had just taken, surprised her into silence for a second, but by the time he came to join her on the horse and gestured for his men to begin the ride once more, she was keen to return to the matter at hand.
“Did Malric send those men or?—”
“That’s enough, Ailsa,” he shot back to her, his voice leaving no room for argument.
She reluctantly put her hands on his sides, holding on to his kilt to keep from slipping from the horse.
“If I am to be yer wife, I think I deserve to ken these things,” she retorted.
She was feeling bolder now, having seen him stooped there at her feet, but the way he glanced back over his shoulder at her warned her that she should have thought better of it.
“Watch yer words, lass,” he warned her. “Or I might have to bind ye when we get back to the Keep.”
She tensed at the very thought of it. Did this man not have enough control of her as it was? Was he really so determined to have her bend to his will that he would do something like that? The glint in his eye made it hard to tell whether he was joking or not, though she got the feeling that he would do whatever it took to keep his wife in line.
“Tie me up?” she protested. “What do ye want, a wife or a mare, Tavish?”
He flashed her a grin that did not reach his eyes.
“No’ much difference,” he replied as he gripped the reins and turned his eyes back to the road. “Either way, I’ll need to tame ye.”
And, with that, he drove the horse into a gallop, leaving her clinging on for dear life—and wondering exactly what sort of marriage she was headed towards in that moment.
And knowing, deep down, that whatever the answer, it was far too late for her to find a way out.
Chapter Five
By the timethe Keep came into view, it was getting dark, the last vestiges of sunlight leaking from the sky to streak it with purple and blue. When the MacDonald Keep rose ahead of her, Ailsa could only make out the twisted turrets, black against the skyline, on top of what looked to be a towering hill in the distance. Like something out of a bad dream.
Or a nightmare she could not wake up from.
As they drew closer, Tavish began to slow the horse at last, the wind chapping her cheeks with a little less intensity as he cantered towards the entrance. Two guards stood on watch at the door, and they lifted the portcullis as soon as they saw his black horse approaching. The imposing teeth of the gate rose up just above their heads, and she had to duck down to keep them from catching at her hair.
Was there any part of this place that wasn’t as terrifying as the man who commanded it?
Once Tavish had drawn the horse to a halt in the courtyard, he offered her a hand to help her down, but she ignored it, scrambling awkwardly to the ground on her own. He watched her as she struggled but at least allowed her to, not interfering orforcing his help. He jerked his head towards his men, ordering them to go ahead of him.
“Take her to her chambers,” he barked, and he strode off towards the stables, leading his horse behind him.
“Ye think I cannae find my way there myself?” she shot back sharply. He paused, not turning back to her.
“I think ye’re better off with guards to keep watch on ye.”
“And why on earth are they keeping watch for, hmm?” she demanded. “So they can report back to you on whatever I’ve been doing?”
“To keep ye safe, lass,” he snapped, as he rounded on her once more.
