Page 83 of In Bed with her Highland Foe

“I’ll go,” Kyven said, turning to the door hurriedly.

“Lady Kyven, before ye dae go,” Brayden called to her. She halted in the doorway, glancing back at him.

Tynan was waving a hand at his brother, clearly urging him not to say more.

“Leave her in peace, Brayden,” Tynan pleaded.

“He’s our brother. We’re the only ones who can issue this warning,” Brayden said coolly. “We can tell ourselves that maybe Elisa was threatened by Laird Shay. Aye, maybe she was, but everything I kenned about that woman persuaded me that she didnae need a threat tae go tae Laird Shay’s bed. I think she broke hearts too easily.”

Kyven flinched at the idea.

Who would willingly break Gilchrist’s heart?

“Lady Kyven,” Brayden spoke directly to her now with full feeling, “forgive me fer saying this, but I dinnae wish tae see me brother’s heart broken again.”

“I have nay intention of hurting him, me laird,” she assured him. “I love him too much fer that.”

Brayden smiled as Tynan raised his goblet in the air.

“May we be dancing at yer wedding very soon then,” Tynan said in a toast and gulped from the goblet.”

Kyven left the room, chuckling at the pair of them.

She wandered down the corridor, heading to the privy in search of Gilchrist, but he was not there. She considered wandering the corridors aimlessly in search of him when a sudden glint caught her attention in the darkness. She stepped toward it, soon recognizing that it was a figure carrying a candle down the corridor. She followed him, recognizing Gilchrist’s tall and broad figure.

“Gilchrist?” she called out to him as she passed through and open doorway, struggling to follow the light.

“I’m here,” he called back to her.

“Michael… I feel I should call ye that now,” she whispered, moving toward the orb of light at the far side of what appeared to be a great hall. He chuckled softly.

“Ye can call me whichever ye’d like.”

She came to a stop at his side. He had raised the candle and held it over a portrait hung on the stone wall of the hall.

“Look,” he whispered softly. She jerked her head in surprise. In the portrait were the same three men she had spent the evening with, only younger. Laird Brayden was sat in a box chair in the center of the painting. To his left was Tynan, quite flamboyantly painted as he leaned on the side of the chair. Gilchrist was as strong and serious as he had always looked, with his weapons in his belt, reservedly the soldier. “This night means everything tae me.”

“I ken.” She raised a hand and ran her fingers over his arm. “If only I had had the time tae paint ye in this way. Maybe someday, eh?” she said with a soft giggle.

He angled his face away with a small smile.

“We could make someday today.”

A UNIQUE INVITATION AWAITS

My beloved reader,

Kyven and Gilchrist did bring that portrait to life. Well, almost… as it seems their lust overruled their desire to finish that painting completely.

If you're eager to delve deeper into Gilchrist's passionate encounter with Kyven as she lures him into the secret drawing cabinet, an exclusive passage awaits your eager eyes.

Take a leap into this hidden treasure by clicking the link below:

https://link.shonathompson.com/2v4GVu

This chapter is an optional delight, not essential for the progression of our tale. Yet, for those craving a richer experience, eager to immerse themselves in every nuance of our characters’ journey, it’s a pathway I lovingly recommend!

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