Page 46 of Scot of Seduction

“Bran,” Tad hissed, turning to glare at Ilyssa. “Did ye have tae say it like that?”

“Well, it is what ye did,” Bran said innocently, earning a slap around his arm from Ilyssa for his words.

Tad grunted and looked at Catreena beside him. She looked as outraged as any of the rest of them, but mostly because Bran had just announced to his brothers with no preamble at all that Tad had bedded Catreena and now come to ask to marry her.

“Well, this is a great reaction,” Catreena mumbled.

“I should have kenned.” Alec was wild and suddenly on his feet. He towered over his desk, prompting Kira behind him to jump back with a heavy sigh. “Ye, ye who beds everyone he meets, have moved ontae our sister?”

“We told ye we’d slit yer throat if ye ever did that,” Dunn said, also scrambling to his feet.

“I believe we promised tae cut off a different part of his anatomy.” Evander slid a knife out of his belt and laid it threateningly on the desk beside him.

Tad gulped. Taking punches from Bran was one thing, but if Evander came at him with that knife, it would be entirely different.

“Dear Lord!” Catreena suddenly exclaimed. “Ye would actually consider castra–”

“He deserves it,” Alec said in agreement, pointing at the knife. “Evander, get tae it.”

“What the hell!?” Tad suddenly bellowed. “I’m here tae ask fer her hand in marriage, nae tae be made a eunuch.”

“Should have thought of that first.” Evander stood off the desk.

Tad actually took a step back as Catreena took hold of his arm with both hands.

“He saved me life. He wants tae marry me,” she pointed out.

“Fer the hundredth time,” Tad said in panic, turning to look at Bran. “How many times have I begged fer yer blessing tae marry her?”

“A fair few,” Bran acknowledged with a reluctant nod.

“I want tae marry her, Alec.” He decided to fix his gaze on Alec, the man who was truly in charge, the Laird of the Mackintoshes.

“Ye will never stray again?” Dunn asked with a scoff which suggested he already didn’t believe him.

“I never will,” Tad said heatedly, glaring at Catreena’s twin. “I wouldnae dae that tae her.”

“We could elope,” Catreena suggested with a sudden gleam in her eye.

Dinnae tempt me.

“They’d hunt me down and kill me anyway,” he pointed out. “Please,” Tad said, rounding on all the brothers and looking between them. “I am begging ye all. I just want yer blessing.”

A tense silence overtook the room. No word was said, and the only sound was Kira’s heavy breathing as she clutched Alec’s shoulder, still doing her best to calm him.

Then Alec’s eyes were suddenly no longer slits. They became wide as booming laughter escaped him. He clapped once loudly as Evander broke next, chuckling deeply.

Confused, Tad looked around between all the brothers. Even Ilyssa was sniggering into Bran’s shoulder as he shook with laughter.

“What did I miss?” Tad muttered under his breath, and Catreena looked as confused as he did.

“Bran told us when ye arrived last night,” Alec said with a jovial tone as he jerked his thumb in Bran’s direction. “Forgive us if we decided tae mess with ye a little.”

“Mess!?” Tad spluttered. “Ye threatened tae cut off me–”

“Aye, we did. Good touch, Evander,” Dunn praised his brother with a nod, to which Evander bowed.

“I thought it a nice one. We did threaten tae dae it some time ago.”