Page 66 of Stealing a Kilted Heart

“They’re very bonnie.”

The familiar voice brought Fia to a sudden halt. Her blood turned to ice in her veins and her heart thumped so fast she feared it would explode. She never thought she would have to endure this again, but when she turned around slowly, hesitantly, Callum was right there.

She hadn’t imagined it.

“What dae ye want?” she forced herself to ask through gritted teeth. “I dinnae wish tae hear any more o’ yer insults⁠—”

“I came tae apologize,” Callum said and Fia froze once more, wondering if this could possibly be a hallucination. Callum, apologizing? Not in her wildest dreams would she have ever thought it possible. “I see the error o’ me ways. What I did tae ye… it was despicable.”

Fia narrowed her eyes as she regarded him, wondering if he was lying to her. But he had no reason to lie. As wary as she was of him, he could have simply avoided her for the rest of his life, never once offering an apology if he hadn’t wanted to. Besides, she saw no reason to hold any animosity now that she was stepping into her new role, into her new life. She had thrived, even against all odds.

Even against Callum.

“I appreciate that,” she said with a soft nod. “I truly dae. An’ I forgive ye, Callum, but I’d rather we dinnae meet again.”

“I understand,” Callum said, oddly amenable. Fia had never seen him like this before, not even when he had first began to court her. “I’ll leave ye be, then. Thank ye fer listenin’ tae me.”

With one last nod as farewell, Fia returned to her flowers and didn’t wait to see Callum depart.

That was her biggest mistake. Moments later, a dull pain exploded in the back of her skull, drawing a pained gasp out of her. A pair of strong hands caught her just as she collapsed, and soon she was being dragged away, the castle getting smaller and smaller in the distance.

The last thing she saw before the world went dark was Callum’s face, devoid of any emotion.