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That was when desire turned dangerous. His hand tightened at her waist. He wanted—

Gavan stopped abruptly.

His forehead dropped to hers, his breathing unsteady. “If I do not stop now,” he said roughly, “I will not stop at all.”

Her fingers still gripped his tunic. “Then do not.”

The invitation nearly shattered him.

But his thoughts turned to tomorrow, when he would sit in judgement and where his enemies were certain to test him. He could not afford to cloud himself in passion. With effort, he pulled back, choosing control.

His hands lingered at Sorcha’s waist a moment longer before he forced himself to step away. “I will not take you in secrecy,” he said quietly. “Not while danger circles. Not while your brother’s life hangs in the balance.”

*

Night had settled heavily over the provost’s quarters. Beyond the shuttered windows, snow drifted steadily through the streets of Dingwall while the wind pressed softly against the stone walls. The hearth crackled low behind Gavan and Sorcha, filling the chamber with warmth that felt strangely fragile after the strain of the day.

Sorcha stood near the table where Mrs Jacoby had left untouched broth and bread, watching Gavan fasten his sword belt once more.

“You are going back to the courthouse,” she said quietly.

Gavan glanced towards her while tightening the leather strap across his shoulder. “Aye.”

The single word seemed to settle heavily into the room.

She stepped closer. “You said William was guarded. Safe.”

“Aye, he is, but I cannot shake the feeling that danger lurks.” Gavan paused before continuing, “Too much changed in that courtroom today. Men expecting a quick conviction now face uncertainty instead.” He pulled on his gloves slowly. “That makes desperate actions more likely before morning.”

Sorcha lowered her gaze briefly. “Because William knows more than he realised.”

“Aye.”

The fire shifted softly behind Gavan as he crossed towards the door. Before he reached it, he stopped. For a long moment, he simply looked at her standing there in the firelight, exhaustion shadowing her face despite the calm she tried to maintain.

Something tightened unexpectedly inside him. “I am leaving guards outside these quarters,” he said at last. “No one enters without my men’s approval. No one.”

Her chin lifted slightly. “You speak as though Dingwall itself has become dangerous.”

His jaw hardened faintly. “Perhaps it has.”

Sorcha moved nearer still, lowering her voice. “And who guards you?”

The question unsettled him in a way battle never had. For a heartbeat, he saw the concern she had not meant to reveal fully, and suddenly the room felt far too small, the space between them far too narrow. “I have managed thus far,” he said quietly.

“But you should not always have to manage alone.”

The words struck deeper than she likely intended.

Gavan held her gaze for a long moment before forcing himself to step back from whatever dangerous thing had begun growing between them. Duty pulled too hard now. William’s life might well depend upon the next few hours.

“Lock the door after I leave,” he said softly. “And if there is any disturbance below, alert my men immediately.”

Sorcha nodded, though worry still lingered plainly in her eyes. “Bring my brother safely through the night,” she whispered.

Gavan felt the weight of the request settle heavily upon him because he understood what she truly asked. Not merely protection from knives in darkness, but protection from all the forces already tightening around William Sutherland.

His voice lowered. “I will do everything within my power.”