she would.
“But, Evelyn also explained that,
though I am your mate and you have brought me to this place against my will, I
do not have to accept your hand unless I want to.”
Connor saw now, that he’d made a
mistake encouraging the two women spend time together. He’d thought that his
loyal sister-in-law would work to soften Lindsay’s heart toward him. Instead,
Evelyn rallied to the side of her maltreated compatriot and gave her all the
pertinent information with which to make a decision. Now Lindsay understood
that, though she was technically his captive, she wielded all power over his
future happiness.
Women! He ran a hand over his
head, trying to figure his next stratagem. Gods but she was beautiful when
angry. Her breasts heaved against the bodice of her gown, challenging the
constitution of the seams. Connor blinked, forcing himself to concentrate on
the problem at hand. If he wanted to do more than look at her beauty,
he’d need to pacify her ire.
She had to know that he didn’t just
need her, he wanted her.
Planting her wee fists on her slim
hips, she glared at him, the ice in her eyes at once turning to violet fire.
“I refuse, Connor MacLauchlan, I refuse to be wed to a high-handed, mercenary,
overbearing, tyrannical brute with more strength than wits, so that you may become a more powerful berserker.”
A sensation akin to hurt lit a fire
in his chest and anger thundered through the weaker emotion, ready to do
battle. “When I found ye, ye were en route to marry Angus Mackay, the
villainous, pillaging murderer of the Highlands.”
“I had no choice in that,” she
spat. “And I only have hearsay and your word to his character, which isn’t
much to me at this point.”
“Aye? And would ye rather me
deliver ye into his hands? Perhaps then ye’d know the meaning of the
word ‘tyrant’.” He advanced on her then, wanting to shake her until she came
to her senses.
“The fact that you would even
threaten that validates my opinion of you.” Lindsay stormed to the door and
threw it open. “Get out!”
Not a chance. He was Laird of this
castle and he would be denied access to no corner of it. The lass was daft if
she thought she would order him about. She may have found that she wielded a
little more power in their damnable situation, but that didn’t mean he’d let
her lord it over him.
Crossing his arms over his chest
and planting his feet, he towered over her, daring her to issue one more
command, to push his temper one more notch.
“Very well,” her eyes showed no
fear, no hint of retreat. “Enjoy your evening, my lord, alone .” With
that, she stalked out in a pastel storm. The breeze created by the slam of the
heavy door extinguished a preponderance of the candles, leaving his world
infinitely darker.
Instant regret smothered the fire
in his veins like a damp and weighty blanket. He may not have given her any quarter,
but he certainly had not emerged the victor. In fact, he lost ground this
night. Lindsay wasn’t the only one who’d been forced into this situation, but,
he had to admit, his shackles were sweeter than hers. He gained an exquisite,
hot-blooded mate and the powerful boost to his abilities that would grant an
abundance of safety and security to all those under his protection.
What did she get from the bargain?
A fragmented and militant berserker with more growl than gentility. Well,
there was a castle with plentiful coffers. But, no doubt, her dowry was enough
to render that moot.
With a foul curse, Connor plucked
up the cask of wine before searching out his own chambers.
Chapter
Ten
The next night brought the first
successful week of harvest market to a close. This was to be marked with
festivities that would have invoked Mabon himself. Lindsay had strolled with
Evelyn through fire jugglers and acrobats, bards and puppeteers, amusing
herself despite the fact that she’d
“But, Evelyn also explained that,
though I am your mate and you have brought me to this place against my will, I
do not have to accept your hand unless I want to.”
Connor saw now, that he’d made a
mistake encouraging the two women spend time together. He’d thought that his
loyal sister-in-law would work to soften Lindsay’s heart toward him. Instead,
Evelyn rallied to the side of her maltreated compatriot and gave her all the
pertinent information with which to make a decision. Now Lindsay understood
that, though she was technically his captive, she wielded all power over his
future happiness.
Women! He ran a hand over his
head, trying to figure his next stratagem. Gods but she was beautiful when
angry. Her breasts heaved against the bodice of her gown, challenging the
constitution of the seams. Connor blinked, forcing himself to concentrate on
the problem at hand. If he wanted to do more than look at her beauty,
he’d need to pacify her ire.
She had to know that he didn’t just
need her, he wanted her.
Planting her wee fists on her slim
hips, she glared at him, the ice in her eyes at once turning to violet fire.
“I refuse, Connor MacLauchlan, I refuse to be wed to a high-handed, mercenary,
overbearing, tyrannical brute with more strength than wits, so that you may become a more powerful berserker.”
A sensation akin to hurt lit a fire
in his chest and anger thundered through the weaker emotion, ready to do
battle. “When I found ye, ye were en route to marry Angus Mackay, the
villainous, pillaging murderer of the Highlands.”
“I had no choice in that,” she
spat. “And I only have hearsay and your word to his character, which isn’t
much to me at this point.”
“Aye? And would ye rather me
deliver ye into his hands? Perhaps then ye’d know the meaning of the
word ‘tyrant’.” He advanced on her then, wanting to shake her until she came
to her senses.
“The fact that you would even
threaten that validates my opinion of you.” Lindsay stormed to the door and
threw it open. “Get out!”
Not a chance. He was Laird of this
castle and he would be denied access to no corner of it. The lass was daft if
she thought she would order him about. She may have found that she wielded a
little more power in their damnable situation, but that didn’t mean he’d let
her lord it over him.
Crossing his arms over his chest
and planting his feet, he towered over her, daring her to issue one more
command, to push his temper one more notch.
“Very well,” her eyes showed no
fear, no hint of retreat. “Enjoy your evening, my lord, alone .” With
that, she stalked out in a pastel storm. The breeze created by the slam of the
heavy door extinguished a preponderance of the candles, leaving his world
infinitely darker.
Instant regret smothered the fire
in his veins like a damp and weighty blanket. He may not have given her any quarter,
but he certainly had not emerged the victor. In fact, he lost ground this
night. Lindsay wasn’t the only one who’d been forced into this situation, but,
he had to admit, his shackles were sweeter than hers. He gained an exquisite,
hot-blooded mate and the powerful boost to his abilities that would grant an
abundance of safety and security to all those under his protection.
What did she get from the bargain?
A fragmented and militant berserker with more growl than gentility. Well,
there was a castle with plentiful coffers. But, no doubt, her dowry was enough
to render that moot.
With a foul curse, Connor plucked
up the cask of wine before searching out his own chambers.
Chapter
Ten
The next night brought the first
successful week of harvest market to a close. This was to be marked with
festivities that would have invoked Mabon himself. Lindsay had strolled with
Evelyn through fire jugglers and acrobats, bards and puppeteers, amusing
herself despite the fact that she’d
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