Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“ I ’ll come back tae fetch ye fer supper once we’re done,” he said.

“May I walk the grounds?” Ciara asked. “I’d like a little fresh air.”

“’Tis cold out there.”

She shrugged. “I’ve dinnae mind the cold all that much.”

A concerned frown on his lips, Magnus pulled his dark green cloak about his shoulders and clasped it at the throat with a small metal broach that bore his house sigil. He paused for a moment then turned to her and nodded.

“Aye. Ye can walk the grounds,” he said. “But I’ll be sendin’ a couple of men tae watch over ye and when they tell ye it’s time tae return, it’s time tae return. Nay questions.”

Ciara nodded, a small smile playing across her lips. “Nay questions.”

“I mean it, Ciara.”

“I ken, I ken,” she replied. “I’ll come back when they say ‘tis time tae come back.”

His gaze remained locked on her for a moment and his lips quivered as he seemed to be suppressing a smile. Ciara felt that spark in her belly that was becoming familiar whenever she was near him. In the days that followed that moment they’d shared in the corridor and what Ciara had come to call Magnus’ midnight confession, the wall of ice between them had begun to melt.

While she wouldn’t go so far as to say relations between them were exactly warm, they were somewhat less frosty than they’d been before. Conversation between them seemed to flow a lot easier, more naturally, and she’d even managed to get a few laughs out of him. He was surprisingly fun to talk to. He was intelligent and able to hold the sort of long conversations with actual depth that Ciara enjoyed. And while he still remained guarded around her, Magnus seemed slightly less… tense.

While he hadn’t come right out and said that he cared for her, Ciara had heard enough in his words to know that he did. He was worried about what would happen to her if she left. He was worried about her being captured by her father and Fairfax and the life that waited for her. And though he didn’t say it, she could tell he didn’t want that for her any more than she wanted that for herself. He hadn’t said he cared about her, but Ciara could see it in his eyes when they spoke. She could feel it in the air between them that felt charged with so many unspoken words.

“All right,” he said gently. “I will be back fer ye when I can.”

She nodded and watched as he walked out of the chamber, gently closing the door behind him. Ciara sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, her thoughts racing as wildly as her heart. While she appreciated him taking her under his wing, his worry for her safety was a blade that cut both ways. She knew that by being in Dunvegan, she was putting his life, as well as the lives of his family, in danger. Her father and Fairfax would come for her and when they did, she knew they would stop at nothing to bring her back.

She feared they would raze Dunvegan to the ground and kill everybody who dwelled within its walls. And while she didn’t understand exactly what she felt for Magnus, she was growing fond of him. She had started to enjoy being around him. Ciara knew herself well enough to know that she would take his death hard. She knew it would hurt her in ways she couldn’t even begin to comprehend at the moment. And there was little doubt in her mind that if her father and Fairfax marched on Dunvegan, it would not end well for the MacLeod clan.

The thought of them all being killed because they were sheltering her was unbearable. It sent a sharp slice of pain straight through her heart. She had no doubt they were capable and had fought many battles—successfully—but Ciara didn’t think they understood or appreciated the threat Fairfax posed to them. The man was a monster who would spare none.

If something happened to them, it would be something Ciara couldn’t live with. Yes, they were technically her captors, but as strange as it sounded, they had been nothing other than kind to her. She couldn’t live with herself if something happened to them and she had done nothing to prevent it. And despite Magnus’ dire assessment of the situation, Ciara didn’t think Fairfax would attack Dunvegan without provocation. If she wasn’t there, he would have no cause to fight. Which meant she had to leave. For her safety as well as that of the MacLeods.

Her decision made, Ciara dressed in the breeches and tunic she had arrived in, which had been cleaned. She pulled on her boots and fastened her cloak around her neck. Her sword and dagger had not been returned to her, which frustrated her, but she would find new blades and a bow once she’d gotten away from Dunvegan. Her purse though, was still heavy with the coin she’d won at the Games. It wasn’t a fortune, but it would keep her fed for a little while. It would have to tide her over until she was able to figure out how to earn more.

That done, she walked to the door and pulled it open. The two guards standing outside gave her an uneasy smile, no doubt remembering what she was sure Magnus had told them he would do to them if they let her out of their sight.

“Stretchin’ yer legs, eh?” asked the guard on the right.

“Aye. Been caged up too long and need some air.”

“All right,” he said. “But ye ken the rules.”

She nodded. “I dae.”

They both stepped aside, letting her walk ahead of them. Ciara traced a familiar path through the castle, lulling her guards into a sense of complacency that would allow her to enact her plan, half-cooked as it was. She hadn’t had time to think through all the angles. She just knew she had to act for her sake, and for Magnus’. He didn’t believe her being within their castle walls was any more of a threat than they already lived under, but Ciara didn’t. She believed her absence might be what would save them.

Ciara pushed through the doors that led to the yard outside. The ease that had developed between her and Magnus after his midnight confession had led to a greater level of trust between them. He had allowed her more freedom to walk about, with the one restriction that her walks had to be kept to the castle itself. She was not allowed to go beyond Dunvegan’s walls, not without him. It wasn’t ideal, but she would have to make it work.

As she’d hoped, the yard was a busy place. With workers running about all over the place, it was bustling and chaotic. It was just what Ciara needed. Several wagons loaded with supplies were making their way toward her. Ciara snuck a glance over her shoulder, measuring the distance between her and the guards, trying to time things just right. Getting it wrong would undoubtedly lead to her being locked away in Magnus’ bedchamber once more.

As a wagon drew near, Ciara’s body tensed and when they were close enough, she darted around the lead wagon, putting it between her and the guards. She heard them shouting behind her and once she was clear, she dashed into the crowd. Moving quickly, she wended her way among the workmen and serving girls, losing herself in the throng of bodies.

Grinning to herself, Ciara darted into the stables. She knew the alarm on her flight was probably already raised and Magnus would be out looking for her. In fact, she was counting on it. The sables were thankfully empty, and she dashed along the row of pens until she found one that was vacant. Stepping inside, she closed the door behind her and huddled in the corner, pulling foul-smelling hay on top of her for cover.

Ciara sat there, beneath the hay, for many long moments. It was itchy and smelled terrible. She knew she would need a hot bath in whatever inn she managed to find on the road after getting away from the castle. Her body tensed taut as a bowstring as she listened to the footsteps that entered the stables. And when she heard Magnus’ voice, her heart leapt into her throat as her stomach flip-flopped inside of her.

“She cannae have gotten far,” Magnus said. “Take a few men and spread out through the village. Somebody will have seen her. Clap her in irons and bring her back and I swear tae God, she’ll be spendin’ the night in the dark cells.”

She quivered in fear at the anger in his voice. Despite all that had happened, despite the fact that he’d abducted her and dragged her to Dunvegan in the first place, she didn’t want Magnus angry with her. Perhaps it was absurd, but it hurt her to think that he was cross with her. However, she could not stay in Dunvegan. She had to get away and put some real distance between herself and Fairfax. She couldn’t let her father find her and drag her home. She would rather die.

Ciara listened to the sound of his heavy footsteps retreating. She waited for a few moments longer, ensuring he was gone. Pushing the hay off her, Ciara slowly got to her feet. With Magnus and his men in the village, it was all going according to her half-baked plan. It was time to go. Ciara opened the door to the pen and stepped out, then stopped short, her heart falling into the pit of her stomach and a low groan escaping from her mouth.

“Clever lass,” he said.

Magnus leaned against the door to the pen beside the one she’d been sheltering in, an amused grin on his face. Twin threads of defeat and rage twisted around her heart and pulled tightly.

“How did ye ken?” she asked.

“I asked meself, if I were a clever lass like Ciara, how would I go about escapin’?” he replied. “And then I said, if I were a clever lass, I’d create a distraction and get everybody lookin’ one way, and while they were, I’d slip out the way they werenae lookin’.”

Ciara’s shoulders slumped and she frowned. “Ye have tae let me go. ‘Tis dangerous tae keep me here. Ye ken what a monster Fairfax is.”

“Aye. We dae. But we’re ready fer him.”

“Ye’ll never be ready fer him.”

Somebody called for Magnus from the other end of the stable and when he turned, Ciara broke for the door. She ran for all she was worth but just before she reached it, Magnus’ large arms encircled her waist from behind and he pulled her to him. She squealed and squirmed, fighting to break his grasp. All she managed to do was get herself turned around and without thinking, delivered a slap across his face. And the man had the nerve to laugh.

Perhaps seeing the anger in her eyes, his smile fell away. “Sorry.”

“Is this funny tae ye?”

“Aye. A little.”

She scowled in outrage, which only managed to draw another smile from him. Ordinarily, she enjoyed seeing him smile and hear his laughter. But not now. Not while it felt like she was being mocked and made a fool of.

He set her back down on her feet and took a step back. As she held his icy blue gaze, the air between them crackled with energy that lit Ciara up from the inside. Her insides tuned over on themselves and she was overcome with the wholly inappropriate and wildly absurd urge to kiss him again. It was confusing. Confounding. She couldn’t go on like this.

“If ye’re goin’ tae force me tae stay here, I need me own chambers,” she said.

“Ye demand yer own chambers after gettin’ caught tryin’ tae escape? Again?” he said with a chuckle. “Ye’re a cheeky one, lass.”

“I give ye me word I’ll nae try tae escape again.”

Magnus studied her for a long moment, his lips pursed, and his arms folded over his broad chest. In his eyes, she thought she saw the same confusion and longing she felt. Ciara knew she was in no position to bargain for anything, not after being caught trying to run yet again, but she thought perhaps being forced to share quarters with her was a situation as confusing and untenable to him as it was to her.

“Ye give me yer word then?” he finally asked.

“Ye have me word.”

“Ye’ll still be under guard,” he said softly. “I’m sorry but I cannae give ye free run of the place fer obvious reasons.”

Ciara nodded. “All right.”

Magnus nodded. “All right then. I’ll make it happen.”

Still wrapped in a thick cloak of frustration and defeat, Ciara turned and walked back toward the castle with Magnus by her side. Magnus turned and gave her a grin.

“All things considered, ‘twas nae a bad plan,” he said.

“’Twas obviously nae good enough.”

“Dinnae be too disappointed. ‘Tis me job tae figure things like this out,” he replied. “I bet ye would’ve fooled everybody else in the castle.”

Ciara remained silent as they trudged back to the castle, every step feeling like she was edging ever closer to a pair of shackles and a noose around her neck. As they stepped through the doorway, Magnus nudged her with an elbow.

“Ye need a hot bath. Ye smell like ye were sittin’ in a pile of dung,” he teased.

And despite her bitter disappointment at having failed yet again, Ciara laughed and somehow felt better than she had any right to feel.