Chapter 15

15

H unter leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose as Calvin relayed the council’s latest demands.

For the third meeting in a row, the council had pressed the same issue: his siring an heir. Their concern barely masked the urgency of a looming crisis, as though Hunter would fall ill tomorrow if he didn’t produce an heir. He’d listened, gritted his teeth, and kept his expression flat, only responding with measured silence.

“Perhaps they’ll back off for a while,” Calin said, though his tone suggested he believed nothing of the sort. “At least until the next meetin’.”

Hunter snorted, not bothering to reply as his eyes drifted over Calvin’s shoulder. A flash of skirts as Erica and Lily raced each other outside. The sound of their laughter made a smile tug at his lips.

Suddenly, his thoughts were consumed by Erica as she stepped back into his view and crouched down, pointing out a flower to Lily, who gasped in delight. Erica’s face was glowing, her features soft with affection. Though it was Lily’s clear admiration for her that made him stir.

Calvin smirked knowingly. “Getting a bit distracted, are we?”

Hunter jerked his head back, but he kept his expression neutral. “Careful, Calvin,” he warned in a low voice.

Calvin simply chuckled, unbothered by his glare. “Cannae blame a man for noticin’ when his Laird’s mind is elsewhere,” he quipped, crossing his arms over his chest. “Ye have been driftin’ off more often these days.”

Hunter shot him another ice-cold look that would have silenced weaker men. “Keep it to yerself, or I’ll assign ye stable duty for a week,” he retorted, his voice firm, though there was a note of amusement there.

Calvin’s grin only widened. “Understood, Laird MacKinnon,” he said with a mock formality, giving him a small bow.

Ignoring him, Hunter made his way out of his study to join them outside. Calvin fell into step behind him, but Hunter’s attention was already on Erica—the way her skirts swished around her legs, the way she gently guided Lily through the gardens. His chest tightened as he approached them.

They both looked up at him, and Erica flashed him a radiant smile that sent a wave of unsettling warmth through him.

“Hunter,” she greeted, reaching out to touch his arm in a familiar, casual way that only intensified the heat blooming behind his ribcage.

“Erica,” he replied, his voice gruff.

He looked down at Lily, who was beaming up at him, though he noticed her demeanor shifting slightly when Erica withdrew her hand.

“I was just showin’ Lily some of the flowers again. We’re decidin’ which ones to paint next,” Erica said, glancing between him and the little girl with a gleam in her eyes.

She gave a small, oddly mischievous smile and glanced down at her skirts, her fingers toying with the fabric.

“Actually,” she added, glancing up at him with an innocence that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “I just remembered somethin’ I need to fetch. Willnae be long!”

Hunter narrowed his eyes at her, watching her turn around and head back to the castle, leaving him with Calvin and Lily.

There is somethin’ about her grin…

She glanced back once before disappearing around the garden path, and his suspicion was all but confirmed.

She’s definitely up to somethin’.

Lily shuffled beside him, her small hands clasped together in front of her, her expression neutral and polite. But with Eria’s departure, the easy, joyful spark he’d seen earlier faded, replaced by the more reserved, mature expression she often wore around him.

“Seems we’re in charge now, Me Laird,” Calvin remarked with a sly smile. He nudged Lily’s shoulder, trying to coax a giggle out of her. “What do ye say, Lily? Should we head to the kitchen and demand they hand over all the sweets again?”

Hunter lifted an eyebrow. “Again?”

Calvin grinned playfully, and a small smile played on Lily’s lips as well. “Ach! I meant, for the first time ever,” he corrected sarcastically.

It was all Lily could do not to crack a wider smile or let out a laugh.

Hunter felt a twinge in his chest. Here he was, the man responsible for her well-being, and yet Calvin seemed to be the one more capable of coaxing out her laughter. He clenched his jaw slightly, uncomfortable with the realization that he was still, in some ways, a stranger to her.

Attempting to break the silence, he crouched down to her level, keeping his voice soft. “Would ye like to go see the stables, lass? Perhaps the new foal?”

Lily hesitated, her gaze flitting over his face, as though assessing his intention. “I… I’d like that, Uncle Hunter,” she said, though her voice was still too low, too meek.

Hunter frowned, glancing at Calvin, who shrugged and motioned for him to continue. Encouraged, he tried again. “The foal’s been eatin’ well. Strong, too. Ye can even help brush him if ye like.”

There was a flicker of interest in her eyes, though it was short-lived.

“That sounds lovely,” she replied quietly, her smile fading.

Hunter’s shoulders stiffened; the awkwardness settled heavily between them.

Why is it that Erica brings out such joy and laughter in Lily, while I can barely coax a smile from her?

He was unsure how to reach her, so he stepped back, motioning for Calvin to take over. “Perhaps ye prefer to go with Calvin,” he said stiffly, masking his frustration.

Lily’s eyes lit up, and she nodded quickly, moving toward Calvin. “Thank ye, Uncle Hunter,” she murmured, though there was something sad in her voice.

Hunter gave a stiff nod, watching them as they walked away. He felt like a fool. Erica had no doubt set him up to spend time with Lily, hoping to bring them closer. But it was clear to him that he had only disappointed her once again.

Scowling, he turned and made his way back into the castle, his mood growing darker with each step.

What game was she playin’, leavin’ me with Lily when she clearly kenned how difficult it would be for me?

He stomped down the corridors, ducking beneath one of the long tapestries off the Great Hall, and climbing up a barely used staircase. He wasn’t sure where Erica had gone, but his need to find her—to demand an explanation—only intensified.

Did she think me so heartless that I wouldnae notice me own niece’s hesitation and discomfort?

He found himself outside her chamber door in no time, not quite sure what he intended to say. His frustration simmered as he stood there, the memory of his awkward exchange with Lily fresh in his mind.

Erica had left him with his niece on purpose, no doubt expecting something magical to happen between them. But instead, Lily had reverted to her guarded demeanor, and he’d been left with a stark reminder of his failures.

Just as he was about to knock, the door swung open, and there was Erica, clearly caught off guard. Her cheeks flushed, and a small, guilty smile played on her lips. She was hiding something—he could feel it.

“Och! Hunter,” she stammered, her surprise genuine, though he could tell she was trying to mask it. “I wasnae expectin’ ye here.”

“Och, ye didnae?” he replied, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the doorframe. His voice was quiet but laced with accusation.

Her eyes darted to the side, and he caught the slight quiver in her lips, betraying the grin she was trying to hold back.

She shifted on her feet, playing with the fabric of her skirts. “I thought… well, Lily needs time with ye, Hunter. She’s nae goin’ to open up if I’m always around.”

“So, ye decided to push us together without sayin’ a word,” he said, his voice sharper than he had intended.

She shrugged. “I was only tryin’ to help. It’s clear that she needs her uncle, and she doesnae feel comfortable enough to?—”

“Comfortable?” he interrupted, his eyes narrowing on her. “Ye think leavin’ her with me when she’s still nae ready is goin’ to make her comfortable?”

Erica let out a soft huff, crossing her arms defiantly. “It’s called progress, Hunter. Ye cannae just wait for the perfect moment. I thought if ye spent more time with her, maybe ye would get to ken her better, and maybe she’d open up?—”

“And ye didnae think to tell me this beforehand?” he bit out, his frustration boiling over. “Ye left me standin’ there, feelin’ like a damn fool, Erica. Do ye ken how it feels to see her more at ease with Calvin and ye than her kin?”

“That’s precisely why ye should try to get closer to her,” Erica argued, her voice rising slightly. “Hunter, she wants to trust ye, but ye have to put in the effort. Just standin’ around isnae enough?—”

“I am tryin’, Erica,” Hunter snapped, the words slipping out before he could stop them. He was breathing hard now, the tension thick between them. “Dinnae dare suggest otherwise.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but then she wavered, as though the words she’d wanted to say were now stuck in her throat. Her defiant stance softened just a little, but she didn’t back down. Instead, she sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

“Fine, maybe I went about it the wrong way,” she relented, though there was a stubborn edge to her voice. “But Hunter, I didnae wish to make ye feel foolish. I wanted ye to have a real chance with her. To show her she has family who cares about her.”

Hunter stared at her, his anger and frustration mixing with something far more dangerous. Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing was labored, and her eyes sparked with a fire that only seemed to fuel his own. They were standing inches apart, and he could smell the floral scent of her hair.

“Erica,” he said, his voice low and edged with frustration, “ye need to stop talkin’.”

“Hunter, I was only tryin’—”

He didn’t let her finish. In one swift movement, he closed the distance between them and captured her lips with his own. She let out a small gasp of surprise, her hands instinctively gripping his arms.

He poured all his pent-up anger and something else he didn’t want to name into that kiss, and she responded in kind, matching his fervor as though she’d been waiting for this as much as he had.

When he finally pulled back, her eyes were wide, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. He let his hands linger on her waist, steadying her as he fumbled for the right words.

“Ye’re right,” he murmured, his voice rough.

Her eyes softened, and a bright smile spread across her face, one that tugged at something deep in his chest. Before he could second-guess himself, he leaned in again, his lips crashing against hers, more possessive and urgent this time.

She melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer. He couldn’t resist trailing his hands down, letting himself explore the curves he’d admired from afar. The warmth of her body against his stirred something fierce inside him, a desire he’d kept buried for far too long.

She gasped against his lips as his hands traced a line up her back, his fingers splaying across her spine. He felt her shiver beneath his touch, and it only egged him on, each kiss deeper, each touch more demanding.

Just as he slid his hands around her waist, ready to pull her closer, a hesitant knock sounded at the door.

They froze, and a moment later, Kara’s voice drifted through the door. “Me Lady, shall I dress ye for dinner?”

Erica’s face flushed a pink hue, and she pulled away from Hunter as she stammered out, “Y-Yes, Kara. Just—umm… give me a minute.”

Hunter leaned back and watched in amusement as she tried to smooth down her rumpled dress, all the while avoiding his gaze. When she finally glanced up, her cheeks were still pink, but her eyes held a glimmer of mischief, the embarrassment replaced with a spark that only made her more endearing.

“Kara can be terribly punctual,” she muttered, half-exasperated, half-amused as she tried to right herself.

Hunter chuckled, reaching out to tilt her chin up, his thumb brushing her cheek. “Remind me to thank her later.”

Her blush deepened, and she rolled her eyes, but her lips curled into a smile as she shook her head. Hunter’s gaze lingered on her a moment longer, then he stepped back, his expression softening as he nodded toward the door.

“Walk with me to me study?” he asked, a teasing note in his voice.

Erica smiled, looping her arm through his as they made their way down the hall, the tension lingering between them.