Page 34 of Craved By a Highland Beast

Bonnie’s voice rang over the training grounds, though Evan hardly registered it. The only thing that stopped him from attacking again was the hand on his shoulder, rough as it tugged him back and away from the other man.

“That is enough,” Alaric growled, coming to stand between them. At the sound of his brother’s voice, Evan’s head cleared a little, some of his rage dissipating—just enough for him to hold himself back instead of tearing his way through to get to Ruthven.

A few paces away, Ruthven spat blood on the ground, a hand coming up to rub his injured cheek. But then, when Evan felta pair of hands—these much gentler than those of his brother—Ruthven’s features contorted with uncontrollable rage, a snarl baring his teeth.

“It seems like Miss MacLaren has clear preferences,” Ruthven said, his words dripping with venom. “It’s rather odd, dinnae ye think?”

Evan didn’t know who, precisely, it was that Ruthven was addressing with his question, but he doubted he was talking to him. Bonnie, her hands slipping off Evan’s shoulders, took a few steps forward, mouth set in a firm line.

“I am concerned fer me cousin,” she said. “Is that so terrible, Laird Ruthven? Dinnae ye think it is me duty tae take care o’ me kin?”

Ruthven said nothing. He only stared at the three of them, his frown deepening the longer he remained silent. Then, he huffed and turned around, stomping back towards the castle without offering another word.

“Come,” Bonnie told Evan, placing a hand on his shoulder to guide him. “Let us take ye tae the healer.”

“I am fine, Bonnie,” Evan said with a roll of his eyes. “I’ve had much worse than this.”

“Ye should still see the healer,” Bonnie insisted, completely ignoring Evan’s protests and pushing him insistently towardsthe healer’s quarters near the training grounds. “I will feel better if ye dae.”

Evan frowned in confusion as he turned to look at Bonnie while she dragged him along. Not so long ago, they were arguing, eagerly shooting hurtful words at each other, and yet now there she was, worrying about his health. Though he didn’t think there was any need to see the healer, he went along with it just because it would give Bonnie some peace of mind.

Once Bonnie shoved him into the healer’s quarters, the man took over, quickly checking over all his injuries. He was not particularly gentle as he poked and prodded at Evan, but at least he was efficient and thorough, and in only a few minutes, he had reassured both him and Bonnie that he was perfectly fine—he only needed some rest and ointments for his bruises.

“Forgive me,” the healer said. He was an older man, with greying hair and shallow lines around his eyes that betrayed a life of smiles. “I must attend tae me laird.”

With that, he was gone before either Evan or Bonnie could leave his quarters, and suddenly the two of them were left all alone for the first time after several days.

At first, neither spoke. Evan sat at the edge of a ratty bed pushed against the wall, while Bonnie paced in front of him, her eyes never meeting his.

When she finally spoke, she said, “Why would ye dae such a thing? I dinnae understand ye. Why would ye attack Laird Ruthven in his own home?”

“He suggested it,” Evan was quick to say. He wouldn’t take the blame for this when it had been Ruthven who had come to him searching for a fight. “I only did what he wanted.”

“Even if he suggested it, ye shouldnae have agreed,” Bonnie pointed out. Deep down, Evan knew she was right, of course. He should have kept his temper in check. He should have taken a step back, tried to diffuse the tension between them as much as he could. He hadn’t done that, though. He had taken the bait and he had risked ruining all his plans.

Will Ruthven send us away now?

It sounded more likely than Evan would have liked to think. After all, Ruthven had every right to kick them out of his castle after such a violent display from Evan.

“Well, he deserved it,” Evan said. It was easier to insist, to pretend that he wasn’t in the wrong at all. “An’ he asked fer it, so I dinnae see why ye are beratin’ me instead o’ him.”

“Because we are meant tae be nice tae him!” Bonnie huffed in exasperation, a hand coming up to rub her forehead wearily. “I dinnae have tae explain this tae ye. Ye already ken we must be polite.”

Gritting his teeth, Evan considered his next response carefully, since he knew Bonnie was right but didn’t want to admit it. Still, he didn’t know how he would get out of this unscathed.

“It was only a spar between two men,” he said in the end with a deep sigh. The excuse was weak even to his own ears, but it was too late for him to back down now. He had long since made the decision to stick to this line of defense and admitting he was at fault now seemed less than ideal to him. “I am sure he will look past it. It was only a minor brawl.”

“Is that what ye call it?” Bonnie asked with a humorless laugh, coming to a halt right in front of Evan to glare at him. “A minor scuffle? Ye are both covered in bruises an’ cuts! Ye fought in front o’ dozens o’ his men! Everyone saw ye an’ everyone will be discussin’ this fer weeks!”

“Why should I care what Ruthven’s men discuss?” Evan asked, standing from where he sat on the edge of the bed. Suddenly, they were impossibly close, Bonnie’s chest brushing against him with every breath she took. The realization brought them both to a tense silence and a shiver passed through Evan at their proximity, his hands itching to reach out and touch.

Yet again, all he had to do to kiss her was close that small gap between them, and suddenly, it was the only thing he could think about, every other thought banished from his mind.

“If I must explain this tae ye, then I can only assume ye are an unthinkin’ fool,” said Bonnie, a muscle in her jaw jumping asshe gritted her teeth. Evan raised an eyebrow at the insult, more intrigued than offended.

“It doesnae become a lady tae speak like this,” he said, half-serious and half-teasing.

Predictably, Bonnie didn’t miss a beat. “It doesnae become a laird either. Is this how yer parents raised ye?”

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