Page 51 of Craved By a Highland Beast

Riding, too, would be difficult, but she refused to spend another day in Castle Ruthven. She was well enough to travel and so she would, reluctant to miss this opportunity to leave.

Once she stood, slipping her feet into her shoes, she made her way over to Evan and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, shaking him awake. Slowly, he opened his eyes and blinked up at her, before glancing over his shoulder at the windows that lined the far wall.

“What time is it?” he asked, hands coming up to rub the sleep from his eyes before one of them rested over Bonnie’s.

“Early still,” said Bonnie. “But we have a long way ahead o’ us.”

They would have to spend the night somewhere, she knew, and she didn’t know the way from Castle Ruthven to Castle MacLaren at all. As far as she knew, neither did Evan, and so it was best to be as cautious as possible, which included leaving early. Besides, she was certain Evan was just as eager to get out of there as she was.

“I shall prepare the horses,” Evan said, standing from the chair and stretching the kinks out of his back. For a moment, he glanced around as if he was looking for someone, before he leaned close to pull Bonnie into a kiss, one that had her melting against him. Then, he was gone too soon, heading for the door. “I shall meet ye at the courtyard once ye are ready. Have a servant call me.”

With that, he was gone and Bonnie took the chance to gather some supplies from the healer’s quarters—clean cloth, some of the ointment that was left by her bed, larger strips of cloth with which she could rebind her shoulder—before she, too, left and headed to her chambers to pack for their trip.

It was a quick affair. By the time the rest of the castle was up, she was already done and two servants were carrying her items down to the courtyard for her.

When she stepped out of the doors, she found not only Evan there, two horses ready for them by his side, but also Ruthven, who seemed anything but pleased by their departure. The man stood a little to the side, arms crossed over his chest as he glared at a seemingly oblivious Evan—though Bonnie knew better than to assume he hadn’t notice the stare—and even when he spotted Bonnie, the frown didn’t leave his face.

It was odd, seeing that look directed at her. Ruthven had always made a point of being pleasant to her, but she supposed now he had no reason to hide his irritation. All his hopes rested with the MacLaren council, but he had to know that the farther Bonniewas from him, the harder it would be to have the wedding he so desperately wanted.

“Laird Ruthven,” Bonnie said in greeting, bowing to him. “Thank ye fer bein’ such a gracious host.”

Ruthven gave Bonnie one of those half-hearted smiles that she had come to expect from him. “It was me pleasure,” he said. “I only wish ye could have stayed.”

“It is rather unfortunate,” said Bonnie, but that was all she offered on the matter. “As me cousin promised ye, we shall write tae ye as soon as we are back.”

“I will be awaitin’ yer letter, Miss MacLaren,” said Ruthven. “I hope yer travels are safe.”

There was something about Ruthven’s tone that sent a shiver down Bonnie’s spine. There was nothing that justified that feeling, though—at least nothing she could identify. Perhaps it was all in her head, she thought. Ever since she had found out Ruthven worked with the English, her dislike of him had been infected by a thread of fear.

With one final, strained smile and a small bow, Bonnie turned around and mounted her horse with Evan’s help, favoring her left arm for the first time. It would slow them down, but at least they weren’t in a terrible hurry. They could take their time as long as they were out of that castle.

Ruthven stood by the castle doors and watched them as the two of them left, but Bonnie refused to look behind. She rode out of the gates without hesitation, and only when they were several steps down the path, did she finally breathe with ease, her chest expanding with the first deep breath she had taken after days.

The sound of the gates closing behind them was like music to her ears.

“Free at last,” Bonnie mumbled to herself. Behind them, the castle seemed smaller and smaller the farther they travelled. Ahead of them, there was nothing but the open path, the one that would finally lead her home.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“Ithink we should go tae me castle instead.”

Evan had been thinking about it for a while now, ever since he and Bonnie had gone around the first forest in their way—the very same one they had crossed the previous day where they had been attacked. Neither of them was eager to go through the same path again, and so they had decided to take the longer route, even if it would delay them by hours.

Now, the sun was slowly sinking in the horizon and there was no town in sight. When they had left Castle Ruthven, Evan had been under the impression that they would find a place to stay, some inn or even a cottage where they could seek shelter in exchange for some gold. They had found nothing but empty land, though, as all the settlements and towns seemed to be at the other side of Castle Ruthven, closer to the north than the south.

Neither of them knew the area and so they didn’t know when they would reach another town. Evan didn’t want to risk goingtoo far in the dark. Sooner or later, they would have to set up camp.

“Yer castle?” Bonnie asked, frowning as she turned to look at him. “Why?”

“Because we dinnae ken how many people Alaric has managed tae reach,” said Evan. “An’ we dinnae ken if yer sister an’ her husband have made it back by now. If they’re nae there, then yer council will make the decision about ye an’ Ruthven an’ there will be nae one tae oppose them if they decide tae go ahead with the weddin’.”

“Surely, Cathleen an’ Macauley must have reached the castle by now,” Bonnie said. “It’s been a long time since the Hamilton weddin’.”

“It is most likely,” Evan agreed. “But if there is even a small chance that they’re nae there an’ Alaric’s news havenae reached yer council, I would prefer ye were with me instead o’ them.”

Evan had to admit that he also had a selfish reason for wanting to go to his own castle rather than Castle MacLaren. If he brought Bonnie home, there was no telling whether or not he would be allowed to remain near her. If he brought her to his home, then no one could tell him a thing.

He didn’t reveal that to Bonnie, though, even if he doubted she would fault him for it. He simply found it a little embarrassing, and he even felt his cheeks heat a little at the thought of sharing the whole truth.

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