Page 19 of Craved By a Highland Beast

It did nothing to help with the way her heart fluttered in his presence. If anything, it made it even worse. Now that she knew she wasn’t as cruel of a man as she had originally thought, it was difficult to resist his good looks and the way he made her feel.

“Yer fine,” Evan said, pulling Bonnie back into reality. Just as quickly as he had uncovered her body, he covered it once more, making sure that her tunic lay perfectly over her back and that every part of her was covered. “Nae more ticks.”

“Thank ye,” Bonnie aid, for lack of anything better to say. A part of her wished that she could talk to him about that attraction just to see if he felt it, too, but she could never find the courage to start such a conversation between them. Instead, she gave him a small, faltering smile and pushed her way past him, exiting the room before the tension between them became unbearable.

Evan didn’t follow, at least not at first, and Bonnie was glad for it. Her entire face was on fire and she didn’t want him to see the blush on her cheeks.

The moment she stepped out of the room, she saw Alaric bent over the rail, his face pale as he stared at the waves. Concern flooded Bonnie and she rushed to him, leaning over to take a better look at him, only to find that he looked like a ghost.

“What happened?” she asked. “What is the matter?”

“Naething,” said Alaric, waving his hand dismissively. “I am simply nauseous. Rough seas today.”

It was true. The storm hadn’t quite caught up to them but now that Bonnie was out of the room, she could see how choppy the seas were and how dark the sky above them. She could hardly blame Alaric for being sea-sick. If anything, she was surprised that it hadn’t affected her yet.

“Come,” she urged him, wrapping her hands around his arm to tug him away from the rail. “It will help if ye sit.”

Alaric followed her reluctantly, swaying as he walked, and Bonnie had him sit by the small room, where the wind wasn’t as strong, but where the air still hit his face to help with the nausea. It was then that Evan came out of the room and glanced at them, a deep frown forming on his face as though the mere sight of Bonnie was enough to anger him.

She couldn’t understand it. What was it about her that made him look so murderous when she had done nothing to earn such behavior?

Bonnie didn’t ask, as she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of an argument. Instead, she focused on Alaric, rubbing his shoulder gently as he took in deep, calming breaths. When he looked up and saw Evan standing there, though, he shifted, pulling back from Bonnie a little until her hand slipped off his shoulder.

“Thank ye, Bonnie,” he said. “I’m feelin’ better.”

It was a lie. Bonnie could clearly see it in the way he still struggled to breathe, to swallow, the sea affecting him deeply.She couldn’t understand him, either. What was it that made him so distant all of a sudden, when he had been more than willing to accept her help before?

Only when Evan walked off did Alaric relax once more, letting his head fall back with a sigh, though Bonnie didn’t try to touch him again.

“Why is he like this?” Bonnie asked him.

Alaric gave a small shrug. “He is a strange man.”

A strange man, indeed.

CHAPTER EIGHT

When they finally reached Castle Ruthven, Evan could have cried with relief. At least now, he thought, he could focus on his plan instead of being confined on a small boat or in a narrow road with Bonnie and allowing himself to be driven crazy by the mere sight of her. He didn’t know what it was that affected him so much, as it could not only be her looks. He had seen plenty of pretty women in his lifetime, and though Bonnie was one of the most beautiful, it didn’t explain why every time he saw her, he felt like all the air rushed right out of his lungs, leaving him gasping for it. It didn’t explain why every time she was near another man, especially Alaric—to whom she seemed to have taken a liking—it soured his mood for the rest of the day.

It certainly didn’t explain the irritation, the constant distraction, and the way his thoughts kept circling back to her no matter how much he tried to think about something else.

The entire situation was becoming alarming and Evan would do anything to put an end to it. He hoped that now that they hadreached the castle, it would be easier for him to ignore her, to pretend that they were nothing but reluctant allies.

An’ that is all we are. We hardly ken anythin’ about each other.

His traitorous heart didn’t seem to understand that, though, and it began to beat erratically whenever she was near.

It was late at night when they reached Ruthven Castle, the stars and the moon illuminating their way as they rode down the path. He and Alaric had decided that it wasn’t worth it to camp for the night, as they were so close, but by the time they reached the gates, they were all exhausted. Much to his surprise, Ruthven didn’t come outside to greet them nor did he invite them to meet him in his study or the great hall. Instead, three servants came to fetch them and took each of them to their chambers—three rooms that stood at the top floor of the castle in a row, one next to the other. Alaric took the far right, Evan the one in the middle, and Bonnie the far left as they were instructed, and once they were all settled in, the servants all disappeared with promises of bringing them dinner to their rooms.

Evan had to admit that he was glad about it. The last thing he wanted was to sit through a formal welcoming dinner after such a long trip, when all he needed was a few good hours of sleep. He was certain Alaric and Bonnie wanted the same. None of them was in the mood for any socializing.

Still, he found it odd that Ruthven didn’t welcome them at all. Could it be that he was busy with John Balliol? Or was it simplya way for him to show them that he didn’t truly care about their presence in his castle?

Evan supposed they would find out soon enough. Until then, he was going to enjoy the warmth of the fire that burned in his room and the food the servants would bring him.

The chambers he was given were spacious and richly decorated with tapestries in green and golden hues, depicting scenes from a hunt. The bed was more comfortable than anything he had slept on ever since leaving his home and the rest of the place was furnished with ornate pieces made of rich, dark wood.

A lavish display, he thought. The rooms Ruthven had given them were undoubtedly some of the most ostentatious in the castle and Evan was certain it was a purposeful choice.

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