Page 53 of Kilted Hate

Only then did Katherine realize that his earlier concern had been loaded with guilt. Even now, he looked like a man who had failed miserably. In that moment, as she gazed at him, something changed within her. A shift so deep, she physically felt it in her soul.

For the first time since she arrived, she saw Domhnall in a completely different light. No longer was he her captor, or a duty she was obligated to fulfill. He had changed from the gruff and abrupt laird, and had softened toward her, even making unusual efforts to help her when he had no necessity to do so. Now, more than ever before, however, she saw him as her future husband, her protector, the man who would kill to make certain she was safe.

That knowledge caused a strange sensation in her stomach, a swirling sensation comprised of both nerves and pride. No man, other than her father, had ever shown her such regard. Not even her brother. In fact, especially not her brother, now she remembered how quickly he had scarpered when she had been injured.

And yet, here was a stranger, by all accounts, though less so now than a week ago, willing to shield her from all and any harm. Another deep knowing came to her in that moment. A knowing that her life was now changed forever.

But his guilt was palpable, and even though she sat there before him, in perfect health and in safety, it was clear he was still troubled over what had happened. She wanted to reassure himthat he had done everything he could. In fact, he had done more than any other man could.

But him battling those men had not been the first time she had witnessed his unnatural behavior and seeing that he was nearly on the brink of trusting her, she knew this was a pivotal moment. A moment where, with just a little push, he might actually reveal what he had kept hidden.

Reaching out, she took hold of his hand, feeling his roughened skin against hers.

“I’m fine, Domhnall. Besides, there were just too many of them. Well, not that that stopped you,” she said carefully, watching his reaction. “There is something you have kept hidden from me, isn’t there?”

Again, he took a moment before he replied, and then he shrugged. “Well, I cannae hide it from ye any longer, can I? Ye’ve seen enough.”

But he did not continue, and after another moment of silence, Katherine knew he needed pushing just a little bit farther.

“So?” she said softly.

With another heavy sigh, Domhnall looked at her hands as they held his. “I discovered my unnatural strength and speed when I was a boy o’ eight,” he began, his eyes still lowered as he recalled the memory. “It happened out o’ the blue when Magnus fell froma tree, he was climbing. I saw him falling, and, one minute I was too far away tae help, terrified o’ what was about tae happen. The next, I was right beneath him, catching him ‘afore he seriously injured himsel’.”

Having already witnessed his abilities, Katherine was not really surprised at his words. She did have questions, but not wanting to interrupt his flow, she said, “Where did these unnatural abilities come from?”

“We inherited them from our maither,” Domhnall replied.

“We?” she blurted.

While she had expected some kind of explanation for what she had seen him do, she had not expected anymore, and thus, she now gawked at him with wide eyes.

Domhnall nodded and looked up at her. “I suppose, given the fact that we’re tae be married, ye would have found out sooner or later. We planned tae keep it from ye, but ye’re nae exactly the quiet English lady we were expecting,” he said with a smirk.

Katherine couldn’t help the slight smile that creeped across her lips. Nor could she deny his words, for he was right. On the outside, she had always tried to portray an appearance of what was expected of her. On the inside, there was a wild part of her that had fought for freedom for a long time. In fact, it occurred to her that since she had been at the castle, Domhnall and his siblings had done nothing but encourage that part of her to show itself.

“And now ye want tae ken about them,” he said, gazing at her knowingly.

“Like you said,” Katherine replied, “I’m going to find out sooner or later.”

Domhnall nodded. “Indeed. All right. Where dae I start?” he said rhetorically. He then nodded to her head. “Enya is the healer. While those who dinnae ken about her power believe she has garnered all her talents from Brianna, the truth is, she doesnae need tonics and tinctures. She heals with her hands. That’s the reason ye nae longer have a cut on the back o’ yer head.”

“I see,” Katherine said, her eyebrows raised and feeling more than a little astonished.

Seeing her expression, Domhnall smiled. “There’s more. Much more. Magnus can read yer mind?—”

“What?” Her mouth fell open.

“Och, aye.” Domhnall smirked. “Well, it’s more that he hears yer thoughts, really. He drives me mad at times, but it has served us well when strangers o’ unknown origin have arrived at our gates. Kai’s ability helps him manipulate emotions. If ye are angry, he can calm ye but only if he’s touching ye. He cannot use his gift from any distance. And Thora has visions of things that havenae yet happened.”

Katherine was now gawking at him, and yet, as unattractive as she realized she might look, she did not have the capacity to close her fallen mouth.

Domhnall gazed at her with an understanding expression. “I ken it is a lot tae tak’ in. Each o’ us struggled when our powers manifested. We were all young, and thus, it was even more difficult. Our gifts have helped us on many occasions. All, in fact, but on the most important one.”

Watching a sudden sadness wash over him, Katherine was at first confused, but then, something he had talked about on their horse ride a few days ago came rushing back to her.

“Your mother and father,” she breathed.

“Aye,” he said sadly. “All the strength and speed in the world didnae stop them from being murdered. We’ve all struggled, since that day, tae come tae terms with the fact that none o’ us could save them. I have wished, so many times, that I could go back and dae it differently. If only I had been closer tae me faither. If only I had kent what was going tae happen…”

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