Page 56 of Kilted Hate

Later, Katherine lay in Domhnall’s protective arms, her head resting upon his chest, the soft thump of his heart loud in her ear. The rhythmic beat was making her sleepy, but then, Domhnall’s voice brought her back.

“Dae ye have any notion who those men were today, Katherine?”

The question was so out of the blue that Katherine was not prepared for it. Without moving, for she feared that if she looked at him, he would see her panic, she slowly shook her head against his muscular chest.

“I do not,” she said quietly.

Her heart felt heavy, for after what they had just experienced together, how they had bonded, and a newfound connection made, it felt like such a deep betrayal.

That’s because it is a betrayal. Here you are, lying with the man your brother wants to kill.

Indeed, she was. Worse than that, she was now certain she was in love with him. How was she supposed to reconcile that?

I have to speak to Reginald. I just have to.

“I was surprised tae see ye in the village,” he continued. “I cannae understand why ye would leave the castle by yersel’. Especially after the attack the other day.”

It wasn’t quite a question, but she knew he desired an explanation.

Pushing herself up and turning to look at him with her best poker face, she said, “I was feeling a little homesick. I suppose, I wanted to feel like a normal person. You know, someone who leaves her abode. Someone who visits a village and perhaps buys something they like.” She heaved a dramatic sigh for effect. “I can hardly believe such a dreadful thing happened while I was there. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed something so terrifying in all my life.”

That bit was actually true.

Domhnall’s eyes softened, and, scooping her further up to him, he landed a tender kiss on her forehead.

“I’m sorry ye had tae witness that, Katherine. Truly, I am.”

She then rested her head back on his shoulder, relief flooding through her body that he had believed her story. But the relief was short lived when he continued.

“But I will find out who those men were, and why they attacked us. And God help them all when I set my sights upon them again.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Domhnall rose the next morning and went in search of Magnus. Given that Domhnall was far too invested in Katherine’s recovery, they had not spoken fully about the men who had attacked him.

In the end, he found him in the drawing room, gazing out of the window.

“Morning,” Domhnall said, closing the door behind him once he had entered.

Magnus turned to his brother with a frown of concern. “How dae ye feel?” he asked.

Domhnall shrugged. “I’m grand.”

“And Katherine?”

“She woke late last night. She’s well enough.”

The memory of their ecstatic lovemaking sent a strange but pleasurable sensation through his stomach, but Domhnall kept that to himself. His brother didn’t need to know everything.

“She kens about us all now, so there’s nay need fer anymore hiding.”

Domhnall had come to stand beside his brother at the window, and from the corner of his eye, he noted Magnus’s lifted eyebrows.

“Dinnae say it,” Domhnall said. “I had nay choice but tae tell her.”

“Why? Because ye lost control o’ yersel’ when ye were attacked?”

It was Domhnall’s turn to frown.

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