Page 27 of Kilted Abduction
“Just abductin’ them,” she said, unable to resist the urge to needle him.
The wind outside seemed as if it had died down, but the interior of the lodge was growing colder. The flames in the hearth were growing low, unable to beat back the chill. Without the free use of her hands, Ciara couldn’t pull her furs tighter around herself. Perhaps seeing her discomfort, Magnus stood up and walked over, adding another fur then pulling them snugly around her shoulders for her. Their eyes met briefly and Ciara felt an electriccharge like lightning crackle through her veins, making her look away quickly.
“Thank ye,” she said grudgingly.
“Ye’re welcome.”
Magnus lingered for just a moment, almost as if he wanted to say something. Ciara’s heart fluttered in her breast, and she turned her face up, looking deeply into his eyes. Warmth blossomed in her belly and spread outward, heating her, almost uncomfortably, from the inside out. She didn’t understand the feeling gripping her. Didn’t understand the desire to kiss him that flowed through her veins. And yet, she felt it all the same.
His face softened and Ciara got the sense he was feeling just as she was—and judging by the expression that painted his features, seemed just as confused by it. And for a brief moment, Ciara thought he might lean forward and kiss her. As insane as it was, what scared her most was that she wasn’t entirely sure she would stop him. Thankfully she didn’t have to make the decision though, because he turned and walked to the other side of the room.
“Seems like the wind has died down,” he said, almost as if talking to himself. “And we need more wood tae get through the night.”
“Ye’re nae goin’ out in that, are ye?”
“We need the wood.”
“’Tis crazy. ‘Tis freezin’ out there.”
“It’ll be freezin’ in here if we dinnae get that fire goin’ again.”
She couldn’t deny what he was saying. It was true. As if he had talked himself into it, Magnus walked over to her and checked her bonds, giving them a firm tug. Not seeing any give in the ropes, he nodded to himself then headed for the door. A blast of frigid air swept in as he held it open and glanced over his shoulder at her, a sly smirk paining his lips.
“Dinnae go anywhere, now,” he said.
“Oh. Ye think ye’re so funny,” she barked.
Laughing to himself, he walked into the freezing night outside and closed the door behind him. Ciara held her breath, listening to the fresh fallen snow crunching beneath his boots as he walked away in search of more wood. She waited until she was certain he was gone then jumped to her feet and began frantically searching the small lodge for something, anything, she could use to cut the ropes off her wrists. He’d been careful about making sure he put his dagger away after cutting their meal with him and Ciara wasn’t finding much else with an edge she could use.
“Bleedin’ hell,” she muttered to herself. “Come on. There has tae be somethin’.”
The precious seconds were ticking by, each one that passed making Ciara feel like she was being stabbed in the heart with a needle. She didn’t know how long he was going to be out there but knowing how cold it was, she didn’t think it would be for long. She needed to find something to break the bindings around her wrists quickly if she hoped to get out before he came back.
Turning to the hearth, Ciara ran her fingers along the edges of the stones. They weren’t sharp, but they weren’t exactly dull either. They would have to do. Getting her hands into the proper position was awkward, but she managed to lay them flat enough so the ropes were set against the edge of the stone and began moving them back and forth in a sawing motion. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead as she moved her hands vigorously.
“Come on, come on,” she grunted through gritted teeth.
She had been at it for what felt like hours and the ropes still hadn’t snapped. Tears of frustration blurred her vision and she kept sawing harder. Faster. Every second was like an eternity and she was terrified that Magnus would be walking through the door before she’d freed herself.
“Bleedin’ hell, come on,” she said with a grimace.
A cry of surprise and exhilaration burst from her mouth when the ropes finally snapped, releasing her hands. Ciara quickly pulled them off her wrists and dropped them to the floor. She jumped to her feet and grabbed her things as swiftly as she could. Swinging her cloak around her shoulders, she fastened it and pulled it tight then rushed to the door.
Clenching her jaw, Ciara cracked open the door, fully expecting to see Magnus standing there with that smug smirk on his face. He wasn’t though. And when she stuck her head outside, she didn’t see him anywhere. His large tracks were in the snow leading away from the cabin, but she saw none coming back.
With a spark of hope in her heart, Ciara bounded away from the lodge, running into the frigid night and the thick fog that had rolled in, making the world around her opaque, determined to put as much distance between her and her captor as she could.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Bleedin’ hell,” Magnus said as he emerged from the trees.
He walked to the open door of the lodge and stepped inside. The first thing he saw was the ropes on the ground near the hearth and surmised what she’d done. As irritated as he was by her latest escape, there was another part of him that couldn’t help but respect her determination and resourcefulness. Admire it even. But knowing he had to go back into the cold to fetch her once again, his irritation won out.
Grumbling to himself under his breath, Magnus threw the pile of wood in his hands down. It hit with a loud clatter. He turned and stalked out of the lodge, quickly finding her tracks in the snow. He had to assume she knew she wouldn’t be able to mask her passage through the freshly fallen powder and figured she was relying on her speed to put as much distance between them as she could. All things considered; it wasn’t a bad plan.
Knowing he had ground to make up, Magnus started off, following her trail of footprints as quickly as he could. He moved swiftly but carefully, knowing that with a fresh layer of snow, the ground was slick beneath his feet. Slipping on something and twisting or worse, breaking an ankle or leg would not do. Not at all.
His breath passed his lips in a steamy plume as he hurried along, following Ciara’s trail. He wanted nothing more than to go sit in front of the fire and have some wine but thanks to this troublesome woman, he was having to traipse through the forest on the verge of freezing to death. He silently swore to himself that when he caught her, he was going to bind her so tight, she wasn’t going to be able to move so much as a finger.
