Page 1 of Promised to the Ruthless Laird
CHAPTER ONE
1714, Crypt of the Triad
“Edin, ye’ve been chosen fer a mission o’ great import.” The deep, commanding voice of one of the figures broke the silence, reverberating through the ancient crypt. It was a voice meant to be obeyed, each word weighted with authority.
The flickering torches lining the walls painted erratic shadows over the ancient carvings, their forms seeming to twist and writhe as if alive. Edin had stood in this room more times than she cared to count, but its oppressive atmosphere never lost its edge.
It was as though the air carried the scrutiny of countless unseen eyes. The damp chill clung to her skin, seeping into her bones as she faced the three cloaked figures known as The Favored. Their faces were obscured by hoods, the darkness within like a void.
The chamber itself felt as though it were closing in, its ancient stone walls bearing down on her. Even the faint echo of the figure’s voice heightened her sense of isolation. Yet Edin stood straight and unyielding, her outward composure betraying none of the turmoil within. Her mind, however, was a maelstrom. Whenever she was summoned to this crypt, she was tasked with work that danced the fine line between death and glory.
Weakness, she knew, was a luxury she could not afford. To falter, even for a moment, could mean losing everything she had spent her life fighting to achieve. She had to appear fearless, unshakeable as she steeled herself against the unrelenting weight of their gaze.
“A request has come from the Lennox family,” the cloaked figure continued, her voice measured as her fingers tapped the armrest of the high-backed chair.
Edin’s sharp gray eyes narrowed imperceptibly. The Lennox name always brought complications to its cases, reserved only for the most skilled members of The Triad.
“If I may ask,” she said, her voice calm and unwavering despite the flicker of unease she felt, “wasnae Elsie charged wi’ matters concerning the Lennox family?”
The figure on the right answered, her voice cutting through the crypt’s chill. “Yes. But Elsie has chosen a different path; she married and, in doing so, relinquished her place within The Triad.”
Marriage? Edin struggled to keep the incredulity from her expression. To throw away the opportunity to rise, to command respect, all for the fleeting comforts of matrimony? It would be a betrayal of self and purpose.
The mere thought of a quiet life, confined to the walls of a home, suffocated her. The monotony of tending to household affairs, of playing the dutiful wife—no matter how comfortable or privileged—would bore her to madness.
The Triad stood for something greater than human desires, it fought for justice and understanding in a world that thrived on shadows and deceit.
Edin couldn’t imagine looking back on her life and seeing it reduced to the mundane when she could achieve something greater. For as long as she could remember, Edin had envisioned herself as an integral part of the Triad. It was a calling. To belong to an organization so devoted to uncovering truths, solving the unsolvable, and protecting the integrity of their world was a mission.
Edin wasn’t built for tea parties or embroidery circles. She had always craved the thrill of a challenge and the rush of deciphering clues and solving cases. And this wasn’t just about ambition. It was about legacy. It was about knowing she had spent her life doing something that mattered.
The central figure leaned forward, her dark blue eyes catching the torchlight as they locked onto Edin’s. “The Lennoxes have requested our assistance in a matter of utmost delicacy. Theirdaughter, Davina, vanished some months ago. Evidence has surfaced suggesting she may yet live, hidden somewhere in the Highlands. Ye’ll be accompanying Finley Lennox, their eldest son — the heir,” the cloaked leader stated, her voice then dropping, low and deliberate. “The Lennoxes are nae ordinary patrons, Edin. Their influence is vast, their wealth critical tae our survival. Failure isnae an option.”
Another harsher voice came from the shadows. “Their loyalty is conditional. They demand excellence, and they’ll accept naethin’ less than success.”
Edin’s shoulders straightened instinctively, her mind already turning over the implications of the mission. Every word spoken was a reminder of the stakes. To succeed would be to solidify her position — a promotion, respect and the belonging she had been seeking for as long as she could remember.
To fail… well, she refused to consider failure. It was not an option. There was nowhere else to go and nothing else to do for her.
“This mission,” the leader intoned, “is as much a test o’ loyalty as it is a measure of skill. Prove yerself worthy, and the path ahead will open.”
“I am grateful fer the opportunity.” Edin’s hands clenched beneath her cloak, the motion hidden but no less resolute.
This is me chance.
For too long, she had been a simple tool to The Triad — even though experienced and a skilled herbologist. But this mission could change that. If she succeeded, she would no longer be merely useful; she would become an indispensable asset in an organization that many feared and most turned to for help.
One of the figures shifted. “Yer task will require access to the knowledge center. Ye’ve earned that privilege. See that ye make good use o’ it.”
Edin’s breath hitched for a moment, but she quickly masked it. The knowledge center was sacred ground, a repository of secrets and strategies. Few were granted entry, and fewer still could claim they had earned it. That they trusted her with such access was a testament to the gravity of the mission.
“I understand,” she replied, her tone steady and deliberate. “I’ll nae fail ye. The mission will be completed.”
As the meeting concluded, Edin turned and began her ascent from the crypt, her footsteps echoing in the silence. Her mind stirred with the details of the mission, the gravity of the task, and the rare opportunity she had been given — one she had been dreaming of since her youth. Now, at twenty-five, The Favored had bestowed upon her a responsibility of immense weight — and with it, a chance to prove she was more than just a servant of their will, but someone who truly belonged.
As she emerged into the cold, open air, she drew a deep breath. The weight of expectation still pressed down on her, but it was a weight she welcomed. For the first time in a long while, the pathbefore her was clear. She would succeed—not just for the Lennox family, not for The Triad, but for herself.
For Edin, this mission was the ladder she had been waiting to climb. She’d worked too hard, given too much of herself, and sacrificed more than most. This mission, with all its complexities and dangers, was her chance to prove that she was not just worthy of a higher rank but essential to the organization’s very core. Otherwise, she would fade into oblivion.
