Page 27 of Promised to the Ruthless Laird
She flicked a glance at Finley. His fists were clenched at his sides, his entire body taut, coiled like a beast ready to strike. His jaw locked so tight she could almost hear the grind of his teeth, his breath a slow, measured thing, as if he were holding himself back by sheer force of will.
If Margaret noticed, she chose to ignore it. Instead, she continued, her voice low and measured. “Word was, Laird Mackay took the girl, first tae the south. Thought he could track the Triad, force us tae comply with whatever daft plan he had.” She shook her head, a wry smile curling at the corner of her lips. “But he’s a fool if he thought he could hunt us.”
Edin’s stomach knotted, unease prickling at the back of her neck. “And when he couldnae find what he was lookin’ fer?”
Margaret’s expression turned grim. “He took her north,” she said simply.
A chill ran through Edin’s spine.
“North?” Finley’s voice was low, dangerous. It was the first word he’d spoken since Margaret had begun talking, and it was enough to shift the room’s atmosphere entirely. The quiet hum of the knowledge center carried on, but within their small circle, it was as though the air itself thickened.
Margaret’s sharp gaze flickered to him. “Aye. Dinnae ken the exact place, but Mackay’s nae been seen out o’ Inverness in months. If she’s still in his hands, that’s where she’ll be.”
Finley swore under his breath, a short, violent sound. His hands flexed, knuckles whitening.
Edin had seen him angry before, had seen the sharp bite of his temper when things didn’t go his way. But this was different.
He was barely holding himself together.
For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, when he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, but there was steel beneath it.
“Then that’s where I’ll go.”
Edin felt something twist in her chest. She didn’t know if it was unease or something else entirely. But she knew one thing.
This had just become far more dangerous than she had anticipated.
Edin let the information settle, her mind already sifting through the possibilities, the risks. Inverness. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was enough. Enough to point them in a direction.
Her voice was steady when she spoke, but beneath the surface, tension coiled tight in her chest. “He stole her fer ransom?”
Margaret met her gaze, her expression unreadable, but there was a grim certainty in her nod. “Aye. That’s what we gather, but we cannae be sure.”
Edin exhaled slowly, a quiet, measured breath, but her fingers curled into fists at her sides. Rage simmered beneath her ribs, not just for the girl but for the sheer arrogance of it — of men who thought they could take what they wanted, who treated people like pieces on a chessboard to be moved and traded.
Across from her, Finley was silent, but she could feel the heat of his fury like a storm waiting to break.
She forced herself to focus, forced the anger down where it wouldn’t cloud her judgment. “Thank ye, Margaret,” she said, and meant it. “That’s a lot more than we had before.”
Margaret studied her for a moment, her sharp gaze flickering between Edin and Finley. “Aye, well. Ye’d best be careful,” she said at last, her voice dropping lower. “Mackay’s nae the type tae take kindly tae people meddlin’ in his affairs. If ye mean tae go after the girl, ye’ll need tae be careful.”
Edin nodded, her throat tightening. She already knew that. But knowing didn’t change a damn thing. “Thank ye, Margaret.”
“Anything fer an old friend.” Margaret smiled faintly. “Ye’ll stay the night?”
Edin hesitated, glancing toward Finley. He didn’t look at her.
“Aye,” she said finally. “If ye’ll have us.”
Margaret nodded. “I’ll have rooms prepared.”
Edin inclined her head. “Thank ye.”
As Margaret stepped away, Edin let out a slow breath, turning to Finley once more. “We should rest. We’ve a long journey ahead.”
He didn’t respond, only staring off into the dim candlelight, his face unreadable.
Edin ignored the sting of it, pushing it aside. Why should he look at her? He was here for his sister and now the information he had searched for was in his hands.
