Page 57 of Promised to the Ruthless Laird
“I’m fine,” she said, her voice steady despite the pain. “It’s just a scratch.”
Finley reached out, his hands trembling as he gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing over the blood on her cheek. The simple gesture shocked him, the tenderness of it taking him by surprise. It wasn’t just concern for her safety — no, this was something deeper; something he hadn’t fully acknowledged until this very moment.
It wasn’t just the mission anymore. It wasn’t just about saving his sister, about avenging his family.
He cared for her. More than he had ever expected, more than he could have foreseen.
More than he had ever cared for anyone.
And he would never let anything happen to her again.
In that moment, Finley realized just how far he would go for her — for them.
He would defy his family. He would fight against everything he had known and risk it all. For Edin.
But now he had to focus on Davina, make sure she was alright too.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The dungeon walls pressed in close, the damp air drenched in the scent of blood and moss.
Edin lingered by the door, arms crossed, the burn on her cheek intensifying — not that she paid it any mind. She watched as Finley stepped forward, his breath unsteady. The moment his eyes met Davina’s, something in him shifted. There was something else in his face now — something she had never seen before; something akin to pure love.
Without a word, he pulled Davina into his arms, clutching her as though she might disappear if he let go.
Edin looked away, jaw tight. She had no business feeling the burn in her throat, nor the ache in her chest, yet there it was, a quiet, unwanted thing she couldn’t shake.
Finley held Davina for what felt like an age. His fingers curled into the fabric of her worn out dress, his chin tucked against her hair. “Lass,” he murmured, voice thick, “have they hurt ye?”
Davina pulled back just enough to look up at him, her hands still clutching at his tunic. “Nay, Fin. I swear it. I’m nae hurt.”
His gaze roamed over her, searching. He cupped her face with both hands, tilting it gently, inspecting every angle for even the faintest scratch. Davina smiled slightly but allowed him to continue.
“And how have they treated ye?” His voice was quieter now, but the steel hadn’t left it.
Davina let out a small breath, shaking her head with a tired smile. “Like the most privileged prisoner they’ve ever had,” she said, her shoulders sagging slightly, as though some unseen weight had finally begun to lift. “But a prisoner all the same.”
Davina’s expression wavered, her gaze dipping, and when she spoke again, her voice was softer, fragile. “I’ve been so lonely, Fin.”
That did it. Finley pulled her back into his arms, holding her tighter this time, his chin resting atop her head. “Ye’ll never be lonely again, Davina. I swear it.”
Edin swallowed against the lump in her throat, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She didn’t belong in thatmoment, and yet she couldn’t tear herself away. Her own memories stirred, unwelcome and sharp. The cold nights, the empty silences, the times she’d wished someone would hold her the way Finley held Davina now.
It was foolishness to dwell on such things. She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing instead on the two before her. Finley, the ever-loyal protector, and Davina, the sister who’d somehow managed to survive captivity with her spirit intact.
When they finally pulled apart, Finley pressed a hand against Davina’s cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear. “We’ve got ye now,” he said. “Ye’re safe.”
Davina nodded, and for the first time since they’d entered that wretched place, a true, unguarded smile broke across her face.
Edin exhaled slowly, letting herself smile too, just a little.
Then, both of them turned to Edin. “Thank ye, Edin” Finley said, his voice raw with sincerity. “Fer all ye did.”
“Aye,” Davina added, her green eyes shining. “I’d still be rotting in that cell if nae fer ye.”
Edin shifted on her feet, shrugging. “It was naught. I did what needed daein’.”
“Naught?” Davina repeated incredulously. “Ye snuck intae the dungeons alone, took down two guards on yer own, and freedme. If that’s ‘naught,’ then I cannae imagine what ‘somethin’ looks like.”
