Page 6 of The Cruel Highlander's Bride
His mother was a strong woman and a loving mother, but his childhood had been about survival. She had tried to inject joy wherever possible, but there was simply less time for frivolities. It had been a long time since Magnus was jealous of another family, but the bonds between the people in front of him seemed unbreakable.
“A weddin’ is a much better way to end this feud, and the union will ensure peace for many years to come,” Lady Gunn said resolutely. Then her smile turned sharp, predatory. “Obviously, Magnus here”—she sneered his name—“will take good care of Lana. Otherwise, hewillbe dead.”
He knew instinctively that Lana was not the black-haired woman he couldn’t tear his gaze away from.
3
At her mother’s announcement, Ciara snapped her gaze back to her sister.
Lana was sitting on the sofa, as far back from Magnus as she could possibly get. He was still hovering close to the three of them, and if Lana could have disappeared into the cushions, Ciara was sure she would.
Lana’s eyes were filling with tears again. She was moments away from bawling.
Ever since they were children, Ciara couldn’t handle the sight of her sister crying. So, when the first tear rolled down her sister’s cheek, She was filled with the desperate need to make it right, to stop her sister from feeling this way. She couldn’t let her baby sister, who always dreamed of love, marry someone like this man. Someone whose first instinct was violence.
Ciara never dreamt of love and marriage the way her baby sister did. She never thought she’d marry at all. And if she could stop her sister from crying… well, that was reason enough.
“I will marry him,” Ciara cut in, “since Laird MacLeon here apparently doesnae have a preference.”
Magnus was watching her sharply. His gaze gave away little, but she thought she saw the smallest hint of a smile.
Taking her sister’s place in this marriage was the least she would do for Lana—for any of her family members. If it had to be one of them, well then, Ciara was glad it wouldn’t be her sister. There was little she wouldn’t do to see Lana happy.
“I cannae let ye ruin yer life for me,” Lana sputtered, sitting up and tugging on the back of Ciara’s dress.
Ciara turned and gave her sister a placating smile but didn’t reply.
“What about everythin’ ye’ve dreamed of,” Lady Gunn chimed in.
She was putting on a convincing act, but they both knew this was the best option. Lana wouldn’t survive in Magnus’s castle—her joy and innocence would be quickly snuffed out. And her father wouldn’t last five minutes in a duel against this man.
“Me biggest dream is that everyone in me family is alive and happy,” Ciara replied with a sigh.
She knew this meant she would have to abandon her work in the clan, but wasn’t her sister’s happiness and her father’s life worth more than that? Maybe there would be some way for her to continue her work with Magnus’s clan.
Magnus was still studying the interaction closely, as if he were puzzling something out in his mind. His stare wasn’t heated, but it still warmed Ciara when he fixed it on her.
“But not at the expense of yer own happiness,” Lana snapped, finally pushing to her feet and drawing both Magnus and Ciara’s attention.
She faltered briefly at the attention but squared her shoulders and met Ciara’s eyes.
Ciara rarely saw her baby sister this fierce. Lana’s desire to protect her, brought a small smile to her face.
Ciara laid a hand on her sister’s shoulder and looked at her imploringly. Seeing the strength of her sister’s heart, she felt even more resolved now. Lana deserved to have a chance at finding love, and she deserved to give that love and care to someone worthy of it.
With another sigh, Ciara said, “I’m sure that Laird MacLeon”—she shot the man in question a pointed look—“and I will find a way to make this marriage work in a way that benefits us both.”
Magnus’s expression was unreadable, but he asked, “Might ye leave us alone?”
No one moved for a beat at his request, and itwasa request. He had managed to soften his tone significantly, and his words hadn’t come out in a sharp command this time.
Still, the Gunns all eyed each other warily, collectively deciding whether they should leave her alone with him. When Ciara rolled her eyes and huffed at them, they finally began to leave the room, albeit slowly.
Standing in the doorway, her brother turned back and said, “I hope ye ken what ye’re doin’, Sister.”
I hope so too.
Ciara turned her focus to negotiating with the man who might become her husband.
