Page 2 of Highlander of Steel
“Do ye mean to… k-kill me?” Ailis stammered, her lips moving against his skin like a kiss.
The stranger took a step closer, bringing more of his breathtakingly handsome face into the light. A pity, really, for he clearly had nothing pleasant in mind for her.
“I willnae have to if ye’re quiet,” he told her, his voice a gravelly, rough sound that sent another shiver in the opposite direction, beetling down her spine.
As if confident that she would do as he commanded, he slowly let his hand drop and took a half step back.
“What do ye want from me?” she couldn’t help but whisper, uncertain if her being quiet meant not saying anything at all. Or if he just didn’t want her to scream the castle down.
His eyes narrowed, confirming that he had meant no talking whatsoever. “We willnae stay here for long.”
He left her with those vague words as he strode past her and wandered further into the sanctity of her bedchamber, looking for something. Or so it seemed.
“I daenae have anything worth stealin’,” she said, while trying to convince herself that she had misheard the ‘we.’
He glanced back, his eyes flashing. “What part ofquietdo ye nae understand?”
Before she could respond with something that would undoubtedly hasten her untimely demise, a loud knock sounded at the door. Ailis jumped in fright. Meanwhile, the stranger stood perfectly still with his finger to his lips, his eyes gleaming with a second warning.
“Ailis!” Murdock’s gruff voice reverberated through the wood. “I ken ye’re nae asleep yet. I heard ye walk past me door.”
Ailis swallowed, her hand falling onto her chest to try and slow her frantic heart. But her hand was trembling as violently as her heart was thudding, one encouraging the other.
She noticed the intruder looking at her shaking fingers and quickly clenched her hand into a fist. Whoever this man was, she was not going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her scared. If he came there to kill her, she would face it with at least a modicum of dignity.
“Aye, I’m nae asleep,” she replied in a calm voice that surprised her, “but I’m gettin’ ready to. What do ye want at such an hour?”
Please, daenae punish Skye for wantin’ me to read her some stories.
She heard Murdock huff before he answered, “Did ye take food to the captive again?”
Her eyebrows shot up. She hadn’t expected that.
“Ye told me nae to,” she replied.
“Aye, but since when have ye done as ye’re told?” Murdock countered curtly. “I swear, Ailis, if ye’ve been sneakin’ him food again, there’ll be trouble. Ye cannae starve secrets out of someone if they’re nae hungry!”
The intruder canted his head, a profound look of curiosity animating his previously stern face. It didn’t remove the danger Ailis knew she was in, but it softened his features ever so slightly, making hercurious in turn.
Was this about the captive, then? About the fight last week? The MacNairns wanting an eye for an eye after the loss of their leader?
She couldn’t make out any clan colors on the man’s attire, but that wasn’t surprising. A MacNairn assassin wouldn’t simply wander into Castle Ainsley in full enemy regalia.
“Did ye feed him?” Murdock pressed.
The handle began to turn. Ailis lunged for it, keeping the door closed. Though she couldn’t fathom why, when there was a dangerous stranger in her room.
“Nay!” she shouted. “And I’m nae decent, so stay out there! Ye cannae just barge into me chambers, for pity’s sake!”
Murdock grumbled something indecipherable before adding sharply, “Good. Yeshouldbe doin’ as ye’ve been told, so we daenae have to lock ye up again.” He paused. “In fact, if ye feed the captive again, ye will join him in there.”
There was a stilted pause, as though he was waiting for her to retort.
Ailis held her tongue, lowering her gaze so she wouldn’t have to look into the intruder’s inquisitive eyes.
“I daenae ken why I’m nae screamin’ for help, either,”she wanted to hiss at him, for it made no sense whatsoever.
Her brother was right outside the door—why was she not begging him for assistance? This intruder clearly wasn’t friendly. And, despite his threat, she was fairly certain that Murdock could barge into the room to defend her before the intruder could harm her. Yet, she said nothing.
