Chapter 16
Aiden lay on his back as Katie’s warm body curled against his side. The room was dimly lit by the dying embers in the hearth, casting a soft orange glow that danced across the stone walls.
The earlier tension and anger between them had dissolved and was replaced by a tender quiet that neither of them wanted to disrupt.
Aiden tightened his arm around Katie, pulling her closer, his fingers brushing gently against her bare shoulder.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this content, this… happy.
Katie’s head rested on his chest, and he could feel her breath, slow and steady on his skin. She drew small circles on his chest with her fingers, her touch sending shivers through him. For a moment, neither of them spoke, simply basking in their newfound closeness.
“I didn’t expect this,” Katie finally whispered, her voice soft, almost hesitant, as if she were afraid that speaking aloud might shatter their peace.
Aiden turned his head slightly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Neither did I,” he admitted, his voice a low rumble. He felt her smile against his chest, and it warmed him more than the fire ever could.
“Are you sure, Aiden?” she asked, lifting her head to look at him. Her eyes searched his, filled with both hope and a touch of uncertainty. “About us? About everything?”
Aiden met her gaze, his heart panging at the vulnerability he saw there.
He reached up and cupped her cheek in his hand as his thumb gently stroked her skin.
“Aye, I’m sure,” he replied, his voice steady and firm.
“Nay matter what, Katie, I’m lookin’ forward to our weddin’ night.
I’ll be the husband ye deserve, and I promise ye that I’ll never cause ye pain or anguish again. ”
Katie’s eyes softened, and she leaned over to press a gentle kiss to his lips. “Thank you,” she whispered, her breath mingling with his.
Aiden returned the kiss, savoring the softness of her lips and the sweetness of the moment. He wanted to stay like this forever, to keep her in his arms and protect her from everything that might come their way.
He knew he couldn’t shield her from his truth forever, but he did not want to shatter their precious moment together and decided to leave that conversation for another day.
The shadows of his past still loomed over him, but he wouldn’t permit himself to lie to her, not about something so important, and he needed her full attention when he did finally broach the subject.
As he pulled back from their kiss, Aiden studied her face, committing every detail to memory—the way her eyes sparkled in the dim light, the curve of her lips, the warmth in her gaze. He knew that she deserved the truth, but he wasn’t ready to tell her. Not yet.
“Katie,” he began, his voice catching slightly.
She looked at him expectantly, her eyes filled with trust. He swallowed hard, pushing back the doubts and fears that threatened to overwhelm him.
“I’ll be the man ye need me to be,” he said instead, his hand moving to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
“But… there are things I need to work through. Things from me past.”
Katie’s brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. “I understand,” she said softly. “We all have pasts. We can work through it together when you’re ready.”
Her words soothed some of the unrest within him, and he pressed another kiss to her forehead in silent thanks, lingering there for a moment longer than necessary. “Thank ye, Sassenach,” he murmured against her skin.
She smiled at him, her eyes shining with a degree of affection and certainty that made Aiden’s heart skip a beat. “Shall we get dressed?” she asked, her voice laced with a touch of playfulness. “I suppose it wouldn’t do for anyone to find us like this.”
Aiden chuckled, the sound rumbling in his chest. “Nay, I suppose nae,” he agreed, reluctantly shifting to sit up.
The cool air of the room slid across his exposed skin, and he shivered slightly, already missing the warmth of her body.
They dressed in comfortable silence, exchanging the occasional impish glance, soft smile, or a brush of fingers as they moved about the room.
The intimacy between them was different now—softer, more tender.
Aiden found himself savoring every small moment, every little touch, as if he were trying to memorize the way they felt together.
Once they were both dressed, Aiden offered her his arm. “Shall I escort ye back to yer chambers, Me Lady?” he asked, his tone teasing, although his eyes were filled with warmth.
Katie smiled, slipping her arm through his. “It would be my pleasure, My Laird,” she replied, matching his playful tone.
They walked through the dimly lit halls of the castle, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly off the stone walls.
Aiden kept her close, his hand holding hers as they moved through the familiar passageways.
Every now and then, he would glance down at her to watch the way the soft light played across her features and marvel at the way she seemed to fit so perfectly against him.
When they reached the door to her chambers, Aiden paused, turning to face her. “Katie,” he began, his voice serious now. “I meant what I said earlier. I’ll do everythin’ I can to be the husband ye need. And… I hope that, in time, ye’ll see that.”
Katie looked up at him, her eyes filled with a gentle understanding that made his heart ache. “I already see it,” she whispered, reaching up to cup his cheek. “And I’m looking forward to our future together.”
Her words settled something deep within him, and he leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her lips. When they finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes as he simply breathed her in.
“Goodnight, me Katie,” he murmured, his voice low and full of emotion.
“Goodnight, Aiden,” she replied, her voice equally soft.
With one last look, he released her hand and stepped back, watching as she slipped inside her room. The door closed behind her with a soft click, and Aiden stood there for a moment longer, the warmth of her touch still lingering on his skin.
As he turned to leave, he felt the weight of his emotions pressing down on him again. The happiness he felt was real, but so were his worries and doubts. He needed time to clear his head, to sort through the tangled mess of feelings that had only grown stronger.
Aiden made his way out to the courtyard, the cool night air brushing against his skin as he stepped outside.
The sky was clear, and a blanket of stars spread out above him.
He inhaled deeply, trying to reinstate the peace he’d felt earlier with Katie.
He walked over to look at the now silent training grounds, the familiar sights and sounds of the castle grounding him as he tried to work through everything that had transpired.
But no matter how hard he tried to push his thoughts away, one thing remained at the forefront of his mind—Katie. She had become more important to him than he’d expected, and the thought of losing her, of hurting her, was almost too much to bear.
He clenched his fists, taking another deep breath as he tried to focus on the present, and on the fact that she was his and he was hers.
For tonight, that was enough.
Aiden stood in the cool night air, his breath misting in front of him as he gazed around the confines of the castle.
The courtyard was empty, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze and the distant murmur of the loch.
He had come out here to clear his head and rid himself of the lingering doubts and fears that gnawed at him even after the peace he had found with Katie, but it seemed that fate had other plans for him tonight.
Aiden turned as one of his guards approached, the man’s face half-shrouded in shadow. The guard was a sturdy fellow, broad-shouldered with a thick beard that covered most of the lower half of his face. His eyes, however, were sharp and alert, indicating the keen mind behind them.
“Me Laird,” the guard said, bowing slightly as he came to a stop before Aiden. “I have a message for ye, brought by a man who said it was urgent. He didnae stay for long—just handed over the note and left.”
Aiden’s brow furrowed as he reached for the note. There was a tension in the guard’s posture that made Aiden’s hackles rise.
“What did this man look like?” Aiden asked, his voice low but commanding.
The guard hesitated, as if trying to recall the details.
“He was a strange one. Wore a hood over his head, so I couldnae see much of his face. But his hair was red, and his eyes… they were cold, like he was sizin’ me up even though he was just deliverin’ a message.
He didnae give a name, just said to give ye this. ”
Aiden’s heart sank as he unfolded the piece of parchment the guard had handed him. So it was Flynn. The name alone sent a jolt of unease through him.
Flynn was a man Aiden had once called his partner, but his ambition and jealousy had turned him into someone sinister and dangerous.
Aiden’s eyes scanned the note, his expression darkening with each word.
Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.
You’ve chosen a fine bride, a true beauty with grace to match.
I had the pleasure of dancing with her tonight, and she’s as captivating as the rumors say.
I have a gift for you, to celebrate your union.
Meet me at the loch before the wedding, and I’ll make sure the gift is delivered properly.
Don’t be late and come alone. I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise.
Aiden’s grip on the parchment tightened, his knuckles whitening as he read the note again, his mind churning with a deep, growing sense of protectiveness.
Flynn had dared to come this close to Katie, and now he was threatening to taint what should be the happiest day of their lives with his twisted games.
His mention of Katie’s beauty and her dancing abilities…
Aiden’s thoughts flashed back to the man she had danced with at the feast. Red hair.
It had to be Flynn. The thought of that man watching Katie, studying her, sent a surge of rage through Aiden.
He would not allow Flynn to bring harm to her, or to anyone he cared about.
“Thank ye,” Aiden said to the guard, his voice taut with restrained fury. “Go back to yer post and keep an eye out for anythin’ unusual. I’ll deal with this.”
The guard nodded, bowing once more before retreating into the shadows, leaving Aiden alone with his thoughts.
Aiden stood there for a long time, the note still clutched in his hand and his mind racing with grim possibilities. Flynn was not a man to be taken lightly, and now that he had returned, it could only mean trouble.
Aiden knew he couldn’t handle Flynn alone. Not with Katie, his family, and the entire clan’s safety at stake. He needed someone he could trust, someone who knew Flynn and could help him plan for whatever trap might be waiting for him at the loch.
Without another moment’s hesitation, Aiden turned and headed toward Malcolm’s quarters. His right-hand man would still be awake, likely going over late-minute wedding plans or tending to some other important duties that could not wait until tomorrow.
Malcolm had always been meticulous, never leaving anything to chance. If there was anyone who could aid Aiden with triumphing in Flynn’s game, it was him.
Aiden rapped on the door sharply, and it wasn’t long before Malcolm opened it, his eyes widening slightly in surprise at the sight of Aiden standing there.
“Aiden?” Malcolm’s voice was filled with concern as he stepped aside to let him in. “What’s happened?”
Aiden handed the note to Malcolm without a word, watching as his friend read it thoroughly, his expression hardening with each line. By the time he finished, Malcolm looked as troubled as Aiden felt.
“Flynn,” Malcolm muttered, his voice filled with scorn. “I should have kenned he wouldnae stay gone for long. The bastard’s always been one for games.”
“I’m nae goin’ to let him near Katie,” Aiden said, his voice cold with resolve. “He’s here to cause trouble, to ruin everything. I cannae let that happen.”
Malcolm nodded, folding the note carefully and setting it down on the table. “We need a plan,” he said, his mind already working through the possibilities. “If Flynn’s waitin’ for ye at the loch, there’s a good chance ‘tis a trap. He wouldnae come here without a plan.”
Aiden sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I ken. But I cannae ignore this. If I dinnae show up at the loch, he’ll take that as a sign of weakness, and who kens what he’ll do then? But I dinnae trust him, Malcolm. I cannae walk into this blind.”
“Then ye willnae,” Malcolm said firmly. “We’ll scout the area aforehand and make sure he’s alone. Promise that ye willnae go by yerself, nay matter what he says. I’ll have me men stationed nearby, ready to intervene if anythin’ goes wrong. We’ll be ready for him.”
Aiden nodded, feeling a rush of gratitude for Malcolm’s level-headedness. “Thank ye,” he said, his voice sincere.
Malcolm gave him a small smile, though there was still a trace of worry in his eyes. “We’ve been through worse. We’ll get through this, too. And when ‘tis over, ye’ll marry that lass of yers without any shadows hangin’ over ye.”
Aiden managed a grim smile, though his thoughts were still weighted with worry. “I’ll hold ye to that,” he said quietly.
As Malcolm began outlining the details of their plan, Aiden’s mind drifted back to Katie.
The thought of Flynn lurking around her and putting her in danger made him fume with fury, but he couldn’t let anger cloud his judgment.
He had to stay focused for her sake. Flynn had made the first move, but Aiden vowed to make it his last.
“We have to be careful, and we have to be smart,” Aiden commented again, his worry making him thirsty for revenge.
“We always are, Me Laird. Flynn is crafty, but ye’re far more deadly.”