Chapter 20
As they returned to the castle, Islay became more confident that nothing bad was going to happen.
She breathed a sigh of relief as the entrance approached.
The young women alighted from their horses and made their way to see Callum.
Cinaed was bubbling with excitement. Islay almost pitied her for how deluded she was.
Kirsten continued to shoot uneasy glances towards Islay, but Islay did not betray herself by responding in kind. Everything would become clear soon.
They entered the hall, and Callum was close by.
Islay dispatched a servant to fetch him, and when he returned,he had a look of confusion on his face, especially when he saw Cinaed.
But he didn’t have a chance to ask about what was happening because Cinaed flung herself at him.
She exclaimed in happiness and excitement, and hugged him, almost weeping with joy.
Islay stood there with a dispassionate look on her face.
“What’s gaeing on?” Callum asked, taking hold of Cinaed’s wrists and pulling them away from his neck.
“Oh, something wonderful, Callum. Something truly wonderful!” Cinaed said.
“Oh, aye, something wonderful indeed,” Islay said, and then she summoned the guards. “Arrest this woman! She’s the one who told the bandits tae attack us.”
As soon as she said these words, the guards moved forward, quick to obey Lady Connall. Cinaed recoiled and twisted her head to glare at Islay. Callum just looked confused.
“What?” Cinaed shrieked. A look of understanding passed across Kirsten’s face.
“It’s true. She was the one behind it all.
She’s wanted ye, Callum, ever since she was young, and she couldnae take it when we were tae be married.
She told the bandit about the secret tunnels, and she planned tae kill me and then tae hae ye for herself once ye haed been done with yer grieving.
Dinnae try tae deny it, Cinaed. I can see it in yer eyes. ”
“I…I…you lied tae me!” Cinaed screeched.
She backed away, like a cornered animal, but there was nowhere to run.
The guards approached her, looking stern, although they had yet to actually grab her.
“This is madness! Callum, ye must see that I would make a better wife for ye. She doesnae know what she’s saying.
She’s gone mad! She tried tae run away from ye.
She cannae give ye all the love that I can, Callum.
She cannae make a good wife. I can. I will.
I promise ye, Callum. I would dae anything for ye. ”
“Anything…” Callum mused, “...such as dealing with bandits and sending them tae attack my wedding?” There was an accusatory tone in his voice.
A mixture of emotion rippled across Cinaed’s face as she struggled to understand what was happening.
“Take her away,” Callum said sternly. Cinaed shrieked in grief and loneliness as she was dragged away by the guards.
Protesting her innocence, she kept proclaiming her love for Callum.
Her voice trembled with bitterness and hatred, and she writhed in the guards’ arms. But the screams faded as she was taken from view and placed in the dungeons, ready to be punished for her crimes.
Kirsten breathed a sigh of relief. “Sae that’s what ye were daeing. I wondered for a wee moment what ye haed planned.”
“I’m sorry I couldnae tell ye. I didnae want tae risk her overhearing,” Islay replied.
“How did ye know she was responsible?” Callum asked. His brow was furrowed as he glanced back towards the direction in which Cinaed had been taken away. “I hae known her for sae long. She haes always been sweet and kind.”
“Aye, but I dare tae say she only showed ye what she wanted ye tae see. I know ye said I should nae trust the word of a bandit, but I couldnae forget what he said, and I didnae know why he would lie tae me. When I realized that Cinaed wasnae at the wedding, I started tae think it was because she knew what was happening, and when she made her feelings plain, well, there was no doubt left in my mind. She was convinced that she would make a better wife for ye than I would.”
“She’ll pay for the pain she caused,” Callum said in a gruff voice. Islay walked up to him and hugged him, and then said that she was going to return to the chamber and get changed. She bid Kirsten farewell. Callum went with her.
While in the chamber, Islay unwrapped the shawl from around her shoulders and slipped off her boots. Callum closed the door behind him. She smiled gently and rubbed her face, sighing a little as she did so.
“Are ye well?” Callum asked, coming to stand close beside her.
“Aye…at least I think I am,” she offered. “I just cannae stop thinking about how close I came tae losing ye. Cinaed almost haed my head. Tae think that she put sae many people in danger all tae try and be yer wife. Is this what love does tae people?”
Callum took her hand and brought it to his lips.
“It’s nae love that did that. Cinaed might say it is, but it sounds more like obsession.
” There was a pause, and he almost seemed afraid of what he was going to say next.
“Ye might think me a fool for saying this, Islay, but was she right in what she said? Dae ye love me, or did ye just marry me because it was expected of ye?”
Islay twisted her head up to look at him directly.
She was almost offended that he would ask the question, for she would never have given herself as freely as she had done the previous night to anyone she did not love.
But then she had always been resistant, and perhaps it was natural for him to have his doubts.
For as strong and resolute as he could be, Callum also had a vulnerable side, and she cherished this about him.
Instead of answering him, Islay thought she would show him how deep her affection ran.
She reached up and played with the hair on the back of his head, looking deeply into his eyes before she rolled onto the tips of her toes and pressed her lips against his.
The fire inside her threatened to erupt again, and she let its hot energy flow through her entire body.
When she opened her eyes again, there was intent in them.
She fell back onto her heels and continued to look at Callum directly as she unlaced her frock and let it fall away, becoming a puddle around her feet.
Her supple alabaster skin was on display for Callum to enjoy, as though she was showing him that she was his and his alone.
His lips parted and a deep rush of breath slipped out.
His hands reached for her, his fingers squeezing her waist. She whimpered a little as tension simmered in the air.
He pulled her towards him. He clenched his jaw and searched her eyes and then tilted his head down to kiss her.
His breath was warm, his beard was scratchy, and his lips were sweet.
She murmured with delight as his hands ran down the slender curve of her back, resting on her hips.
Islay pulled away from the kiss and walked towards the bed, flashing him a coy smile as she did so.
She curled her legs underneath her body and patted the space on the bed beside her.
Islay’s hair flowed down one side of her head, a burst of golden cascade running over the rise of her breasts.
Something twitched inside her as Callum walked slowly towards the bed.
“Ye are wearing tae many clothes, my laird…my husband,” she purred.
A smile flickered on Callum’s face as he relieved himself of his tunic and revealed his bristling muscles and every inch of his manliness.
Islay watched him with a hungry look in her eyes.
Sunlight poured in through the window and illuminated his magnificent body.
Every ounce of his strength was on display; every part of his manly vigor was rigid and ready, dripping with lust at the mere sight of her.
Islay could feel the hammering of her heart, and a pulsing energy surged between her thighs.
One hand rose to the hollow of her throat while the other rested on her thigh.
Callum came to the bed, a giant towering over her.
He sat beside her, resting on his knees.
He took Islay’s hand, and she mirrored his position.
She placed her hands on his chest and kissed his collarbone up towards his neck, before resting her head against his chest and sighing happily.
Callum’s hands squeezed her upper arms and ran down.
His gaze roamed all over her body, as though he was drinking in everything she had to offer.
He kissed her again, and then grunted with desire as his lips moved around her neck, resting just beneath her ear.
Islay smiled as tingles rippled all over her body.
She threw her head back and a throaty laugh emerged.
Callum grinned as well. He placed a huge hand on the top of her chest and slowly brought it down her body.
He teased her breasts, massaging and cupping them.
He wrapped one arm around her waist as he kissed her breasts.
Her arms were limp by her side, but she wanted to feel him, to be close to him.
She reached down and her hands fell naturally to his erection, where she stroked and caressed him as she had done the previous night.
He looked even more glorious in the light of day.
She fell in love with every part of him, just as he did with her.
The heat scorched her palm, but it also fueled her desire.
Callum continued kissing her body. His tongue flicked out to tease her nipples again, before he withdrew his arm from her waist.