Chapter 13
The corridor to Emily’s chambers had never seemed longer, yet Kaden’s footsteps were oddly light.
He could hear voices speaking to one another before he even knocked on the door to announce himself. The temptation to eavesdrop was strong, but he refrained.
The moment he knocked, the voices stopped abruptly, and the high-pitched barking from Emily’s infernal puppy started up. He could hear its small steps as it ran across the room to the door to bark at him. In his own home. As if he were somehow an intruder.
He had been perfectly clear that she wasn’t welcome to bring the creature with her.
Not listening already, what a great start they were off to.
Emily wasn’t the one who opened the door. Instead, it was Skye, with the mongrel in her arms. The thing yipped and wiggled at the sight of him, but he refused to look at it. The last thing he needed was the beast thinking that it was welcome here. It didn’t need to get too comfortable.
“I see ye took yer merry time in getting down here,” Skye reprimanded, her voice low and intended only for his ears.
Emily rose from where she was sitting on the edge of her bed and joined them, taking the mongrel from Skye’s arms and stepping aside. Skye gave her a warm smile as she stepped out of the room and muttered something that sounded very much like “behave” to him before disappearing into the corridor.
Kaden pushed into the room, glancing around to ensure that at least the servants had arranged everything the way he had requested.
The door clicked shut behind him, and silence fell.
Even the mongrel was quiet.
“I presume that yer trip was uneventful?” Kaden asked, eventually.
“Very,” Emily answered. “Though I think that me faither would much prefer that I thrust meself upon ye at every opportunity to ensure the marriage proceeds. Other than the pressure, aye, I would say that everything was all right.”
Kaden turned away from her to hide his smirk. “I cannae say that I would be opposed to that.”
He could feel her rolling her eyes, and he didn’t even need to look at her.
“If ye are now worried about me nae upholding me end of the bargain, ye daenae have to in the slightest,” he added.
He hoped that it might reassure her.
“Then why did ye leave me on me own? Why did ye nae come down to greet me?”
Kaden turned back to her. “Was there something that ye needed me for? Is something in the room nae to yer taste?”
Emily shook her head. “Nay, I think that I have enough of what I need. But perhaps the wee lass here might need a bowl of water.”
Kaden’s lip curled as he glanced down at the pup, and then he shook his head. “I’m sure that somebody from the kitchen can arrange that for ye.”
“She’s nae going to bite ye,” Emily teased, holding out the mongrel for him to pet.
The half step that he took away from her was wholly and utterly unintentional.
He knew that it was foolish to have such impulses.
He wasn’t frightened of a dog no bigger than his foot.
Yet every time he looked at her, all he could see was teeth.
Never mind that her bark was silly, and there were no snapping jaws or snarling.
It made his skin pickle and itch all the same.
He couldn’t seem to control the memories that flashed behind his eyes every single time.
“Kaden?”
Snapping teeth, screaming, tearing flesh.
Emily’s voice wasn’t quite enough to break the spell.
Begging for it to stop, the rattling of chains, the coppery stench of blood.
“What is the matter? Ye look at if ye’ve seen a ghost…” Emily stepped forward and placed a soft hand on his forearm.
Kaden flinched again, but at least he was no longer stuck in the memory. He could practically feel his eyes clearing as he came back into his own body.
His hands balled into fists at his sides, and he nodded curtly. “Daenae fash, I’m fine.”
“Alright… Well, I suppose thank ye for the belated welcome.” Emily nodded toward the door, a hint for him to leave her room.
“Are ye telling me what to do in me own castle already?” Kaden teased, happy for the levity.
“Well, will it nae soon be me castle as well?” Emily placed a hand on her hip and shifted her weight to one foot.
The sunlight streaming through the far window caught in her hair prettily, making it seem as if there were some sort of halo or glow about her.
It was so strange how she held herself with such confidence, and yet she was constantly fidgeting as if she couldn’t stand to be in her own skin. It would never cease to amuse him just how much he was finding that they had in common.
“Is this part of the reason why yer faither was so quick to foist ye on the nearest male?” he half-teased, but he was truly curious to know.
It wasn’t considered ladylike to be so opinionated or speak so forcefully. Though that was the only sort of women Kaden had ever truly known.
Emily sighed and threw a hand up. “Perhaps. I daenae pretend to ken me faither’s mind.”
“There has to be a reason.”
Emily chewed on her cheek, clearly reluctant to answer. “A story for another day, perhaps.”
“So I am partially right, then. Ye cannae listen to simple requests, let alone orders.”
Emily’s eyes hardened as she glared at him. “I can listen perfectly well when it suits me.”
Kaden snorted a humorless laugh. “If that were so, ye wouldnae have brought that thing here with ye!”
“She’s just a pup! I cannae see how she will be any bother to ye! I will keep her far from the hunting hounds. She will be me sole responsibility.”
“I daenae have hunting hounds, nor any hounds,” Kaden said tersely.
If she was so ready and willing to argue all the time, he was going to have a time controlling his temper.
“Ye cannae stand there and tell me that ye daenae like animals! She’s adorable!”
“Nay, I daenae care for them. It’s for the best that they stay very far from me.”
Emily stepped forward, and his entire body tensed. “She’s nae even half a stone. Why are ye so afraid?”
“I’m nae.”
“Then pet her.” Emily thrust the thing between them.
A shudder skittered down his spine, and he shook his head. “I’m nae going to entertain ye, nor play any of these stupid little games.”
“Kaden.” Emily smiled, innocence in her eyes as she held out the wiggling mat of fur. “I do need a name for her. I’ve been having the most difficult time naming her.”
Kaden lifted a hand slowly, warily. If the thing snapped at him, he was not going to be held responsible for how he reacted.
His fingertips brushed the soft top of the mongrel’s head, and it whipped its head up to lick his hand. Kaden jerked his hand back the moment he felt its breath on his skin, and had to catch himself.
Was he truly going to be afraid of this thing just because of the past? No, he couldn’t allow himself to have weaknesses, and this was clearly one of them.
But, to his shock, when he put his hand back, the mongrel pressed its nose into it and licked his palm, tail wagging furiously as it attempted to get closer to him.
Emily giggled and struggled to pull the pup back against her chest so that she wouldn’t topple out of her arms. “See? Was that really so bad, then?”
Kaden chose not to answer. He shifted his gaze from the pup in her arms to her eyes, sinking into the warmth there that wanted to wrap around him. He could get lost in those eyes if he wasn’t careful with himself.
“Maggie,” he said softly.
“Hm?” Emily murmured without looking away from him.
He felt that the longer the two of them gazed into one another’s eyes, the louder the world begged him to draw closer to her, to wrap her up in his arms and lift her off her feet.
The bed was awfully close. But they had a deal. She had to ask him. He wasn’t about to fail the first test. No matter how damned tempting it was.
“A name for the pup,” he clarified.
A bright smile spread slowly across Emily’s lips, showing teeth and the dimples in her fair cheeks. “That’s a perfect name.”
Kaden’s hands itched to touch her.
He cleared his throat and turned away from her. “Well, I suppose that I should leave ye to become acquainted with the castle and the grounds. There are a fair few hours yet before supper will be served.”
“Ah, alright.”
Was that disappointment he heard in her voice?
“I’ll have one of the maids fetch ye for dinner, and help ye change and get ready…
” he trailed off as he allowed himself just one more look at her.
Even if he lingered for a moment longer than he had meant to.
“Me sisters will nay doubt want to host a feast in the next few weeks to properly welcome ye to the clan.”
“Will the wedding feast nae be enough?” Emily asked.
Kaden almost laughed. “That’s what I said.”
“I think that should be more than enough spectacle.”
“I’ll pass on the message, though I’m nae sure how much good it will do.”
Emily nodded, and Kaden left before he could say something else that would get him in trouble. He was already drawn to her enough as it was. He was in a lot of trouble. Every time he encountered her, he liked her more and more.
If more feelings developed? Well, that would be bad for everyone.