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“I take it we have still got naething out o’ the prisoners,” Domhnall said.

“They willnae speak, nae matter what we dae tae them. From what I gather, they’d rather die than confess what they ken. Clearly, they’re more afraid o’ whoever it is that sent them than they are o’ us.”

“Aye, well, they havenae spoken tae me yet,” Domhnall growled, turning toward the door.

Magnus suddenly jumped up from his chair.

“Dinnae dae it, Domhnall. There are other ways. It’s nae worth yer soul.”

“My soul was lost a long time ago, Magnus.”

Magnus shook his head. “That’s nae true. And now, with the arrival o’ Katherine, I think a part o’ ye is finally beginning tae heal.”

Domhnall stared at him from across the room. “I’ve told ye tae stay out o’ me head.”

“I’m nae in yer head, braither. I promise,” Magnus replied, holding his hands up in surrender. “But it’s hard nae tae notice the change in ye these last few days. Katherine is good fer ye. Ye must see that.”

Domhnall didn’t reply. As much as he knew it to be true, a part of him wondered if his affection for Katherine was making him soft.

Is that such a bad thing?

Although it was if it meant he was putting his family and his clan in danger.

“She’s nae making ye soft, Domhnall,” Magnus said.

Domhnall scowled at him.

“Aye, now I am in yer head,” his brother admitted. “But that’s nae what I mean when I say she’s good fer ye. Ye have punished yersel’ fer so long after what happened tae Maither and Faither.”

“We all have,” Domhnall retorted.

“Aye, I ken. But it’s been different with ye. Yer guilt has caused ye tae close down, put walls up, nae allow yersel’ tae feel. That’s nay way tae be, braither. While ye dinnae want tae feel the bad, yer also missing out on the good.”

“What good?” he spat. “There’s been nay good since.”

Magnus gave him a disbelieving look. “That’s nae true, and ye ken it. Ye just havenae wanted tae see it. But I think Katherine’s arrival was good fer ye. I hope ye see that too.”

Whether that was true or not, Domhnall was not going to admit it in that moment. His stubborn pride just would not let him, and turning on his heels, he headed to the door.

Magnus looked worried at his departure. “Where are ye going?”

“There and back tae see how far it is,” the laird scowled sarcastically.

Magnus lifted his eyebrows, tilted his head, and stared at him.

Eventually, Domhnall huffed a sigh. “I’m going tae me study. As wonderful as all these touchy-feely good things that ye speak o’ are,” he grimaced, “I still have work tae dae.”

An hour later, Domhnall heard a light knock on his study door.

“Come,” he called out gruffly.

Upon lifting his head, he watched Katherine tentatively slip in, and as though her very presence cast some kind of spell on him, he felt the tension release from his body, and found a smile forming on his lips.

Maybe Magnus has a point.

“Good morning,” he said, standing and rounding his desk.

“Hello,” she said, looking a little shy.