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“Mrs. Calloway, have you seen my husband? I have searched everywhere for him.”

The older woman’s expression flickered, but only for a moment before she replied with a soft nod.

“Ah. His Grace has been tending to his beasts behind the mansion since early this morning, Your Grace.”

“Tending to his beasts?” Yvette repeated, her brow furrowing in confusion.

The only beasts she had seen since arriving at Braemore Castle were the horses, and yet Mrs. Calloway spoke of them in such a manner that it sounded almost… peculiar.

“Yes, Your Grace,” the housekeeper continued. “His Grace is out back with them. He’s been there for a while.”

Yvette blinked, trying to process the information. It was so unlike Killian to retreat to the stables or the fields. Then again, she still didn’t know much about him.

“Thank you,” Yvette said curtly, the tension in her chest loosening.

She offered Mrs. Calloway a brief nod before turning sharply on her heel.

If Killian was truly out behind the mansion, then that’s where she would go.

Her steps quickened as she made her way out of the mansion and into the morning air.

The courtyard was quiet, with the only sounds being the distant call of birds and the soft rustling of the trees.

She pushed through the back door, the cool wind tugging at her skirts, and ventured into the open space beyond the house.

She scanned the area, searching for any sign of him. The stables were to her right, a familiar sight she had passed by many times since her arrival.

Where was he?

Yvette’s eyes caught sight of a small building which looked unremarkable from a distance.

It stood there with a simple roof and wooden planks that had weathered the years. A rusted metal fence ran along one side of the property, and the small shed beside the house appeared to have been used for tools, though it seemed abandoned now.

The yard surrounding it was overgrown, as though it had been left to fend for itself in the absence of a caretaker.

Yvette strained her ears, expecting to hear something, anything. But there was nothing. No footsteps. No sounds of movement.

She hesitated for a moment, confusion gnawing at her. Could he really be out here, tending to animals?

She pushed forward, her heels crunching the dry earth beneath her as she approached the house. And then, just as she neared the building, she heard it.

A sudden burst of violent barking. The sound hit her like a wall, a clamor of growls and sharp barks from multiple dogs. Her heart leapt in her chest as she jumped back in fright, a gasp escaping her lips.

The sudden movement sent her off balance. She missed a step, her foot slipping on the uneven ground.

Before she could catch herself, two strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her back against a hard, unyielding surface.

A startled shriek tore from her throat as she instinctively braced herself. The voice that followed, low and soothing, did little to calm her racing pulse.

“It is just me,” Killian’s voice murmured, the familiar drawl of his Scottish accent wrapped in an unexpected softness.

Yvette’s breath caught in her throat as he slowly released her. She placed a hand on her chest, trying to steady her heartbeat, but the sensation of his arms around her lingered, still warming her skin.

Killian didn’t seem to notice her hesitation as he moved past her, heading toward the small building.

Yvette remained where she stood, unable to tear her gaze from him as he passed. Her eyes followed the strong, muscular frame of her husband, noticing for the first time the absence of his shirt.

Heavens.