Page 45 of Kilted Abduction

“The people seem happy.”

“I believe they are.”

“And they seem tae be fond of ye.”

“There are good people here.”

They walked on for a while longer and Ciara thought about everything that had happened and what she’d learned that day. It had been an interesting and different look at Magnus and his family than she’d expected. Sitting with them during the morning meal also made her envious that she had never grown up with that sort of family bond. And not for the first time, it made her wish she’d had siblings of her own.

Growing up an only child—and one who was despised by her father and then ignored after her mother died—had been a lonely existence. That feeling of loneliness and isolation only seemed amplified in the presence of the MacLeods and the devotion they inspired among their clan.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“Idinnae see why I cannae walk the grounds,” Ciara protested. “Ye’ve got yer bleedin’ guard shadowin’ me every step.”

Magnus quirked a grin at her. “Because I dinnae fully trust anybody tae watch ye but meself. I have an appreciation fer just how resourceful ye are that others dinnae.”

She flashed him a grin. “Ye say the sweetest things.”

“I’ll come fetch ye when it’s time fer supper.”

Ciara sighed heavily and folded her arms over her chest, staring at him crossly. Magnus had gone out of his way to tell her she wasn’t a prisoner, but an honored guest, and yet he knew that wasn’t exactly true. So did she.

“How much longer is this goin’ tae go on? This may nae be one of the cells below yer castle, but it’s a cell all the same,” she growled.

“I hope ‘tis nae much longer,” he replied sincerely.

“Aye. Me too.”

Magnus gave her an awkward smile and a nod then walked out of his chambers, issuing instructions that she was not to be let out of his chambers to the pair of men outside the door. That done, Magnus walked briskly through the corridors and to the hall where the rest of his siblings had already gathered.

“Kai,” Magnus said. “What did ye learn?”

“I didnae learn much of anythin’,” he said. “Me contacts dinnae ken where the rumors started, but they swear ‘tis the truth of what they were told.”

“Told by whom?” Domhnall asked.

Kai shrugged. “Loose tongues around the tavern common rooms,” he replied. “But nobody’s been able tae say where the information came from originally.”

Domhnall sighed and his chair creaked as he sat back, a frustrated look on his face. He turned to Magnus.

“What about ye?” he asked.

“What about me?”

“Ye’ve been with her all day. Learn anythin’ new?’

Magnus shook his head. “Nothin’ I didnae already ken.”

Thora gave him a long, even look. “What are ye nae sayin’, braither?”

“I’m nae nae sayin’ anythin’,” Magnus replied.

“Speak yer piece, braither,” Domhnall said.

Magnus frowned and put his thoughts in order. “’Tis just… The fact that we’re havin’ trouble findin’ out where that information came from bothers me,” he said.

“It bothers me too, but sometimes these things happen. Ye ken that,” Domhnall agreed.