Page 68 of Kilted Abduction

“We’ need tae ken what’s in her head,” Thora pressed.

“I thought we’d all agreed she’s nae workin’ fer Fairfax,” he countered.

“We have. Of course,” Enya said. “But we need tae be certain.”

“And tae be certain, we need tae ken what’s in her head,” Thora finished.

“Well, we’re goin’ tae have tae find another way because I’m nae goin’ tae force a kiss on her,” Magnus said firmly.

Thora and Enya giggled, making Magnus scowl.

“What?” he demanded.

“We’ve seen the way she looks at ye,” Thora said.

“Aye. With big ol’ heart-shaped doe eyes,” Enya agreed with a giggle. “We dinnae think ye’d be forcin’ anything on the lass.”

Magnus swallowed hard. He had long wanted to kiss Ciara, he wasn’t going to deny that. But he wasn’t going to tell them that since they would only use that as fodder to tease him… more than they already did anyway.

“’Tis nae proper,” he repeated. “If ye want tae ken what’s in her head, ye need tae find another way about it.”

“There is nay another way that we’ve found,” Thora said.

“Then look harder.”

Kai got to his feet with a rakish grin on his face. “All right, all right. I will volunteer tae dae what our braither will nae dae fer the good of our family and our clan,” he said. “I will make the sacrifice tae kiss the bonny lass.”

Magnus’ eyes narrowed as he turned to his younger brother. “Ye go anywhere near her and I’ll break yer bleedin’ arms and legs. Ye stay away from her. Ye hear me?”

Other than Kai’s chuckle of amusement, the room was silent for a moment as his three siblings exchanged looks with each other. A moment later, they all burst into laughter and Magnus realized, belatedly, that he’d walked into their little trap. If his affection for her hadn’t been plain before, it was now. And now they had all the fodder they needed to tease him mercilessly. Magnus sighed and rolled his eyes.

“Bleedin’ hell,” he muttered to himself.

“All we’re sayin’ is the attraction between the two of ye is obvious,” Thora said. “Ye should act on somethin’ ye both seem tae want.”

“And help yer family and clan along the way,” Enya added.

Kai grinned mischievously. “But if ye dinnae want tae dae that, like I said, I’ll step up?—”

“Shut it, Kai,’ Magnus growled. “Open yer mouth again and I’ll knock yer bleedin’ teeth down yer throat.”

“Touchy, touchy,” he said.

“Can ye two give us a minute?” Thora asked gently.

Enya and Kai got to their feet and though frowning, walked out of Thora’s chambers, quietly closing the door behind them. Magnus watched his sister pacing the floor, arms folded over her chest, a pensive look on her face.

“What is it?” he asked.

She stopped pacing and sat down in the chair Enya had been sitting in a moment before. Magnus could tell she’d seen something. His sister’s gift was second sight and prophetic dreaming. She saw things well before they happened. It was often harmless and was usually helpful. But the look on her face made him concerned about what she might have seen.

“Thora?” he asked. “Did ye see somethin’?”

“I did. Sort of.”

“Explain yerself.”

“Ye ken that in addition to me other gifts, I can sometimes see the connections between people. I can see how they’re linked—or if they’re linked,” she said. “I often ken how a relationship will turn out. Or at least, how it should turn out.”