Page 103 of Taken By the Vicious Highlander

“Who?”

“He kept ledgers. Smith would ken?—”

“Laird Buchanan. Laird Sinclair. Laird MacNab. And Laird MacAllister,” Mrs. Bryant said absentmindedly.

All eyes swiveled to the healer.

“Those were the clan leaders Magnus met with before and after ye left for Brahanne.”

“Allof those?”

“Several left quickly without reachin’ an agreement. But there was one who shook hands wit’ him before he left.”

“Out with it,” Damon ordered as Lilith took a step closer to them.

Mrs. Bryant finished setting the final stitch and pulled the line taught before cutting it.

“It was Laird Sinclair, Me Laird,” she elaborated as she rose to her feet. “Try nae to let him rip this one open,” she said to Lilith, before looking over her shoulder once and then shuffling out the door. Ryder leaned in and closed it behind her, remaining just outside.

“Sinclair?” Lilith echoed.

“Aye, they’re on Brahanne’s eastern borders,” Damon said, moving to the desk to write his brother a letter.

“Damon?”

He didn’t look up at her, busying himself with the letter.

“Damon,” she hissed.

“What, lass?” he asked, still not looking up at her.

“Christ! Will ye look at me!” Lilith blurted out, her voice cracking.

Damon’s eyebrows rose with surprise.

What on earth?

“I’m listenin’, dove. What do ye need?”

“Ye promised me seven nights!” The words tumbled out of her mouth clumsily, but they took him aback.

“What?”

“I wish to spend our seventh night together, as ye promised.”

“Lilith, now isnae the time. I have to write to Keegan?—”

“It is theonlytime, Damon.”

“That doesnae matter right now,” he said without thinking, and the words very clearly hit her like a slap across the face.

Shite.

He watched as her breath caught and her throat bobbed as she fought to respond. It was like watching her on his first night here—fists clenching, eyes rolling, body teetering off and on balance.

Damon stood up, his palms facing her. Her eyes darted down, tracking them. Grounding her.

“I—” she started to say, the haze of her unease still obviously affecting her vision as her eyes watered. “I matter,” she gritted out, her hazel eyes flashing with fear and determination.