Page 126 of Taken By the Vicious Highlander

Damon led her to his chambers, closing the door behind them with deliberate slowness. He turned, his eyes locked onto hers already sitting in the armchair in front of the fireplace.

“One secret. One truth. In great detail,” he murmured, his voice low, intimate as he strode over to meet her. “A Sun. Six.”

Lilith swallowed, anticipation curling in her stomach. “Sun. Six?”

“Aye, and ye can ask me anything ye wish, first.”

“Is Ariah safe?” she blurted out before thinking, her true feelings on the matter unwavering. She needed to know.

Damon exhaled as if preparing himself, then said, “Ariah is safe.”

Lilith’s breath hitched.

“I spoke with her and Tristan. She told me about her faither’s plan, as well as gave me more information about his backers, the Sinclairs. If ye remember, Mrs. Bryant mentioned them.”

“Aye,” Lilith said numbly, her heart flipping with anticipation.

“She said that when they were convinced they couldnae get me, they went for ye.” Damon paused and let out a laugh. “I guess even our enemies kenned I was in love with ye before I did.”

Lilith giggled, and she watched his features darken.

“Anyway,” he continued. “I sentenced both Tristan and Ariah to a life of exile. I’ve sent them to Monroich lands, and sent word to Ewan beforehand.”

“Monroich isnae far.”

“Aye, it’s near. And they are together. And,” he added softly, “ye may visit them whenever ye wish. I ken which village they’ll settle in. I told Ariah that it would only be ye, me, and her who ken the truth.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. She reached for him, gripping his tunic. “Thank ye.”

Damon shook his head. “Nay. Thankye.”

“What did I do?”

“Ye asked me to show mercy. Ye gave her a second chance. It was an attack against ye, this last time—ye were right to demand a say.”

Lilith took a breath, steadying herself, then met his gaze. “Yer turn.”

“Aye. Thank ye, lass,” he said smoothly, finally sitting down across from her. Lilith watched as he leaned his body forward, resting his elbows on his thighs, his chin perched on one hand, the other hanging loosely between them. “Tell me, do ye wish to kiss me again?”

Her stomach dropped right between her hips, right where she wished for his hands to be. She felt her heart beat in two different places at once, sending a shiver down her spine.

His expression turned into something raw, something undone, but he waited patiently for her response.

“I—” Lilith started to say but then stopped herself.

Watching his eyes on her, knowing he would notice every single move she made, she uncrossed her ankles deliberately. Damon’s gaze flickered downward, hunger tightening his features.

She leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper. “I wish to do a great many things to ye, Damon.”

His jaw clenched impossibly tight. “Aye?”

She leaned back in the armchair lazily and nodded. “But alas, ye will have to work for them…”

A growl rumbled deep in his chest.

“I intend on it,” was all he said before he was on her. His lips crashed against hers, his hands greedily pulling her close.

The kiss wasn’t soft, nor hesitant. It was urgent, desperate—months of longing and stubbornness igniting all at once. Lilith gasped as he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed.