Page 2 of Taken By the Vicious Highlander

But before she could voice any further questions, Damon’s eyebrows knitted together in irritation. And in front of the entire hall, Lilith heard the forceful words echo around her.

“I hate repeating meself,” he said curtly. “Show me to me study.”

Irritated by his lack of compassion, she scoffed, “Right this way, Me Laird.” Then, she turned on her heel and led the way through the castle.

Damon followed closely, and then his men, the sound of their heavy boots echoing through the stone corridors.

As they came to the top of the staircase, away from any prying ears, Melissa’s cheerful voice chimed in, “Quite expansive. Is it nae, Braither?”

Having not expected her friend’s presence, Lilith whipped around, halting the precession—and a smile tore through her spiky exterior.

“Melissa! I didnae see ye before!”

“Ye think I’d let me braither come all the way here and nae bring me along?”

A heat spread through Lilith’s chest, and her nerves melted away. Her eyes flickered to Damon’s sharp gaze before connecting with Melissa’s again. “Almost there.”

Moving faster, Lilith even hiked up her skirts to lead them the rest of the way.

There is nothin’ her braither can do or say to ruin this pleasant surprise. I’ll just dump him off at the study and then spend the rest of the day with Melissa. Perfect!

As they reached the door to the study, she turned, putting space between her and the rest. Staring only at Melissa as she pushed the door open, she confidently said, “Here we are?—”

Only, her friend’s cheerful look faltered when Damon’s sharp gaze landed on the numerous banners and decorations that adorned the room.

“What’s with all these preparations?” he asked, his tone curious but edged with suspicion.

Melissa winced, avoiding Lilith’s gaze.

Lilith’s cheeks flushed as she explained, “I was to be married to a laird allied with me braither bef—” Her voice caught in her throat, which she managed to clear quickly. “Before he died. The matter has been left unresolved, and now it falls to ye, as Laird McCallum, to decide whether the union is advantageous.”

“I have to approve a union for who?”

“For me,” Lilith said, flinching at her admission.

Getting married was the absolute last thing she wanted. Anyway, her getting married was only a ‘backup plan’ for Magnus’s original plan. Her sister had been engaged to Laird MacMillan, but as Willow was now officially married, the task fell to Lilith. After Magnus’s death, however, the entire deal had been teetering like a glass full of water on the edge of a table, begging to be knocked over.

Melissa furrowed her brow as she began bombarding Lilith with questions. The commotion seemed to break the floodgates of general chatter among Damon’s party, and the space started to shrink around them.

The din made Lilith’s head spin until Damon raised a hand, silencing the room. “Leave us,” he ordered, his voice firm.

The men, understanding the unspoken part of their Laird’s order, departed without a single word. Melissa lingered for a moment before obeying as well, leaving Lilith alone with Damon.

The study’s walls kept moving inward, and Lilith tried to slow her breathing to fend off a fit. With Damon’s commanding presence filling every corner, it proved more challenging than ever. His eyes remained on her as she clenched and unclenched her fists, assessing her carefully.

Get it together, Lil. Focus on the things ye ken are real.

His eyes followed hers as she accounted for the desk, and then the window, and then the fireplace. Her breathing slowed with each pass she made around the room until finally she nodded her head with one last exhale.

Damon’s eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly before he nodded his head once, and pushed both of them past the heavy silence.

He glanced around the room, his expression unreadable. “Do ye have a desire to marry this intended of yers?” he asked.

Her nerves raw, Lilith clenched the fabric of her dress in her hand—a habit she couldn’t quite shake—before she answered honestly, “Nay.”

Damon turned to face her, his piercing eyes locking onto hers. “Then I willnae allow it,” he said simply.

A breath of relief escaped her lips. “Thank ye—” she began, but he cut her off.