Page 41 of Taken By the Vicious Highlander

“Wait a moment,” she blurted, her fingers clamping around the innkeeper’s counter. “Ye’ve only given us one key.”

The stout, old woman peered up at her, her eyes as sharp as a hawk’s. “Aye, one room left, Me Lady.”

Lilith stiffened. “One?”

“One,” the woman repeated slowly as if Lilith were a dimwitted cow.

Lilith opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again.

That cannae be right.

She had earnestly counted the number of keys that were handed out. There were supposed to be at least three keys left.

Behind her, Damon sighed. “Are ye plannin’ on interrogatin’ the poor woman all night, or shall we get on with it?”

“Och, I’m sorry, did I nae make meself clear?” Lilith turned to face him, hands on her hips. “There is one room.One. Which means we will be sharin’ a space.”

Damon cocked an eyebrow. “Aye. That’s what she said,wife.” His voice lowered. “That’s what she has saidtwicenow.”

Lilith sucked in a breath through her nose, keeping her voice low enough so that only he could hear her. “This is unacceptable.”

Damon clapped a hand on her shoulder, barely hiding his amusement. “Dinnae fash. Come along before ye make a scene, Lady McCallum.”

She slapped his hand away before pushing past him. His amusement was palpable, and it only frustrated her more.

She exhaled heavily and turned her glare onto Damon, who looked far too entertained by the situation.

“I will be sleepin’ on the bed,” she hissed as they climbed up the stairs.

Damon’s smile was obvious in the lilt of his voice, and Lilith rolled her eyes, bracing for his annoying response. “I dinnae mind sharin’ the bed, lass.”

She whipped around with lightning speed. “I beg yer pardon?”

He had halted, obviously expecting her reaction, and then leaned in just enough to make her spine stiffen. “Ye’re me wife, aye? It’s a husband’s duty to ensure that his bride is comfortable.”

“Comfortable?!” Her voice rose an octave. “I’d rather sleep on a bed of nails than next to ye!”

Damon chuckled, brushing past her, swinging the key around his finger. “Suit yerself, lass. But I move a fair bit in me sleep. If ye find yerself tucked up against me, dinnae say I didnae warn ye.”

Lilith made a strangled noise in the back of her throat, half outrage, half something far more dangerous.

Christ above, help me. I’m goin’ to strangle him in his sleep.

“Just try nae to kill me before breakfast—I’m ravenous in the mornings.” Damon’s meaning was all too clear, making her core clench.

Lilith muttered something unladylike under her breath.

As she followed him up the stairs, she took slow, measured breaths. It would be fine. She would just sleep on the opposite side of the bed. Perhaps she could build a barricade of pillows.

Or push him onto the floor in the middle of the night.

Yes. That is an excellent plan!

But when she stepped into the room, her brilliant plan unraveled.

The bed—the one and only bed—was predictably and painfully too small. Unreasonably small. Barely large enough for one person, let alone two—especially when one of them was approximately the size of a full-grown mountain troll.

Damon whistled, strolling past her. “Cozy.”