Page 58 of Taken By the Vicious Highlander

“Ye look troubled, Lilith,” Ariah remarked without looking up. “More than usual, I might add.”

Lilith let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping. “It’s been a long two days, Ariah. Too much has happened, and I dinnae even ken where to start.”

Ariah turned to her, arching an eyebrow as she perched on the foot of the bed. “Then start at the beginning. How was the village?”

“The village was wrecked. Brigands attacked it—set fire to most of the square and some outlying homes. Damon brought enoughmen to help the villagers get started on rebuilding, but then last night another attack happened. This time in Kiel.”

“What happened in Kiel?” Ariah asked with bated breath, as if Lilith couldn’t speak fast enough.

“Another attack. But this time, they caught them. Damon said that’s when Tristan came with men from the castle and helped.”

“Aye, he went! He said the fight was so easy, but the Laird was injured? He didnae seem injured today. What happened?”

“He was slashed across his back. The wound is so deep, it-it reminds me of…”

“Magnus.”

“Aye,” Lilith mumbled, recalling the deep wounds Magnus used to inflict on the staff when he whipped them for the smallest mistake.

“So, he’s better now?” Ariah pressed. “What about yer arm? When did that happen?”

Lilith hesitated for a moment before recounting the incident. “Damon and I were ambushed by brigands. It was chaos. Damon led them away, and Ryder came to help me… but he was still too injured to fight properly. We barely made it back in one piece.” She shuddered, the memory of Damon’s fury at her for stepping into the fray still fresh.

Ariah’s face dropped.

“And I-I did something reckless,” Lilith stammered. “I thought I was protectin’ him, but he didnae see it that way. He was furious.”

Ariah’s eyes widened as she listened. “That’s awful,” she said softly. “But why would anyone attack you both like that? Brigands dinnae usually pick a fight with armed men for nay reason.”

Lilith glanced at her hands. “I dinnae ken. Damon hasnae said much about it, but I can tell he’s angry. Nae just at me, but at whoever orchestrated the attack.”

Ariah’s expression grew serious. “Tristan has a theory about that.”

Lilith’s head snapped up. “What theory?”

“He thinks Damon might believe it washimwho hired the assassin, orchestrated the battles—everything,” Ariah said carefully, watching Lilith’s reaction.

Everything? Did she ken about it all? How? Did Tristan tell her?

“You ken how tense things have been between them. Tristan’s worried that Damon might blame him for what’s happened,” Ariah continued.

The information hit Lilith fiercely, and she couldn’t keep her thoughts from straying into suspicion.

She frowned. “But that’s ridiculous. Tristan would never do such a thing.”

“Of course nae,” Ariah said quickly. “But Damon doesnae ken him the way we do. And with the attacks, he’s probably lookin’ for someone to blame.”

Lilith pressed her lips together, her mind racing. “Then we need to make him see reason. Tristan shouldnae have to bear the weight of Damon’s suspicions.”

Ariah nodded. “Agreed. But how? The Laird isnae Magnus, but he’s new to the keep, the clan… He isnae exactly the easiest man to talk to, is he?”

“I dinnae think he’s hard to speak with. He listens to me. What makes ye say that?”

Ariah blushed. “Just what I’ve heard from Tristan about the council meetings.”

I didnae realize he spoke with her about those meetings. He was always a private man, able to keep things in order…

“Tristan is different with ye,” Lilith remarked, a teasing lilt in her voice. “He must really love ye if he’s blurrin’ his lines for ye.Remember he used to never include us what went on in council meetings.”