Page 67 of Taken By the Vicious Highlander

“What? Now?”

“Aye, I ken I’m already late.” He smirked before turning away from her.

“Damon?”

He glanced back.

She hesitated for only a breath before walking toward him. “Thank ye… for includin’ me in this.”

He studied her, the way the firelight danced across her hair, the softness in her eyes.

“Ye value knowledge and are more than capable when outfitted with it. It’s yer clan too, Lilith. I’d be daft nae to include ye.”

Her lips parted slightly, her expression unreadable. Then, she rose on her tiptoes and pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to his cheek.

It was over before he could react, but the warmth of it lingered.

He forced himself to clear his throat and turn away before she saw the way his fingers flexed at his sides.

“I’ll see ye after the meeting, lass,” he said, and then he left, though the ghost of her touch stayed with him long after.

17

Damon entered the council chamber with purposeful strides moments later, his gaze sweeping over the gathered men.

Tristan was seated near the head of the table, his expression unreadable. Damon’s suspicion of the man had only grown since the night of the attack, but for now, he kept his focus on the task at hand.

“I’ve called this meeting to address recent events,” he began, his voice firm. “The attack on the castle, the assassin, that was one thing.”

“We’ve nae stopped in our search, Me Laird,” Sebastian spoke in a throaty voice.

“There was a threat against Lady McCallum last night, though I’m sure word has reached ye about that.”

A hushed murmur rippled through the group.

Perhaps nae.

“An attacker threatened Lady McCallum outside me chambers last night. Ryder and I tried to track the man, but he escaped just beyond the rock face.” Damon cast a glance at Ryder, who nodded in confirmation. “These arenae isolated incidents. Our people are on edge, and it’s our duty to lead them through this.”

Hushed agreements rang out in the room, but Damon raised a hand to silence them.

“What if we brought our people together somehow? Surely there’s a way to show our appreciation to them while also bein’ respectful?”

“With respect, Me Laird,” Tristan interjected, his voice measured, “celebratin’ anything right now willnae sit well with most. The McCallums are a strong-willed people. A celebration could cause more unrest than it’s worth.”

Damon’s jaw tightened, but he kept his composure. “I didnae say ‘celebration.’ I meant that we, as a council who are relatively untouched by the events of late, should consider a way to bring our people together.”

“Do ye really believe that this will stop the attacks from happenin’? The entire clan kens about how ye murdered the assassin, and now this attacker lashes out at our Lady?” The tipsof Tristan’s ears reddened as his temper flared, but his speech teetered on disrespect.

Sebastian spoke next, “I think the laird is onto somethin’. A celebration would be an easy way to bring them together.”

“We must change the way we interact with the people, meself included,” Damon replied evenly, his gaze never leaving Tristan’s. “Stagnation breeds discontent just as much as upheaval does. We need to show the people that we’re invested in their well-being, purchase from our vendors, enlist their hard work, and let them just relax.”

Tristan’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Ye will ask them to work hard to organize some ‘celebration’ for ye and all of the other lairds in the land? What a financial disaster.”

“It isnae for anyone else but Clan McCallum. A day for our people, organized by our people—nae by me or anyone in this room. Give them the power.”

“Ye might be surprised when ye give the people that much power.”