Page 74 of Taken By the Vicious Highlander

The library was quiet except for the crackle of the fire in the hearth. Lilith ran her fingers along the spine of an old tome, her thoughts tangled between the words on the page and the events of the past few days.

Her mind wandered too easily to Damon—his touch, his words, the way his presence seemed to consume every space he entered. She shook her head, forcing her focus back to the text, but it was hopeless.

A deep voice pulled her out of her thoughts. “Come with me.”

She turned to see Damon standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, the flickering firelight casting shadows over the sharp lines of his face. She hadn’t seen him for a few days, and looking at him now, she could tell there was something different about him tonight—an urgency, a quiet excitement.

“Where have ye been?” she asked, closing the book and setting it aside.

“Monroich.”

“Ye never said,” Lilith said.

The hint of disappointment in her tone made the corners of his lips quirk up.

“I told ye. It wasnae me fault that ye were asleep.”

“Nay note?”

“I’m sorry, lass. Business called, and I had to see to it.”

“What business with Monroich did ye have so suddenly?”

“They heard of the attacks and wished to aid us. They sent me with more information than I had before—maps, intercepted letters, and apologies for gatherin’ such things from our clan.”

Lilith’s breath hitched. “They were spyin’ on us?”

“Nothin’ more than what we do to them.”

“We spy on them?”

“Dove, everyone kens what’s goin’ on with everyone around here. It’s considered another form of art in the Highlands.”

She scoffed. “It isnae!”

Damon’s hands shot up, his palms facing outward in surrender. “Itis, lass. Anyway, they wished to help us, so they increased our numbers on the borders. I have a meeting with Ewan in a few days as well—probably for the same reason.”

Lilith chewed on the inside of her cheek in contemplation, and Damon seized the moment.

“Why the anger? Did ye miss me?”

She shot bullets from her eyes as he chuckled and stepped aside, gesturing for her to precede him into the corridor.

“Come, now,” he beckoned.

Lilith eyed him curiously before closing the distance between them. When she was right in front of him, she hesitated. “Where are we goin’?”

“Ye’ll see soon enough, but we need to leave now before the sun sets.” He stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. “Cloak. And sturdy boots,” he added, pointing to the items lying neatly on a nearby bench.

A thrill shot through her at the prospect of another one of their nights together, though she masked it with feigned skepticism.

“Nay more clues?”

“None.”

She huffed but obeyed, slipping into a thick cloak and fastening her boots. When she was ready, Damon led her outside, where the cold evening air nipped her cheeks.

They rode through the forest first, the rhythmic thudding of the horses' hooves a steady beat beneath the rising moon. As they neared the base of the hills, Damon dismounted and offered her his hand. “From here, we walk.”