Page 35 of The Highlander’s Auctioned Hellion (Auctioned Highland Brides #4)

The journey back to the castle was magical. Callum had never ridden through his lands quite like this before.

Usually, he would be accompanied by gruff men or by an army behind him. He had never traveled with a woman who seemed to know more about the night sky than anyone else he had ever met.

“And that is the Great Bear and the Little Bear. Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.”

“Why are they called bears? We have nae bears in Scotland.”

“Because they look like bears.”

Callum grunted, staring at the little line of stars she had pointed out to him. It was a long line of stars, connected by a square of stars at the end.

“They dinnae look any more like bears than I dae,” he said.

“But you are a beast, so I would say you look more like a bear than any other,” she replied and then giggled wildly as Callum squeezed her tightly against him.

“Is that so?”

“I wasn’t complaining, I am just saying that the stars are called lots of things for lots of reasons.”

“And I am a beast ,” he said, but for the first time, the name held no power over him.

Knowing that Lydia could tease him about it and that she liked the way he looked despite his scars made him feel more powerful than anything ever could.

“And where is Orion?” he asked. “Him, I have heard of.”

Lydia searched the sky briefly before pointing out three distinctive stars, located to the right of their position.

“There he is. The Hunter. He looks a bit like you, too.”

“Is that right? I am honored to be painted in the skies above me lands, then.”

The castle was in view by now, and Callum kicked his heels into Seamus’s flanks to speed the horse to their destination.

Lydia gave a happy sigh as they approached, nestling back into him, and it was the most contented he had ever felt.

As Seamus came up to the main gates, several lights appeared as Alexander and several guards came to greet them.

“I believe you are right, and we did beat the carriage,” Lydia said, looking into the bare courtyard beyond the men. The admission sent a shot of heat through him.

“Aye, so it would seem.”

His fingers dipped down between her legs, and he felt Lydia shudder.

“I shall enjoy takin’ payment later,” he murmured, kissing her behind her ear as he dismounted and helped her down.

Alexander came forward with a torch in hand, his face filled with concern.

“Is all well?”

“Aye,” Callum said. “I met with McCarthy, and he said he would send the girls back safely to me. Have they arrived?”

There was a high shout from the entryway, and Callum’s heart soared with relief as he saw Eilis running down the steps, closely followed by her sister.

His nieces immediately ran to Lydia and grabbed onto her skirts, hugging her tightly.

“Ye wouldnae think they were pleased to see their uncle , would ye?” Callum asked good-naturedly as Lydia crouched down and hugged the girls to her.

“Why are you all wet?” Eilis asked curiously as she and Amy pulled away from Lydia.

“We were caught in the storm,” Lydia said, her cheeks turning pink.

“Will ye come to the library?” Amy asked on a long yawn, reaching for Lydia’s hand.

Callum crossed his arms over his chest. “Och, aye, so ye can lock us inside it again, is that it?”

Amy and Eilis both giggled, and it was the most joyous sound.

“Nay! There is a big fire, and Raven is in there. The cook has sent up some pie for us all and some ham.”

Lydia’s stomach growled loudly, and Callum put an arm around her shoulder.

“Lead the way, girls, if there is any food left with that cat in the room, I will be amazed.”

Alexander followed behind as they made their way to the library, and Lydia settled down before the warm fire as Callum fetched her a blanket. As soon as he was certain she was comfortable, he walked back to the door where his man-at-arms hovered, waiting to speak with him.

“What word from McCarthy?” Callum asked, keeping his voice low.

“He has sent Moira to the convent. The girls arrived in a carriage just as ye said. He also sent this.”

Alexander pulled a sheaf of papers from his inner pocket. It was sealed with the McCarthy crest, and Alexander handed it over solemnly.

“What is this?” Callum asked.

“I believe it is a peace treaty.”

Callum stared at it, the paper feeling heavy in his grip, surprise skittering through him at this offering of solidarity from such an old enemy.

“I never believed I would receive one of these from McCarthy of all people. I dinnae think Moira will be too pleased to think of the Lawsons and the McCarthys as friends.”

Alexander’s gaze hardened. “Who cares what she thinks. She had her chance, and now her faither is forgin’ a better future for his clan without her bile taintin’ everythin’.”

Callum raised a hand, squeezing Alexander’s shoulder as he nodded.

“Ye should get some rest, ye must have been up half the night.”

“Aye, M’Laird. I was worried when ye didnae return, but it seems the threat is over now.”

“Aye,” Callum said. “Thank the heavens.”

They both turned to look at Lydia and the girls. Raven was nestled in her skirts, and the girls were feeding him tiny pieces of ham.

Lydia met Callum’s gaze and raised the slice of pie she was eating.

“Scotch pie,” she said with a broad smile, and Callum laughed.

“I kenned ye would like it.”

“Goodnight, M’Laird,” Alexander said with a short bow. “It’s good to have yer family back together.”

Callum watched him head back down the corridor, happiness spreading through him as he turned toward the scene before the fire.

Eilis and Amy were lying on the floor on their fronts, feeding the kitten, chatting happily to themselves.

Callum came inside and sat on an armchair behind Lydia. Without hesitation, she leaned back against his legs, finishing her pie and laughing as the kitten chased the crumbs that had fallen into the folds of her dress.

“Ye must be cold,” Callum said, brushing her hair. “Dae ye wish to change?”

Lydia nodded. “In a moment. The fire is warm, and I have everything I need right here.”

She took his hand, and they sat before the fire with the girls, quiet and content in their little world.

By the time they had finished playing with the kitten and Lydia and Callum had had their fill of food, the girls were fast asleep.

Raven had curled up in Amy’s hair, which was fanned out toward the fire, and as Lydia rose and bent to pick her up, neither of them stirred.

Lydia held back a happy laugh as Callum picked Raven up and placed him in the pocket of the jacket she still wore.

They each picked one of the girls and carried them up to their bed chamber. The room was cool and quiet.

Callum settled Eilis in her bed, and Lydia carefully pulled Raven’s little body from her pocket and set him down beside Amy.

She stepped back, smiling as Callum’s arm came around her waist and they stood for a moment watching the girls sleeping.

“I am so glad you got them back,” Lydia murmured. “What will happen to their mother?”

“McCarthy is sendin’ her to live in a convent. She will likely hate it just as much as anyone in the world, but perhaps she will learn some humility.”

They turned and left the room, Lydia moving at a slower pace as she pondered all that had happened that day.

“Are ye all right?” Callum asked as he closed the door behind her. “Ye seem thoughtful.”

“Do you not think it would be better for the girls to be with their mother? I know she is not a good woman. I know she has done terrible things, but she is still their family.”

Callum shook his head. “When I arrived at McCarthy’s castle, she was tellin’ her faither how the girls were good for nothin’. She never loved them and would only have found a way to use them for her own gains. We are their family now, and that is all that matters.”

They walked back toward their rooms, and Lydia put a hand on the handle of her door before Callum grunted, gripping her wrist and pulling her into his bed chamber.

“Where dae ye think ye are goin’?” he demanded. “Ye willnae be sleepin’ anywhere but beside me tonight.”

Lydia smiled, and it only grew wider as they entered the room and she saw two baths side by side with steaming water for them both.

“But I did not win the bet,” she said playfully, and Callum laughed.

“We may have beaten the carriage, but I decided ye deserved to be warm and content tonight after what happened today.”

“Has the driver been looked after?” Lydia asked with concern.

“Aye, Alexander has tended his wound. He’ll live to fight another day. Now, let’s get ye out of yer dirty clothes.”

Lydia laughed as he set to the task with much enthusiasm.

It was bliss to sink into the bath and feel the warm water wash away the filth and grime of the lakeside.

Callum was soon to join her and lowered into the bath so that they were at opposite ends. They held hands as they soaked together, closing their eyes against the smooth, soapy water all around them.

“I ken ye are worried for the girls,” Callum said, breaking the stillness between them as she met his gaze. “But I dinnae think ye realize how much they have changed since ye came. I barely heard a word out of Amy before ye arrived, and now she is becoming quite the chatterbox.”

Lydia shook her head with a smile. “Hardly a chatterbox, but she seems very happy to have Raven back.”

“When I was at the McCarthy castle, they told me they didn’t wish to stay with Moira.”

“Really?”

“Aye. They said they wanted to come back with me and have ye as their maither.”

Lydia’s eyes filled with tears at that admission, and Callum leaned forward, brushing them gently away as they fell down her cheeks.

“I meant what I said at the lakeside. Ye are me future, Lydia, ye and them wee girls. That’s all that matters to me.”

“I love you,” she murmured, and Callum leaned forward, capturing her lips in a soft kiss.

“We should get ye into bed, it has been a long day, and some fool made ye swim in a freezing loch filled with eels.”

Lydia sat upright in the bath, staring at him in horror.

“Eels?” she demanded.

“Aye, did I forget to mention that? There are eels in most of the lochs in Scotland. I definitely felt one swimmin’ about me legs.”

Lydia jumped from the bath at Callum’s loud laughter.

“It’s all right, lass, there arenae any in the bath.”

“I can’t believe you let me swim in that loch with creatures all about me.”

“Stewed eel is quite delicious,” he said smugly, climbing out of the bath and giving himself a perfunctory dry before advancing on her.

“Now, I believe I was due a payment for a debt,” he said as she shrieked, and he lifted her over his shoulder.

“Callum, put me down, you beast, I am not getting the bed soaking wet, too. I have had enough of being in damp clothes all day.”

She scowled at him as he threw her down on the mattress anyway.

He lowered over her, his nose rubbing against her cheek as he stroked the back of his hand down her side.

“There are other beds in this castle, wife of mine, and I am goin’ to be repaid for me debt whether ye like it or nay.”

He captured her lips in a deep kiss, their bodies rubbing together sensually before he pulled away.

Lydia moaned as he lowered his head between her legs, his smile wicked and sinful as he pushed his tongue against her body.

She widened her legs, already desperate for him as his fingers ran up her inner thigh and his thumb gently rubbed against her.

“I have taken ye beneath the stars, and now I think I shall take ye in every room in this house,” he mused as he thrust into her body mercilessly, her fingers clutching at the bed covers.

She arched beneath him, still unable to believe that pleasure existed like this. There was no more talking as he had his way with her in every way he could, murmuring how much he loved her even as he ravaged her body ruthlessly and covered her mouth to muffle her screams.

Lydia hardly remembered him carrying her to her own bed as she lay languid and spent in his arms.

He blew out the candle, lay down beside her, and wrapped his arms around her, and she felt truly safe and content listening to the warm crackle of the fire.