Page 78 of The Icy Highlander's Virgin

She lifted a pearl necklace, holding it up to catch the light. "She wore this the day they died. I remember because I complimented her on it at breakfast, and she laughed and said?—"

Her voice broke off abruptly, and Lachlan saw the light drain from her eyes as the memories shifted from joy to horror.

"What is it, lass?"

"I remember that day," she whispered, all her earlier animation gone. "It used to haunt me nights, and I'd wake up screamin'. Only Ada holdin' me close till mornin' could make the nightmares stop."

Lachlan moved closer, sensing the shift in her mood and the way the happy memories were giving way to something darker.

"He killed them in front of me," she continued, her voice barely audible. "Me parents. Cut them down like cattle at slaughter." Her free hand went instinctively to her ribs, where he knew her scar lay hidden. "I was so shocked, I couldnae move at first. Then I ran, tried to get away, but he saw me."

"Erica—"

"Stabbed me too. Cut me down in cold blood and left me to bleed to death on the floor like I was nothin'." The tears were flowing freely now, her body shaking with the force of the memories. "Ewan came just in time to save me life. Took me to Ada in the village."

She turned to him then, her face ravaged by grief and old pain. "They said I was in and out for four weeks. They never kent whether I'd live or die. And sometimes... sometimes I hated that I lived. I hated me life, hated that I'd survived when they hadnae?—"

A growl rumbled from Lachlan's chest as he crossed to her in two quick strides, gathering her into his arms with fierce protectiveness. She collapsed against him, her sobs muffled against his chest.

"Shh," he murmured, one hand stroking her hair while the other held her tightly. "I'm here now. I willnae ever let anythin' or anyone touch ye again. Ye're safe with me, do ye hear? Safe."

She looked up at him through her tears, her dark eyes swimming with pain and gratitude and something deeper. "Lachlan?—"

He silenced her with a kiss, gentle at first, then deeper as she responded with desperate passion. Her hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer, and he could taste the salt of her tears on her lips.

But even as desire flared between them, he could sense her fragility, the way she was clinging to him more from need for comfort than true passion. She wasn't ready—not like this, not when she was raw with grief and memory.

Gently, he pulled back, framing her face with his hands and pressing his forehead to hers.

"Nae like this, lass," he said softly. "Nae when ye're hurtin'."

Before she could protest, a knock came at the door.

"M'lady?" came a servant's voice. "Dinner is ready when ye are."

Erica stepped back, hastily wiping her eyes and trying to compose herself. "Thank ye," she called out. "We'll be down shortly."

In the sudden silence that followed, she looked at Lachlan with something that might have been wonder.

"Ye seem to have a way of knowin’ what I need. How do ye do that?" she asked quietly.

"Because," he said simply, "ye're mine to protect. In all ways."

The sound of movement in the chamber pulled Erica from sleep, and she rolled over to find Lachlan already half-dressed, pulling on his boots in the gray light of early dawn.

"Where are ye goin' so early?" she asked, pushing herself up on her elbows and blinking away the last traces of sleep.

"Joinin' Frederick and the men for border patrol," he replied, reaching for his sword belt. "I want to understand for meself how the borders run and where the weak areas are. See why they're vulnerable."

"Will ye be returnin' by noon?"

"Nay." He buckled the belt with practiced efficiency. "I want to see the farm lands too, check the soil quality and see what's affectin' the crops. And examine the trade routes—understand how goods move in and out of McLaren territory."

Erica sat up fully, her dark hair tumbling around her shoulders. "All in one day?"

"Aye." His tone was matter-of-fact, as if it were the most reasonable plan in the world. "It's clan business."

Something in his casual dismissal made her bristle. "And daenae ye think clan business needs its lady to prosper?"