Page 13 of The Mad Highlander

13

I ris sighed heavily as she scanned over her reflection in her dresser mirror. She had dismissed the maid and proceeded to undress herself and prepare for bed, wanting a bit of time to herself. Cayden had left her so infuriated with him that she could barely stand to be around anyone else at present.

All she had wanted was to go along and see her brother safe, but no, he had chosen to snap at her instead. The strands of her curly dark hair hung down to her waist as she ran the brush through the length. She picked her favorite silk gown and nightdress, giving her skin ample space to breathe after a long day of corsets and fabric.

What is wrong with him?

She couldn’t seem to calm herself despite the soothing feel of the bristles against her scalp. So much for Cayden wanting to put her at ease and ensure that she had everything she needed.

“Who is it?” she called out, almost angrily, when a knock sounded at the door.

Silence rang in her ears when her question remained unanswered. Rolling her eyes, she realized that she may have snapped at a maid. It wasn’t anyone else’s fault that she and Cayden had gotten into an argument.

Leaving her gown hanging open, she made her way across the room and opened the door. “I don’t need anything else this evening…” Her voice trailed off when she looked into the icy eyes of Cayden.

“Were ye expecting me?” He raised an eyebrow before allowing his eyes to wander over her curves that were visible through her silk nightdress.

Realizing where his gaze was headed, Iris quickly gripped the corner of her gown and covered her body, fastening the silk sash at her side. “Was there something that ye needed, Me Laird?”

Cayden seemed to smile at her coyness. “I was hoping ye would come for a walk with me. There was something that I wanted to show ye.” His voice was cool as if he had been ready for a fight, yet something in his eyes was softer.

“Where to?” Iris shifted under his gaze, wanting to hide behind the door.

“Just get dressed an’ pin yer hair back; it doesnae have to be fancy. Nobody else will see ye.” His eyes seemed to take in her figure before he turned his back to her and waited patiently in the hall.

Just the two of us?

Iris felt her pulse quickening as she shut the door and leaned against the wood. Was he taking her somewhere private where he could punish her? She swallowed hard and gathered her courage. If he was angry at her, then she wouldn’t be backing down.

She hurried toward her bed and flung her robe and nightdress over her head. He had said that it didn’t matter what she looked like, so she didn’t bother with a corset or any of the other undergarments. Choosing a plain grey day dress that she kept for traveling, Iris hurriedly dressed and pinned her hair back with a few clips.

Giving herself the once over in the mirror, she headed to the door and opened it once more.

Cayden turned, allowing his eyes to wander over her body before addressing her. “That will do; follow me.” He nodded and began to walk away without waiting for her response.

Realizing that he wouldn’t be waiting for her or offering any sort of explanation, Iris quickly followed suit. “Where are we headed?” She almost had to run to keep up with his lengthy strides.

“Ye will see soon enough,” he grunted a reply and kept on walking.

Frustration filled her body, yet she found herself having to focus on her strides rather than her anger. They exited the castle and made their way over the courtyard, entering a stretch of the castle grounds that Iris hadn’t seen before.

Cayden did little to offer an explanation before striding across what seemed to be an open stretch of earth that squelched beneath her boots. He reached for something on his belt before reaching up and lighting a torch. The torch took flame, casting flickering shadows across the grounds.

Looking around, Iris realized that she was standing alone in the middle of what appeared to be a training ground.

“Ye wanted to come with,” Cayden said to her as he walked past and ignited several other torches around the circle. “This is yer chance to prove yerself.” He stopped and met her gaze, the light of the fire catching the depths of blue in his eyes.

Her pulse quickened as her heart raced. Was he trying to prove a point to her?

He strode back the other way and replaced the torch before unsheathing his sword and coming toward her.

Panicking, she took a step back and searched the yard for any means of escape.

“Here is yer sword, lass; show me what ye can do.” He held the sword out to her and nodded toward a training dummy that had been built out of sticks, straw, and buckets.

Iris hesitated at first but gingerly reached out and took the sword, sagging a little under the weight of the blade. Whatever was going on suddenly seemed to give her a burst of excitement.

Cayden nodded and placed his hands on her shoulders, gently turning her to face the dummy. “Dinnae try an’ lift the sword too high if its yer first time; it may take ye with it to the ground,” he whispered in her ear and took a step back, letting go of her arms.

Feeling uncertain at first, Iris lifted the blade and swung the heavy iron at the bottom of the dummy. The blade missed, impaling the ground with a dull thud.

“Ye will have to do better than that if ye wish to do any damage, lass,” Cayden called out to her, his voice surprisingly encouraging.

Taking a deep breath, she gripped the hilt once more and lifted the blade, feeling the suction of the mud as it squelched on the way out.

“Take a stance an’ try again. Ye will have to put all yer strength behind yer swing.” Cayden circled the dummy until he was facing her.

A deep sense of pride and wanting to prove herself drove her on as she lifted the sword a few inches higher and swung with all her might.

The blade entered the wood of the base with a splintering crack, causing the bucket that served as the head to tilt.

“I did it,” she breathed excitedly, looking to Cayden for his approval.

“Aye, ye wounded yer enemy, but now, ye have to defend yerself ’afore he gets back up,” Cayden said seriously and folded his arms across his chest as he observed her.

Reaching for the hilt again, she attempted to pull the sword free a few times before placing her boot on one side of the dummy’s base and pulling with all her might.

“Careful, lass, ye will injure yerself like that.” Cayden came forward before positioning his arms behind her. He caught her off guard when he placed his arms around her shoulders and gripped her hands, helping her to free the sword with ease.

The warmth of his body engulfed her back as he kept his position.

“Thank ye.” She felt the pit of her stomach fluttering as he drew her closer to his chest with the sword raised in front of them.

“Dinnae thank me, lass; ye need to defend yerself ’afore yer attacker gets back up.” He gripped her hands a little tighter and helped her raise her arms, swinging the blade with such ferocity that the dummy’s wooden arm went sailing clean across the ground.

The exhilarating breath of excitement that ran through her body almost made her faint as she felt light-headed.

Cayden tightened his arms around her shoulders and held her steady. “Do ye still have yer breath?” His voice almost sounded as if he were smiling behind her.

“Aye,” she breathed heavily, trying to focus on each breath. He was trying to show her something or even teach her a lesson, and she wasn’t about to back down just because she was out of breath.

“Very well,” Cayden chuckled and took a step back, allowing her to yield the sword on her own.

Composing herself, she adjusted her grip on the hilt before swinging the sword and lopping the tip off of the remaining arm.

“Harder, lass! Ye have to swing harder!” Cayden raised his voice, egging her on as she tried again.

She swung the sword even harder, splintering the base.

“Ye willnae be able to save yer brother if ye cannae swing a sword!” Cayden seemed to be taunting her now.

Losing her temper, Iris raised the sword over her head, bringing it down with such intensity that the dummy split clean in half. The feeling of relief that flooded her body urged her on as she continued to swing the sword, slashing it repeatedly into the splinters of wood.

“Ye can stop now; I’m sure he’s dead.” Cayden chuckled from deep within his chest, coming forward just as Iris lifted the blade high above her head once more.

The sudden distraction caught her off guard as the weight of the sword behind her back threw her off balance.

Reaching for the sword, Cayden snatched it up right before she landed on her bottom in the dirt.

Looking up at the stars, Iris suddenly began to laugh. All of the anger and frustration she had been feeling drifted into the dark sky.

“Are ye hurt, lass?” Cayden’s worried face suddenly appeared above her as he stretched out an arm to help her sit up.

“Ne’er better, actually,” she answered through labored breaths and accepted his hand, sitting up straight. She didn’t care if her dress was ruined or even if her arms felt as if they would fall off. She felt more useful in those few moments of taking out her frustrations than she had since her brother had gone missing.

The corners of Cayden’s mouth tilted into an uncommon smile as he thrust the blade into the earth and lowered himself beside her. “Aye, I ken very well what ye mean. There is something freeing about taking yer frustrations out in battle. Believe it or nae, I ken what yer feeling with Ashton. I felt helpless for such a long time with me own brother.”

Iris suddenly stiffened and held her breath as she realized that he was referring to what had happened.

“Take it from me, ye dinnae want yer brother’s blood on yer hands because of yer inexperience. I would also nae be able to protect Ashton if I’m constantly worrying about ye.” Cayden swallowed hard and turned his focus to her, the brilliant light of the stars reflecting in his eyes.

She could feel her heart thumping as she realized what he was trying to say to her. She couldn’t go along because he would be too worried about her safety; she would jeopardize the mission not because he didn’t care for her but because he cared for her wellbeing.

“Cayden,” she whispered before placing her hand on his arm and leaning in for a chaste kiss that quickly ended. “Thank ye, I didnae understand what ye were trying to say ’afore, but I think I do now.”

Cayden looked shocked at the kiss before swearing under his breath and pulling her closer. His lips sought hers more urgently than any of the kisses they had shared before.

Iris felt her breath mingling with his as his tongue snaked between her lips, parting her mouth with a gentle moan. Her heart practically raced through the walls of her chest when he repositioned himself over her and lowered her to the ground, placing his hand behind her head for support as he placed his weight over her body.

Her surprise quickly turned to passion when he deepened the kiss, placing his hand on her hip as he tilted his head to the side. She gasped lightly when he left her lips, kissing a path over her chin and stopping at her neck before kissing his way back.

Their tongues jousted together, each fighting for dominance until she yielded to his touch with a soft moan of surrender.

Cayden drew back, looking down at her with a strange look in his eyes as he brushed a tendril of hair from her face. “Will ye wait here an’ allow me to protect ye?” he whispered close to her lips as the rapid rise and fall of his chest brushed against her breasts.

“Aye,” Iris said in a breathy tone that she could hardly recognize. He seemed to have gained control of himself, yet her body yearned for him to finish what he had started.

“Thank ye. I promise that I will do all that I can to save yer brother. Me task will be so much easier if I ken that ye are here, safe an’ waiting for me.”

Her breath caught in her throat at his words.

Waiting for me.

How did he feel about her now? Did he still see her as just a bargaining chip between him and Tristan? Or had his feelings for her grown into something else?

“Will ye wait for me, Iris?” he asked her now, his eyes searching her face.

“Aye, if ye promise to do something for me in return.” She spoke softly, lifting her hand and tracing a path across his jawline.

“Aye, I will bring yer brother back,” he answered with a subtle smile tugging the edges of his lips.

“Nae that, will ye train me ’afore ye leave? I want to learn more of what ye showed me this evening.” She smiled up at him, feeling her nipples harden against his chest as they stared into each other’s eyes.

“Aye, lass, I can do that for ye.” He lowered himself down again and pressed a deep kiss against her lips, allowing his breath to wash over her as he lingered for just a moment.

Cool air washed over her body as he stood, offering her his hand to help her stand. She felt a little disappointed that things had ended there yet more relaxed in his presence. He had almost opened up about what had happened in the past after alluding to the fact that his brother had died due to his shortcomings.

Her heart skipped a beat when he held her gaze again. Perhaps he would open up to her more in the future. Things seemed hopeful the more time they spent together.

“Oh, an’ Iris, I understand that sharing dinner with me family isn’t spending time with ye. I promise to make more of an effort; perhaps we can train like this in the evenings?”

Her stomach coiled deliciously when he reached out and removed a splinter from her hair.