Page 53 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

“Nay.” The word came out as a groan.

Gordon shook his head, breathing hard, his eyes squeezed shut as though he could somehow deny what had just happened.

Groaning, Gordon strode from the chamber, the door shutting hard behind him. Only when he reached the empty corridor did he stop. He braced both hands against the cold stone and bowed his head.

His heart was still pounding. Her warmth still lingered against his mouth, and the worst part was not that he had kissed her.

It was that, for one breath, he had forgotten every reason he should not.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Two evenings later, Ailis sat beside Marion at the high table and listened to the deliberation from the council.

She had begun to understand that listening was one of the few ways to see Gordon clearly. Considering he spent most of his time avoiding her now, there was no other way for her to.

Nae that I care, she denied to herself. I merely wish to ken why he wants nothin’ to do with me.

She wanted nothing to do with him of course. That had not changed.

Or has it? I daenae ken anymore.

Men gathered around the hall, each with their own opinion on how he ought to handle the raid.

“I shall find the ones responsible for this, and when I do, they will pay for it.”

“We suspect this is Laird Kerr,” one man said as he rose to his feet. Gordon listened, his expression set in stony silence.

“We must send our men and make this right… He burned our village, and we will burn his!”

Some cheered at the suggestion while others grunted. Ailis merely watched to see how Gordon would react.

“We willnae start a war with Laird Kerr,” he said. “Accussin’ him is nae the best plan to protect our people.”

“Ye are the dragon, Me Laird,” another man countered. “The Highland clans fear us… Yer reputation precedes ye. Surely, ye willnae sit back and let Kerr undermine ye?”

“How many men did ye send to the eastern burn?” he asked Malcolm, ignoring the comment from that man.

“Six.”

“Make them eight. We will watch and scout,” he said in a firmer tone that quieted the men.

His men still seemed displeased with that.

Gordon’s expression remained hard. “I am nae desperate for war. I intend to be strategic with Kerr… Needless war only puts our people at risk.”

“Then we retaliate,” another suggested, and several men murmured their agreement.

Ailis watched Gordon carefully, waiting again till he said in a lethal voice, “Me decision is final on this matter.”

Silence followed the echo of his command, and no one dared argue any further after that.

“There are other matters to discuss,” Malcolm eventually pointed out, and they began discussing other clan matters after that.

Marion’s spoke when they began discussing the binding feast, and Ailis listened to it all.

“I shall invite Laird Kerr,” Gordon said when Marion mentioned the list of other lairds invited.

Malcolm’s brows shot upward. “Me Laird, I daenae think that is wise.”