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She smiled at him before proceeding to buy some more books, but she stopped after he told her he would not be carrying any more books. She then proceeded to buy some dresses, and his heart warmed as he noticed she sought his approval before buying anything, as if her sole purpose with the venture was somehow buying things that pleased him.
The simple action was so minor and subtle, but it made Flynn feel as if Astrid had finally allowed him inside. As if she had accepted their betrothal wholeheartedly, and just as he did, she wished for it to continue, too.
Although, he knew it was too soon to have this conversation with her. He would need to wait a little longer and solve the problem with Myles first to know where the relationship between him and Murray stood. Even if Astrid agreed, convincing Murray would be almost impossible, but Flynn knew the old Laird would not be able to do anything against the King.
“Where are ye lost?”
Astrid’s voice brought him back to the present, and he turned to look at the beautiful woman beside him. A woman he wished to marry.
“I am right here,” he replied. “I was just thinking about something,” he added as they walked through the street.
He knew they must have painted the picture of a loving couple with him holding her things as she walked beside him, continuing to shop. He saw several people who knew who he was, and they stopped to nod respectfully, but he did not care how he appeared. His betrothal was known to all, and he was not ashamed to be seen with Astrid.
“Ye must stop thinkin’ about work while yer with me,” she ordered.
“Yer becoming extremely demanding with every passin’ day, Astrid,” he joked, although he had found this new trait of hers even more intriguing. She was a determined woman who knew what she wanted and how to achieve it.
“Do ye not want me to be?”
“Ye can be whatever ye want, and I will still admire ye,” he replied, stopping himself from saying the wordlove.
Even if he did wish to say the word to her, he knew it was too soon. He needed to give her some time. It was more than necessary, especially when he himself was uncertain about the future.
“Ye admire me?” she asked as if surprised.
“Of course, I do, darling.” He smiled. “Why won’t I?” he asked, and Astrid blushed again.
She looked even more beautiful at that moment, and he wished to kiss her then and there.
As they walked along, talking, Flynn only knew one thing: whatever the future held for them was still unknown to him, but whatever it was, nothing could take Astrid away from him ever again.
CHAPTER18
Myles staredat the two men standing in front of him, looming like dark shadows in his study. He had not expected them to show up at his castle together. From what he knew, Laird O’Donnely and Laird MacKie were still sworn enemies. He had never known they would find out about him stealing lands from their clans and adding them to the lands of his own clan. Moreover, they had found out about it together and had come to force him to return those lands.
These men were the lairds of the two most powerful clans in the kingdom, and Myles knew he could not stand against them. He knew he would have to give in eventually. They were never going back down until he returned their lands, and he was not powerful enough to fight them over it.
“I still think ye two are mistaken,” Myles replied, his voice sounding sickly sweet even to his own ears. He knew he could not continue pretending much longer, since both Murray and Flynn looked angry enough already.
“We are nae mistaken, Myles, and ye ken it, too,” Murray said sternly as if he had taken enough of Myles’s lies. “I dinnae wish to be curt with ye or exercise my power. Return the lands immediately, or the outcome willnae be in yer favor.”
“Do as he says, Myles,” Flynn added, leaning casually against the wall while Myles and Murray remained seated. “Yer a smart man, and ye ken very well what happens when ye become the enemy of the MacKie and the O’Donnely clans. Dinnae invite a worse fate for yerself. This is the second time I have been here, and if I have to come once again, things willnae be in yer favor.”
Myles knew he was left with no choice, since it was evident both Flynn and Murray would refuse to leave his castle until he agreed. They had come without any armies, but it did not mean Myles could attack them, for it would bring the rest of Scotland on his neck for breach of safety. He needed to agree to their demands, or else they would take him down.
“Fine,” he replied at last, “I will return yer lands back to ye if that is what ye wish for. Although, it will take me some time, since I will have to go visit those villages and verify if the claims are true or nae.”
He knew he needed to buy time to plot a better plan than the one he had right now. The MacKie and O’Donnely clans had ended their ten-year war and were on peaceful terms now that Flynn was betrothed to Astrid. Myles had never expected the King to do that, and the ceasefire had only brought problems for him.
He had quite easily captured those villages while the war was going on between the two clans and neither of them was focused on their borders. Unfortunately, now their focus had returned back to their clans, which had resulted in problems for Myles.
He had gone through a lot in order to capture those villages and gain greater territory. He had no desire to give it all up so easily. Myles knew he was a smart man and would think of a better plan, but right now, all he needed was time, some time to make sure the villages remained his indefinitely and the two problems he had in the form of Laird MacKie and Laird O’Donnely were removed for good.
“One week, Myles. One week is enough for ye to make yer inspections and to ken that they indeed are our villages. Ye and yer army illegally captured them while our focus was elsewhere. I will not give ye any more time than that,” Flynn warned.
Myles knew the young Laird meant every word he said and would prove to be even more callous than Murray. “One week is enough time for me,” he agreed.
He watched as Flynn moved away from the wall and slowly made his way towards him, his expression as nonchalant as ever. It seemed as if the entire conversation that had just occurred meant nothing at all to Flynn, but Myles knew he was just using his poker face and trying to intimidate him.
