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“I am ready to leave.”
“With the cat?” Flynn questioned, clearly confused.
“Her name is Bannock, and since she is me cat, she will be going with me,” Astrid replied rather firmly, leaving no room for discussion.
“I am not letting ye bring a pet to me castle,” Flynn countered, simply for the sake of going against her. He did not actually have much of an issue with the cat, but there was something about Astrid that made him question all of her actions.
“If I go, Bannock goes with me. There is no question about it,” she insisted, surety in her tone.
“Just make sure I never have to see her face again,” Flynn replied, giving in. He knew there was no arguing with her.
“I am sure yer castle is big enough to house a cat and for ye to remain away from her at the same time.”
“Just go,” Flynn huffed with a scowl.
His eyes went to the trunks she had, and he inwardly laughed to himself. He had already expected her to come with carriage loads of things and had arranged for it in advance. He asked Billy to get everything settled, and Billy guided the servants out of the hall while he turned one last time towards Laird O’Donnely.
“We will be leaving now, Laird O’Donnely. I promise ye, I will take care of yer daughter and protect her from all harms, thus ye dinnae have to worry about it. I am certain ye dinnae fully trust me about it, but I can assure ye, she would never be harmed,” Flynn assured the old man, who nodded in reply.
“Touch her, and I will kill ye with me own bare hands,” Laird O’Donnely threatened, and Flynn wished he could tell him how he had not only already touched his daughter but had even kissed her.
“I am sure ye will,” Flynn replied, smiling, before turning around and exiting the hall. He knew Astrid was following behind him, since her cat was meowing constantly, probably because she must have never left the castle before today.
Once they were out, he helped Astrid inside the carriage waiting for her. He wished he could sit with her for the journey, but they would be back at his castle soon enough.
Then, he would have her all to himself.
CHAPTER4
They reachedthe MacKie lands only after half a day of travel, since the two castles were not very far from one another. Astrid was quite happy about that, since it meant her father and sister were still close to her even if they were not completely together. She could not deny that she had been looking forward to seeing Flynn after what had happened last year. She might have hated the man, but he was still her first kiss, the only man who had ever touched her intimately at all.
He had grown even more handsome, which was something she had not expected. Once the betrothal had been announced and she had known she had no choice but to listen to the orders of the King, she had asked some people around her to find out whatever they could about Flynn and his character.
Apparently, everyone in his clan loved him. He was a most patient laird but extremely brave as well. He never backed away from what was right and was kind when there was a need for it. He was both patient and smart, and she had no doubt about him being popular with the women. His handsome looks and well-built body would make him look appealing to everyone. Astrid had even overheard a few of the maids in her castle talking about him.
“Did ye see him the first time he was here? How handsome he looks!” the maid had told her friend while Astrid hid behind a pillar to hear more.
“Aye, Miss Astrid is a lucky lass. Did ye ken he was the one to call for a ceasefire between the clans? If it wasnae for him, me husband would still be going to battles…” Astrid hadn’t heard more as the women left the room, continuing their chores.
She was jolted out of her thoughts as she felt the carriage draw to a stop, and she looked out to see the MacKie castle before her at some distance. She finally stepped out and was pleased to see the lush green scenery surrounding the castle.
The castle was built rather fabulously, and Astrid could sense that she might not hate living here as much as she had thought. The entire place looked calm, almost serene, and she knew no one would disturb her. Bannock jumped out of her arms and raced towards the castle, finally free from being wound up in a carriage for so long.
Before Astrid could run after her cat, she felt a familiar presence behind her and turned to see Flynn standing right there.
“We are home,” he said, a smile on his face.
“Yer home, nae mine,” she countered, all the while admiring his smile. She wondered if he smiled often and why she had never heard him laugh. She was certain he would have a beautiful laugh.
“Yer home too, as long as yer me betrothed,” he whispered, “even a fake one. Let’s go.”
Astrid could not completely understand why hearing the wordfakefrom Flynn’s mouth seemed slightly hurtful. It wasn’t as if she did not know the intricacies behind the betrothal. She knew them too well. She knew that it was all to show the King and would be over soon enough, although the entire idea seemed callous to her. She shook her head and forced herself to stop thinking about it.
“Just for a little while,” Astrid replied as they made their way towards the castle after Bannock.
She turned to look at her trunks and watched a few servants bringing them in behind her. Flynn must have noticed her movements, since he immediately followed her gaze.
“Yer things will reach yer chambers safely. Dinnae worry about it,” he assured her, and she nodded, not knowing why she always trusted everything he told her.
