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“This is enough, Flynn. Ye can consider it as an order now.”
Flynn wanted to laugh at that. As the Laird, no one could order him around, but he didn’t dare to defy old Laila, for her wrath could be formidable. He loved his grandmother, but her temper was something to look out for at all times.
“I willnae let ye leave yer future wife alone this way.”
“She isnae me future wife,” Flynn interjected, knowing that his grandmother knew this as well.
“I dinnae care. Yer going to her right now, and that is final. Do ye understand?”
“Yes, Grandmother,” Flynn muttered, knowing perfectly well he would never be able to say no to the old woman. She had ways of getting things done, and she always succeeded.
* * *
Astrid was extremely absorbed in her reading when there was a sudden knock at her door. She looked up in confusion, knowing that there was still a considerable amount of time left before dinner, and no one should be visiting her at this hour. She had been left practically alone and undisturbed for the past three days, and even though it had been a little lonely, she had imagined this was what her days would be like here.
Despite the confusion, she stood up and walked towards the door to unlatch it. Just as the large, wooden frame creaked open, her brown eyes met with a very familiar pair of green eyes, and she was surprised to see Flynn standing there. He looked just as handsome as he always did, dressed simply in his clan’s colors.
“Flynn, do ye need somethin’?” she asked, wondering the reason for his sudden, uncalled-for visit.
“Ye willnae even invite me inside?” he asked, and Astrid immediately stepped aside to allow him to enter. He smiled and walked in as she once again closed the door behind him.
She belatedly realized that the condition of her bedchamber was unsuitable for entertaining. Astrid had never in her life been organized when it came to her bedchamber. It was her nature to throw things from one end to the other and never return something she picked from one place to its correct position.
Luckily enough, she had never faced trouble in this regard, since she had had Keira to take care of it for her. Her sister, unlike her, was extremely organized and made sure Astrid’s chambers remained in perfect condition too. Astrid knew the maids would have done it for her, but she hadn’t allowed anyone inside in the past three days. It had been just her and Bannock.
She walked to stand beside Flynn, who, just as she had expected, was staring at the mess with mock horror in his eyes. Astrid recognized the expression, since it was exactly how Keira had stared at the mess she had made back home. She suddenly felt a pang of sadness, since she realized she was missing her sister, but it disappeared as soon as Flynn turned to stare at her.
“Are ye sure this is yer bedchamber and not somewhere people dump trash?” he asked, his expression absurdly serious.
“I am certain this is me bedchamber,” Astrid replied just as seriously, mirroring his tone.
“How can ye live like this? Amidst such chaos?” he questioned yet again and began picking anything he could find and putting things in their right positions.
Astrid watched him carefully and smiled before replying, “I usually have people like ye around me to make sure the mess is cleaned up eventually. I dinnae have much to worry about in that regard.”
“Nae human should live like this. I cannae imagine stepping into a place or sleeping in a place that looks as if someone has ransacked it.”
Astrid couldn’t help but laugh at this exaggeration. “Calm down, Flynn. Ye cannae be this scandalized over a slightly chaotic room. I am used to living this way.”
“Ye mean living like a deranged lunatic who has no sense of place or manners?”
Astrid knew she should have been offended by the insult, but she also knew he did not truly mean it. His manner had been teasing, and it was justified, since he had already had an aneurysm as he had looked at the room.
“Precisely. That is my new goal of living life,” Astrid replied, agreeing with his description of her.
She silently watched as he assembled all the books she had thrown about in the room into one pile and neatly placed them on the shelf that was just beside the looking glass. Astrid waited, knowing that Flynn had failed to notice how Bannock was sitting right there. Just as he backed away, Bannock hissed at him loudly, and he unconsciously stumbled backwards, almost falling to the ground.
Astrid broke into laughter at the scene but immediately stopped when Flynn turned to look at her with a murderous gleam in his eyes. She knew he had never wanted her to bring her cat to his castle, but she couldn’t have come without her. They had been together for the past sixteen years, and she hadn’t ever spent a day without Bannock.
“I told ye, I didnae want to see that thing,” Flynn complained, raising an eyebrow.
“Ye came to my chamber yerself, I didnae ask ye to. Bannock only hissed at ye, since ye were invading her private space. Otherwise, she means nay harm,” Astrid explained as he walked towards her. She could not understand what had shifted in his mood and tone, but he suddenly appeared different. More intimidating.
“I willnae stand here and argue with both ye and yer cat, Astrid. I think yer just enough to tire me out anyway.”
Astrid smiled at his words, considering it a personal victory that she had such an effect on him.
“Good decision.”
