Page 21 of Laird of Wrath

Rhea took a deep, steadying breath—more so for her nerves than for anything else—then loosed the arrow. Just as Callum had promised, it hit the bullseye.

She couldn’t help the cry that escaped her—a sound of as much surprise as joy—jumping up and down a few times excitedly. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Callum watching her, a small smile playing on his lips.

“Thank ye,” she said. “I didnae think I could do it.”

“Ye can,” he assured her. “And now ye’ll do it on yer own.”

Emboldened by her victory, Rhea tried again, this time on her own. And though she didn’t hit the bullseye, she was closer than before.

They stayed there for a long while, Rhea enjoying herself as she shot arrow after arrow at the target, Callum fetching them back for her to try again and again. By the end of it, her arm was sore, but she was so satisfied by her performance that it didn’t matter.

“Thank ye,” she offered when Callum began to clean up after them. “This was… It was fun.”

“I’m glad ye enjoyed it,” Callum said, and though his expression was grim as always, he sounded a little lighter.

Rhea couldn’t help but think that their first outing had gone much better than she could have ever expected.

7

“There’s been noise coming from the courtyard all day,” Callum noted as he walked over to the window in his study to stare down at the courtyard below. There were people there, more than usual. “What’s happenin’? Is there somethin’ I missed?”

“Nae as far as I ken,” Hudson replied with a small shrug, joining him by the window.

“Odd,” Callum muttered, slowly returning to the great desk that stood against the wall, its surface covered in loose papers and bound pages. He sank into his plush leather chair with a sigh, running a hand through his dark hair as Hudson came to sit across from him, watching him intently.

Light streamed in through the window—it was an uncharacteristically sunny day. Perhaps that was why there were so many people in the courtyard. Some of them had to be merchants, there to display their goods, and others may have come for the services of the craftsmen behind the walls.

There is nay attack. I would ken it if there was. The bells would ring.

It was difficult to forget about war when it had been his everyday life for so many months. It was difficult to adjust to life within his castle walls once more, where he wasn’t under constant threat.

“So, what happened with Rhea?” Hudson asked.

Callum couldn’t resist the urge to roll his eyes at his friend. “Nothin',” he said. “Why should somethin’ happen?”

“Well, ye were all alone in the training yard,” Hudson reminded him. “And ye’re nae kent to be shy around lasses.”

“Rhea is me wife,” Callum replied, as if that should explain everything. “She’s nae some random lass.”

“I see,” Hudson said. “So, ye cannae perform because she’s yer wife?”

Callum shot him a scathing look. “Who says I cannae perform?”

“I did.” Hudson smirked. “Just now.”

“Well, daenae do that,” Callum grumbled, much to the man’s amusement. “It has nothin' to do with me bein’ unable to perform. For yer information, I never had an issue with that.”

“What is it, then?” Hudson pressed.

“Rhea wants me to court her,” Callum said. “So I’m courtin’ her.”

“Ye’re courtin’ yer own wife?”

“Aye,” he grunted. “Do ye have a problem with that?”

“Me? Nay.” Hudson shook his head. “No problem at all. Why would I have a problem?”

Callum was about to respond when a knock sounded at the door.