Page 28 of Laird of Wrath

“I still insist that ye daenae go.”

“Daenae go where?” Callum’s voice boomed.

Rhea jumped, a yelp escaping her when he suddenly appeared behind her. She cursed under her breath.

Although this was his home, too, she hadn’t expected to run into him so soon. She was too used to his absence, too used to the fact that he had not been around, and now his presence in the castle—and in her life—startled her more often than she’d like to admit.

Besides, she had hoped that she wouldn’t have to deal with him for a while longer after their argument.

Was he not avoiding her?Shewas certainly avoiding him, but she could hardly lock herself up in her chambers while there was still so much to be done.

“I… I’d like to go to the market,” she said after drawing in a deep, steadying breath. She was not going to let him intimidate herinto silence. “There is much to be purchased for the feast, and I must see the goods meself.”

“Why nae send a servant?” he asked.

“Because I must see the goods meself,” she repeated, instead of giving him another explanation.

Was it stubborn? Perhaps. But the frustrated look he gave her was worth it.

“Fine,” he relented. “Then I shall go with ye.”

It was neither a question nor a suggestion. Callum had clearly made up his mind, and he was not going to wait for her permission.

She didn’t try to argue with him, though. She had quickly discovered there was little sense in fighting with him.

“When will we go?” she asked.

“Now,” he said, much to her surprise.

“Right now?”

“Do ye have anythin’ better to do?”

“Do ye nae?”

Out of the corner of her eye, Rhea could see Sienna and Lara watching them, their eyes flitting back and forth between them. Neither girl said a single word, though. She couldn’t blame them. She didn’t even want to have this conversation.

“Nay,” Callum said drily.

“Good,” she gritted out.

If she were being honest, she didn’t know what had angered her. Their petty argument was nothing but the echo of their previous fight, the two of them eager to pick it up where they had left it. But Rhea was not going to fight with him in the middle of the Great Hall, where everyone could see.

Pride was one thing. Showing everyone around them a splintered front was another.

“Meet me at the gates,” Callum grumbled.

Without another word, he turned around and stomped off, much to her chagrin and relief.

Silence ensued. Sienna and Lara stared awkwardly around them, pretending that Rhea couldn’t see them. But Rhea was stewing in her anger too much to care that they had made a scene.

“So…” Sienna cleared her throat. “What do ye think ye’ll need to purchase?”

Rhea couldn’t bring herself to answer. None of this was Sienna’s fault, but her anger threatened to bubble over, and so she, too, decided to leave the Great Hall without so much as another word.

By the time she made her way out to the main gates, Callum had prepared two horses for them. When she approached, he was brushing his hand down the mane of the larger one, speaking to it gently. She couldn’t quite hear what he was saying, though.

“I’m ready,” she announced.