Page 9 of Laird of Wrath

Around him, his men rushed to comply, running off and keeping their gazes averted as much as they could.

It was only then that Rhea realized she was still in her shift, barely covered as the wind whipped it around her body. Callum reached her in a few long strides and took off his cloak to wrap it around her shoulders, covering her from head to toe.

His scent surrounded her immediately. A small part of her thought that perhaps she should be disgusted by his cloak, which he had worn through the war and through his travels. Instead, it comforted her.

It comforted her less when he grabbed her with a grunt and threw her over his shoulder.

“What are ye doin’?” she cried, squirming in his grip. “Put me down!”

Callum only gave another grunt, as if to acknowledge her demand, but didn’t let her go. Instead, he carried her inside, and only when they were back in her chambers did he put her down—after they had already passed by half the residents of the castle.

When her feet finally found the floor again, she crossed her arms and looked up at him, but her stern stare didn’t seem to be affecting him that much. Before she could even speak, he turned around to leave, but she was faster. She rushed in front of him and blocked his path, only for him to try and sidestep her.

She blocked his path again.

“Are ye all right?” she asked. “Is the war over? Why did ye nae send word?”

“I need to rest,” Callum said, the first words he had spoken to her since he had come back. His voice was rough, hoarse, as if he had been shouting. “We’ll speak on the morrow.”

“Ye have nay idea what we’ve had to put up with while ye were gone,” Rhea scoffed. “Ye have nay idea what we’ve been through, and now ye want to go to sleep?”

Callum stared at her for a few moments, then asked, “Was it war?”

Rhea blinked up at him in confusion. “What?”

“War,” he repeated. “What ye went through here, was it war?”

“N-Nay.”

“Nay,” he repeated. “So it can wait.”

“Right,” she exhaled.

Much to her surprise, he leaned closer, his lips almost brushing her ear. “Ye should think twice before ye come down in yer shift again,” he whispered, and her cheeks immediately heated with shame.

She had not given it a single thought before she had rushed down to meet him. She didn’t care about propriety. She onlycared about learning what had happened and telling him about Laird Barclay.

Callum sidestepped her and walked off, and this time, she allowed it. She watched his retreating back, desperation washing over her.

But what could she do?

He was right; how could she bother him with anything when it was so late at night and he had only just come back from war?

As much as she wanted to bring an end to the threat that was Laird Barclay, it would all have to wait until the morning.

How will I even tell him about all this? I was meant to protect Sienna. I was meant to protect the clan. And now that vulture is here.

4

Ten long months had brought Callum to this very moment.

He was finally home. He finally had Sienna by his side again, and she was safe, just as Rhea had promised him.

Every day, he had been plagued by thoughts of the two of them, of the clan, of everything that could go wrong while he was gone, but now he was back, and everything was in order.

Me wife did well. It’s a good thing she is competent.

They needed a competent lady while they rebuilt. With little wealth and with their forces weakened, he needed someone by his side who could lead as well as he could.