“Brother, are ye sure that is wise?” Damon glared at her before flicking his stare up to his brother.
“Aye.” Keegan jostled Willow in the saddle, playing it off as if he were adjusting for comfort. “I ken the land, and I shall be able to keep a single lass hidden from spies.”
Damon nodded, the irritation barely hidden on his face, and the men quickly separated into two groups of riders and each took off in different directions for the Brahanne castle.
Willow ground her teeth, ducking her head as she clamped her eyes shut.I see that I shall be alone with my captor. Well, he shall receive similar treatment to Magnus.
It had only been a few minutes, perhaps a grand total of fifteen or so, before Willow set her spine and at last asked the question that had been plaguing her mind.
“Are ye certain that me men were unharmed?”
Not so much as a word was offered from behind her, a slight grunt the only indication that the man had even heard her.Willow rolled her eyes with Keegan could not see, perpetually annoyed by his lack of flexibility.
“Will ye nae offer me anythin'?” Still nothing. “Ugh, what possessed ye to kidnap me at all? I am hardly a prize. I am a simple woman, and ye interrupted me journey to me betrothed.”
Keegan adjusted behind her, making Willow’s mind turn again to how very close they were, and squeezed his legs around the horse. It took off at greater speed as if Keegan himself were quite through with all this travel.
“Ye cannae even be bothered to tell me what yer laird intends to do with me? I’ve nay mind of what he wants from me or what great offense I may have done him.”
The aggravating warrior still offered Willow nothing except, of course, to nudge her in the back with the pommel of his sword. It bit into her spine, and she was quite confident that the man had done it purposefully.
Ye blasted, arrogant?—
“Can ye at least tell me who this Melissa lass is? I would hear about the lass who has caused me such an experience.”
Abruptly, Keegan jerked on the reins, making the horse come to a sudden halt that nearly threw her to the ground. Willow yelped as she was pitched forward, only to have the strong hand of the warrior behind her grab hold of the back of her dress.
He used his grip to force Willow around and look him in the eye.
“Speak the truth, lass, or I shall think verra differently about letting ye fall to the earth. Do ye honestly have nay notion who Melissa is, or are ye lying through yer teeth?”
The ice in Keegan’s voice was enough to chill her blood, and Willow fought the urge to shiver. His bright blue stare was glowing with rage, the likes of which looked like it might burst free at any moment. She had rarely seen a man, or any person for that matter, so worked up, and so she took it to mean that whoever this Melissa was, she meant a great deal to the clan.
Straightening, Willow held Keegan’s gaze, doing everything with her own to convey the truth of her words.
“I daenae ken who this woman is, and I am sorry that yer clan has gone without someone who means so much to ye.”
As expected, Keegan studied Willow, scrutinizing every twitch and stillness of her face. His stare never wavered from her eyes, and she didn’t dare look away. The result, of course, was that Willow was given the opportunity to take in the tiny details of Keegan’s face and that wicked stare of his.
Striations of a deeper navy and lighter teal streaked through Keegan’s irises, flecks of color that created a universe in his gaze. His thick, dark slashes contrasted with their light color and the pale complexion of his skin. Keegan’s brows were down low over his eyes as well, and the chill that had taken her blood just amoment before began to shift to a burning the likes of which Willow could not stand.
There was something about the way the man’s stare penetrated her that forced Willow to blink, her attention moving to the ground where the tall grasses danced gently in the breeze.
I wasnae wrong, though. The woman is clearly of great importance to them. The lady of the castle, perhaps?
“Is she the Laird of Brahanne’s wife? The Lady?”
As she turned back toward the front of the horse, Keegan settled into the saddle once more, holding the reins at the ready but unmoving.
“Sister.”
“Please, I dinnae mean any disrespect. Can ye tell me what happened?”
Keegan tensed behind her, the frame of his arms around her body closing in. He was just so damned close, and Willow could feel every breath the man took, and each one he held deep within his chest, and he locked up tighter than a drum.
“Yer brother kidnapped her.”
At that, Keegan flourished the reins, sending the horse into motion. Willow could still feel the iron tension that ran through him, and she was forced to suck in a deep breath, her eyes closing for a moment.