Captivated by a Highlander

Chapter 17 - Autumn

Five days ago, Tomas was exiled from the Castle Monroe. Angus and Raymond had to force him out the door. He was stripped of the Monroe plaid and a brand was burned on his arm. He would not be returning.

The land around me was starting to turn with the coming autumn. Harvests were starting to be brought in, the grasses were turning brown, the leaves on the trees were beginning to turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold, and the days and nights were significantly colder than when I arrived here. One thing that I learned rather quickly was that I hate the cold. I had learned this back in my own time, though, since it was winter then, but I had heavy sweaters and layers and layers of clothes I could add on. Now all I really had that I could add on to my daily attire was a coat.

Kain was always by my side. After he had seen how much anxiety I hold in on a daily basis, I guess you could say he was more protective of me. Though he wouldn't say it, I could tell he was jealous of the way Ivan could calm me, and I suppose he wanted to be able to do that for me as well. After all, there may be a time when Ivan isn't around and I have an anxiety attack. I knew Kain wanted to be able to protect me like that. It was moving, really. But also a bit antagonizing.

Nevertheless, Kain was always with me, and with him, I felt significantly safer. Heaven forbid that I can ever feel safe. I had this feeling deep within my gut that something bad was going to happen again, but I guess you could say that was my anxiety talking. Since the incident with Tomas, my anxiety tolerance threshold has shrunk significantly and almost anything could set me off now. I was afraid of just about everything and many times in the night I would wake screaming because of nightmares. I was an insomniac now, and Emma had provided me with a powder, pigmented to match my skin tone, to hide the dark circles beneath my eyes.

Not only that, but apparently the relationship between the Monroes and the McLeods was growing worse. Alternating raids were happening every other day or so. Farmers were their losing crops, sheepherders their sheep, and I had heard rumors that some people were being abducted, too. A young woman went missing two days ago. Yesterday she was found raped and half alive, left for dead by the river. Ivan was the one to find her when he decided to aide her family in searching for her. He hasn't left his study since. I could see myself in him from when I found Alan and that maid, way-back-when. It had been a distant memory to me until now.

I stood from the chair by the hearth at a knock on the door. I closed my book and crossed the room and called out, "Just a moment!" I glanced at myself in the mirror. That powder hid my bags and dark circles well.

I opened the door to find Kain on the other side. He had a cloak wrapped around his shoulders. "Good morn, lass," he said with a bow of his head. I bowed my head back and moved aside so that he could enter.

"It's rather late in the morning, though it's early for you to come here to get me," I said as I closed my door. "What do you need?"

Before I could even turn, Kain carefully placed his large hands on my hips and turned me carefully. I gasped a bit in surprise, but his lips captured mine and silenced any sound. His kiss was tender and sweet and he tasted like apples. He didn't let the kiss go on for long, much to my dismay. However, he stayed close to me and I could feel his breath on my lips. My eyes fluttered open and I met his gaze. His eyes were barely open, but the turquoise of his irises were drawing me in closer and closer. One of my hands placed on his chest and I leaned my forehead against his.

"What is it?" I asked softly.

"Ye' have hardly left yer room, Christine," he replied quietly. "I wish to take ye to town today."

I watched him carefully for a moment. There was an almost desperate look in his eyes, like he was worried for me being alone so often. I couldn't help myself. I caved.