“Aye.Ye’re in me castle, remember? Ye’re safe here.”
Slowly,the terror in her eyes receded, replaced by a deep, hollow exhaustion that made her look far older than her years. She drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them.
“I’m sorry,”she whispered. “I didnae mean to wake ye.”
Something twistedin Hector’s chest at her apology. Had punishment become what she expected in place of understanding?
“Dinnae apologize.”He paused, unsure how to handle the situation. “Would ye… would ye like to speak of it? Yer dream?”
She hesitated,then shook her head. “It was just memories. Things that happened.”
“Sometimes speakin’about such things can rob them of their power.”
Gabriella looked up at him,studying his face. Whatever she saw must have reassured her, for she drew a shuddering breath and spoke.
“It was about Lewis,the tavern owner who took me.” Her voice was barely audible. “In the dream, he found me here and dragged me back to that… that place. Said he had sold me, and I had to go with him.”
Hector went utterly still.Lewis. At last, he had the name of the hunt’s leader.
His fingers itchedto reach for the dirk and head out, to hunt down this man immediately. But he forced himself to remain focused on Gabriella.
“He willnae find ye here,”he assured her, keeping his voice steady despite the cold rage building inside him. “And ye belong to nay one, least of all him.”
She nodded,though doubt lingered in her expression. “It felt so real. I could smell the dampness of the cellar, feel the chains…” Her voice broke.
“I understand.I have such dreams meself sometimes.”
It was barely a whisper,but she had heard it.
“Ye do?”Genuine surprise colored her voice.
Hector nodded,surprised at himself for revealing such a thing. He rarely spoke of his vulnerabilities, even to his family. Yet something about her honest fear moved him to offer honesty in return.
“About me faither’s death,”he found himself saying. “I was there when it happened. A rival clan attacked us durin’ a hunt. I watched him fall.”
The memoryof his father’s surprised expression as the arrow struck and the terrible moment when his knees buckled flashed through his mind.
“I still dreamof it sometimes. Wake up thinkin’ I could have done somethin’ different.”
Gabriella’s eyes widened.“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
This time,her words held genuine sympathy rather than fear.
“It was four years ago,”Hector added. “The dreams come less frequently now.” He looked away, suddenly uncomfortable with how much he’d revealed. “Yers will fade too, in time.”
A fragile silencefell between them. Hector noticed the way she held her head up. Despite everything she’d endured, there was a quiet dignity about her, as if some essential part of her spirit remained unbroken.
“Would ye like some water?Or I could have tea brought up?” he offered gruffly, unsure what else to do for her.
She shook her head.“Nay, thank ye. I think I can sleep again now.”
Hector noddedand rose from the bed. “I’ll leave ye, then. But I’m just beyond that wall,” he said, gesturing to the wall between their chambers. “If ye need anythin’, ye only need to call out.”
As he turned to go,her voice stopped him.
“Laird McCulloch?”
He looked back. “Aye?”
