As the journey ahead stretched out before them, Annabeth could only wonder how their paths would intertwine further. Then a thought entered her mind that she had been trying to avoid.
I'm terrified of this man because I am feeling things I have never felt before and trying to figure out what that is could lead me to destruction.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Marcus could feel Annabeth's hands resting lightly on his waist as they rode, her touch gentle but firm. The warmth of her fingers seeped through, sending a wave of heat through him that had nothing to do with the day’s journey. He clenched his jaw, trying to push away the growing awareness of her closeness.
Her scent makes me body grow warm. Feeling her touch sends me on the brink of being mad with desire.
Her presence, so simple and steady, was unlike anything he’d known before. It wasn’t just her hands on his body that unnerved him; it was the feeling that her touch was somehow tethering him to something more than just the task at hand. Deep down, he knew he hadn’t called her to the castle solely to tend to his father; he had a need to keep her nearby.
As they rode in silence, his mind wandered, the rhythmic movement of the horse underfoot doing little to settle thethoughts in his head. His father’s illness was a pressing matter, yet it was Annabeth who filled his thoughts. The more he thought about it, the clearer it became that he wasn’t ready to let her go.
He didn’t understand it—didn’t understand her—but the desire to keep her at his side felt as though it had taken root deep within him, uninvited and yet insistent.
Is it simply gratitude for her skill in healing, or something more? Something deeper that I cannae yet name?
The wind picked up slightly, ruffling their hair and the edges of their cloaks. Yet, he was keenly aware of Annabeth’s breath against his neck, the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she held onto him. His mind raced again, drifting into dangerous territory. He had no reason to feel this way—no reason to feel this constant tug on his chest when she was near.
I need her for me faither.
But the truth lingered there, silent and heavy. He wasn’t just bringing her to the castle for his father. He was bringing her because he wasn’t ready to let her go.
“Why do ye stay so quiet, lass?” Marcus murmured, his voice low and steady despite the chaos swirling in his mind.
He didn’t expect an answer, but he needed to hear her voice, something to break the spell she had cast on him withouteven trying. When she didn’t answer immediately, he felt his pulse quicken, the silence between them growing heavy with unspoken words.
“I… I’m looking at the moors is all,” she said.
He sensed the sadness in her voice and wondered if he made a mistake taking her from home. He longed to say something more, to comfort her, but the words caught in his throat. In that moment, he realized how much he didn’t know about her—and how much he wanted to.
As the castle came into view, Annabeth gasped, her breath catching in awe. The grand stone walls of the castle loomed above them, ancient and imposing, yet undeniably beautiful.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” she breathed, her eyes wide as she took in the massive structure.
The sight of the castle was overwhelming, both in its size and in the weight of history it seemed to carry.
Marcus smiled, pride flickering in his eyes as he glanced at her.
“Aye, this is me ancestral home,” he said, his voice steady but filled with affection. “It’s a bonnie one, isnae it?” He paused, his gaze shifting to the castle’s towering walls. “One I’d die for, should it come to that.”
His words were firm, as though he were staking claim to more than just the land.
Annabeth nodded, her admiration evident in her voice. “Yer pride in it is admirable,” she said softly, unable to tear her eyes away from the castle.
Suddenly, the peaceful quiet of the castle’s entrance was broken by the sharp tolling of a bell. Annabeth’s head snapped around, eyes widening at the sudden noise. The bell rang again, echoing through the courtyard, and chaos erupted around them. Guards shouted orders, their voices carrying on the wind, their feet moving quickly as they scrambled to action.
Marcus’ expression shifted immediately, the easy confidence replaced by a subtle tension.
“Looks like they’ve been searching for me,” he murmured, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the scene unfolding around them. He noted the group of guards standing still, their faces a mix of relief and concern as they had been prepared to leave on a scouting expecition.
“Seems they didnae expect me to return so soon,” he added, his tone low, more to himself than to Annabeth.
Annabeth looked around, taking in the hurried movements of the men in the courtyard. “Do they always react like this when ye return?” she asked, her brow furrowed.
“It’s nothing to worry about, lass” he finally said, his voice steady but with an underlying tension. “They’re just eager to see I’m in one piece. Come on.” He nudged his horse forward, leading the way into the bustling courtyard.
Eli’s voice was sharp with worry as he ran to Marcus’ side, his eyes scanning his friend with a mix of relief and frustration.
