“If ye are now worried about me nae upholding me end of the bargain, ye daenae have to in the slightest,” he added.
He hoped that it might reassure her.
“Then why did ye leave me on me own? Why did ye nae come down to greet me?”
Kaden turned back to her. “Was there something that ye needed me for? Is something in the room nae to yer taste?”
Emily shook her head. “Nay, I think that I have enough of what I need. But perhaps the wee lass here might need a bowl of water.”
Kaden’s lip curled as he glanced down at the pup, and then he shook his head. “I’m sure that somebody from the kitchen can arrange that for ye.”
“She’s nae going to bite ye,” Emily teased, holding out the mongrel for him to pet.
The half step that he took away from her was wholly and utterly unintentional.
He knew that it was foolish to have such impulses. He wasn’t frightened of a dog no bigger than his foot. Yet every time he looked at her, all he could see was teeth. Never mind that her bark was silly, and there were no snapping jaws or snarling. It made his skin pickle and itch all the same. He couldn’t seem to control the memories that flashed behind his eyes every single time.
“Kaden?”
Snapping teeth, screaming, tearing flesh.
Emily’s voice wasn’t quite enough to break the spell.
Begging for it to stop, the rattling of chains, the coppery stench of blood.
“What is the matter? Ye look at if ye’ve seen a ghost…” Emily stepped forward and placed a soft hand on his forearm.
Kaden flinched again, but at least he was no longer stuck in the memory. He could practically feel his eyes clearing as he came back into his own body.
His hands balled into fists at his sides, and he nodded curtly. “Daenae fash, I’m fine.”
“Alright… Well, I suppose thank ye for the belated welcome.” Emily nodded toward the door, a hint for him to leave her room.
“Are ye telling me what to do in me own castle already?” Kaden teased, happy for the levity.
“Well, will it nae soon be me castle as well?” Emily placed a hand on her hip and shifted her weight to one foot.
The sunlight streaming through the far window caught in her hair prettily, making it seem as if there were some sort of halo or glow about her.
It was so strange how she held herself with such confidence, and yet she was constantly fidgeting as if she couldn’t stand to be in her own skin. It would never cease to amuse him just how much he was finding that they had in common.
“Is this part of the reason why yer faither was so quick to foist ye on the nearest male?” he half-teased, but he was truly curious to know.
It wasn’t considered ladylike to be so opinionated or speak so forcefully. Though that was the only sort of women Kaden had ever truly known.
Emily sighed and threw a hand up. “Perhaps. I daenae pretend to ken me faither’s mind.”
“There has to be a reason.”
Emily chewed on her cheek, clearly reluctant to answer. “A story for another day, perhaps.”
“So I am partially right, then. Ye cannae listen to simple requests, let alone orders.”
Emily’s eyes hardened as she glared at him. “I can listen perfectly well when it suits me.”
Kaden snorted a humorless laugh. “If that were so, ye wouldnae have brought that thing here with ye!”
“She’s just a pup! I cannae see how she will be any bother to ye! I will keep her far from the hunting hounds. She will be me sole responsibility.”
