Page 32 of Taken By the Savage Highlander

As Margo stormed out of her quarters, thunder rumbled in the distance. It made her frustration feel even sharper, as though she could slice through the frantic energy that was brewing in the castle. The poor cat was probably frightened, and if the skies opened up, she would freeze.

“Cameron,” she said as she threw open his study door, not bothering to knock before she entered. “I pray that you have the gray kitten hidden away in here.”

“Nay,” he said, raising his eyebrow at her. His calm, handsome face only served to make her angry. “She stopped followin’ me midday. I assumed that she had returned to her siblin’s.”

“She is too small to find her way through the winding corridors!” Margo exclaimed, stomping across the room and stopping in front of his desk. “If you weren’t going to keep a close eye on her, you should have returned her to my quarters. Eleanor is beside herself with grief!”

“I dinnae think that she would lose her way,” he replied, the petulance in his voice making her even more furious.

She did not know why, but something inside her broke. It wasn’t just that he was careless with the kitten. Every slight inconvenience against her bubbled up to the surface, and she could no longer hold herself back.

“I was always responsible for my sister when we were growing up,” she began, her hands balling into fists at her sides. “Our father was not interested in raising us, and after our mother died, he became even more apathetic. It was only me and Eleanor looking out for one another.”

Across the desk, Cameron leaned forward. His forearms rested on the surface, and his hands were folded together like he was paying respectful attention to what she was saying. His eyes never left her face, and she felt her irritation reach a fever pitch.

“And even though it was awful, we knew how to deal with it!” she continued frantically. “I am constantly confused, and I do not know what you want from me! I am grateful you brought Eleanor here, but I am so upset you allowed that kitten to get lost! I cannot remember the last time I saw her as happy as she is when she is caring for them. Perhaps you did not know, or perhaps you purposely neglected that tiny creature’s well-being. But it does not matter what your intention was; the outcome was the same!”

“Margo, I⁠—”

“I do not have time to stand around and argue,” she said, not allowing him to get another word in. “The sun is going down, and there’s a storm rolling in. If the kitten is outside, she could die. I will not let that happen!”

Then, she turned around and left, her gown fluttering around her ankles. As she rushed through the castle, she passed by maids and servants searching every inch of the space. She knew that the sight should make her feel more relaxed, but something in the pit of her stomach told her that the kitten wasn’t in the castle. If she had been, Margo was sure they would have already found her.

The second she stepped outside, rain began to fall. It wasn’t the same angry storm from a few nights ago, but she could tell by the way the coastline was quickly darkening that it wouldn’t be this calm for long. She was in a race against time, and the kitten’s life was on the line.

“Baby!” she yelled, cupping her hands together as she ran toward the gates. “Come here! Let me bring you inside before the weather gets worse!”

Though she didn’t ask about Cameron’s daily activities, part of her knew that he had gone to the village. If the kitten followed him, she could be anywhere between the castle and the sea. Margo refused to think about what it would mean if she didn’t find her.

As she ran further into the woods toward the cliff, the weather worsened. Lightning cracked, and thunder rolled as sheets of rain fell from above. It felt as though the cliff was warning her, telling her to stay away.

I cannot. I cannot return to the castle without the kitten. No matter what happens.

As she pushed further forward, the rain lashed against her face and arms. Her gown was soaked through to the skin, and she could barely see through the water sluicing over her eyes. As lightning struck close by and thunder nearly shattered her eardrums, she tucked herself between two enormous rocks, covering her head with her arms.

“Please be safe,” she whispered, a desperate prayer to any saint that would listen. “Please let the kitten be safe. And please let both of us see tomorrow morning. Let the tiny soul be a proper Robinson Crusoe.”

She wasn’t sure how long she stayed there, sending off words that she could only hope were heard by a higher power. The storm raged around her, only getting worse with each passing second. Though tears pricked her eyes, she refused to let them fall. She would not let herself be overcome by despair.

When she finally let her eyes close, she could have sworn she heard her name in the wind. Lifting her head, she looked around, her heart hammering as she searched for the source. Though she had a sinking feeling she was losing her mind, or that the Land was speaking directly to her.

“Not right now,” she groaned, hiding her face between her knees as a shiver wracked her icy body.

“Margo!”

This time, she knew she heard her name. The voice was deep, familiar. And, when Cameron called for her again, she nearly stopped breathing.

“Margo!” Cameron called again, his voice booming above the sound of the storm.

As soon as she had left his study, Cameron had arranged a proper search party for the kitten. Margo was right after all; his own carelessness was the reason the kitten went missing. When he rushed to find her, his staff had reported that she’d left the grounds.

“Margo!” he called again, jumping off of his horse when he spotted a flash of her soaked gown. “Where are ye?”

“Cameron?”

Her voice came soft and hesitant, seemingly carried by the flash of lightning that highlighted the spot he’d been watching. She was standing now, holding a hand across her brow to shield her eyes from the torrential downpour. The realization that he’d found her brought forward a rush of emotions.

Relief and anger battled inside him in equal measure as he slogged through the muddied earth. There was something else beneath it all, something warm, covered up by the more familiar feelings. He pushed it aside, putting his hands on Margo’s shoulders when he reached her.