Page 26 of Marin’s Promise

He did not answer. Instead he stared at her for a long space of time, as though possibly considering telling her. “I willna get yer support.”

The statement was without question.

“I will need to send you back to the dungeon to reconsider.” A corner of his mouth tucked downward in what appeared to be disappointment. “Mayhap tomorrow we can meet with the steward and the Master of the Horse.”

She lifted her head even as her insides shuddered at the thought of being locked in the dark once more.

“Will ye be compliant?” he asked.

Marin said nothing. Not when tears burned in her eyes and she feared her voice would tremble if she spoke.

“As I thought.” Bran lowered his head and motioned for her to follow.

She did, lest she be paraded through her own home like a prize again and begrudged her passivity. It made her feel as though she were a willing participant, which she vehemently was not.

Except she had been when they had kissed. How she regretted those kisses with this awful man and hated the passion he awoke within her. He was not her lover. He was her enemy.

The shadowed hallway of the dungeon came into view and a damp coldness pressed at her skirts upon their approach. Panic welled up within her chest, spreading into icy fear the closer they drew. She did not want this. And yet, she did not fear it enough to offer her compliance to Bran.

He led her to the cell door as though he were leading her to a dance, his touch gentle on her lower back. “I dinna want to do this.” The flex of his jaw and the pull at his brows indicated the truth behind his words.

“You can't keep us locked down here forever.” Marin put her hand to the cold iron and curled her fingers around the bar.

“Until I get what I need, aye, I can leave ye here as long as it takes.” With that, he twisted the key in the lock.

Hopelessness washed over her in desolate waves, tightening her muscles and weighing at her heart. She could not fail her family in this manner, to leave her sisters unattended upstairs, to leave her father's wealth potentially exposed.

“I will escape from here,” she said through gritted teeth. “And I will kill you.”

He held up something that glinted in the low light. “I have the only key.”

She watched him leave with an angry fire flaring to life in her chest. Aye, he did have the only key, but there had to be some way to break out, something she could do to free herself and get her sisters to safety. And part of that safety would be seeing Bran dead.