Page 100 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

She stared at him. “What are ye sayin’?”

Gordon lifted his eyes to hers. “I have decided. I will dissolve the betrothal and give ye back yer life. It is what I should have done from the beginnin’, but I wanted ye to be the one to do it because I couldnae deny me brother what he wanted.”

For a moment, Ailis could not comprehend his words. The room seemed to tilt beneath her.

“It is what ye want.”

Nay, it is nay.

Ailis only swallowed and shook her head as her throat clogged again. She had only just told him she wanted to stay.

Ailis had finally found the courage to admit that she loved this place, that she wanted a life here. She had thought—foolishly, apparently—that he might understand what she had not been brave enough to say.

I want ye.

Instead, he was giving her freedom and shoving her aside once more, as if what had just happened between them meant nothing.

Like I mean nothin’.

An ache settled beneath Ailis’s ribs, deep and heavy, as though something inside her had been torn loose.

Each breath seemed to press against it. She had expected his rejection to make her angry, but there was no anger now. Only a hollow emptiness where her courage had been.

Ailis forced her lips into a smile. Her vision blurred, but she struggled to keep her emotions at bay.

I ought to at least walk out of here with what’s left of me dignity.

She hiked her chin high and made sure to hold onto his gaze while she spoke. “How considerate of ye, Me Laird. It is clear to me now what ye want.”

The smile on her lips trembled despite her efforts. Ailis still managed a curtsy, proud that she did not let him see how much his betrayal hurt.

“I shall bid ye goodnight,” she said as she straightened again.

Gordon’s brow furrowed. “Ailis⁠—”

But she was already turning away.

If she stayed another moment, he would see everything.

The tears gathered too quickly now, blurring the doorway before her. She reached it, pulled it open, and slipped through without another word.

The door closed softly behind her.

Only then did the first tear fall.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The morning after, Gordon rode to the village before the sun had fully cleared the hills. He could not bear to stay in the keep until everyone woke because he knew he might see Ailis in the halls or in the yard.

And I daenae think I can see her and nae want her right now.

Every part of him was still wound up tight from touching her the night before, and he did not think he would recover from that anytime soon.

She is embedded deep inside of me now… a hunger I cannae shake.

He did not want to shake it either. He knew he could not have her, but this longing inside him he could at least cherish for as long as it lasted.

Gordon’s thoughts weighed heavily on him as he rode to the village that morning and tried to focus on clan matters instead. There were walls to inspect, timber to measure, and men to direct. All of that could occupy his mind at least for a day. Stone and timber were simpler than people. They did not look at him with questions he could not answer. They did not make his chest tighten merely by smiling at him.