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He could not say the words. Instead, Niall amended, “How to proceed. I do not wish to let her be, but neither do I wish to start the very war we are here to prevent.”

“I cannae tell you how to proceed, only that I know no other man who I respect more than you, Brother. Whatever you decide, ’tis the right decision for you. Just understand, ’tis more than a woman with whom you trifle. The reason I remind you speaking with her, kissing her, ’tis dangerous indeed.”

As if Niall needed the reminder.

Though grateful for Kieran’s compliment, as he felt the same of his brother, he was no less confused now than before. Perhaps more so.

Trusting himself had led to a poor woman’s injury, a harmless jest proving to be anything but harmless at all. But this was very different. He was no longer a young man but the second to the chief of his clan. A warrior. A man who made decisions only after long consideration.

Which was precisely what he needed to do now. Think about it. Consider more. Lina would continue to travel with them, which meant he had time. And in that time, perhaps an answer would come to him. Because as of this eve, the situation seemed an impossible one.

Leave the woman be. Do not talk to her. Touch her. Kiss her.

Certainly, do not make love to her.

A prospect that left him surprisingly empty.

The other alternative did not leave him empty but terrified. ’Twas madness. Recklessness. A thought he should not be having.

Marriage. To a MacKinlay. Nay, never.

’Twas his last thought as Niall closed his eyes and let sleep take him.

Chapter Fourteen

Thankfully, her brother had gone hunting with their host after they’d broken their fast. Avelina had grown weary of his warnings and looks and judgments, as if she’d not already been judging herself since meeting Niall.

While the chieftain was having inquiries made, insisting they remain as guests in his keep in the meantime, he’d offered Avelina a maid, who had even brought a fresh gown that morn. Though the fit was not perfect, she was grateful for it, though she had no notion of its origins. The maid knew only that she’d been made to fetch it from the laundress.

Lifting the gown so she may walk easier, Avelina made her way to the garden behind the keep, which she’d been encouraged to explore. It seemed they would be here at least a day or two, and though she would dearly love to practice with her bow, Avelina was fully aware such an activity would be frowned upon.

She approached the most vivid violet fairy flowers Avelina had ever seen. Bending down, she took the petals in her hand, the color in stark contrast to her palm. Though she loved them dearly, Avelina had never been able to keep flowers alive well, the gardener jesting often about her inability to do so. But she adored them in her bedchamber, and as Avelina pulled the petal to her nose and breathed in deeply, she could almost forget the situation she found herself in currently.

Almost.

It was difficult to fully forget what she and Niall had discussed last eve. ’Twas even more difficult to forget his lips on hers. Avelina closed her eyes. She could almost feel them now, gliding across her own. His tongue, sweeping inside her mouth and claiming hers. Niall’s body pressed against her.

Avelina’s eyes flew open.

Somehow, she’d sensed him.

Standing near the garden’s entrance, his arms crossed in front of him, the very man of whom she’d just been thinking stood there. Watching her.

Pulling her hand away and standing, Avelina otherwise did not move. Though they were alone now, anyone could come upon them, the garden a wide-open space.

“You are not hunting?”

“With your brother? Nay.”

He made his way toward her, his presence looming with each step. For such a large man, larger than most, he moved quickly.

“A new gown?”

“Offered to me by our host.”

“Beautiful, as always.”

The compliment rolled off his tongue so easily she did not rebuke it as hollow as she did with most men’s compliments of her. The sincerity of his words made Avelina’s cheeks flush with a pleasure she could not deny.