Skye returned to her chamber, but no one was there to share her rejoicing.She closed the door and leaned against it. The broad smile on her lips was pinned there, and her palm pressed against her deliriously beating heart.She still couldn't believe that she had been worried these two days for no reason. Why hadn't she known earlier that her uncle had just gone hunting?She started laughing, jumping, and dancing, spinning around until her legs felt like they couldn't hold her anymore, and she collapsed on her bed. She felt the tension leave her body, leaving her relaxed and calm. A gentle breeze came in from the open window, cooling her glowing cheeks. Skye closed her eyes, and without realizing it, sleep took her sweetly in its arms.Soft knocks on Skye's door failed to wake her up.The banging became more intense, and a voice was heard. "Lady Skye? Can I come in?" it was Maysie.Skye forced her eyes open and sat up on the bed. She grabbed her head, still dazed from her deep sleep.
Skye tried hard to remain calm and show no emotion. The good thing was that her uncle and aunt couldn't hear her heart, which had begun to thump in her chest.A decree from the King?Years had passed since the last time a decree had come from the King to the castle, and she was a little girl then; there was no matter of her marriage. So she wasn't that interested. But now things were different, she had grown up, and the issue of her marriage was now on the table. She shuddered at the idea that the decree might be about her this time—an order to a forced marriage.Skye swallowed hard."De-" she started to say but caught the hoarseness in her voice and stopped. She cleared her throat. "Decree from the King? A- and what does it say?"The uncle waved his hand casually."No, it's no big deal. His majesty invites us to attend an event that will take place in the King's castle. As it says in the decree, he decided to stage a farewell event to summer and welcome the coming autumn.""Just that
Dunrobin CastleA week has passed since the day the King's decree was delivered to Lord Malcolm. The mission was a complete success, as King Cinaed had arranged. His clerk, Glenn, gave the decree in person and privately conveyed to Lord Malcolm what the King told him to say. Malcolm was completely satisfied, which showed in the wide smile that had spread across his face as soon as he heard the words coming out of Glenn's mouth."Rest assured," Malcolm had told Glenn. "You may assure his majesty that I will do as he wishes."Glenn left satisfied that his mission had been completed in success, and he was sure that Malcolm would keep his word because besides it being what he was interested in doing, Malcolm also feared the consequences if something went wrong. The last thing he wanted was to fall out of favor with the King.When Glenn returned to the castle and informed the King, King Cinaed rubbed his hands in pleasure."Very good, Glenn, excellent! I was sure I could count on you, and
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! NO! NO! STUPID SEAMSTRESS! THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT COLOR! I ASKED FOR PURPLE AND THIS IS GREEN. AND IT'S ALSO AWFUL! LOOK THOSE SLEEVES, ARE SO LONG! MOTHEEEER!!!"Skye was sitting on her bed and pressing her ears with her palms.But she only achieved a little. The shrill sound of Iona's squeals quickly pierced the thickest walls and the heaviest wooden doors. The last few days that the daughter of lords had been returned, everyone had lost their peace with her yelling, screeching, hysterical crying, and the imperious tapping of her foot on the floor. She always demanded something, asked for something difficult or time-consuming to achieve, and wanted it at once.The maids didn't finish their work in time because they were indebted to serve the endless demands of the lord's daughter; as a result, Lady Fiona shouted and threatened to kick them out of the castle. The maids had no right to excuse themselves. It was always their fault.Everyone had lost sleep because of
Skye had already packed her trunk with the things she would need for the trip. She did the work by herself because all the maids had gone to help Lady Fiona and Lady Iona get ready with their trunks and everything they would need, and for Lord Malcolm, of course.Two large trunks – the largest there were – were meticulously cleaned of every grain of dust and carefully placed inside linen, cosmetics, dresses, and anything else the two women requested.It took several hours for the maids to get everything ready. But the sight of the full trunks satisfied Fiona and Iona, which was a relief."I will close my own trunk," Iona said imperatively, and the maid who was about to close it stepped aside. Iona walked to the trunk, smiled contentedly, and gently touched the purple silk dress.The dressmaker had come three days ago and delivered the new dress. Fortunately, Iona had caused them no further trouble, and the dressmaker had quite rightly reasoned that all had gone well only because there
Lord Malcolm's carriage went across the great gate of the King's castle the following day early in the morning. The steady sound of horses' feet pounding on the cobbled road soothed the fret of the weary passengers. After the big journey they were forced to undergo over rough roads, jolting each time the carriage fell into potholes was a great relief to all, and the view from the carriage windows rewarded them.The road to the castle door was amidst a lush green landscape of various trees, fruit-bearing and not, and colorful, fantastic gardens. Skye caught sight of a round wooden gazebo and thought it would be a great treat if she had the chance to take her tea there and enjoy the lovely view while reading a book, or better yet, she could paint the garden or part of it.There were so many flowers, and as if they had made a secret agreement, they mixed their various scents to create a unique blend.Skye opened the window a crack and closed her eyes as she took deep breaths, enjoying th
"Why did you lie to Aunt Fiona?" Skye asked Talisha as they walked through the corridors, enrooted to their destination."Though I have only seen and spoken to your aunt the times I have come to the castle for you, I have learned a good deal about her, and I am almost certain that if I revealed to her where I was going to take you, she would seek to take Iona the accommodation I have for you. If she did that, I couldn't avoid it, and I couldn't refuse her either. So I thought of this solution.She would never claim a storeroom for her daughter no matter how beautifully I had made it, would she?'Skye put her hand in front of her mouth and giggled. "That's right," she replied."So if they ask you, don't tell them the truth. Tell them about the storeroom, okay?'"I don't think they'll ask me, but if they do, I'll tell them about storeroom." Skye assured her."Very well," Talisha said, letting out a deep, gratifying sigh, "Also, I didn't mention in front of them about the dress that Alba
Talisha walked up to Hector and put her hand on his shoulder. "Please forgive me, Hector. I didn't want to raise my tone. See, the desperation I was feeling broke out without me realizing it. I can't get out of my mind that Skye got such joy from curtains, sunlight, and a soft bed. All these are granted here." "I understand how you feel about this and I don't mind," he comforted her with a brief touch on her hand. Talisha nodded gratefully and wiped her nose. Her gaze fell on the jumbled bedding on the couch. "Didn't you sleep well last night?" she asked him. "In the condition I see the couch, it looks like you were tossing and turning in your sleep all night." Hector didn't deny it. "I wonder why. Since you had sent your men to follow them unseen throughout their journey here. Skye was completely safe." "I know. That's not why I stayed up most of the night." "What was the reason then?" Hector smirked. "It may sound silly to you, but I couldn't sleep knowing Skye was on her w
"Wait, Toren," Malcolm called, but Toren continued without looking back.Fiona leaned out the carriage window, her eyes narrowing. "What should we do now?" she asked her husband, her voice tinged with frustration."Moving on alone is our only option," Malcolm said, pressing his lips together thoughtfully."Let's move on, then. The noise here is dizzying," she said, squeezing her temples with a pained expression.Around them, the square buzzed with activity. Merchants hawking their goods, horses clattering on cobblestones, and the distant melody of a street musician's lute created a cacophony. The air was thick with freshly baked bread, mingling with the earthy aroma of vegetables and the tang of salted fish.Several moments passed without the carriage moving. Fiona glanced at Iona, her jaw clenched. "What is your father doing?" she asked, her voice tight."I don't know," Iona shrugged, her eyes wide with uncertainty."Stay here. I'll see what's happening," Fiona said, pushing the carr
Iona looked at her mother as she approached. She stood up, clutching the fabric of her skirt in her fists. Fiona was unhappy with the situation, her eyes wide, face red, and lips pursed."Oh, mother, I hope nothing went wrong in there . . .""Did you hear how he talked to me?" Fiona hissed at a low volume, interrupting her as if she hadn't heard anything she had said."He is uncouth, rude, and a boor," she continued in a low yet intense voice. Fiona paced back and forth; every time she turned, she violently kicked back her skirt as it gathered around her legs."Mother, please remain calm. You're right, but they must not perceive your anger. Remember, we rely on them. We must not upset them, or they might leave."Fiona stopped short in front of her, very close to her face. "I know," she replied. "That alone prevented me from causing a scene."A droplet of saliva flew from her mouth and landed on Iona's left cheek, just below her eye.Fiona began pacing back and forth again, and Iona se
Castle Eilean Donan: The UnexpectedThe day started with bleak gray clouds obscuring the sky. As winter approached, the sun had become a rare sight, and the chill in the air grew increasingly biting. Fiona held Iona by the shoulders, tightening her grip as Malcolm rode through the castle courtyard door. The echoing of the horse's hooves on the hard ground slowly faded. "Be careful," Fiona whispered. Tears welled as she watched him cross the narrow bridge connecting the castle to the mainland. They stood there until his figure disappeared behind the trees. "Let's go inside, mother. I'm frozen," Iona complained, clutching her cape tightly to protect herself from the cold wind."Yes, let's go," Fiona agreed. They headed towards the large wooden door, which was wide open, waiting for them. Fiona shut the heavy door and wiped the tears from her eyes. What would she do without Malcolm? He was left alone, unaccompanied. If he was attacked on the street, he could hardly get through on his o
Eilean Donan Castle: Iona's RegretMeanwhile, Malcolm's family endured a miserable life at Eilean Donan Castle. It was a daily struggle for everyone, especially Iona, who regretted hastily throwing away the broken glasses. Now, she also had to assist with the daily chores.Two days later, after disposing of the shards of glass, the doctor concluded that the wounds were healing normally. He assured the parents that the little girl would be fine before leaving, annoyed by their exaggerated urgency compared to more serious incidents.A few days ago, when she expressed her desire to destroy Skye by taking her husband, Iona believed they would quickly leave the castle. She was convinced that her parents also wanted to take revenge for everything that had happened to them because of Skye. Still, much to her great dismay, things differed from what she had in mind. Days passed without her father telling her anything about this issue.What the hell was going on? She had to learn. Her thoughts
Eithne studied Hector, her gaze lingering on the contours of his face. His features were familiar—the strong jawline, the scar that traced a jagged path across his cheek. She furrowed her brows in concentration, trying to pinpoint the change. "Hmm... Anything different about Hector?" she muttered as she observed him."No," Eithne concluded, shaking her head. I don't see anything different.""Oh, come on, Eithne. Focus. It's impossible to miss it, trust me," Skye urged her.Eithne looked at Hector once more and sighed in defeat. "I really don't see anything different, Skye. Please, just tell me.""Okay, he's not wearing his mask," Skye exclaimed."Oh! That's right. Maybe it's because I've been seeing him without a mask for years and I didn't realize it now. He only started wearing a mask recently." Eithne said.Skye raised her eyebrows. "Oh, really? It's only been for a while? And why is that?" She turned and looked at him."For you." Hector answered.His unexpected answer caught her
"Talisha, finally!" Hector said as he stood up. Skye rose beside him."Oh, my beloved ones!" Talisha exclaimed, joining her palms in a prayer position at the height of her chest. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I am so happy to see both of you together! Based on your faces full of happiness, I assume everything is going well between you," she said, gazing at them.A smile graced their faces. "Yes, everything is fine." They replied, even though it was obvious that Talisha was aware of everything. Most likely, she was seeking confirmation of what she had heard.How? Wasn't it already obvious? Only one person could tell. "Oh, Maysie!" Skye thought."Do you know where Maysie is, Talisha?" Skye asked her."Yes, she is in the kitchen. She helps out there.""You already knew what was going on, right Talisha?" Hector asked. "Maybe from Maysie?"Talisha looked at Skye. "Yes," she replied, "but please, Skye, don't scold her for spoiling your joy by saying the news before you do. Her exci
Skye furrowed her brows in bewilderment. When did this happen? And where was she? Maybe it was during the days they were apart? One of the days he spent with Eithne? She shook her head in the negative. No way, that's out of the question, because when she saw him standing outside her door, he didn't look like someone who had recently met the best day of his life.Then, which day did he mean? Did it occur before they were apart? But if that were the case, wouldn't he tell her? Sure, he would, but maybe he forgot to say to her. Ugh, she couldn't make sense of it. Her mind had become a tangle of assumptions.She studied his expression more carefully, hoping to draw a better conclusion.He folded his arms across his chest and observed her ever-changing expression. He was sure that something was brewing in her mind.Skye didn't draw any conclusions from his manner. She chose to stop thinking and let him reveal the information himself. Her heart started pounding; she feared what she was abou
His aroused nature pressed against the center of her femininity, and Skye moaned deep in her throat.His kilt was the only thing that prevented them from becoming one."Just a moment," he whispered, kissing her and pulling away."Where..." she started to complain.Hector stabilized his body with swift movements, placing his knee between her legs.He grabbed the chemise by the neckline and tore it off in one swift movement.Although he aimed to tear it up to the navel, the tearing reached down her belly.Her breasts spilled out. White, round, full and firm. Their pink tops stood erect.Hector groaned. "You are so beautiful," he whispered with his heaven in front of him.Skye noticed his expression, full of lust and craving. Her gaze fell just below his waist, where his kilt showcased a prominent bulge. She felt her cheeks burn at the thought that she was causing this for him.His hands left the torn garment and slid them over her skin - over her belly and stomach, then circled her brea
"What?!" Her eyes widened, "A-are you sure?" she swallowed hard.The corner of his lips lifted. "I am. Are you?""I-I don't think I ever will be," she said, her throat drying and her breath hitching. She balled her hands into fists, trapping fabric from the sheet."But I've explained it to you," Hector said."I-I know." she stammered."So, shall I guess that you don't believe me?""I do believe you, Hector. But it is beyond my strength. I can't control it.""I'll help you with that. I will make you forget it completely," he said, then softly kissing her. He moved down on her chin and throat, where he found the spot of her pulse, and pressed his lips to it more. Her pulse kicked his lips, and he felt it as it began to pick up speed.A sweet euphoria filled his heart, knowing that her heart had also made room for him.He kissed the spot gently and moved downward, his fingers tracing the smoothness of the bare skin at her neckline and moving to her breasts. His fingertips traced the outl