Page 15 of The Laird's Dark Obsession

Kira was speaking from the gut, not having planned to turn it into a negotiation at all. But she had some sense to her after all. She couldn’t handle the isolation. Even though that room was better than the dungeon, she was going to really start to lose her grip on herself if she stayed in that room much longer without anything to look forward to other than her unfortunate destiny.

“Ye’re not in a bargaining position, Kira,” he warned.

“Am I nae?” she taunted, still staring at the clouds. “Funny that. I thought anyone who possessed something another wanted could bargain.”

“I am already being more than generous by nae forcing ye to remain in the belly of the Keep.”

“Thank ye for that. I suppose I hadn’t before,” she said. “But I’m nay good to ye dead. Ye made it clear nay kindnesses are for my benefit, but for the sake of yer revenge. So my comfort, or lack thereof, is nae exactly something I need to gamble with. Instead, I want time out of this room. Time outdoors—guarded, or whatever makes it possible. And depending on how much ye ask for, access to the stables as well.”

“Ye have some nerve to make such audacious requests and nae even look me in the eye while ye do so,” he said, a gruffness to his voice.

At last, she turned to look at him with glazed eyes. “I am an evil, audacious woman, Hunter. I thought ye’d ken that by now.”

His thick brows drew together and he stepped closer, really looking her over. Kira was too numb at that point to try to make sense of what he was searching for in her. He stood just a couple of paces away and sighed.

“If the information ye provide is useful, I will arrange time outdoors.”

Kira nodded. “Very well, what do ye want to ken?”

“Where are his closest allies to this Keep?” Hunter asked without hesitation.

“I would nae be surprised if he has some within these very walls,” she snorted.

His eyes narrowed at her. “What does that mean? Do ye ken there is someone here or nae?”

“I’m saying I dinnae ken for certain, but past instances make it hard for me to believe that he has pulled off his actions withouthelp. And those sorts of blood oaths dinnae dissipate. They only grow stronger or deadly.”

Hunter was towering over her again, his gaze intense as he studied her. She could see then the gleam of distrust in his hazel eyes. “Why would ye be willing to give me information on yer faither? How am I to ken this is nae a trap? Ye’re trying to make me suspicious of my own men to weaken my resolve.”

Kira shrugged. “I suppose there’s nae a way for ye to be certain that it’s nae a trap. But it’s nae. As I told Calum, my loyalty remains with myself, nay one else. So I’ll tell ye whatever ye want to ken, if it helps me get out of this room.”

“Ye would betray yer faither like that? So easily? Just for some time outside?” he inquired, his eyes narrowed.

“I’d sell my faither’s soul for a stale piece of bread if given the opportunity—but sadly, I dinnae think he has one,” she said plainly.

Her throat ached as emotion gripped at her, pulling her back from her detached state. The words she would say next were true and mere facts of her life, but she knew that they would weigh heavily on the ears receiving them. Because of who she was and what was done.

“I dinnae love my faither, Hunter. I never have.”

He rolled his eyes and began to turn away from her, but she reached for his hand to keep him near. Kira had to get these words out while she had the gumption.

“What I say is the truth, which I understand is hard to accept. But that man has made me a walking corpse, Hunter. I’m rotten from the inside out. That’s what silence brought on by fear does to a person. And I hate myself for never being brave enough to overcome it. I should have fought for myself, for…”

You. The word hung, unsaid in the air between them.

Hunter wiped at his face, clearly agitated by her words. Kira had always been a coward, especially when it came to her father and she would never forgive herself for not telling her truth to Hunter all those years ago.

Perhaps he would still hate her once he knew.

But at least if he had known, he would understand. She was sure that in his mind, she was reduced to a mischievous villain who had played with his heart all those years only to betray him in the end.

There was so much to tell him, but she knew right then wasn’t the time. Not when he was still looking at her with such suspicion. It would fall on deaf ears, and she wasn’t willing to dig up her childhood just to have it dismissed coldly.

Hunter stared at her, seeming like he was truly drinking in her words. With her hand still on his, she reached out for him in her heart, begging him to believe her. And for a moment, she swore something softened in his face.

“I dinnae believe ye,” he murmured. Though, he sounded less sure than before. “Ye’re only trying to manipulate me to get yer way.”

Kira let go of his hand before throwing her arms up in exasperation. “Then why did ye come in here to get information from me if ye’re nae going to believe anything I say?”