Page 1 of The Laird's Dark Obsession

Prologue

Has life always been so beautiful?

Kira wondered to herself as she made the leisurely walk to the stables. Life at the Barclay Keep seemed so different from the world of gray, strict rules, and fearful sneers that she was accustomed to. Even the staff of Rory Barclay smiled and laughed all day as they joyfully went about their tasks. And while she had only been there for less than a fortnight, it felt like the land itself was blessed by God. It had been sunny every day since her arrival, and spring was in full bloom, scents of new blossoms filling the air, and the wind made music of rustling the new, green leaves on every tree.

The grass truly was greener on the other side.

Rory was waiting for her just outside the stables, a boyish grin on his face as he spotted her. Rory was ten years her senior, but she would never know other than the couple of fine lines around his dark blue eyes and a couple of gray hairs appearing in his thick raven mane.

He was a good Laird, loved by his people and cherished by his family, but he was young at heart. More often than not, onecould find him wandering about, getting into some high jinx, telling a terrible joke, or simply daydreaming on a hillside.

Life will be good for me here. He is a gentle and kind man. What else could I ever ask for?

“My dear wife,” Rory greeted as she neared. “Goodness, ye get more beautiful by the day.”

Without giving her a moment to respond, Rory took her hand and held it above her head, twirling her before pulling her into his side. Kira giggled lightly and tucked a white-blonde hair behind her ear.

“I’ve nae been here long, M’Laird. And I am nae yer wife yet,” she pointed out.

“And yet yer beauty grows exponentially. Truly, a marvel to have such growth in such a short amount of time. I may have to keep a closer eye on ye, in fear that greater minds will snatch ye for scientific study.”

Kira smiled and it was genuine. Rory would have never been her first choice in husband, only one held that place in her heart, but he truly was charming. And by the day, she found herself starting to accept with less hesitance that she was going to have a good life there as Lady Barclay.

“Be careful with yer words, My Laird. I might get accustomed to such sweet words,” she retorted, the smile still on her lips.

His dark blues shimmered in her direction. “Then I shall double my efforts to make ye adjust to them with even more haste.”

Rory took hold of her hand and brought it to his lips and placed a delicate kiss on the back of her palm and as he did so, Kira searched herself internally.

Did he fill her with fire?

Was there even a spark?

Perhaps that was for the best, as the flames of desire had only scorched her in the past. Instead of looking for those flames, she should look for Rory’s affection to be cooling waters that felt as familiar as the brooks of her homeland and as welcoming as the rain in summer.

As he pulled back, he added, “I am so grateful that yer faither accepted my proposal for yer hand. I cannae help but wonder why he accepted mine, of all offers.”

Kira’s smile faltered, but she tried to keep it on her face. “Can it nae be that he saw the promise of a bright, young Laird?” she challenged.

Rory gave her a look that said “be serious” though his lips were still smiling. Her eyes fell to the ground beneath them. She liked the light banter between them, it reflected their surroundings and what she hoped life would be like now.

But he wanted her to look into the dark, gray past to give him an answer.

“My faither, in all his flaws, wants me safe. After the Clan Galbraith accident, he’s gone mad. He thinks every shadow holds assailants and every whisper is a conspirator plotting his downfall… And so, having one of his most valuable pawns in the hands of a trusted ally is better than in the perceived chaos of his surroundings.” She lifted her gaze to look at him momentarily, a sheepish expression sliding over her features. “He must have seen something in ye that made him feel confident and safe.”

And like ye’ll bend if he ever demands something from ye.

Kira pushed those thoughts away and kept her focus on Rory—on her present. There was no telling how her past would alter the future, but she knew that the present felt good and she wanted to savor that.

Rory offered her a reassuring smile and another kiss to the back of her hand that lingered a few moments longer than the last. “I hope to give ye the same feeling. The feeling of safety and the confidence to trust in me.”

Kira’s smile was genuine again and she brushed an auburn hair from his face before she dared to kiss his cheek.

Just feels like skin. Nothing burning. My heart isn’t racing. This is how it’s meant to be. Calm, sweet, reassuring.

“I hope the same,” she told him.

Rory was all smiles and hesitance, wanting to stay by her side even though a stableboy was calling him over, letting him know that the stallion was prepared. The Laird gave her a wink before he hoisted his wiry frame over the wooden fence and entered the corral. In the center of the confinement was a black stallion with a rope tied around its snout. The beast whinnied and kicked as the staff struggled to restrain it. Rory approached with open hands and a gentle voice, but the horse wasn’t calmed.