Page 77 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

Skye went still, the water rippling faintly around her. She drew in a slow breath.

“Are ye finally afraid of me, lass?”

Dougal had assumed long ago that she was no longer afraid of him, but he hadn’t dared to ask again since the day Angus visited. But things were different now. What had happened to Lily had put things in perspective for him. In a way, at least.

Skye searched his face, seeming to consider the answer. “Nay,” she said. “I’m nae afraid of ye. I havenae been afraid of ye for a long time.”

He swallowed, unable to muster up one word in response.

“I only wish—” She broke off.

Dougal shouldn’t press her, but he needed to find out what she was going to say. The urge was too strong to ignore.

“Wish what?”

“It’d be easier to think of ye as a person, and nae as a Lion, if ye removed yer mask.”

He went quiet, nearly tearing his gaze away. “Nay, lass.”

“Why nae?”

“Because then ye’d think me a monster.” He rose, putting distance between them before she could argue further. “Rest now. I’ll have someone bring more water if ye need it.”

He left before she could say anything else, the door softly clicking shut behind him.

The one thing he would never do was remove his mask. Should Skye ever see what lay beneath it, any fondness she had towards him would vanish in an instant. She would finally see him as a monster, just like everyone else in the Highlands did.

27

When Skye learned that Dougal was leaving the next morning, she wanted to scream. She walked in on him and Kenna whispering to each other just outside the study.

Kenna kissed his cheek before walking past her. “Come find me later, lass. Dougal has something to tell ye.”

Skye’s stomach dropped. “Is everything all right with Lily?”

Dougal smiled, and her pulse stuttered. He rarely smiled. Most of his smiles were reserved for Lily.

“Aye, she is fine. Ye daenae need to worry about her for the time being. She has made a full recovery.”

Skye let out a shaky breath. “Thank God. I was worried she had relapsed.”

“Nay, she is fine. Confused and groggy, but she is doing much better.”

She thought back to Kenna’s words. What could she possibly have been talking about?

“Then what did ye want to tell me?”

Dougal took a deep breath. “I’m leaving for the week to take care of business.”

Her heart sank. She was afraid to ask what he meant by that, but deep down she knew. He didn’t have to say that he was going after Angus. It was clear from the look on his face.

“Where are ye going?”

The words tumbled out, despite her best efforts not to ask. She had to know. She needed him to confirm that her fears were warranted.

“To Angus.” His jaw was set hard. There was no arguing with him about his decision.

Skye wanted to grab and shake him, wanted to beg him not to leave. It would mean war and perhaps his death, and Lily would be caught in between. She had already been through enough.