“Kane, I—”

Kane pulled the covers over Saeran’s head completely, shielding her from the woman that had barged in on them.

Blaine.

Of course. She always came around at the worst times. Despite the flowing hatred she felt for Blaine in that moment, she didn’t want to reveal herself to her. It would only cause more trouble—and Blaine might be angry enough to tell Kane who “Alice” really is.

I will no’ be married to a liar. I detest them more than anything. His words from earlier came back to her like a slap. She held her breath, praying that Blaine hadn’t noticed her in the darkness.

“Kane,” her sister said demurely. “That isn’t any way to treat your future wife. I simply wanted to come show you my appreciation for your proposal.”

Before, Saeran never would have caught onto the innuendo. Now, however, she did—and she wanted to rip Blaine’s hair out. If she hadn’t been submerged in darkness, she knew she would be seeing red.

As if Kane knew of her rage, he slid a hand under the plaid, finding her fingers in the darkness. It helped to alleviate the anger, but minimally. She still wanted to show Blaine the skills she’d learned from Brodrick.

“Ye’ can show yer appreciation by leaving.” He shifted in the bed, a knee raising. Through her anger, a flash of wickedness struck. Keeping their hands together, she used her free hand, feeling along his ribs.

He stiffened.

“Really, my lord. I want you to approve of me…Let me show yousil how thankful I am of you.”

Saeran focused on tormenting him more than the anger. The quick beat of his heart, which she could clearly feel and hear with her head on his abs, fueled her determination to ignore her sister. By all accounts, Saeran had won a battle that Blaine would never win—and even though Blaine didn’t know it, Saeran was going to enjoy her victory. Her hand slid lower, to his hips.

A sharp warning pat to her bottom made it nearly impossible to hold back her laughter, but she refused to foil her own plan.

The sooner she drove Kane crazy, the sooner he would force Blaine out of his room. Any confrontations her sister had planned—and Saeran knew she had many—could be put off until after the battle, when Blaine was on her way out of the door.

Heavy footsteps sounded in the room. Blaine was coming closer to the bed.

“Is there—is there someone else in here?”

Kane grunted. Her hand slid under him, to his butt. This was so improper of her. Never in her wildest dreams could she have seen herself doing this—with her sister in the same room. It was purely for professional purposes, though. When Kane began to crave her in earnest, Blaine would be forced to leave the room—leaving them to their business.

Aye, she thought, smiling wickedly. Leave them to their business. She slid down his body, mindful of the plaid revealing any of her pale skin, and gave his butt a light pinch. Lord, but he had a fantastic butt, even in the darkness.

“You are going to be married to me,” Blaine suddenly snapped. Saeran paused, eyes narrowing. Nay, she wasn’t. She didn’t say it though, and neither did Kane. In a way, his silence hurt, even though she knew he was going to break it off the second they returned. “Not anyone else. I swear, if there is another woman in here, I’ll—”

“Do nothing,” he growled. “Now get out. I have no need of ye’ in here.”

“Kane—”

“You will call on me as your lord. Now, get out,” he roared. The silence was deafening. Saeran stilled, shocked. When he raised his voice…it was terrifying. Like The Lion he was reputed to be, his voice carried the strength of a thousand men in one word. It felt as if her heart had stuttered—and she was struck by the unbelievable attraction she felt to him.

There were no sounds of Blaine leaving. Saeran waited, and she felt Kane’s hand tighten around hers.

“The woman, the blonde one who came to you in the hall. I must tell you something about her. Her name—”

“Ye’ mean the one ye’ lied about?” He barked a laugh. “All I’ll hear out of ye’ is lies.”

“How—how did you know?”

“Did ye’ really think ye’ could get away with it? I want ye’ to leave me before I show ye’ how ruthless a husband I’ll really be. I donna like liars, Lady Sinclair, and yer the worst of them.”

“What are you saying?” Blaine said. It sounded like the words were ripped out of her throat, as if she were too shocked to believe that he was speaking against her. Saeran wanted to feel bad, wanted to feel a trickle of protective urges for Blaine, but her sister never would have protected Saeran. That was the only reason she stayed silent in the darkness.

Blaine had tried to hurt her. She had known that Kane would react without thinking at the news of “Alice” having intercourse with another man—Saeran knew that as clear as day.

“I’m saying, if ye’ donna leave me, I’ll put ye’ in yer place.”

“But there is more!” she said quickly. There were furious footsteps, loud and heavy, like Blaine herself was. “That is not who you—”

“Lady Sinclair,” he snarled softly. Saeran had forgotten all about her little game with Kane. Her heart was pounding

“Fine,” she said, her voice as stony as a statue. She retreated to the door. Saeran listened closely, waiting for Blaine to exit the room completely. It was silent for so long that she thought she had missed it, until Blaine said something that made her blood go cold. The words were murmured into the room with a chilling knowledge embedded within them. Kane did not react, but with the tensing of her body, she knew that he knew the words were directed to her.

“He’ll find out on his own…and when he does, he’ll hate you more than even I do.”

The door closed softly, leaving her, Kane, and the impending revelations of her secrets the only thing remaining in the room.

“Love,” he said with a growl. The covers were removed from her head, and she was pulled upwards. His lips brushed against her own. “Ye’ donna play with a man like that when he canna retaliate.”

She laughed, but the sound was empty. The threat Blaine had laid in the open was enough to ruin her mood. The confidence, the triumph, the happiness she had felt moments before were now gone. Her mood was so dark that she didn’t think they would return.

Kane sighed after a couple moments of silence. “Do ye’ want to talk of it?” he asked, smoothing a hand down her hair. She let her cheek rest against his chest, shaking her head. Her heart thumped faster in her chest. The consideration he was giving her, the privacy, meant the world to her.

“Alright, lass. Just let me ask this—it’s no’ going to hurt ye’, is it?”

She raised her eyes to his. “What do you mean?”

“Whatever the dragon was talking about. It’s no’ going to hurt ye’ in the long run, correct?” There was honest concern in his eyes—for her.

“Did you not hear what she said?” Saeran asked, feeling like she had been kicked in the stomach.

“Aye. What about it?”

“I do not understand. She said that what I could be lying about would make you hate me. You should be more concerned about yourself, not me.” Her eyes dropped to his neck. She couldn’t bear to look him in the eyes.

“Love,” he said softly, brushing her hair back from her face. His fingers were tender, his touch feather light. Despite how much she wanted otherwise, he lifted her face to his. “I could never hate ye’. Whatever yer hiding from me…When ye’ feel safe to reveal it, I’ll do my best to understand. As long as yer no’ a MacLeod. Yer no’, right?”

She shook her head.

“Good.” With a low growl, he bent his head to hers, stealing her breath was a kiss.

* * *

“I’ll miss ye’, lass.”

Sleep was slow in leaving her. At first, she didn’t understand who was speaking or where she was. Saeran was used to waking up in the early hours of the day to a hard, lumpy bed, and a chill that went bone deep.

Right now, she was not cold. Nay, she was quite warm.

Saeran looked up at the man who had spoken. A blush coming over her face. She was lying in bed with Kane. The morning light poured in through the open window, and his arms were wrapped tightly around her. He was like a living fire under the covers, covering her in a comforting heat. She snuggled into his chest, sighing.

She didn’t know what he was talking about, but sleep sounded…amazing. Like the most brilliant plan of the century.

“I do not know what you’re talking about, Kane…” She couldn’t even finish the sentence before her eyes were closing, a yawn breaking past her lips. How could he expect her to stay awake after the night they had shared? Her body was deliciously sore in all of the right places. Of course she would want to sleep—with him cuddling her right to his chest.

“Alice,” he said softly. She felt the light press of his lips on her temple, her cheek, then the corner of her mouth. “I’m leavin’ today.”

She shook her head, muttering, “No, you’re staying, and you’re holding me. Quiet, kitty. Sleeping.”

“Kitty?” he asked. His chest rumbled under her ear as he chuckled.

“Lion. Kitty. Meow. Please,” she whimpered, nuzzling his chest. “Quiet.”

“Yer a demanding little thing, aren’t ye. For a woman who can hold her own against a man twice her size, yer as cute as a button. I’m sorry, love. I should have left hours ago.”

“Then why didn’t you,” she grumbled, blinking sleep-heavy eyes up at him.

“Because I like the look of my woman sleeping.” He pressed his lips to hers in a quick, soft kiss. “I like to know yer safe in my arms.”

“I’m always safe.” She pursed her lips, eyes closing. He followed her silent request and gave her another kiss. Saeran slumped into his chest, a content sigh escaping her lips.

“Sure ye’ are,” he said, chuckling. “Now, lass. I really do have to get going. My men are waiting for me.”

“They can wait all they want,” she snapped sleepily, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I want you to stay here.”

“I canna do that, love,” he said. A note had entered his voice. It was stern, yet regretful. She flipped her eyes open to meet his.

“Why?”

“The MacLeods—”

That one name had the strength to wipe away her sleep-induced stupidity. Her eyes flew open. They were leaving to fight the MacLeods. Not just Kane, but Saeran. Today. With everything that had been going on with Kane and herself, she had pushed aside the things she should have been worrying about—Blaine and the MacLeods.

Blaine…Lord. Like the sun clearing the darkness away, she was hit with the full reality of everything that had happened between her and the woman who may or may not be her sister. Her heart felt…empty. All of the joy she’d felt with Kane drained out of her the second the events of the last two days hit her.

She had been so blind. So numb. So enraptured by Kane.

Now…now it was all attacking her like a rabid warrior—and she didn’t like it one bit.