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Quelling the need to devour hiarments

“I threw your chemise on the bed”

Isla glanced back over her shoulder, caught hi at her body with the same level of appreciation she had shown hi back the coverlet and locating the cotton shift

“That round mark on your skin,” he said as he buttoned his trousers “How did you come by it?”

Isla sed “This?” she said rubbing her hip as though the seared impression was mud or dirt and not a symbol scorched into her flesh “Nikolai had one He marked me, too”

A heavy silence permeated the air She dressed quickly, keen to avoid anyquestions that would ruin their carefree mood

“Why?” he eventually said “Why would he hurt you like that?”

She shrugged “I have no idea But the marquess and his wife have them too I’ve always seen it as a means for Nikolai to express his superiority He owned me, or so he believed”

Lachlan clenched his jaw so hard she could hear his back teeth grinding against each other “I swear if he were not dead I would hunt him to the ends of the earth and make him pay for what he has done”

She appreciated the noble gesture But in reality, they both knew Nikolai possessed the power to co

“It is nothing” She lied, waving her hand in the air to show her indifference If she told his of shame whenever she looked at it, then he would always see it as such too “I often forget it is there Indeed, it appears to have faded over time”

Lachlan shook his head and frowned as he gazed past her shoulder “I have seen the symbol somewhere before, but cannot place it”

“I have seen sis on the Pictish stones, but I’m sure it is just a coincidence”

They finished dressing, straightened the sheets on the bed After locking the front door and hiding the key, they ht

As they strolled back through the meadow, Lachlan took her hand and stroked it affectionately with his thu h, you were on my mind constantly”