arms last night, but someday she promised herself she would. He was kind, protective, and funny, and a fierce warrior besides. Kissing him left her breathless.
What more could she want?
They arrived back at the castle shortly after high sun. She was surprised to see so many guards surrounding the castle, though none stopped them. In fact, they nearly made it to the gates before her father spied her and charged directly toward her.
“Where the hell have you been, Dyna?”
“I went searching for Grandsire. You were gone, and I couldn’t sit still,” she replied, not backing down. She’d pay for this transgression eventually, but probably not until her father found Alex Grant. All of the Highlands would be searching for him soon.
“You’ve gone off on your own before, but you’re usually wise enough to travel with guards. What the hell were you thinking? And where did you find Derric?”
“I wasn’t thinking. I went out to look for evidence of Claray’s stalker, thinking I’d stay on our land, but then I had this vision about Grandsire so I just kept riding. Derric came looking for me after he found out I wasn’t at Clan Grant. He agreed to help.”
He nodded tersely. “Did you see anything?” he asked, indicating for the two of them to follow him to the stables.
“Nay. What did Uncle Aedan say?” she asked. “He was with Grandsire when last I saw him.”
They’d reached the stables, and Connor dismounted. He reached up to help Dyna down, and she gripped his shoulders a little too hard. She regretted it as soon as she did it—what if he guessed?—but she couldn’t have stopped herself if she’d tried.
She was still sore and riding a horse hadn’t helped.
“What’s wrong with you?” her father asked, his eyes narrowing as he set her down on the ground.
“Naught. Tell me what you learned, Papa. You know you’re tormenting me by making me wait.” Mayhap she should be a wee bit sweeter, considering she’d run off by herself to search for Grandsire, but she had to draw his attention away from her pain.
“Aedan said he left on his own accord. He said he had somewhere to go and he would return. They didn’t expect him to be gone for long, but he hasn’t come back.”
“And he didn’t say where he was headed?”
“Nay, which is not unlike my father. He doesn’t always see fit to share his plans with everyone, especially in his younger days, but it surely unsettles me.”
“Did the guards go with him?”
“Aye, six of them according to Aedan.” Her father looked over her head at another group approaching them. “Well, word travels quickly. Your cousins are here. We’ll see what they’ve heard.”
Dyna spun around, pleased to see Alasdair, Emmalin, Els, and Joya dismounting near the stables with a dozen guards. Alasdair was giving instructions to his men, but Dyna didn’t care. She had to find out if they’d heard of anything at all.
“Well? Have you heard about Grandsire? Seen him anywhere?” she shouted to them, too impatient to wait.
“Naught. We’ve heard naught. When are you heading out again?” Alasdair asked. “We must find him.”
Her father waved them forward. “My thanks for coming so quickly. We’ll meet inside and discuss our strategy. I want input from Jamie and Finlay. You all need to rest. We’ll make a plan and probably divide into groups. Head out in an hour or two.”
Dyna greeted her cousins quickly, then leaned over to speak to Derric, trying to be discreet, “I’m headed to the bathing chamber, then I’ll join you in an hour. I’d like to hear what Papa comes up with.” He nodded and made his way over to Joya.
Recognizing her opportunity to escape—her sire was still speaking with Alasdair—Dyna whirled around and raced up the steps to the keep, ignoring the slight pain between her legs.
She had the sudden realization that she was different, and no one but Derric knew.
Claray greeted her and followed her up the stairs to her chamber. “Did you find my stalker?”
“Nay. I’m sorry. I did find evidence that someone was behind the curtain wall, but I couldn’t find him. The footprints could have been caused by anyone. Claray, just stay inside, don’t go anywhere alone, and we’ll find him, if he is there, after we locate Grandsire.”
The tears came quicker that she’d expected. “You don’t believe me either. Everyone treats me like I’m daft, but he was there, Dyna. I tell you, he was there.”
“Did you see him last eve?” she asked, pulling her hair