Page 37 of Highland Hearts

“I will not warn you again that I do not take well to lies,” Cree reminded. “Who do you owe your allegiance to and what do they want from me?”

The man shook his head vigorously. “I do not know. I am here to collect drawings from Tate. I know no more than that. If you let me have them, I can be on my way and bother you no more.”

Cree’s arms dropped away from his chest to his sides, his hands fisting tightly.

Words rushed from the man’s mouth in warning. “If you harm me, you will suffer greatly for it.”

Cree’s eyes narrowed and his voice turned harsh. “You think me foolish enough to leave your body to be found once I am through with you?”

The man struggled to keep his composure as he attempted to bargain. “No one need suffer. The drawings are all I need, and I will be on my way.”

“I think not,” Cree snapped. “You will have the honor of being the first guest in my dungeon until I say otherwise.”

The man paled and his shoulders slumped. “Suffering and death meet me either way.”

“Then be wise in what you choose to tell me,” Cree said.

“Let me go and I will convey a message for you,” the man offered.

“Tell me where you are to meet this person and my warriors will go and convey my message,” Cree countered.

“He will not show himself to anyone but me.”

“And what will he do when you fail to appear?” Cree asked.

“I do not know.”

“I think you do,” Cree challenged. “You will have time to think about it in the dungeon.” He turned to Sloan. “Secure him there.”

“You are making a mistake,” the man warned as Sloan approached him.

“We shall see who made the mistake,” Cree said and turned his back on the man to join his wife waiting with Tate.

“This does not bode well for my brother,” Tate said, twisting his hands anxiously. “There is no telling what will be done to him because I failed to deliver what they asked of me. Drawings, nothing more than simple drawings.”

Dawn shook her head and looked to her husband.

“My wife understands what you do not,” Cree said. “It is not just simple drawings that are wanted. It is the layout—a map—of the new village and watchtower and the fortification of the castle itself as well as the surrounding woods. It is to see what strength I hold in this region.”

Tate’s eyes went wide. “Like the secret place your wife drew. Someone would be curious about it and what meaning it might hold and what might be hidden there.”

“Secret place?” Cree glanced at his wife in question.

“It is so secret you do not even know about it?” Tate asked, surprised.

Dawn smiled at the glare Cree sent her, and she gestured.

Cree’s glare faded as he grinned. “It is so secret that it does not exist.”

Tate scratched his head. “I do not understand. How can it not exist when Lady Dawn drew it?”

“You truly need to pay closer attention to things,” Cree cautioned. “My wife’s drawing was created from her own fanciful thoughts.”

Tate’s mouth fell open as he turned a shock stare on Dawn. “You did not draw the scene from memory?”

Dawn shook her head.

Tate stared at her with admiration. “It takes much talent to draw from nothing but your thoughts. You truly are amazing.”