There was a brief silence. He continued to look into her eyes without blinking.
“Derek. My name is Derek.” His face remained calm and serene.
She couldn't read any emotions on it, “Why do you come here in the evenings?”
He calmly replied, “I found out someone tried to kill you. By chance, I was here then. Now, I make sure that this person doesn't come back again.”
“But it wasn't you who saved me then. The man who attacked me was stopped by a bird.”
“After you lost consciousness, I carried you to your bedroom.”
“I figured it was you. But how did you know which room was mine?” Megan asked with some insistence. By this point, she had regained her composure, thus managing to control her trembling.
“I saw your reflection in the window before you left the castle. It's not hard to guess where your bedroom is based on the window,” Derek replied, still calmly and undisturbed.
“Where are you from?”
“I'm local, we're neighbors, you could say.”
“My name is Megan,” she introduced herself, slightly satisfied with his answers.
A faint smile touched Derek's lips – the first emotion since the start of their conversation. From the expression on the highlander's handsome face, it was clear he already knew the girl's name.
“Nice to meet you, Megan. Glad to make your acquaintance. Why are you outside at such a late hour? It's dangerous. The attack could be repeated, and I might not be nearby to protect you.”
“I saw you and decided to find out who you are, and what your intentions are by coming here.”
“Are you satisfied with your curiosity?” he asked, still with that slight smile.
“Not entirely. Why do you need to do this?”
“Do what exactly?”
“Protect me, for example. You say you come here to see if the murderer shows up again. Why do you need to do this?” Megan asked, shifting back to a more emotional tone.
He was silent for a moment before answering.
“You will find out in time. Now go home and go to sleep. That man is not nearby.”
“Do you know him? Who is he? And why does he want to kill me?” Megan asked anxiously.
“I don't know yet, but the time will come when everything will be clear.”
“I…”
But Derek did not let her continue. The tone in his voice changed, he said sternly and authoritatively, “Go to sleep, Megan!”
She did not dare to object. The command was so categorical and unexpected that she could not find the words to respond. At that moment, the cold and harsh expression on the man's face made it clear that he was not intending to continue their conversation. Megan silently turned around and walked back to the castle. Inside, she was seething with indignation: he had given her an order! And she had been too flustered to put him in his place.
Derek watched her until she disappeared from view. With a sigh of sadness, he turned back to the sea. He knew the girl would watch him from her bedroom window for a few more minutes, but he did not turn around.
* * *
Megan couldn't sleep. The Highlander's inexplicable behavior greatly troubled her. He was so strange, mysterious. One thing she knew for sure – she needed to talk to him again; learn more about him. And at the very least make it clear that it's not alright for anyone to speak to her in a commanding tone. The beautiful, inscrutable face constantly hovered before her eyes. She had never before felt such a passionate desire to kiss a man. A French kiss – yes, but to want to kiss, besides the lips, his cheeks, nose, eyes, forehead. This was new to her. She desperately wanted to press herself against his chest and drown in his embrace.
