"You're crazy," Janet exclaimed, her eyes wide with terror. "If you are seen here, they will torture you, slavery and death await you!" The young woman dragged Callan into the room and slammed the door shut.
"Don't you want me to die then?" he asked softly, his hand reaching out to take hers. "Today in the woods you tried to kill me."
Janet hesitated for a moment before pulling her hand away. "I want to, but I don't want you to risk your life for me," Janet pulled out her hand.
"And why don't you want me to take a risk?" Callan persisted, his voice barely above a seductive whisper. He embraced her and this time, the girl did not push him away.
"Because you've become dear to me." she murmured, her eyes meeting his. Callan kissed her.
"So why do you want me to die then?" his voice brushed against her ear and he peppered it with kisses while stroking Janet's hair, letting his hand hang on his neck, then slid it underneath.
"Because I don't want to love you." Janet pushed both hands against Callan's chest. "I want to hate you, despise you, destroy you, but your caresses make me happy and your kisses give me unprecedented joy. I hate myself for those feelings, but I can't resist them."
"Then don't resist it, Janet," Callan kissed her over and over. "I should have hated you too, but see, I love you!"
Janet's lips parted in surprise as Callan's words filled the air. She hugged Callan and answered the kiss. At this point, someone knocked on the door.
"Open up, Lady!" Sir Engus thundered.
"What do you want, sir?" Janet asked, embraced even more tightly by Callan, who began to kiss her neck.
"I want what a good wife obliged to give to her husband!" Sir Engus's voice became more insistent. Callan began kissing Janet's breasts with his hands caressing her curves. She throwed her head back and groaned.
"What happened, Lady? You're not feeling well?" Sir Engus asked worriedly.
"Yes, sir, I feel unwell, I feel like I need to get to bed sooner and get a good night's sleep. I'm sorry, but I can't accept you tonight." Callan kissed Janet while caressing her hips. She uttered something between a moan and a sigh.
"You feel so bad about you," Sir Engus spoke anxiously on the other side of the door, "maybe a healer should be called in?"
"No! No!" Janet yelled. "I need to get to bed as soon as possible. It will make me whole and happy again!"
"In that case – good night, Lady, I hope to see you again fair and blooming in the morning."
"Good night, sir!" Janet uttered, parting from Callan's lips for a moment. Steps of Sir Engus faded away.
"There's only one way to make sure he doesn't come back. We have to lie down in bed and extinguish the candle," Janet said seriously to Callan.
"Yes, that's the only way out," he agreed.
Callan stayed with Janet until morning.
"I need to leave," he said as the first rays of sunshine shone over Janet's white skin and threw sparkles into her red hair. "Malcolm is definitely worried about me, and Sir Engus will soon come to inquire about your health."
"You have to hurry up to get out of the castle unnoticed," Janet sighs. "But tell me, do you still want to stand against me in the upcoming battle?"
"Against you?" Callan laughed. "McLaughlins have never gone to war against you, Janet. We will meet in battle with Sir Engus and all that Campbell lot. You'll be waiting for the outcome of the battle here in the meantime, and I promise you – as a winner, I'll be very merciful." He got out of the bed and looked around to find his clothes.
"I don't need any mercy!" Janet frowned and stood up in bed sitting. "I can be either a ruler or dead, but defeated and humiliated – never!"