Текст книги "My daring highlander"

Автор книги: Vonda Sinclair

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Текущая страница: 18 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

Chapter Thirty

Chief Murray climbed the stairs inside the tavern as fast as his legs would carry him, the local minister and constable following him, along with two of his men who had assured him everything was set up as it should be.

At the top of the stairs, he strode toward the chamber door. It sickened him to think his own daughter was inside and had lain with that MacKay bastard. He flung open the door to find Rebbinglen sprawled unmoving on the bed. He wore naught but trews. A gash on his head bled on the sheets. And his dark hair was wet.

“Is this the earl?” Constable Winfred asked, his rounded jowls jiggling.

“He’s injured,” Reverend Lang said in a shocked and concerned tone.

Murray glanced around the room and under the bed. “Where is my daughter?” he thundered.

Rebbinglen groaned and lifted a hand toward his head.

Murray cursed under his breath. He was supposed to find his daughter in this bedchamber with Rebbinglen in a very compromising position. If the minister and the constable had seen the two in bed together, they’d have no choice but to marry. But Seona was nowhere to be found. Never had he wanted so badly to strangle her.

“Did no one guard this room?” he asked his men.

The two dolts looked at him with blank, wide-eyed stares.

“Did you see my daughter in this room with Rebbinglen?”

They both nodded. “Aye, she was here.”

But they hadn’t made sure she stayed there until he and the witnesses arrived.

“Idiots!” He backhanded the one closest to him. “Find my daughter! Now!”

“Aye, m’laird.” They hastened from the room.

“Pray pardon, Reverend Lang, Constable Winfred,” Murray said. “My men said they found the two of them together here, but my daughter has slunk away, leaving her lover to fend for himself.”

“What’s happening?” Rebbinglen asked in a slurred voice, his dark eyes open a crack. “Did you hit me on the head, Murray?”

“Nay, my laird. ’Twas not me. Likely some outlaw did it.” Murray turned to the other two men. “I’m sorry I wasted your time, gentlemen. I will handle things from here.”

“Well, Chief, clearly the earl has been attacked and robbed,” the constable said. “We need to find the culprit.”

“Indeed. And I will. I’ll not be keeping you. I’m certain you’d rather be at home breaking your fast.” He ushered them out the door, then turned back to Rebbinglen.

Lowering his black brows into a menacing scowl, Rebbie squinted, glancing around the room. “Where am I?”

“A room over the tavern.”

“Saints!” Scrunching his face into a horrible expression, he sat up. “I’m going to kill whoever hit me.”

Murray backed up a few more inches. “Aye, and I’ll help you find him. But in the meantime… is it not true that you slipped my daughter out here for a tryst.”

Rebbie rubbed his scalp, glaring the entire time. “I assure you that I was not having a tryst with your daughter,” he said through clenched teeth. “Clearly, someone hit me over the head and brought me here.” He glanced down. “Where the devil are the rest of my clothes?” His suspicious eyes turned to Murray.

He held up his hands and remained by the door. “You were like that when I entered the room, my laird. I would never touch your clothing.”

“Of course, they took my weapons, too.” Growling and holding his head, Rebbie stood. He staggered and braced against the wall. His eyes searched the floor. “Find them, Murray!”

“Aye.” Murray hastened to the other side of the bed. “Naught over here.”

“Look underneath the bed.”

Murray wanted to knock the earl on the other side of the head, but he couldn’t get away with it. And now that the man was awake and alert, for the most part, and Seona was not here, Murray couldn’t trap him into marrying his daughter. He would throttle the daft men he’d assigned to do this job.

Rebbie turned. “Are they under there?”

Taking the candle, Murray knelt and peered beneath the bed. “Naught but a thick layer of dust and a few mouse droppings.”

“You ken who brought me here, do you not?”

“Nay, m’laird.”

Rebbie grunted. “Regardless, I am not marrying your daughter.”

Rage boiled inside Murray. Where was his daughter? He knew she’d been here with that MacKay bastard. When he found her, he was going to whip some sense into her. Both his daughters were disobedient, daft whores. They were determined to embarrass him and throw their lives away.

“Give me your sword,” Rebbie said in no uncertain terms.

“What? Are you mad?” Murray’s sword was worth a small fortune and no one used it but him.

“When you recover my sword from whichever of your men stole it, you will get yours back. In the meantime, I require a weapon.” Rebbie held out his hand.

“What are you going to do with it?”

The earl sent him a sinister grin. “I’m not going to kill you with it, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

Damn! What could Murray do but give it to him? The man outranked him, and his father was a powerful man.

Reluctantly, Murray drew his sword from the scabbard and gave it to the earl.

“Your dirk, too.” Rebbie motioned with his other hand.

“You’re disarming me?” Murray grumbled.

“Not intentionally. But I suspect the place is crawling with backstabbers, and I must help my friends.”

Glaring, Murray handed the foot-long Highland dirk over and Rebbie slid the two blades into his own scabbards.

“Laird Rebbinglen!” the shout sounded from downstairs.

Who the devil was that? Murray moved toward the door and opened it. “I’ve found him up here,” he called.

Rebbie’s manservant, George, rushed into the room. “Are you injured, m’laird?”

“Not overmuch. Someone tried to bash in my skull, but I’ll live, as you can see. Help me find my shirt and doublet. And my weapons. The whoreson who knocked me on the head likely has them.” Rebbie headed toward the door, waving off George’s offer to assist him down the stairs.

Murray followed them out.

One hand on the rail and one on his head, Rebbie staggered down the steps, George on his heels.

“Are those your clothes, m’laird?”

“Where?”

George ran past him toward one of the tavern tables. “Aye, I believe these are yours.”

After Rebbie dressed, they exited the tavern. Outside, mayhem reigned. Several of the Murrays and MacKays were engaged in sword fights. But his daughter was nowhere in sight. Aye, Murray would beat Seona when he found her.

***

I’m already married! Seona almost yelled the words at Haldane, but then realized if she revealed this information, Talia would be in grave danger. The gold band Keegan had placed on her finger was still there, but none of the outlaws had seen it yet. The long sleeves of the black cloak she wore hid her hands.

She had dropped Keegan’s belongings at the spot where McMurdo had grabbed her. If she’d known this would happen, she would’ve strapped the dirk to her side beneath the cloak. Hopefully, if Keegan or any of his men found his things, they’d know she’d been captured.

“Very well.” Seona stood and faced Haldane. She’d agree to marry him, or anything, if they’d release Talia.

He raised auburn brows, giving her a skeptical look. “How do I ken you’re telling the truth?”

She wanted to box his ears, then kick him in the groin. “Release my sister and allow me to see that she is safe, and I will go with you.”

“Nay, Seona,” Talia said. “They are madmen!”

“Put a gag in her mouth,” Haldane ordered.

“She will be quiet.” Seona sent her sister a meaningful look. “Shh.” She then turned to Haldane. “Will you allow me to talk to my sister in private for a minute?” she asked as sweetly as she could, although she wanted to take her sgian dubh to him.

“Aye. But I’m keeping an eye on you. Fan out,” he told his men as he backed away.

Seona helped her sister sit and lean back against the large stone. At least she was heavily clothed with what appeared to be three layers of wool arisaids.

“Have they hurt you?” Seona asked.

Talia shook her head. “Naught but a few bruises from when they tossed me over a saddle.”

“How on earth did they capture you?” Seona whispered.

“I ran away… or tried to, but they grabbed me just outside the gate.” Tears dripped from her sister’s eyes. “They thought I was you for a while, until that one looked at me closer.” She glanced at Haldane.

“I’m so sorry you were dragged into this because of me.” Seona dried her sister’s tears with her cloak sleeve. “Don’t cry. Once they untie you, go to the village and hide. When you find Keegan or one of his friends, tell them where I am.”

Her dark eyes grew fierce. “I’m not leaving you alone with these barbarians.”

It touched Seona’s heart that her sister wanted to protect her. She blinked back the burning moisture that threatened to flood her eyes. “Haldane will not hurt me. He thinks he’s in love with me.”

Talia glared over Seona’s shoulder. “Come closer,” she whispered.

Seona leaned forward.

“He will force you.”

An icy frisson passed through Seona. She knew that was a possibility, but she had to get Talia away from them. None of the brutes cared a thing about Talia. They might kill her if she became a burden or merely annoyed them.

“I believe I can talk him out of it,” Seona whispered, not wanting her sister to worry. “I think he wishes to make me happy.”

“I want to be released, but I refuse to go back to the castle,” Talia said. “Father is going to make me marry the Comyn next week. He’s worse than these outlaws.”

Seona nodded, knowing ’twas most likely true. “When you’re released, hide and slip to the back of the tavern.”

“Why?”

“Keegan, Laird Rebbinglen, and their friends should be nearby. But so is Father. You will have to hide from him and his men. Keegan will help you. If we could’ve found you last night, we would’ve run away, and already be far from here.”

Talia’s eyes widened. “In truth? Keegan is stealing you away?”

“Aye, and he agreed to take you, too. But we have to escape these outlaws and Father’s men.”

“I’ll do it. I’ll hide behind the tavern and wait for you. If I can find Keegan or his friends, I’ll tell them who has taken you.”

Seona had pointed out Keegan to Talia from her window when she was locked in, days ago. They had watched him, Fraser, and Rebbie crossing the barmkin. Seona had described a few of the other men to her and the clothing they wore.

“How will you escape these madmen?” Talia asked.

“I’ll figure out something.” Seona wished she could give Talia her knife, but closely as Haldane and the men were watching, they’d notice. Besides, she might need it to escape them. Hopefully, Talia would be safe if she hid behind the tavern. Even if her father’s men found her, they would not harm her. The only dangers to Talia at the moment were Haldane and his men.

Seona stood and turned to Haldane. He moved closer to her. “I’ll go with you if you’ll untie Talia and leave her here alone, so that she can return to the safety of the village.”

He grimaced and shook his head. “I cannot do that, Lady Seona.”

Fury tore through her, but she tried to hide it. “Why not?”

“She’ll tell your father’s men, Keegan’s men, and the whole lot of them will be after us.”

“Nay, she won’t. You will keep this a secret, will you not, Talia?”

“Aye. Of course.”

Haldane tilted his head, giving Seona an amused look. “Come now, m’lady. Do not take me for a fool. Here is what I’ll do—I’ll leave her right where she is, tied up. Eventually, someone will find her. But we’ll be long gone by then.”

“I thought you wanted me to go with you willingly,” Seona challenged.

“You will,” Haldane said calmly, but with more of his natural menace creeping out. “Or we can also take your sister with us and leave her deep in the wood.”

Nay! Nausea surged through Seona’s vitals. She shook her head. “I agree ’tis better to leave her here.”

“And you will willingly go with me and marry me, aye?”

She nodded, having no intention of doing anything he said.

“We’re heading out,” Haldane called to his men and motioned toward the forest.

Clasping her hands together before her, Seona slipped one hand into her smock sleeve and pulled the sgian dubh free of the sheath. When she lowered her arms, the long sleeves of the cloak covered her hands and the small knife. Moving her hands behind her back, she dropped the weapon close to Talia. Once they left, her sister would be able to cut herself loose, run to the village and report Seona’s abduction to Keegan or one of his friends.

She glanced around at Talia to see if she’d noticed the knife. Her sharp gaze told her she had, plus she had shifted her bound feet to cover the weapon.

“Come,” Haldane told Seona, taking hold of her upper arm and leading her forward.

“We’re not leaving her, surely,” one of his men said, leering back at Talia.

“Aye, we’re leaving her. Go get the horses,” Haldane commanded.

“Hmm, nice,” another of the scraggly outlaws said as he strode by, eying Seona. “I want her after you, MacKay.”

Haldane withdrew his dirk and spun. In less than a second, he had the tip of the blade at the man’s throat. “This woman is going to be my wife, you whoreson. No one is touching her but me. Anyone who does will get his throat slit. Do you ken what I’m saying?”

The man blanched, his eyes wild. “Aye, m’laird.”

Laird? Haldane wasn’t a laird. His older brother Dirk was, and obviously Haldane still held onto the fantasy that he would one day take Dirk’s place.

“Watch him,” Haldane said to McMurdo. “Anyone so much as looks at Seona with lust in his eyes, kill the whoreson.”

“Will do,” McMurdo answered and followed the others.

Haldane gripped her upper arm again and guided her deeper into the forest behind the other ruffians. She glanced back, seeing that Talia was alone. She prayed no other outlaws would find her before she cut the ropes and freed herself.

Once they were far enough away from Talia, Seona would have to figure out how to escape Haldane and his men. She might grab Haldane’s dirk and stab him with it. But he was the one protecting her from the rest of the brutish men. If she killed Haldane, any of his men might rape or kill her. No telling what McMurdo would do… most likely kill her without a second thought.

Chapter Thirty-One

Earlier, in the field in front of the tavern, Keegan had snatched one of the Murray guard’s swords, then bested Graybeard, leaving him with several cuts, but spared his life. He’d sent the next one who’d challenged him running away with a deep slice to his sword arm. And now, another of the men who’d invaded their room over the tavern charged him with a sword. He parried and thrust, then drove the other man back several feet.

Keegan darted a quick glance around the field at the crowd of onlookers and noticed Chief Murray a hundred feet away, scowling this way and that, murder in his eyes.

Where was Seona? He must not have found her in the room.

Rebbie stood not far from Murray, looking pale and dazed, his forehead and doublet bloody, but he held a sword in his hand. Keegan was glad he’d awakened.

Fraser, on horseback, rode in behind him, leading Curry. He motioned Keegan forward.

He landed one final blow and sent his opponent’s sword flying, then he hastened toward Fraser.

“Haldane took Seona,” Fraser said in a low tone.

“What?” A sharp blade of fear and outrage sliced through Keegan. “When?”

“A short time ago. Her sister showed up and told us. Haldane kidnapped her first, then released her when he lured Seona out.”

“Which way did they ride?”

“East.”

Dermott approached on his horse, tossed Keegan’s boots to the ground in front of him, then handed him his sporran and sheathed dirk. “I found these behind the tavern.”

Last time Keegan had seen them, they’d been in the chamber. “Seona must have dropped them there.” Fear for her life making his hands unsteady, Keegan pulled on his boots then swung into the saddle. “Let’s go.”

“Lady Talia said they went this way.” Fraser took the lead, kicking his mount into a gallop; Keegan and Dermott followed. Hunched low in their saddles, they rode past boulders and into the forest.

Keegan would kill Haldane. To imagine someone harming Seona was like a dagger to the gut. The roughed-up tracks through the leaves and pine needles were easy to see, but when they came onto a muddy road, thick with tracks which forked in two directions, they drew up.

Hoof beats pounded behind them. Keegan glanced back. Rebbie? Surely, he was not up to this.

When he halted beside them, Keegan asked, “What in blazes are you doing here? You’re injured.” Indeed the earl still looked pale, blood matting his hair.

“’Tis naught. When I saw you lads riding like the devil, I knew something had to be wrong.”

“Aye, Haldane abducted Seona.”

“Saints!” He glanced along the two roads. “North or east?”

Keegan examined the tracks on the muddy ground. “Fresh tracks go both ways. Two of us take one road, and two the other.”

Rebbie nodded and rode off toward the east, Dermott following.

Keegan and Fraser traveled north, their mounts charging at full speed. A pistol shot fired somewhere in front of them.

“Who the hell is shooting?” Keegan said between clenched teeth. He prayed Seona was not in the line of fire.

Two horses waited beside the road up ahead, one shifting about anxiously. Behind a stand of bushes, swords clanged.

Keegan pulled back on the reins, leapt to the ground, and drew his sword. He was aware of Fraser following on foot, but he kept his attention focused forward.

Sticking his head through the bushes, he found McMurdo fighting a younger man with a bushy brown beard. Another man lay on the ground, blood pooling around him. What the devil was going on? Where was Seona?

A scream sounded in the distance, ahead but to the left. A female. It had to be her. He raced forward, the prickly gorse bushes snagging his clothes and scratching his skin.

Up ahead, a red-headed man had someone wearing black thrown over his shoulder. Haldane. Rushing closer, Keegan saw ’twas indeed Seona he carried. She kicked, elbowed him in the back, and fought to free herself. Even though her hands were tied, she yanked his hair.

“Ow! Damn you, lass!” Haldane bent forward, attempting to dump her to the ground, but Seona held onto his long hair.

Haldane glanced his way just before Keegan reached him. He shoved Seona away and lifted his sword.

She did not appear to be injured, thank the saints.

“Let me have her, Haldane.” Keegan forced himself to use a reasonable tone.

“Nay!” He sliced the blade through the air. “Back away.”

Seona’s ankles were bound as well, but she tried to roll away from Haldane.

“Don’t force my hand, cousin.” Although Keegan could not say he and Haldane had ever truly been close, they had trained together since they were lads and eaten many a meal together at Dunnakeil.

“You are not my cousin since you are loyal to that imposter you call a chief,” Haldane snarled.

Haldane knew good and well Dirk was no imposter, but Keegan wasn’t going to argue the point.

“Why did you kidnap Seona?” Keegan knew why, but he wanted to distract Haldane.

“That is none of your concern.”

“Aye, ’tis, considering she is my wife.”

“Your wife? Ha!” Haldane’s pale green eyes glinted with feral energy and he bared his teeth. “Well, if that is true, I can easily make her a widow. She was to marry the MacKay chief, which I will be since Dirk is dead.”

Icy cold slithered through Keegan. To imagine Dirk dying was like enduring a strike to his vitals. The man was like a brother to him.

“Dirk is not dead,” Keegan assured him.

“How do you know?” Haldane smirked. “You haven’t seen him in several days, have you?”

“He’s recovering in a safe place.”

“You hope. But what if he got a grave fever from that arrow wound?”

Dirk had endured a minor fever, but seemed improved last time he’d seen him. Keegan was not going to worry over him now. Seona was his main concern.

“Release Seona before you injure her.”

“Nay.” Haldane advanced, sword in guard position. “Back off or you will cause me to hurt her. If she dies, ’twill be your fault.”

Fraser stepped from the bushes behind Haldane, snatched Seona from the ground, and kicked Haldane forward. He stumbled to his knees but quickly leapt to his feet, looking about wildly. But Fraser had already disappeared back through the bushes with Seona.

Keegan charged forward, ready to kill Haldane in one-on-one combat. ’Twas not what he wanted, but something he had to do in order to protect Seona and to ensure Dirk’s safety.

A glint of fear flashed in Haldane’s eyes and he bolted, fleeing through the gorse.

Nay! Keegan chased him. “Coward!” He shoved through the thorny branches after Haldane, running, dodging in and out of the bushes. But after a few moments, all was quiet and still up ahead. He paused. No movements around him. Only the sounds of swords clashing far behind him.

“Haldane!” Keegan shouted. “Come back and fight like a man.”

Silence met his ears.

“Bastard.” Keeping his sword in hand, he took out his dagger, too, as extra protection should he be ambushed, and proceeded back through the gorse bushes.

Where had Fraser taken Seona?

At the spot where McMurdo had been fighting another man, three scruffy outlaws—he assumed Haldane’s recruits—lay on the ground, apparently dead, given their wounds and the blood surrounding them. Keegan was disappointed McMurdo was not among them. Dermott and Rebbie stood nearby, catching their breaths. Dermott held a cloth against a cut on his upper arm. Seeing they were well, Keegan hastened away in search of Seona and Fraser. He found them in the narrow road by the horses.

Upon reaching Seona, Keegan sheathed his weapons and drew her into his arms, her slight, curvy frame conforming perfectly to his. Thank God she was alive. “Are you well? Did Haldane hurt you?”

She shook her head against his chest. “Only a few bruises from his rough handling, I think.”

“That bastard.” Keegan glanced at Fraser. “I thank you for helping her.”

“My pleasure.” Fraser gave a slight grin.

Seona pulled back but kept her arm around Keegan’s waist. “Indeed, I appreciate the help, both of you. Did you see my sister?” she asked Fraser.

“Aye, the bonny lass was hiding in the brush behind the tavern. She resembled you so much, I knew she had to be your sister.”

“Was she hurt?”

“Nay. After she told me you’d been kidnapped, I asked her to wait there with one of the trusted MacKenzie guards protecting her.”

“Oh, I thank you.”

Rebbie emerged from the bushes, Dermott following. “Did you kill Haldane?” Rebbie asked.

“Nay.” Keegan wanted to kick himself for not accomplishing what he needed to. “He ran like the vile rodent he is.”

“Coward. He always flees.”

“Aye.”

“Next time. McMurdo got away, too. He took off when Dermott and I showed up.” Rebbie strode toward his horse, then hoisted himself into the saddle.

Keegan glanced down at Seona. “Why did fighting break out among Haldane’s men?”

“One of his new recruits decided he… wanted me and attacked Haldane.” Seona’s face reddened. “Haldane shot him, then his friends joined in the fray. I took advantage of the situation and ran, but Haldane caught me and tied my hands and feet.”

Keegan’s stomach knotted when he imagined her in such a precarious situation. “Are you certain he didn’t hurt you?”

“Aye. I thank you,” she said, darting a quick glance from his eyes to his lips and back.

He leaned down and placed a soft, sweet kiss on her mouth, grateful she wasn’t injured.

“Where is my ‘thank you’ kiss?” Fraser teased.

Seona pulled away, smiling and blushing.

“Shut your gob, Fraser,” Keegan muttered, trying to hide his grin.

A multitude of hoof beats approached from the south, drawing Keegan’s attention and darkening his mood. He knew who they were even before he saw them.

A moment later, four of Murray’s guards reined in their mounts and surveyed the scene. “We’ve come to escort Lady Seona back to her father,” their leader said.

Keegan stepped in front of her. “I’m taking her.”

Smirking, the head guard shrugged. “As long as she goes back to her father, I don’t care who takes her.”

Seona tugged at his clothing.

He turned to her. “Aye?”

“You stay here,” she whispered. “I’ll go back with them.”

“Why?” Keegan frowned.

“Is it not obvious? I don’t want my father and his men to kill you.”

“They won’t kill me. They may try, but chances are they’ll get a blade in the gut.”

“Stubborn,” she muttered.

“Indeed, I am.” Keegan lifted her to his horse and climbed on behind her. He wished he could’ve stolen her away, but he knew she would never leave her sister behind.

Even though he would enjoy holding her in his arms for a few minutes, he had to figure out how the devil they were going to retrieve Talia, then escape Murray and his men.

***

Seona didn’t wish to return to the village or the castle, but she had no choice if she wanted to ensure her sister’s safety. And she didn’t want Keegan anywhere near her father now that his men had surely told him they’d found her and Keegan in bed together at the inn. Her father would be in a killing rage. She prayed he hadn’t already punished Talia for running away.

Riding in front of Keegan, his strong arm around her, Seona turned to him. “We must find Talia.”

“Aye, we will,” he whispered against her ear, then kissed it. Delicious shivers slid down her body. She would love naught more than to sink down into the pleasures Keegan knew how to indulge her with, but now was not the time. She had to focus on finding her sister.

Keegan guided his horse toward the back of the tavern, his friends following. But as soon as they rounded the corner, her father, a few of his men, and Wentworth came into view. Nausea rose within her. Saints! Exactly who she didn’t want to see.

As they rode closer, her father’s face grew redder.

“Where is Talia?” Seona asked.

“Where have you been?” Murray growled, his glare shifting to Keegan.

“Haldane MacKay captured me. Then, thanks be to God, Keegan and his friends came to my rescue.” She gave a quick glance at Wentworth’s sullen face, where he stood stiffly by the tavern’s back door. Simply looking at him made her cringe.

Keegan dismounted and helped her down.

“Where is Talia?” she asked again.

“Inside. Holed up in the storeroom,” her father grumbled. “Go in and talk her into coming out.”

“What do you mean holed up in the storeroom?”

“She’s blocked the door, and she has a knife. She stabbed two of my men in the hands already. She’s gone mad!”

“I see.” ’Twas true that Talia was belligerent. Even if her actions got her into worse trouble, she would keep rebelling.

Seona headed toward the tavern’s back door, Keegan and his friends following.

Her father and Wentworth entered the dim room behind, along with five Murray guards. “I want to talk to you over here, Seona,” her father said in a stern tone.

She gave Keegan a quick glance. His firm mouth, hardened jaw, and icy glare said he was ready to stab someone. But none of them had drawn swords yet, thank the saints.

Her father and Wentworth waited twenty feet away, near the tavern’s huge cold fireplace.

When she joined them, her father asked, “Haldane, you say? Is he Griff MacKay’s youngest son?”

“Aye.” The men had already told her father how Haldane had ambushed them several times on the journey here, trying to kidnap her.

“Did he rape you? Seduce you?” her father demanded.

“Nay.”

“I don’t believe her,” Wentworth muttered between his crooked, yellow teeth. “She doesn’t have the look of an innocent to me. She probably already carries another man’s bastard. I withdraw my suit.” He strode from the tavern, slamming the front door on his way out.

Seona’s heart lightened with a moment of happiness. Marrying that man would’ve been hell on earth. But she was surprised to see her father didn’t attempt to stop him.

“’Twas not Haldane who compromised you; ’twas that one there.” Her father sent a sharp, lethal glare at Keegan.

Seona held her breath, waiting for a battle to break out. But everyone remained silent and still.

“How did Haldane MacKay capture you?” her father asked. “You had to be outside the castle walls. We know the guards were drunk on whisky and not at their posts. You slipped out, did you not?”

“Nay.”

“You’re lying, you little whore,” he muttered, too low for Keegan to hear. “One of the maids saw you slipping out of the kitchen with Rebbinglen. And six of my men saw you in the chamber upstairs with Keegan MacKay. Naked. You sicken me.”

We are married. I love him. He is my husband, she almost said. But she couldn’t yet. She had to take her sister to safety first.

“Where is Talia?”

“There.” He swung his thumb toward an alcove with a closed door. “Get her to come out.”

Seona approached the rough door, made of wide planks. “Talia? Are you in there?”

Silence.

Seona knocked. “Talia? ’Tis me, Seona.”

“Where is Father?” Talia asked, her voice muffled behind the thick wood.

“Here in the room behind me.”

“I’m not coming out,” she said in a stubborn tone.

“You cannot stay in there,” Seona said.

“I can. There is food in here. I’ll let you in and you can stay with me. We won’t have to marry the beasts.”

Footsteps approached, and Seona turned to find her father striding closer, a murderous gleam in his eyes. “What is that on your finger?” he yelled.

The wedding band. Fear paralyzed her for a moment, but then she drew in a deep breath for courage, her gaze connecting with Keegan’s—intense blue and arrow sharp. Silently, he and his friends moved closer.

“’Tis a ring,” she said. “I am married.”