“I’m no witch and you know it!”
He cocked his head. “Do I? I’m not so sure. Thinking back, I canna conceive why I developed the lust for ye that I did. I think ye must have cast a spell on me.” The look in his eyes was predatory. “Just like ye are doing now. That must be why I’ve come here to finish what we started.”
Abi went cold all over. Her pulse hammered wildly. She backed off further, but her shins bumped against the pallet and there was nowhere else to go. The only thing that kept her from panicking completely was the fact that there was a thick, locked door between herself and Domnall. But then he took out a large iron key and her legs nearly gave out.
“Stay away! Come any closer and I’ll scream!”
“Go ahead,” he replied. “Do ye think anyone will come running? To save a witch? Or do ye think it more likely that they’ll be lining up behind me to have their go with ye?”
He inserted the key into the lock. Abi looked around wildly for anything that she could use as a weapon, but except for the pallet and the ratty blanket, her cell was bare.
The door swung open and Domnall Maguire made a grab for her. She screamed, but his hands never reached her. Abi blinked in surprise as he gave a grunt of surprise and started to turn just as a fist connected with his face, snapping his head back and sending him crashing into the wall.
Reid stepped into the cell. He grabbed the front of Domnall’s tunic, hoisted him to his feet, and punched him again, slamming him back against the hard stone. In a flash, he drew his dagger and laid the blade across Domnall’s throat.
“No!” Abi cried.
Reid looked over his shoulder at her, his eyes were ablaze with fury. This was Reid Campbell the warrior, Reid Campbell the commander, Reid Campbell the merciless killer.
“He deserves to die,” he hissed. “I warned them all that I would kill the next man who tries to hurt ye.”
“Don’t,” she said again. “Please.”
He paused. She could see his hand trembling where it held the blade against Maguire’s throat. He wanted to do it, he wanted to kill him. But with a hiss, he snatched the blade away and then head-butted Maguire hard enough to knock the man out cold. He collapsed in a heap in the corner.
Reid tossed away his dagger and spun to Abi. “Are ye all right, lass? He didnae—”
Abi flew at him, cannoning into his hard chest and throwing her arms around him. He was here. Oh god, he was here! “I’m all right,” she mumbled into his chest. “He didn’t touch me.”
“I’m sorry I doubted ye, lass,” he said, pushing her to arm’s length. “I’m sorry I believed them over ye. Can ye forgive me?”
“Forgive you?” She was suddenly crying, unable to stop. “Forgive you for what? It’s me who needs the forgiveness. I should have trusted you enough to tell you the truth from the beginning, then none of this would have happened.”
“I dinna think I was ready to hear the truth then,” he replied. “Perhaps I would have thought ye a witch, just like they claim. But I’m not the man I used to be. At least, I dinna wish to be. I wish to be the man ye think I am, a better man.”
“You are already the best man I’ve ever met, Reid Campbell,” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t you realize that yet?”
He pressed his forehead against hers. He was breathing heavily and still trembling. “One day,” he whispered. “One day I hope to be worthy of those words.” Then he straightened. “Come on. The guard will be changing soon. We dinna have much time.”
He took her elbow, led her from the cell, and along the corridor to the outer door. It stood open and they took the steps leading up quickly. At the top, they found a nervous-looking Clyde waiting by the door that led into the courtyard. He signaled at them frantically and Reid pulled Abi back against the wall, into shadow.
Clyde looked out into the courtyard, waited, and then nodded. “Go quickly,” he whispered. “Ye’ve got a few seconds to get across before the guards on the battlements come back this way.”
Reid nodded to Clyde and before Abi could utter a word of thanks, he was tugging her hand, and they went pelting across the dark courtyard at full speed, diving into the shadows by the main gates.
The gate guards saw them and came stomping over. Abi’s heart sank. They both held drawn swords.
“About bloody time,” said a gruff voice. “We were beginning to get a bit antsy.”
Abi’s dread evaporated as she realized that one of the guards was the cook, the other Thomas. They glanced around the courtyard and then swung open the smaller postern gate set into the larger main gate. Reid tugged her through and then they were out of the castle and the road that wound down to the river lay ahead of them, a lighter ribbon in the darkness.
Reid guided her down the path for several meters, but then they left the path and passed into a small copse of alder. It was utterly dark and the branches scraped at her face and clothes, but Reid kept a tight grip on her hand, leading her deeper into the thicket.
“Who’s there?” said a voice suddenly.
“Relax,” Reid replied. “It’s me.”
They stepped out into a small clearing where a horse was tethered. Martin was standing with the horse, looking anxious. He sighed dramatically. “Thank the Lord. The damned beast was getting skittish. She doesnae like being so close to the hounds.”
