“Alexander, ye must stop.” Catriona shoved her way between them, one hand flat on the center of Alexander’s chest as she tried to make him listen before he toppled off the bed. “He’s not worth killing yourself over. Ye’re too weak for this. Please stop for your own sake. I beg ye.”
With a jerking shove, Alexander booted Calum with his uninjured leg and launched him back across a bench. A grim, satisfied look settled across his face as he sagged sideways back down to the edge of the bed.
Duncan, Sutherland, and Magnus rushed to help Catriona get Alexander straightened and settled safe in the bed's center.
“I want that bastard gone!” Calum croaked as he clambered backward and rose from the floor, one hand held to his fiery red throat. “I want all of ye gone afore I return. Ye hear me?” He made a sweeping motion with one hand, pointing at Alexander and all his men as he staggered back toward the bailey doors.
“They are my guests and I bid them stay as long they like.” With Alexander guarded by his brothers, Catriona shoved her way through the overturned furniture toward her brother. “The chieftain of Clan Neal has granted them sanctuary and ye ken as well as I that Father willna take kindly to your usurping of his orders. He willna tolerate ye making him appear a weak, indecisive chieftain.”
“Ye will pay for this, sister,” Calum sputtered as he yanked open one of the tall double doors and squinted against the icy winter wind that whooshed in around it. “I swear on Mother’s grave—ye will pay.”
“'Twas well worth it,” Catriona said as she watched the door close behind him.
