“’Tis nae yer choice tae make!” Her voice rose, desperate. “I’m happy here! I love him! Why can ye nae just?—”
Movement beyond the gate—shadows shifting in darkness, the unmistakable sound of horses stamping, men waiting.
Understanding crashed over her like ice water.
“What have yedone?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“Move, lass!”
The gate swung open.
Men poured through—six, eight, maybe more—wearing colors that made her blood run cold. Duncan’s colors. The MacRae tartan she’d once thought she’d wear as a bride, now soaked in moonlight and menace.
Finnian grabbed her arm, trying to pull her toward the gate. “Quickly now, before anyone notices?—”
“Nay!” She wrenched free, stumbling backward. Her mind couldn’t reconcile what she was seeing—her father, her protector, betraying everything. “Faither, those are Duncan’s men! They tried tae kill me!”
“He was tryin’ tae save ye?—”
“Saveme?” Hysteria clawed up her throat. “He murdered half me escort! And ye—ye’ve brought himhere? Inside Erik’s walls?”
Finnian’s face crumpled. “I’m gettin’ ye out. Away from this place, these people?—”
“These people are me kin now!” She backed away, raising her voice despite the danger. “Erik is mehusband! I love him! Why can ye nae understand that?”
The words hung between them like a blade. She searched her father’s face—still caught in that stubborn blindness, still refusing to see what was right in front of him.
“Faither, please—” But he was already reaching for her, already trying to pull her toward Duncan’s waiting men.
“Nay!” she wrenched away from him, stumbling backwards. “If ye want tae go, ye’ll be goin’without me!”
“Claricia, we dinnae have time fer this?—”
“Then LISTEN tae me!” The words tore from her throat, desperate and raw. She took a step toward the castle, toward Erik, toward home. “If ye take me from here, if ye force me tae go back tae Kintail, oranywhere else…” her voice cracked. “I’ll hate ye fer it. I swear it. Every day fer the rest of me life, I’ll hate ye fer takin’ this from me!”
Finnian froze.
“Erik!” She screamed his name into the night. “ERIK!”
“Claricia, nay—what are ye—” Finnian reached for her, shock written across his weathered face.
“Someone! Anyone!” her voice rang out again, shrill with panic and fury. “They’re here! They’ve come fer me!”
One of Duncan’s warriors shot forward, hand reaching for his blade, but Finnian threw himself between them. “Touch me daughter and die.” He snarled, and for a fleeting moment, he was the formidable Highland chieftain again.
The entire garden seemed to hold its breath. Duncan’s men shifted uneasily, eyes darting between Finnian and the castle.
Finnian turned to face his daughter, and Claricia could see the exact moment understanding crashed over him.
“Ye truly mean it,” he whispered. “This isnae fear or duty. Ye love him.”
“Aye.” Tears burned her eyes. “I chose this. I chosehim. And ye—” Her voice broke. “Ye’ve ruined everything.”
“Then I’ll fix it.” Finnian turned toward the waiting men, authority ringing through his voice. “Stand down. We’re leavin’. The lass stays?—”
“I’m afraid that’s nay longer yer decision tae make, Laird MacKenzie.”
