Ethne’s choked gasp jerked up Lachlann’s head. Her eyes were tearing up. But Talorc held the blade fast and added, “Besides, it matters more to me that I can rescue Moira from ourchieftain’slecherous grasp.”
“And I will help him with that,” Olaf said, coming to stand beside Ethne, the pain from his face having apparently subsided. “I found him rutting with the woman I knew to be Aidan’s wife.” He shrugged. “We easily came to an understanding.”
He ran his gaze over Ethne, wiping the blood that trickled down her neck with a wetted thumb before continuing. “That lecher Aidan wanted Ethne as well, so I understood the man’s pain. Talorc has sworn allegiance to me.” He lifted a small sack from around the man’s neck and said to him, “I see ye have found our silver.” He turned back to Lachlann. “And now we have the silver as well.”
Lachlann forced himself to breathe naturally. He wanted nothing more than to rip off the man’s face.
“And are we to just leave now and allow ye to do whatever ye like here?” Lachlann’s irritation was barely checked.
Olaf smiled. “Either that or we can kill ye. It matters not at all.”
“Or we kill ye.” Lachlann hunched slightly forward and fisted his hands. “Just say the word.”
“Ye think much of yer abilities.” Olaf rolled his eyes then turned to stroke Ethne’s cheek. “Tell yer friends to drop their weapons. I prefer her to no longer be held at knife point. Either that, or I’ll allow Talorc to slit her throat.” At the slightest tip of Olaf’s head, Talorc readied the blade. Lachlann gasped before slamming his jaw tight. Olaf glowered at him. “Do help me to decide.”
It took every speck of control for Lachlann to continue to stand their while his friends’ weapons clattered to the ground.
Talorc released Ethne and advanced with his dagger toward them, pressing them back toward the entrance. Olaf took Ethne into a one-armed embrace, holding her close against his side and talking quietly to her. It sounded like an apology. Lachlann’s tongue wedged painfully against his teeth.
“Now, back against the wall.” Talorc was joined by two other armed men who had only minor injuries.
Ethne nodded to Olaf, a small smile, almost as if in reassurance. Lachlann’s chest tightened.
“What is it ye are doing back in here?” She squared her shoulders, her tone more demanding than questioning.
“Protecting ye,” Lachlann said. The lack of air in his lungs made him lightheaded.
“From what?” She jutted out her chin, shook her head as if he were some loon, then placed a hand flat on Olaf’s chest. “I have my own plans that dinna include ye. I’ve no need of yer protection now. Go. Be on yer way.”
Olaf beamed. A gentle tug back, and he wrapped his large arms around her, holding her close.
Lachlann’s body was rigid with anger. He searched her face for any sign that this was against her will. “We want the silver.”
“Ah, the silver is it now?” Olaf shook his head. “Ye best make up yer mind,Lachlann.Is it the lass ye’ve come for or the silver?”
He took a step forward, pushing as much as he dare against Talorc, who stood between them. “Both. We’ve come for both.”
“So ye’ll take her against her will now?”
“I dinna bel—”
“Believe it!” Ethne’s fierce scowl was convincing. “I dinna wish to go with ye. And ye’ll not have the silver, so just leave us.” She jerked her finger toward the entrance. “Now, before the others get back and ye take the punishment for somethingIdid.”
Confused now, Olaf frowned. “What is this? What are ye saying?”
She turned to him. “I’ve stolen their silver, but they’ll believe these three did it. They trustme,so they’ll never think I did it. If ye take me away like ye promised, they’ll believe I went off with them. All the better.”
Olaf had promised to protect her, take her away from all this. Lachlann’s panic was rising. Could she actually want him to just leave her here with them? Surely, she knew him better than that.
“The plan works for me, little one.” Olaf kissed her, a passionate kiss that ripped Lachlan’s heart right out of his chest.
“Ye lie!” Talorc moved in closer to confront her. “Domelch believes Lachlann murdered Uradech.”
She shrugged, wiping the back of her hand over her lips. Wiping off Olaf’s kiss? Lachlann narrowed his eyes at her.
“And when they find the silver gone,” she said, “that will be on his head as well.”
Olaf punched the unsuspecting man in the face. Talorc staggered back, his hand desperately trying to staunch the flow of blood from his nose. “What was that for?”
