“We’ll see about that.”The man was at the edge of the clearing now, his companions backing up with him. “Remember, follow us, and the lass dies. Stay here like a good laird, and maybe—maybe—we’ll let ye see her again. After ye’ve paid what we’re askin’, of course.”
“How much?”Elijah demanded. He had to keep them talking. Keep them distracted while Harris took the children away.
“Oh,we’ll discuss terms once we’re somewhere safe. Somewhere ye cannae just attack us.” The man grinned, his teeth yellow in the moonlight. “Come on, lads. Let’s go.”
They disappeared into the trees,Piper’s muffled cries fading into the darkness.
Connor was crying now,clutching at Elijah’s shirt. “Da, please! We have to help her! We have to save her.”
“We will help her,”Elijah said, gently but firmly prying Connor’s hands away. “But first, ye need to be safe. Both of ye. Harris?—”
“Aye, me laird.”Harris moved forward, trying to take Connor’s hand.
“Nay!”Connor pulled away. “I’m nae leavin’! Miss Armstrong needs us!”
“And Miss Armstrongwould want ye safe,” Elijah said, kneeling down to meet Connor’s eyes. “She’d want ye both back at the castle, behind walls, where nothin’ can hurt ye. Can ye do that for her? Can ye be brave and go with Harris?”
“But—”Connor’s face crumpled.
“I’ll bring her back,”Elijah promised. “I swear it on me life, lad. I’ll bring her back.”
“Ye promise?”Connor’s voice was tiny.
“I promise.”
Masie stepped forward then,her face pale but composed. “Come on, Connor. Let’s go. Da needs to do what he does best.”
“What’s that?”Connor hiccupped.
“Protect people.”Masie’s eyes met Elijah’s, and there was something in them—trust, maybe. Or hope. “Right, Da?”
“Right,”Elijah said, his throat tight. “Now go. Please.”
Harris finally gotboth children moving, leading them back toward the castle. Connor kept looking back, his face streaked with tears, but he went.
The momentthey were out of sight, Elijah turned to Declan.
“We track them.We get Piper back.” His voice was pure steel. “And we make sure they regret ever touchin’ what’s mine.”
“Aye.”Declan’s hand went to his sword. “What’s the plan?”
“We follow.Stay quiet. See where they’re takin’ her and who they’re workin’ with. Because this wasnae random.” Elijah was already moving toward the trees, scanning for signs. “This was planned. Someone kent we’d be here tonight.”
“Ye think—”
“I thinkher parents are involved. Has to be. Who else would ken to target her specifically?” Elijah found a broken branch, a scuff mark in the dirt. “There. They went this way.”
They movedthrough the forest like ghosts, using every skill they’d learned from years of hunting and warfare. The trail was clear, too clear, really. The kidnappers were moving fast, careless in their haste.
“They’re confident,”Declan murmured. “Think they’ve already won.”
“They’re wrong,”Elijah said flatly.
The trail led deeperinto the woods, away from the castle and the village. Smart, they were putting distance between themselves and help. But they were also making noise, leaving signs that anyone with even the most basic tracking skills could follow.
After about fifteen minutes,Elijah heard voices ahead. He motioned for Declan to stop, to stay silent, and crept forward until he could see into a small clearing.
Piper was there,still held by the same man. But now two other people had joined them, and Elijah’s suspicions were confirmed.
