Ragnall’s men surged forward with roars of fury. Murdock’s warriors met them with equal violence, swords clashing. The peaceful courtyard transformed into a battlefield in the space of a heartbeat.
Murdock moved in front of Leona, his body a shield between her and the violence.
“Go back to the keep!” he shouted over the clash of steel. “Now!”
But Leona stood frozen, her eyes locked on him. On the way he moved, fluid, deadly, every strike precise and controlled.
This was the weapon his father had honed. But it was also the protector he’d chosen to become. The difference was everything.
She saw him cut down one of Ragnall’s men, then another, his sword a blur of silver in the sunlight. Saw Killian and Neil fighting at his flanks, protecting his back. Saw Hamish rallying the Ainsley warriors, turning the tide of the battle.
And she saw Ragnall, clutching his bleeding stump, being dragged back by his remaining men. He was screaming words she couldn’t make out over the clash of steel, but his eyes found hers across the chaos.
The hatred in them was absolute. Pure.
This wasn’t over. It would never be over as long as he lived.
27
“Leona!” Ailis appeared at her elbow, grabbing her arm. “Come on, we need to go inside!”
But Leona couldn’t move. Couldn’t tear her eyes away from Murdock as he moved through the battle like death incarnate.
He was magnificent.
Andterrifying.
Every strike was precise, controlled, and utterly lethal. He didn’t waste movement, didn’t hesitate, and didn’t show mercy.
A Kerr warrior came at him from the left, sword raised high. Murdock dodged the clumsy swing with ease, his own blade flashing out to open the man’s throat. The warrior dropped without a sound.
Another attacked from behind. Murdock spun, parrying the blow with a swing, then drove his knee into the man’s stomach. As the warrior doubled over, Murdock brought the pommel of his sword down on the back of his skull. The man crumpled.
“Dear God,” Kristen breathed beside Leona. “I’ve never seen him fight like this.”
“He’s protectin' what’s his,” Ailis said quietly, her eyes on her brother.
To Murdock’s right, Killian fought with equal fury.
Leona had heard stories about Ailis’s husband, about his skill with a blade, but witnessing it was something else entirely. He moved like water, flowing around attacks, his sword an extension of his arm. Two Kerr warriors fell to his blade in quick succession.
On Murdock’s left, Neil proved equally deadly. Kristen’s husband was broader than Killian, more powerful in his strikes. Where Killian was fluid grace, Neil was controlled brutality. He used his shield as a weapon, bashing one man in the face before running another through.
But none of them were like Murdock.
The three of them fought as a unit, protecting each other’s backs, communicating with looks and small gestures.
“Ma!” The child’s scream cut through the chaos.
Leona’s head snapped toward the sound, her heart stopping.
Skye.
The little girl had been trying to run toward the keep when one of the Kerr warriors grabbed her, using her as a shield as Hamish advanced on him.
“Let her go,” Hamish said, his voice deadly quiet. His sword was raised, ready, but he couldn’t strike without risking her.
“Back away,” the warrior snarled, pressing his dirk to Skye’s throat. “Back away or I’ll?—”
