Before she could blink, guards rushed into the room, grabbing her by the arms, pinning them to her sides.
Vivien faced down her husband, shuddering in fear as she stared into his eyes – eyes filled with cold, calculated hatred.
“You made a fatal error tonight, Vivien,” Reginald said, his voice trembling. Whether it was with rage or fear, Vivien did not know.
“Take her to the dungeon.” He nodded to the guards, turning on his heel without a backward glance. “I think it is time I visit Laird MacBride myself,” Vivien heard him say as he walked away.
Her heart plummeted into her stomach as the guards dragged her away.
* * *
“Helen?” Kieran asked the maid again, his brow furrowed in concern.
The young girl had shown up at his castle gates, panicked and desperate to see him. His guards had wasted no time in rushing to find Kieran – Helen was distraught by the time he reached her.
Kieran shook her slightly by the shoulders; tears were streaming down her face as she gulped for air, her body shaking beneath his hands.
“Helen?” he asked for the third time, trying his best to maintain his composure and not shake her so hard that her skull would rattle in her brain. He needed to know what she was doing there; Helen had never arrived in that state before; panic and fear gnawed at Kieran’s bones, acid rising up his throat, threatening to drown him in it. “What happened?”
Helen took a couple of deep breaths, pushing her copper-colored hair out of her face, before finally replying.
“It’s my Lady Vivien, Laird Kieran,” her voice trembled as she struggled to talk past her fear, “Lord Stone has had her thrown intae the dungeons.” The tears began to stream down her face as she tried to meet Kieran’s eyes.
His heart picked up its pace, the sound of his heartbeats drowning out everything around him. Kieran felt faint as his vision darkened and blurred before him. He struggled to breathe, to hold onto his sanity, as his knees began to shake.
Kieran shook his head, trying to clear away the feeling of drowning in his own horrendous panic.
“Do ye ken why?” he asked past the lump in his throat; his mouth was as dry as a desert.
Helen nodded emphatically, seeming to have calmed down somewhat at last.
“The Lord had her followed. He found out abou’ yer…” she paused, her eyes drifting to the floor, unable to meet Kieran’s petrified gaze. “Relations,” she finally whispered.
“What?” Kieran’s world began to spin around him; that vile man had his own wife followed? There was no level he would not stoop to, Kieran thought bitterly.
Vivien was in danger due to his own actions. If he had only been able to control himself, none of this would have happened.
“He realized I was passing ye messages, as well. I managed tae escape, by the hair on my chin,” Helen sniffed, wiping her nose on her sleeve.
Kieran closed his eyes for a brief second, praying for the safe return of Vivien.
“Dae ye ken if she is alive?” he asked, inhaling deeply, trying to steady himself for the worst possible answer.
Helen nodded, “Aye, she is. I have a friend who works in the dungeons – he told me she is safe an’ well, for now.”
“That’s something, at least,” Kieran sighed heavily.
“Please, Laird, ye must save her an’ Bailey. I am afraid of what Lord Stone will dae tae them,” she said quietly, beginning to shake harder than she already had been, Kieran observed.
He would not sit by idly and do nothing to rescue Vivien from the clutches of Lord Stone. There was no knowing what that man would do to her if she was left at his mercy.
“I willnae leave her in his hands, I promise ye that, Helen.”
“It is not just that, Laird.” Helen finally met his gaze, her lower lip trembling. “It isnae that easy. Lord Stone will be ‘visiting’ ye later today. I believe he will be attacking yer castle. I dinnae ken how ye will rescue the Lady Vivien while yer castle is being attacked – while our clan is under siege.” Helen sobbed again, the tears still flowing freely down her face.
Kieran’s heart plummeted into his stomach; he was torn in two.
He could not leave Vivien in that dungeon, but he could not leave his people without their laird, either. He had to be there to lead them if Stone did indeed attack – there was no way he could shirk that responsibility.
