Elsy shivered, her gaze dropping to her lap. “Why?” she whispered. “Why were ye so cruel to me? What did I ever do to ye?” She ground her teeth, her anger rising and making it difficult for her to remain calm. “I tended to yer wounds,” she said, louder than intended. “I married ye. I was as good a wife as I could be and yet ye treated me like I was naething more than dirt on yer boot.”
“Aye, tis because ye were, Elisabeth.”
Elsy bristled. This man had never cared for her. She didn’t think he had ever cared for anyone other than himself. “Then let me go,” she hissed, her hands moving behind her, continuing to loosen her bonds. “If I am naething more than dirt to ye, then let me go.”
Alan sighed, his head tilting to one side as he regarded her. “Unfortunately for ye, that is not possible.”
“And why is that? I have done naething. I know naething.”
Alan chuckled. “Ye know enough, Elisabeth.” He shook his head. “Really a shame, I am afraid. Ye were caught in the middle of something ye know naething about.” His head tilted. “I could let ye go, but I found this more amusing.”
Elsy jerked in her confines, trying to rip the rope free. She choked on a gasp as the bindings ripped into her skin. “Let me go, Alan!”
“If ye truly want to know why I married ye, tis because I knew the one ye truly loved.”
Elsy shook her head, her lips parting as she stared at Alan in confusion.
“The one ye mourned secretly when ye thought I didn’t know.” Alan stuck out his bottom lip mockingly. “Poor Elisabeth Tandie, all on her own after the death of her father and lover. Within days of each other. How dreadful.” He paced back and forth, his hands slipping behind him. “It was amusing to me to see how ye mourned him given I was the one who killed him. Even more amusing to know Connell would be rolling in his grave upon knowing the truth. Some nights I took pleasure in it, imagining him screaming in pain at knowing your treachery.”
Elsy bit her tongue to keep herself from shouting, not wanting Alan to gain any more amusement from her pain, but she could not stop the tears from falling as Alan cackled cruelly. “At least, so I thought. I truly did not know he lived. Last I saw of him, he was bleeding out on the battle grounds of Falkirk. I thought him dead. Unfortunately, I was wrong.” Alan shook his head. “Foolish of me not to plunge my blade into his heart, for he created a mess of things for me.” He stopped his pacing, his eyes narrowing on Elsy. “He informed Robert the Bruce of my dealings with the English.” His eye twitched. “If I hadn’t planned my death accordingly, the people would have eventually turned on me and I would have my pretty little neck slit for my crimes within the year. I still have yet to thank ye, Glenton,” Alan said while patting Glenton’s shoulder, “for aiding me in my escape. Tis always best to stay at least two steps ahead of yer enemies, Elisabeth. However, it’s been difficult finding a way to exact revenge on Connell. One that would utterly break him.”
Elsy closed her eyes, trying to block the images of Alan slitting Connell’s throat. “Let me go,” she whispered. “Let Scotty and I both go. We are naething to ye.”
“Oh, sweet lass,” said Alan. Elsy’s eyes opened as she heard movement and she bit back a gasp as she saw Alan crouching in front of her, his face close to hers. He stroked her cheeks before moving to caress her hair away, his touch gentle, but making Elsy’s stomach lurch. She wanted to retch despite having nothing in her. “Tis a good thing ye have been captured. For now, Connell will live.” He lifted her face so she was staring at him. “First,” he whispered ever so softly. “I will give ye to Glenton.” Elsy stilled, her hands shaking as she glanced at Glenton edging toward her. “He deserves to be paid handsomely. Ye understand, don’t ye, Elisabeth?” She shivered as Alan’s fingers ran through her hair. “And then when he’s had enough of ye, he’ll slit yer throat, and leave ye somewhere in the wood for Connell to find.” Elsy turned toward Alan, her gaze hardening as she ground her teeth. “Only then will I feel satisfied, knowing I have truly broken that man, and taken my revenge for him souring my name to the highland people.”
Elsy spat in his face. Alan stared at her, his hand rising. She flinched, preparing herself for the blow, but instead, he took out a handkerchief from his cloak and wiped his face. He sighed as he slowly stood, tossing the cloth at Elsy’s face. “As much as I enjoy our time together, tis time to part ways.”
“Where is Scotty?” Elsy shouted before Alan could leave.
Alan stilled, his eyes growing wide, wild even as he tilted his head and stroked his chin. His fingertips brushed against his bottom lip. “Ah, the little lass ye mean,” Alan chuckled cruelly. The moon filtered into the window, casting a demonic glow upon Alan’s features. “I confess, she was not meant to be taken, however…” Alan bit his bottom lip, and Elsy gasped at the desire in his gaze, “I will enjoy her company plenty.”
“Ye leave her alone!” Elsy shouted as she quickly stood. Glenton grabbed her shoulders and shoved her back into the chair forcefully. Elsy struggled against him, but he was too strong, and her hands were still bound. “Alan!” she shouted. “Leave Scotty alone! She’s just a little lass. Please, don’t hurt her.”
“Oh, Elisabeth, I would never harm a little lass as bonnie as she,” Alan breathed, his fingers sliding away from his lips. “I will see that she is well taken care of.” He flashed a cruel smile and Elsy stilled, realization dawning on her.
Horror filled her as she stared at Alan, at the desire in his gaze as he spoke of Scotty as if she were a woman and not a child. There was a reason why Alan had never touched her, why they had never become husband and wife. Elsy doubled over, the horror of it making her stomach wrench. Spittle fell from her lips as she gagged and twisted, disgusted by Alan and the look in his eyes.
“Aye, ye understand now, Elisabeth,” Alan laughed. “I can’t recall when this obsession began, but I knew many would suspect me if I didn’t have a wife at my side. Ye wouldn’t believe how many looked the other way, believing in my little facade as soon as I returned with ye to McCormick Castle.” Alan tossed back his head while laughing cruelly, his hand running through his hair. “How amusing it was indeed.”
“How could ye?” Elsy whispered.
She heard Alan stalking toward the door. “Tis not I ye should be angry with, Elisabeth. I didn’t take the wee lasses from their homes.”
Elsy glanced over her shoulder, catching Alan’s nod toward Glenton as he said, “Twas Logan and Glenton who aided me, sneaking the lasses inside for me to have my way with. Perhaps if ye were only younger, I would have found ye bonnie like the others.”
Elsy gagged, but there was nothing left in her. “Yer a monster,” she whispered.
“Aye, perhaps I am,” said Alan as he opened the door. He didn’t look at her as he added, “But ye will be dead within the next hour and nae one will know of my repulsive nature.”
The door closed and Elsy gasped, her head lowering to her lap. She heard Glenton stepping around her, and her body shook, as she tried to ready herself for his assault. She needed to get out of this room. Her teeth clenched as she thought of her escape. She could use the chair, kick it at Glenton, but it was difficult to move with her hands tied behind her back. She would need to act fast.
“Now, now, now,” Glenton said in a sing-song tone. “What should I do with ye.”
Elsy didn’t answer. Her head lifted and she peeked up at Glenton, shuddering when she found him licking his lips.
“Now that I have ye all to myself.”
He grabbed her hair and jerked her head back. Elsy bit back a cry as he crouched in front of her. His fingers stroked up and down her neck. He leaned in close, breathing her in deeply. She bit back a gag as nausea filled her at the smell of sweat and dung clinging to his frame.
