“He has sent word quickly. It means he is ready to end this too,” Killian commented as he tore it open. He was ready to fight Laird McLennan, no matter what it took.
His journey back to MacColl Keep had taken longer than it should have because he had taken a different route so he could not be followed. Yet, Laird McLennan’s men had still caught on.
He is dangerous. And he wants me dead.
Killian read Laird McLennan’s words quickly, then crumpled the letter in his right hand and tossed it aside. “Laird McLennan wants the lady back. He has asked us to meet at the valley between our clan and Dune in four days.”
“What will ye do, m’laird? Will ye go out to meet him?”
“There is only one thin’ left to do. We shall ride out to meet with him. I will inform the lady of this plan. Soon, we’ll end this.”
Fletcher bowed one more time before he left Killian with his thoughts.
The rest of the night, Killian plotted and schemed. He would return Lily once he heard Laird McLennan admit what he had done.
By the morning Killian was to meet with Laird McLennan, all of his nerves were twisted up into tight knots that would not relax. Lily was in her bedchamber, sitting still on her bed, when he opened the door and walked in.
She had an entire meal set out in front of her, untouched, and her eyes remained intent on his even as he closed the door and walked towards her bed.
“Ye didnae eat yer breakfast,” Killian remarked. “Are ye nae hungry?”
“I would rather starve,” Lily tossed at him, eyeing him till he felt the burn of her gaze.
“Dinnae be stubborn, lass.”
“Why not? You are going to kill me, anyway, so why feed me first? If I am going to die by your hands, then let me die now.”
Sighing, he strode over to her, took her arm, and lifted her off the bed. “Ye seem to have a death wish. But I have nay intentions of killin’ ye. If ye willnae eat, then ye shall journey hungry. I dinnae care either way.”
He began pulling her towards the door, but she struggled against him, not willing to go without a fight. “Where are you taking me? What will you do with me? Laird McLennan will not let you live if you hurt me.”
Killian ignored her protests. He threw her over his shoulder and carried her out of the keep. After tying her to his saddle sometime later, he set out with Fletcher and many other guards because he knew Laird McLennan would not ride alone for this exchange.
It can also be an ambush.Why would he come for a mere servant?
It was a long ride to Dune, and by the time they arrived, the valley was empty. The pitiless afternoon sun was scorching, and Killian could not see a single soul in the distance.
Lily was still tied to his saddle. He dismounted, walked around to untie her, and then steadied her on her feet.
“Why are we here? What are you going to do to me?” Her eyes were wild with worry, her cheeks and face paler than usual.
Killian wondered if she was truly scared or if this was another one of her plots to get him to pity her.
“I am going to exchange ye for yer laird,” he told her with a wry smile. “He sent word to me last night. It turns out he isnae as callous as I thought, and he does care about ye.”
Killian eyed her briefly as he said the words, then his eyes settled on hers again as she asked in a chilly tone, “Are you going to kill him?”
“That depends,” Killian answered as he heard the first neigh of horses approaching in the distance. His right hand instinctively moved to his sword, and he drew it out. “That depends on what happens when he arrives.”
“I will not let you. Laird McLennan is a good man, and whatever reason that you are doing this, you need to stop.”
The sound of gallops drew closer, and Killian was about to speak when he heard the first war cry. An arrow flew out of nowhere in their direction. It was aimed at him, and Fletcher threw his body in the way to protect him.
Lily screamed, and Killian dropped to his knees to check on Fletcher. “Are ye all right?” he asked in a shaky voice.
“It is an ambush,” Fletcher managed before he coughed up blood. “Go… Fight.”
There was no time to argue with him. Killian threw himself into battle with the rest of his men to fight off the soldiers Laird McLennan sent to kill him.
