“I am of no use to you,” Lily continued, a slight desperation setting in now.
If he took her, she might never be able to find her way back. She did not know how far his clan was or who he even was. And, what if her family could not get any useful information from the man she had left for them to arrest?
“You have the wrong woman.”
“I dinnae care. One more word out of yer mouth, and I shall gag ye again.”
“This will not end well for you. It will not end with you alive. I will stand over your dead body, trust me,” Lily threatened, ignoring his earlier warning. He dismounted again, walked around the horse, and stuffed her mouth with a cloth, shutting her up.
Lily kept on grumbling as the horse galloped through the forest. Her body hurt from all her fighting and falling. Her once-wet clothes had dried up on her body, and the chill from the water had seeped into her bones. She was freezing.
She didn’t know how long they rode for, but soon, the sun set, and the horse slowed its pace. Lily was still lying astride the horse when her captor finally got down, took off the gag from her mouth, then bent to look at her.
“Ye’re much more enjoyable when ye’re not speakin’.”
“Then gag me again, because I will scream.”
When she saw his annoyed but stern look, she pressed her lips together and kept quiet.
It is time to play safe.
Perhaps if she got on his good side, he would not hurt her until they arrived at his castle and she found out who he was.
He untied her from the horse, and as she found balance on her feet again, she realized they were in a small village inn.
“I am a servant. What would you want from me? I can offer you nothing.”
“On the contrary, since ye willnae keep shut, I can think of a few things ye can offer me.”
The wicked gleam that sparkled in his eyes as he said the words sent a terrifying shiver right through her. She shuddered at the thought of what it meant.
What if he hurts me? What if he…
Bile rose in her throat as images of him having his way with her clouded her thoughts. The scandalous thought made her shiver, and a tightening sensation rushed through every muscle in her body.
“No!” she yelled as he took her arm and began dragging her towards the inn.
“No! Please, just let me go. What will you do with me?”
“Now ye plead for mercy?” He laughed. “Trust me, I ken what to do with ye for the night,” he hinted again as he dragged her into the inn, closed the door behind them, greeted the woman sitting alone at a table, then tossed her some silver coins that she caught with ease. “A chamber for the night, Madam.”
“As ye please, m’laird,” the woman answered as she eyed Lily with a knowing smile and walked out of where they stood.
Back in McLennan Castle, Duncan held his wife’s hand after she rushed into his arms. He had just returned home from his ride out to the villages with his sister Yvaine and his friend Arran.
“Duncan!” Amelia cried as soon as he hugged her tight. His heart ached instantly from hearing the distress in her voice.
“What is it? What has happened?”
A few of his guards approached as he pulled away from her and began wiping her cheeks with both hands. “Where are the bairns?”
“They are safe,” Amelia hiccupped as fresh tears welled up in her eyes.
“M’laird,” one of his guards greeted as Arran and Yvaine stood completely still at his side. Both of them wore the same confused expression eating up Duncan’s face.
“Someone tell me what has happened right this instant!”
“The castle was attacked. Two of our guards were killed, and…”
