“Enough!” Neacal growled, all pretense of patience leaving his face. “Take him!”
The guards moved forward, and Malcolm lunged at one, Edna’s heart in her throat as she watched the other take him over easily, allowing him to be disarmed.
“Let him go!” she cried out as Malcolm fought with the guards. “He has done nothing wrong!”
Rushing forward, she tugged on one of the guards’ arms, and he swept back, causing Edna to stumble against the table.
“Enough!” her father roared, coming to her aid. Malcolm attempted to do so at the same time, and Edna cried out as Neacal hit Malcolm hard in the face, causing the warrior to stumble back into the arms of his captors.
“Malcolm!” Edna gasped as Malcolm’s murderous gaze turned to Neacal.
“I would like tae see ye do that when I’m not being held,” Malcolm growled at the laird.
The laird sneered at him. “Take him tae the dungeons!” he bit out. “Where he belongs.”
“Wait a minute.” Kaiden stepped in, his expression thunderous. “This isnae yer keep, nor is it yer clan. According tae clan law, ye cannae order a clan member that isnae yers intae mah dungeon.”
Edna held her breath as Neacal took a step toward the elder laird. “He’s not yer clan either.”
“Nay, he isnae,” her father spoke up. “Which means only Laird McPearson can order him tae be taken tae the dungeons.”
Neacal glanced between the laird and the McGregor second-in-command before he stepped back. While the two Scots were older than he was, they were still formidable.
“Fine!” he bit out. “But this Scot has wronged me and mah intended, and I demand that he be kept away from her. After all, we are wedding in two days. She needs a clear mind.”
Edna gritted her teeth, attempting to remind herself why she was wedding the laird in the first place. Her heart was with Malcolm and always would be, but it was not meant for them to have a future together.
“She doesnae have tae wed ye,” Malcolm bit out, glaring at Neacal.
“Nay, Malcolm,” Edna said immediately, knowing what he was going to say. “Dinnae.”
“I killed yer brother,” he continued, ignoring her. “Ikilled Declan.”
“He is only attempting tae save her,” Neacal muttered as the rest of the room was focused on Malcolm’s admission. “I will still wed Edna.”
“Ye dinnae have tae now,” Malcolm told him, much to Edna’s dismay. “Ye can hang me now, but there is nary a reason tae wed Edna.”
Edna couldn’t breathe. Malcolm had indeed killed Declan, but she couldn’t have him be hanged because of it.
“He did it tae protect me,” she blurted out, coming to stand near Malcolm...well, as close as she could, given the guards. “Declan was trying tae kill me.”
“Nonsense,” Neacal scoffed. “Why would I have mah brother kill the lass I have asked for her hand?”
“Because ye knew I would never take it,” she fired back, not afraid of the laird. Edna was tired of being afraid of him, afraid of fighting for what she wanted. “Just like now. The only reason ye want tae hang Malcolm is so that I will fight for him and wed ye instead.”
There was truth in her words, and everyone in the room knew it.
“Ye have already agreed tae be mah wife,” Neacal bit out, his eyes flashing. “I will go tae battle if ye dinnae honor that vow.”
“There will be no battle,” her father growled. “Malcolm will be locked in his chamber until his laird arrives. Edna will not wed anyone until this is sorted out.”
“This isnae fair!” Neacal shouted, but Edna noted that no one was truly paying attention to the laird.
“I will ensure his safety tae his chamber,” Edna called out, not moving from Malcolm’s side.
“As will I,” Laird McGregor replied, eyeing the younger laird with some distaste. “No one will be harmed under mah roof.”
“Ye will regret this,” Neacal replied tightly. “This wilnae end as ye wish for it tae.”
