A hawk circled high above her. Nearby, bees happily buzzed from flower to flower. It could be any normal day. She closed her eyes and pretended she was back at Dunvegan Castle and just out for a walk. Calm settled over her when she thought about her home. She needed to draw strength to face the challenges ahead and if her home could provide that for her, she would keep those happy thoughtsclose.
She inhaled deeply a couple of times and opened her eyes. The hawk still circled, and the bees still buzzed, but Sheona saw them differently. They hadn’t changed—she had though. She stood up and walked back to the secretdoor.
Just as she was about to reach for it, she heard shouting. When she turned around several men ran toward her. Fear coiled inside her heart. She made to dash to the side away from them, but more MacDonalds emerged from around the side of the castle. She had nowhere to go so she stopped and waited for them to reachher.
“You are in a heap of trouble, Lady MacDonald.” A scraggly, fiery-haired MacDonald eyed her with asmirk.
“She is not to be harmed, Hamish,” anothersaid.
Before, about twenty men encircled her. Sheona fought for control of her wits, keeping her eyes downcast as they bound herhands.
“We will not harm you, Lady MacDonald. Malcolm would not likeit.”
Sheona looked up to see Connor as the one binding her. He smiled. “You were with him when he tookme.”
“Aye, I was. And you’ve no need to worry. None of us will let anything happen to you. We’ve been sent by our laird to find you and that we have done. But we will protect you for Malcolm’s sake regardless of what the lairdsays.”
She pointed to Hamish. “What abouthim?”
Connor frowned. “Hamish will do what he istold.”
The man flushed crimson. “Aye, my lady. I am sorry if I frightenedyou.”
She heaved a sigh of relief. Clearly, while there would be many loyal to the chief, there were others like these men who were loyal to Malcolm. She was grateful that these were the men who had foundher.
“Where isMalcolm?”
“He was just brought before his father in the greathall.”
“He is not in thedungeon?”
“No, he has been released. However, I do not think the chief will let him off the leash very much. Malcolm challenged the laird and he did not take itwell.”
“So what are you going to do withme?”
“We are to bring you to the great hall as well. I assure you, with Malcolm there, you will beunharmed.”
Sheona nodded and followed Connor around the side of the castle. She remained in the centre of the men until they reached the hall. Her legs were shaky as she entered and she only realized she’d been holding her breath when she saw Malcolm and released it in a heavysigh.
His gaze flicked over her and what she saw in them did not give her comfort. His brows were drawn tight and he frowned. He was angry withher.
She lifted her chin and approached Malcolm and his father. Both looked like they wanted to wring herneck.
“Where were you?” Malcolmasked.
“I was outside walking.” It was the truth. That she omitted how she got there was not thepoint.
“Why did no one see you leave the castle?” the MacDonaldasked.
She turned to the laird. His face was flushed and he sneered at her with such a look of disgust, she wasn’t quite sure she could find hervoice.
“Speak up!” hesaid.
That made her angry. “There is no need to yell at me, my lord. I have a voice and can answer yourquestion.”
“You don’t have to answer any questions, Sheona.” Malcolm was still displeased for some reason, but at least he was on her side. “As lady here, you are permitted to walk the grounds if you see fit. My father was merely concerned for your safety. Isn’t that right,Father?”
“You have challenged me once too often this day, Malcolm. And I see some time in the cells below did not break you from your disrespectful ways.” He motioned for his men. “Take my son and return him to the dungeon. Then take his wife to her chamber and keep her locked in there until I see fit to let herout.”
The laird approached her and lifted a lock of her hair to his nose. “I will visit you later, Lady MacDonald.” His voice was so low she wasn’t quite sure she even heardcorrectly.
“You will not touch her!” Malcolm struggled against the men who heldhim.
His father laughed. “Take them both out of mysight.”
Sheona leaned against the wall when she was inside her chamber; the door was bolted from the outside. She was no further ahead than she’d been before. Except now she had the added threat of the laird’s visit. Thank heavens and the White Lady for the secretpassage.
