He had no idea what she wanted, and he could not recall anything his father said, but what he did remember was that he ran through the door and told his father to stay away from his mother.
His father punched him in the face, his mother cried out, “Nay, Edward!”, and the next memory he had was riding in a cart. He woke up under a large blanket, the wheels of the cart hitting rocks and stones, bouncing him up and down. He peeked out from beneath the blanket to see where he was going. Hamish was riding the horse that pulled the cart, and he could see the moon overhead, the stars twinkling in the dead of night. When the cart finally stopped, he sat up and uncovered himself, only realizing his eye was swollen after he tried to brush the sleep from them. Poking his face in other spots, he realized his father’s fist had bruised him this time.
This time. Loki put his face in his hands trying to grapple with his thoughts. Had his father beaten him frequently at a young age? Never had Brodie Grant once raised a hand to him, and his uncles had never beaten their bairns either.
Loki forced himself to recall the details from the rest of the dream.
Hamish had pulled the horse into a clearing in the woods. After dismounting, he stalked to the back of the cart, grabbed Loki by the neck, and hoisted him out of the cart.
“Finally, I’ll do what I’ve always wanted to do with you, you wee wise arse.”
Loki didn’t say a word, but just stared at this man he hated.
“Your sire has finally had enough of your wise remarks and told me to do as I please with you.” He grinned at him. “You opened your mouth a few too many times, and you think you’re smarter that everyone else, do you not?”
Loki couldn’t help himself. He knew he shouldn’t say aught, but for some reason, he wanted the last word with this cruel man.
“‘Tis not hard being smarter than you, you piece of shite.”
It felt good to curse this man—so good that he smiled. He saw a familiar look in Hamish’s eyes—the blind fury that usually preceded his fist. The big man lifted Loki out of the cart and pummeled him, throwing him a good distance through the air. When he landed, Hamish stalked to his side, leaned over him, and whispered, “Your sire never wants to see you again, so I thought I’d enjoy taking your last breath, lad, but instead I’d rather have the animals feed on you.”
Then he strode away and left him there to die.
Aye, this dream was real—he knew it without a doubt. Tears streamed down his face. The memories were brutal, but it explained why Hamish and the earl had treated him so horribly. They’d always hated him, apparently threatened by the acuity of his mind. His own father had sent him off with a brute, and the brute had left him to die. For some unknown reason, his mind had protected itself from the painful memory for years.
After he brushed the tears from his face, he did the only thing he could do. He raced to the keep and made his way to his parents’ chamber. He sneaked inside, not wanting to wake his brother and sisters, for he had to see his Bella.
Chapter Twenty
Loki goes back for Kenzie and invites him to join Clan Grant.
Moving back through Doongait and on to Woodgait, Loki slowed his horse. Brodie gave him a look of curiosity, which was not a surprise—Loki had not told him aught about Kenzie. As soon as he neared the inn, he shouted, “Kenzie!”
The young lad shot out from behind the building, his eyes alight with excitement. “You came back for me?”
A surprised look filled Brodie’s face, followed by a small grin as he took in the young lad in front of him. Loki wondered if his sire remembered this spot.
Loki replied, “I did come back for you. Kenzie, this is my sire, Brodie Grant.”
Brodie gave each of them a weighing look. “Seems I’ve seen someone like this before,” he finally said.
Kenzie jumped up and down. “Aye, I live where Lucky Loki lived, so someday I’ll be lucky, too.”
Brodie returned his gaze to his son, curious to see what would happen next.
“Kenzie, have you seen the wee lass you found before?”
“Bella? Aye, Blackett’s men have her at the castle,” he said with a scowl. “I tried to tell the sheriff, but he would not listen to me. She could be hurt. I don’t like the earl. He and his men are mean. And I can help you find her. I sneaked behind them one day, so I saw where the secret tunnel to the castle is hidden.”
Loki’s mouth curved, for this was just the discovery he’d been hoping to make. “How do you know she’s there?”
“Because Blackett’s second came through to hire a bunch of men to guard his castle. He also hired the best archer in England to kill someone. Never said who, but they say he’s the best.” His nose scrunched up. “I heard Ramsay’s wife is the best of the Scots.”
“You heard right, now continue. What else did you hear about Blackett?”
“The second said Blackett would be attacked soon and he needed help. He promised a lot of coin, so some Lowlanders went with him. But some that left came back. I overheard them talking. They said Blackett was holding someone’s wife at his keep, and he would bring all the Highlands down on them. ‘Tis why they left. They did not wish to fight the savage Highlanders from way up north. Are you a savage? You do not look like a savage.” He peered at them with such a serious expression it almost made Loki choke.
Holding a hand down to the laddie, Loki said, “Do you wish to travel with me? I’m not riding in to an easy situation, but I could use your help. We are always looking for someone who can uncover information for us without raising suspicion.” He wouldn’t discuss it with his sire now, but Kenzie was going home with him to Grant land. He could live with him and Bella, or wherever he wished to live. They’d make it work somehow. He couldn’t desert the lad again, not when the cold winter was about to bear down on him.
