“I’m here only to prevent more deaths,” Caitrin snapped.
She spoke bravely, Jamie thought, as her gaze fell on Malcolm’s body, though he could wish for less bravery and more sense from her. She was the prize MacGregor wanted. She should not have come out, but rather found the cousin’s exit and used it.
“Alasdair, how could ye?”
“’Tis my right as laird, to enforce my wishes. Ye’d best learn that here and now, milady.”
“To what purpose? I’ve told ye I willna marry ye.”
“Ye will do as ye are told. Ye’re coming back to MacGregor with me. Uilleam, too. I think his presence will be enough to keep ye biddable. These Lathans can tuck tail and run home. They’ve no’ been harmed, and they’ve naught to say about what goes on between MacGregor and Fletcher.”
“Will and I will go with them.”
The crack of MacGregor’s palm against Caitrin’s face startled a crow from a nearby tree. Cawing its distress, it headed skyward. Caitrin could do no such thing. But she stood up to MacGregor, glaring at him as her cheek reddened with the mark of his assault and the light of the sunrise.
Jamie wanted to feel pride in her defiance, but fear for her overrode every other emotion.
“Ye will do as ye are told.”
“Or ye’ll hit me again?”
MacGregor did just that, backhanding her and knocking her to her knees. Jamie and the other prisoners reacted as one, stepping forward, but a gesture from MacGregor had his men pulling them back against the swords they brandished.
Jamie swore. Since his sister’s mutilated body had been found, he had suppressed a bone-deep fury. He’d buried it so far beneath a facade of reason and amiability no one suspected such rage could be a part of him.
After all these years, he feared it was unreachable.
He needed it now.
Chapter Twenty
Caitrin had hoped the battle sounds she heard meant Jamie was winning. But MacGregor’s voice at the door had proved her wrong. Jamie and the others must be dead.Jamie.Dear God, how could she go on without him? She’d collapsed against the door, fighting not to scream her anguish and let MacGregor hear her. She’d choked on silent sobs and fought for breath. Nay, she could not let MacGregor have her. Jamie had told her to get away. It was his greatest wish, for her to be safe. He’d died to protect her. She would not give in. She’d forced herself to her feet and headed for the loft to find Rabbie’s secret way out.
Then MacGregor had threatened to kill them. Naming the men, one by one. They lived? Jamie, too? Her heart soared for a moment, but they were still in danger. MacGregor’s captives, subject to his whims, unless they could fight free again.
She’d held out hope until she’d heard the gasps that signaled Malcolm’s death. Dear Malcolm, who’d tried to save her. Tears filled her eyes. Then MacGregor had named the order in which he would kill the others, and she knew she could not let him do what he threatened. So she’d opened the door to the hell that awaited her. Her future. With MacGregor.
Caitrin stayed on her knees, trying to catch her breath against the throbbing ache in her jaw. MacGregor loomed over her, arm raised and hand open, ready to deliver another blow. She kept her eyes down, doing her best to avoid provoking him further.
When she opened the door, she’d been shocked to see the prisoners lined up before their guards, still alive. All but Malcolm. She couldn’t bear more than a glance at his body and the pool of blood around it. He had died because of her. Defending her. Despite the way MacGregor had treated her already, she had hoped he would not stoop to killing to gain her. He’d started a war, whether he knew it or not, one that would reach much further than the battle plans she’d seen.
But nay, he was crafty. His victim was his own man. None of the others could claim harm at his hand or by his order. He was right. The Lathans were free to leave. Jamie, too.
Would he go? Or would he try to fight free to save her?
She almost hoped he would go. She did not want any more deaths on her conscience. She’d rather spend the rest of her miserable life with Alasdair MacGregor than than watch Jamie die. She loved him enough to sacrifice her future for him—her life, too.
“I will do as ye say.” Through her lashes, she saw Jamie’s shoulder’s sag, even as Alasdair lowered his hand to assist her to her feet.
“Very good, my dear.”
“Once ye let these men go. Will, too.”
She saw this blow coming and braced against it, which made it worse. Before she knew what had happened, she found herself on the ground, ears ringing. But her hand had tangled in her skirt and she felt the hard length of the littlesgian dubhMadeleine had tucked there. For protection, she’d whispered. Had she known Caitrin would need protection from her son? She pulled the blade free and swung it at MacGregor as he bent down to her, determined to connect, no matter where, just so long as it slowed him down. But he caught her arm before her blade went home. She managed only to slice his sleeve. He squeezed her wrist until she cried out in pain and dropped the knife. Then MacGregor hauled her up and tossed her into the croft house, shoving at the door behind them. It didn’t close completely, giving Caitrin a moment of hope Jamie would burst in soon. But MacGregor hit her again, and again. She heard Jamie’s voice, yelling at Alasdair to stop, and a dangerous rumble of voices and other noises, but the beating went on…and on.
“See what ye have done, my dear,” MacGregor hissed in her ringing ear. “The prisoners fight to free themselves so they can come to yer rescue.” MacGregor left her and wrenched his dirk from the door.
Caitrin caught a breath, then froze a he returned to her.
