Damn!
Nora’s heart pounded as she listened to the men brag to each other what they intended to do to her and Ewan. She was terrified of their insidious plan.
Guilt, horror and anger warred within her. Over and over she saw Ryan in her mind.
“My lady, might I have a word with you? Lord Ewan bid me give you a message.”
She hadn’t recognized Sean MacKaid, the tall red-headed middle brother of Graham’s and it hadn’t dawned on her that the man had been lying.
Like a fool, Ryan had gone with her.
Sean had led them into a small copse of trees where the others had waited.
As soon as she saw Graham, she’d known something was wrong so she’d tried to run.
Rufus had caught her.
And Ryan, God have mercy on his soul, had finally found a moment of bravery. Seeing her threatened, he had reached for his sword.
But it hadn’t even cleared the scabbard before Graham ran him through with his dagger.
Ryan had staggered back, holding his stomach as blood poured from his body.
Nora had tried to help him, only to find Graham in her way.
“Do as I say, or I’ll give you worse than that.”
Ryan had reached out to her with one bloodied hand, then he’d fallen to the ground, dead.
Nora sobbed at the memory.
Ryan was dead because of her and now Ewan was taken. If she didn’t come up with some way to free him, he too would die.
And so would she.
Nay. Nay, she would never submit to these brigands. She was Eleanor’s niece. She was her father’s daughter. Ruffian Alexander Canmore might be, but no man had ever defeated him in battle or practice.
She would get them out of this.
And heaven have mercy on the MacKaids when she did.
They rode for hours until they came to an abandoned keep that appeared to have been burned down. The skeleton of the building remained, but it looked far from safe. Weeds and vines covered the fallen and charred stones.
It was an evil place. An aura of death and decay clung to it.
Nora had never tasted real fear before, but she tasted it now.
The MacKaids dismounted, then carefully pulled Ewan from his horse.
Ewan glared at the men. Though he didn’t know how at the moment, he was determined to get them out of this.
And once he had Nora safe, all three of the brothers would pay for this. He would make sure of it.
Graham kept his dagger at Nora’s throat the entire time.
“One move,” he warned.
It was a threat Ewan heeded.
