Page 40 of Trapped By the Exiled Bastard

A child.

A child born from the daughter of the alliance and a son of the clan betrayed.

A child created from love.

This was why they had fled—because they had something they had to protect, no matter the cost. And it was also why they returned when the rest of their family needed them the most.

“A bairn?” Iain asked.

“Yer niece or nephew,” Briana said. “Iain, please. Ye werenae always like this, nae deep down. Why must it continue this way? Let’s leave the crimes of our fathers in the past where they belong and work toward a new future. Together.”

It was the briefest hesitation, but something shifted in the way that Iain stood. Before he could respond, though, a Grant man shouted.

“Enough of this!” the man roared and ran forward, ready to cut Briana down.

Iain’s sword moved so quickly it reminded Elin of the flashes of lightning from the storm. He killed the Grant man without an ounce of regret or any change to his expression. “Stay away from her,” he warned the living quietly.

Deranged laughter sounded from nearby, and Elin yelped as someone grabbed her arm. Eamon dragged her forward to where Keir stood, and Eamon threw her down between them. None of the other soldiers moved.

“Did ye enjoy me pet, bastard?” Eamon spat. His eyes were wild. “Did she show ye the tricks I taught her like a good lass? Well, I dinnae like sharin’ me toys. Look at her. Ye’ve spoiled her. I’ll take her back with me, but I dinnae appreciate damaged goods, especially ones touched by dirty blood like ye.”

Elin scrambled back, but Eamon didn’t even seem to notice. She moved until she was beside Theon and Briana, and Theon put a hand on her shoulder.

Eamon was still ranting. “I’ll give her tae me men tae share around between them. Or perhaps I’ll send her tae service the fishermen down at the dock tae bring some coin in. Maybe I’ll even give her tae me father. He always did enjoy breaking in young, fertile lassies like her. What—”

Keir let out a roar and flew forward, weapon in hand and death in his eyes. Noah appeared from the crowd and joined him, and they fought hard against Eamon’s crazed swings, his fury seeming to fill him with burning power. But Keir’s anger fueled him too, and as Noah ducked one of Eamon’s punishing blows, Keir’s sword pierced right between his ribs.

Elin watched the surprise on Eamon Grant’s face as he died.

His body crumpled, and she waited to feel sorrow, or shock, or regret. But all that flowed through her blood was an overwhelming relief. She sagged, leaning against Theon and Briana for support.

Noah and Keir exchanged looks, then Keir stepped forward to stand over Eamon’s body. The Camerons and Grants alike stood silent, staring.

“I am Keir MacKenzie, second-born son of the laird yer masters betrayed,” he announced. “Bastard or not, I stand for me clan. I stand for me brother. I fight for me people. Go, now, and tell every traitorous laird between here and the borders that the MacKenzies are coming to reclaim what was stolen from us. And we willnae allow anyone tae stand in our way.”

Iain made a small sound. Elin turned to look at him, fearing the worst, but he was simply staring at his sister. Then, with a grimace, he declared, “Retreat! All of ye. Grants, return tae yer homestead. Camerons—with me.”

Then, slowly, incredibly, the two groups of men retreated, following Iain until they disappeared over the hills.

Elin turned to look at the others, but her joy was short-lived.

Graeme’s eyes fluttered closed and he collapsed, skin grey, blood seeping from his wounds. He looked no different from the corpses around them.

She screamed.

20

Keir sat by Graeme’s bedside, his hands still shaking.

The healer worked while the others helped the villagers in their attempts to put Caldershore back together, but Keir stayed in the makeshift infirmary until they heard the news. He’d expected that Noah would be in a bed, too, but after they had dropped Graeme off with the healer, Noah had slipped away and was nowhere to be seen.

“I only came tae this village a wee while ago,” the healer told him. “Some lass gave the town a whole load of money and instructions tae hire a healer, apparently. It’s nae really enough, but they’re a resilient group of people. I could do much worse.”

Keir smiled slightly, remembering Elin’s determination to help Caldershore what felt like a lifetime ago. She’d done it again since. The villagers had told them how the strange blonde woman had thrown herself into saving them, and from the next bed, Stephen the tailor had told Keir that his lover was a miracle. Keir hadn’t responded.

“How is he?” he asked, looking down at the sleeping Graeme.

“It’s the toss of a coin now, sir,” the healer replied. “If his wounds dinnae get infected, he’ll live with nothin’ but a few nasty scars and bad memories. But if they do… well, I dinnae have much hope for him. I’ll do me best, but I dinnae want tae give ye false hope by pretendin’.”