Page 1 of Highland Prince of Darkness

Prologue

McIver Castle 1674

The McIver castle was alive with shadows; dark walls illuminated by flickering torches as the thick of twilight descended over the highlands. The mist rolled in from the snaking river below like an unstoppable army, bringing with it a biting chill carried up from the coast. Alone, she walked the halls, hugging close to the walls in an attempt to conceal herself as much as possible.

There wasn’t a moment to waste.

The dungeons were even darker than the castle above. The lack of windows meant that even the weak light of the crescent moon wasn’t able to pool into the narrow hallways which wound into a confusing labyrinth. May knew the dungeons well, each step was a work of memory, and each corner was vivid in her mind—light or no light.

“Who’s there?”

She stopped. The voice was familiar, there was a certain grit in his tone, so clear it couldn’t be missed.

“May?” the voice spoke again, “Is that ye?”

“Aye. It’s me,” she responded, pulling the dark hood of her cloak off of her head. Her dark brown hair caught the light of the torches, glinting slightly and revealing her pale skin.

Guards were patrolling somewhere in the distance. Two men laughed at some unknown joke that they shared to keep their spirits high despite the late hour. Their muffled chatter grew quieter as the lone shadow drew nearer to her destination.

Iain’s cell was drenched in darkness, and only the faintest glow of the torches in their brackets on the opposite wall managed to penetrate through. May squinted her brown eyes in an attempt to get a better view at her lover, but all she could make out was his outline and his rough hands against the bars.

“I’ve come to get ye out,” she said, breathless from walking so fast. Her heart was both pounding and breaking as she glanced helplessly around for somewhere that the guards would keep the keys.

“All right. We have to hurry. The guards will be coming back soon.”

May swallowed the lump of fear that was rising up within her. She was going directly against what her father had intended, all in the name of love. However, she couldn’t stand back and watch her father imprison Iain while she slept above.

As the daughter of the Laird, May knew that there would be consequences if her actions were found out. She was hoping that she would be able to get Iain out of the castle without detection.

“Ye really came back for me?” Iain breathed out as he rested his face against the bars. May winced when she realized how exhausted he was. The dungeons were a dark place. Even in the prime of daylight, they were damp and provided no comfort.

“Aye, of course I did. There was no way that I could leave ye down here,” May smiled lightly and shrugged.

She watched the small beginnings of a smile play on his thin lips as his eyes closed slightly. Her heart yearned for nothing more than the bars to disappear so she could be in his arms. May glanced around and quickly found the small trapdoor where she knew there was a spare key. It was an old trick that she had learned when she was a girl. She had once overheard her father talking to one of his most trusted advisors about the secret set of keys. It was to be used in emergencies only, and in Iain’s case, it was a dire emergency.

The sound of voices grew closer, and time was of the essence, as the guards approached. May darted for the discreet groove in the floor and quickly pulled up the hatch.

“Thank god,” she whispered under her breath, and reached a shaking hand down.

“Where will we go?” Iain questioned, as she brought the key up to the padlock.

She was completely caught off guard by his words and glanced up at him with wide eyes. May had anticipated the question, but she still didn’t have an answer to give him.

“I... I cannae come with ye,” she muttered, while placing the key into the lock. Her voice was barely a whisper against the wind, but the stiffening of Iain’s hands on the bars in front of her alerted May that he had heard her. “I’m sorry,” she quickly added, and dipped her head down.

“What do ye mean ye cannae come with me?”

“I’m needed here.”

May thought of her father and how she was making the right choice if she wanted to keep him appeased. He was punishing Iain after finding out about the feelings that he harbored for her. Yet, May knew her father well enough to know that he wouldn’t pursue Iain if he were to escape.

“We can make a new life together, we’ll be all right. I promise... please come with me.”

The desperation in Iain’s voice was breaking her heart, but May knew that she was going to have to be strong.

“Ye ken that I cannae go with ye,” May sighed, as she twisted the key and let the lock click open. “I have to stay here. I’m all he has left.”

Tears were beginning to brim in her eyes as emotion choked the strength out of her body in one big grip. She wasn’t sure how she was supposed to remain so brave when she was doing so many things wrong in the eyes of different people.