Page 1 of Confessions of a Highland Assassin

PROLOGUE

Fresh blood dripped from the silver dagger hanging limply by her side—the scarlet drops creating a dark stain in the thick mud at Ava’s feet. The sections of the blade that weren’t bloodstained glinted in the sunlight peeking through the throng of grey clouds overhead, mirroring the somber atmosphere.

The pungent smell of iron burnt her nostrils with a sickly-sweet sting. It wasn’t the first time that Ava Rose had smelled blood—no, she was more than familiar with the crimson fluid and its scent. The nausea twisting her stomach and making her sick had far more to do with the person to whom the blood belonged.

Boyd Cameron stared up at her from the ground, curled up in the fetal position just a few steps away, his hands bound together in front of him, and too weak to get up. But the way he looked at her revealed that he was well aware of what was going on around him. His beautiful green eyes were filled with pain and confusion—his normally neat blond hair had spilled from his ponytail and was caked with mud and fresh blood.

Even while lying on his side curled into a ball, Boyd was noticeably taller than any man she’d known. His height had always made him a formidable highlander. Her highlander.

Ava stared down at him, contemplating her next move. He didn’t deserve this… nae like this… A laird laying in the mud, wounded by me own hand. Wounded by someone he had come tae trust... Thoughts of who he really was nagged at her conscience.

This wasn’t a murderer who lay in front of her. This was Boyd Cameron. Laird to the villagers who surrounded them now. And the man she loved.

Me heart is breaking, I cannae dae this…

“Finish the job,” Tavish snarled from beside Boyd when Ava lingered for too long, towering over the wounded man in triumph. Tavish's light green eyes were dark with murderous intent. Ava looked at the nasty grin across his face, letting her gaze fall to the sharp-edged dagger against her brother’s frail neck.

The agony of the situation had turned his skin even paler and ashier than usual. Dark circles under his eyes alerted Ava to the fact that his body had already taken as much as it could. How long had it been since he had his last dose of medication?

Focusing on her brother and drowning out the screams of excitement and confusion emanating from the unruly crowd, Ava shut her eyes. A single hot tear ran down her cheek. There was no other choice… She would have to do it. She opened her light blue eyes that shone with tears. Crossing the small divide between her and the man she loved with small, hesitant strides, she dreaded what had to be done with every fiber of her being.

Kneeling down before Boyd, she cupped his rough cheek and brought her face closer to his. “I am so sorry Boyd, I didnnae mean for things tae end like this…” she whispered with tears flowing over her pale cheeks. “I have tae dae this…” She leaned in closer and pressed a final kiss against his quivering lips.

The blood he’d lost, in addition to the dizziness from the potion, was beginning to have an effect. His skin paled noticeably. Boyd returned her kiss with a small grunt of pain as he strained to lift himself up, making her heart break with regret and sorrow for the man she loved and had betrayed.

“Dae it already!” Tavish screeched at her in his grating voice.

“Think about what ye are about tae dae, Ava!” Rory’s voice called to her from the side. The crowd parted slightly, revealing Boyd’s best friend being held back by a group of Tavish’s men dressed in kilts and traditional battle garb.

Grunting from the pain in his hand where the blood still flowed from his wound, Boyd looked up at Ava with a tumultuous, cross expression written on his ruggedly handsome face. His slurred words and slow movements were an indication that the potion was still having an effect on his body. “Ava… are ye really going tae dae this? After everything we’ve been through?”

She stood frozen as he spoke.

“I thought ye loved me as much as I love ye, Ava…” Boyd’s words trailed off as he saw her head turn toward her brother before he could even finish his sentence. “I thought we felt the same…” he whispered.

“Enough sentiment!” Tavish growled. His arms tightened around Neil as his anger and impatience grew.

Neil’s eyes pleaded with her again, tugging at her heart as his chest rose and fell with increasing effort. A coughing fit was not far off when he breathed like that. Time was running out.

Ava shut her eyes and gritted her teeth as thoughts of the past few weeks raced through her mind. They were interrupted by her brother’s pleas for help and Rory begging her to see reason. The moment had come to make her final decision. Turning slightly to the left, Ava raised her dagger high into the air. She knew what had to be done.

“Ava, nae! Dinnae dae it!” Rory’s voice was frantic with panic as he yelled over the onlookers’ heads. The crowd gasped in shock.

Tears flowed freely down her porcelain cheeks as Ava spun around and plunged the dagger's blade into his hot flesh, all the way down to the hilt. Bone cracked, and blood spurted down her hands and onto her dark cloak. The sickening smell of fresh blood was nearly as unbearable as the number of hot tears spilling over her cheeks. The gurgling sounds of a man dying at her hand pierced her thoughts like the dagger that had penetrated the man's flesh.

“I never wanted to dae this…” she whispered through her tears, her voice thick with emotion.

The crowd grew silent as Ava twisted the dagger one last time to ensure that the job had been executed correctly. Taking a step back, she could no longer control herself and sank to her knees, sobbing at what she had just done.

The clouds erupted with fine rain, which fell over the lifeless body lying in the street as she cried aloud and hugged her middle. Villagers were shocked. Some people covered their mouths, while others stood motionless, unable to believe or accept what they had just witnessed.

There was no going back now. The deed was done. Ava Rose had made her choice, and no number of potions nor pleading could take it back…

He was dead.

CHAPTER ONE

“One Month Earlier…”