Page 20 of Highlander’s Evil Side

“The rumor is,” said Scott, taking a pause to twirl his sword dramatically. Fraser pursed his lips. Scott was acting cocky once again. If he wasn’t careful, Fraser would gain the upper ground. Fraser was already searching for a way out of his corner. Although, Scott’s next words took him by surprise.

“She was engaged to Hendry Dunbar for a time.”

Fraser’s eyes widened, and his sword lowered ever so slightly. “Engaged?” he breathed. He didn’t know what Hendry Dunbar looked like, only heard he lost an eye when his family was attacked long ago. His mind led him down a dark path, and he couldn’t stop himself from imagining Beitris smiling back at a man with an eyepatch, a look of adoration in her gaze. How Fraser wished she would look upon him the same, and he hated the way his insides knotted in jealousy.

Fraser caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and he moved quickly to the left in order to stop Scott’s strike. Scott roared in anger and frustration as Fraser pushed him back. Fraser whirled around, moving out of his corner, but Scott stopped him from proceeding any further.

“And what has that got to do with anything?” Fraser asked while moving to the right, unable to move any farther when Scott blocked his path. “That was long ago.”

Scott chuckled. “Apparently, she had been in love with the laird.”

Fraser’s heart stalled, and he felt all the fight leave him as he watched Scott edge closer. She loved another laird? His shock twisted into something ugly, and his hands tightened on his hilt.

It was unfair, a voice whispered in the back of his head. Unfair, he received such contempt from Beitris due to someone else’s actions, unfair he was now competing with a past lover. If she cared for Laird Dunbar all those years ago, did she still care for him now? Would she ever come to accept Fraser, or would their ill-fated union continue until their deaths parted them?

“However, he preferred a maid,” Scott continued with a shrug. “Ended up marrying her instead.”

Fraser’s frown deepened as he lowered into a fighting stance, slashing his sword in the air while he waited for Scott’s attack. He hated the thought of Beitris loving another, but it wasn’t for him to decide. These things happened by accident. No one could possibly control their feelings. They were as controllable as the Scottish highland weather, having its own mind of what it wanted.

Fraser expected Beitris to act much the same.

Scott lunged, and Fraser swiped his sword, knocking the blade from his friend’s hand. Fraser rolled towards it, seizing the discarded blade and pointing both swords at his friend. Scott looked around, his hands slowly rising, yet the young Laird could see his friend was looking for a way out, a way to win. Fraser quickly closed the distance between them, pointing one sword at his friend’s throat and the other at his gut.

“Do ye concede?” Fraser asked with a bitter smirk. He knew he should feel better about his win, yet he felt uneasy with envy. His mind was filled with Beitris smiling at Hendry, her hand lightly touching his arm. Knowing another man could capture Beitris’s heart, bring a smile to her lips, made his heart twinge and his insides revolt.

Scott’s shoulders slumped, and he sighed. His head bobbed up and down. “Aye, I concede.”

Fraser lowered his blades, handing one back to Scott.

He turned around at Kenneth and Gavin’s clapping. He nearly forgot they had been watching. “Wonderful, my laird,” said Kenneth while striding towards Fraser and Scott.

“Excellent, my laird,” said Gavin.

Fraser rolled his eyes at their facetious attitude and stalked towards them. “Now, other than my bonnie new bride, I’m sure there is news more precedent, such as the farms, or the taxes, perhaps—“

The men exchanged a look and their amusement dulled into a deep frown. “The brigands seem to be making trouble once more,” said Gavin, a dark grimace taking hold of his features. His hands fisted at his side.

Fraser sighed while sheathing his sword. “How so?”

“One farm was burnt to the ground. The family—” Kenneth stopped, shaking his head, and Fraser could only conclude the family was killed.

“Send soldiers to the villagers. More men should be guarding our walls,” ordered Fraser before stalking away from his men.

“Of course, my laird,” Scott called after him.

Fraser’s hands fisted. More brigands were not what he needed to hear at this moment. Laird Gordon had just left to see to his own clan. They had fewer soldiers than he expected, which meant his men would need to work harder to defend their lands. He also needed to think of Beitris’s safety. With her father gone, she probably felt ill-protected. Perhaps, if he showed her his goodwill it would ease the tension.

His feet took him inside the keep and up the stairs. He didn’t realize where exactly his body was taking him until his stride slowed as Beitris’s quarters came into view. Her door was slightly ajar, and he could hear her muttering, followed by some thumping. He wondered if she was still upset about her father leaving. It had been so abrupt, and Fraser couldn’t stop recalling the tears in Beitris’s eyes. She hadn’t been happy from the moment she arrived at Castle Dunnegan, which only made Fraser’s worry for his bride heighten.

Fraser looked around, searching for any maids in the vicinity, yet there were none. His feet inched him closer. As far as he could tell, Beitris was not crying. Her muttering grew louder until finally, he could make out the words.

“Where will I put ye all,” he heard Beitris say, her voice making his heart flutter. “I simply have too much. There isn’t space for ye all.”

He heard her sigh as he tiptoed towards her chamber, peaking through the slight crack in her door. His eyes widened on Beitris sitting with several open trunks around her filled with books upon books. Her arms crossed while she looked around herself, a deep frown marring her features.

Quickly, Fraser straightened. He knew this was wrong, knew peeking into her room would only make her more suspicious of him. Clearing his throat, he wrapped his knuckles lightly on her door, tensing when her head perked up. Her gaze caught his, and he took a step back, the back of his neck flushing as she picked up her skirts and slowly rose.

“Aye, what is it?” Beitris asked, her voice commanding, despite her curious eyes staring up at him.