Page 41 of Highlander’s Evil Side

“Mother,” Fraser said, straightening away from Beitris, yet his hand remained laced with hers. “Ye look tired. I insist ye return to yer chambers and get some rest.”

Helga shook her head. She didn’t look at her son. Her gaze remained fastened on the walls and the men in front of her. “Nae, I will stay,” she said sternly.

“Nae, ye will go.”

Helga didn’t say anything, didn’t move.

Fraser sighed. He shoved himself out of his chair. The wood on the brick squeaked with the movement. Beitris watched him stalk towards his mother, taking her hand and gently helping her up from her chair.

“Ye must go,” he said sternly, his gaze hard. “Now.”

Helga shook her head.

“Out,” Fraser said loudly, thrusting a finger towards the entrance of the great hall.

Silence seeped into the walls. Beitris turned, finding Scott grimacing and the clan men frowning. This was the first time she had ever seen Fraser look so angry, act so stern. He was usually kind and gentle, and for a moment, she wondered why Fraser was acting so strangely.

But Helga had been with the cruel Fraser. She knew more, and yet she remained silent, keeping whatever knowledge she had on the matter to herself.

Helga gasped, her mouth opening and closing. She looked around at the men and soldiers watching her with unease. Her gaze settled on Beitris, glimmering with unshed tears. She straightened her back, batting Fraser’s hands away from her before slowly moving around him and striding towards the door.

Fraser shook his head, his shoulders tense, his hands fisting. “Everyone out,” he muttered.

The village heads looked to one another, whispering amongst each other.

“I said everyone out!” Fraser shouted, slamming his fists on the table.

The clan heads quickly rose, filing out of the room, followed by the guards.

“Has he lost his mind?” Beitris heard one man whisper, making her wince.

“Do ye really think he attacked his own people?” asked another.

“His father died so suddenly; perhaps it is all getting to him.”

Beitris wanted to tell them to shut their mouths and keep their thoughts to themselves. Fraser was doing all he could to help his people: he was opening his home to them, he was working with his men to rebuild their homes, he was trying to find the assailant.

“Scott, stay,” Fraser said while crossing his arms, scowling at the floor.

Scott strode towards the table, grabbing the coin and placing it back inside his pouch. “Do ye want me to track down these Black Stags?” Scott asked. “See if this Murdo knows about yer double?”

Fraser shook his head. “Nae.” Beitris frowned, watching as he turned away and strode towards the kitchens. “We mustn’t speak here.”

Beitris stood from her seat, giving Scott a look before following them both through the kitchens. “Fraser, where are ye going?” she asked, picking up her skirts while briskly striding through the kitchen filled with servants cleaning dirtied plates and cups.

Fraser didn’t reply, and she sighed in frustration as he threw open a door leading into the corridor. She and Scott followed Fraser all the way up the winding staircase and down the hall into a small study at the end of the corridor. Fraser held the door open for Scott and Beitris before promptly closing it. He leaned against it while looking around the room as if searching for spies lurking in the shadows.

“I think we will be safe here,” Fraser muttered, pushing away from the door and stepping towards the desk. He dumped his body into the chair with a deep sigh, leaning his head back and massaging his temples.

“What is going on?” Scott asked while crossing his arms.

Fraser shook his head. “Beitris, would ye care to tell him?”

Beitris wrinkled her nose as she slowly rose. Scott’s gaze turned to her, and she shifted nervously from side to side. “Can we trust him?”

Fraser nodded. “More than my own mother.”

Beitris’s heart twinged, and she wanted to rush to Fraser and wrap her arms around him. Knowing his mother was keeping secrets from him was torturing him. She could see it in Fraser’s gaze, in how he held himself. His mother should be there for him, helping him, advising him during this difficult time. Instead, she was meeting with his double and possibly conspiring against him.