Page 96 of The Highlander’s Savage Vow

The door rattled again, this time more forcefully. The handle groaned under the pressure, and Iona's blood turned cold.

“Get down,” Niamh whispered urgently, pushing Iona away from the door and into the shadows behind the small wooden beam that supported the walls. She pressed herself against the stone wall, trying to disappear into the darkness.

Iona did the same, though her heart hammered in her chest. She could hear the soldiers clearly now, muttering to each other. Their boots clicked softly as they moved closer.

“Stay still,” Niamh hissed in a low, urgent voice.

The sound of a fist pounding on the door made Iona’s skin crawl. It felt like the world had stopped spinning—everything had narrowed to that one sound, the sound of the soldiers outside.

Then came the voices again. They were speaking in low tones, but she could make out a few words.

“We ken ye’re in there. Nay place tae hide now, lass.”

Iona’s breath caught in her throat.

They ken we’re here.

Niamh’s eyes were wide, her face paling even further. She gripped Iona’s hand tightly. “We cannae stay here any longer,” she whispered harshly, her voice trembling with the weight of fear. “They’ll get in. We have tae move, now.”

The door rattled again, a heavy thud that sounded like it might break open at any second.

Then, a voice cut through the noise. “Break it down! She must be in there!” A harsh, guttural order, shouted from the other side. The sound of weapons being readied, the scrape of metal on stone, sent a new wave of dread crashing over Iona.

The door shuddered violently under the impact. Iona’s breath hitched in her throat. It was only a matter of time before they got through.

“Move!” Niamh hissed, her voice sharp with panic. She pushed Iona toward a small narrow passage at the far end of the stone shelter.

The door exploded inward with a force that sent a tremor through the walls of the stone shelter. The soldiers had finally breached their only refuge.

Iona’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide with fear. Niamh grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the narrow passageway behind the stone wall.

“Go!” Niamh hissed again, pushing Iona ahead of her.

Iona’s heart raced as she sprinted through the dimly lit corridor. The walls were close on either side, the air stale with the scent of earth and stone. She could hear the thumping of boots behind them, growing louder with every step.

The passage twisted and turned in a narrow maze, but Iona couldn’t shake the feeling that it was futile. They were too close, and this cramped escape tunnel was only delaying the inevitable.

The clattering of weapons on stone echoed from behind, and Iona’s legs burned with exhaustion as they fled. Her thoughts spiraled in desperation.

Is there anywhere tae run? Anywhere tae hide? Where is Ruaridh?

Niamh’s breath came fast beside her, but she kept her pace steady. The older woman’s grip on her was tight, though Iona could feel her mother-in-law’s resolve slowly faltering.

“Iona—” Niamh started, but her voice faltered, cut off by the rush of footsteps that seemed to be echoing in every direction.

Iona glanced back over her shoulder, her heart thumping in her chest as she realized the guards were almost upon them.

Niamh’s hand clutched Iona’s arm more desperately. “We cannae stop. There is a door at the end. It leads tae a secret path far from the castle.”

“We cannae make it,” Iona cut her off, her voice hoarse with the weight of what she knew was coming. “Ye go, Niamh.”

“What?” Niamh’s voice was sharp with disbelief. She looked at Iona, her eyes wide with panic.

“Go!” Iona shouted, shaking off her mother-in-law’s hold. “If they catch us, they’ll kill ye fer certain. Ye have tae leave. I’ll hold them off.”

“Nay,” Niamh’s voice was fierce, but the fear in her eyes betrayed the resolve she was trying to maintain. “I willnae leave ye.”

Iona turned to face her, her heart breaking for the woman who had taken her in as a daughter. She saw Niamh’s pale face, the fear reflected in her eyes, and for a fleeting moment, the two women shared a silent understanding.