Page 77 of The Laird’s Sinful Claim

"Aye, but if ye kill him, we'll nae get answers." Euan crouched beside them. "Let me."

David hesitated, then stepped back, though his hand remained on his dirk. Euan took his place, studying the man with cold assessment.

"Ye're nay clan," Euan said. "Yer accent's English. And yer weapon—" He picked up the fallen dagger, examining it. "—is quality. Too good fer a common brigand." He looked at David. "This was planned."

"Who sent ye?" David repeated. "And dinnae lie. I'm nae as patient as me friend here."

The man glared up at them, defiant despite his broken wrist and the dirk still hovering near his throat. "Sir Edmund Langley sends his regards. Says to tell you the lady was his first, and he means to have her back."

Silence fell like a stone.

David went very, very still. "Langley."

"Yes. Says ye stole what was rightfully his." The man grinned through bloody teeth. "Says he'll burn this whole castle to get her back if he has to."

Elinor's legs gave out. Tristan caught her, easing her down to sit on a nearby bench. Her hand went to her neck, came away red.

Not much blood. Just a shallow cut. But the sight of it made everything suddenly, terrifyingly real.

“Elinor,” he said, his voice low but urgent. “Look at me.”

She did, her pulse still racing, the noise of the celebration replaced by ringing in her ears. Only then did she realize how close he was standing, how his body had subtly angled itself between her and the rest of the crowd.

“Where are ye hurt?” he asked. His fingers hovered near her throat but didn’t touch—not yet—his restraint visible.

“My neck,” she managed, lifting her hand. “It’s just a cut.”

David caught her wrist gently and lowered it, his jaw tightening as he saw the thin line of blood against her skin. His thumb brushed the edge of the wound with aching care, and his breath left him in a slow, controlled exhale.

“That was nae ‘just’ anything,” he said, his voice edged with something dangerous. “Ye could have been taken. Or worse.”

She saw it then, not just anger, but fear. Bare and unguarded, flickering in his eyes before he forced it down.

“Ye’re safe now,” he added, softer. “I’ve got ye.”

Langley had sent men to take her. To drag her back to whatever he'd planned for her.

"Who's Langley?" Lachlann asked, confusion clear in his voice.

"A man who wanted to marry me. Before David." Elinor stopped, catching David's warning look.

"Enough."

Euan stared at her for a long moment, then looked at David.

“I’ll explain everything later. Now I have tae take care of me wife,” David said quietly.

"He'll try again," Archibald said quietly. "Men like that dinnae give up easily."

"Let him try." David's expression was cold. "Next time, I willnae show mercy."

Tristan appeared at David's elbow. "The guards have secured the other attackers. They're all sayin' the same thing, Langley hired them tae take Lady Elinor. Offered a substantial reward fer her safe return."

"Her return?" David's voice dripped acid. "She wasnae his tae begin with."

"Aye, but he seems to think otherwise." Tristan glanced at Elinor, concern clear on his face. "Me lady, ye're bleedin'. David is right. We should get that wound looked at."

Elinor touched her neck again. "It's fine. Truly. Just a scratch."

"It's nae fine." David was beside her in two strides, his anger transforming to worry. "Christ, Elinor. He could have killed ye."

"But he didn't."

"Because I stopped him." His hand went up to her face, tilting her head to examine the wound.

The realization of how close she'd come made Elinor's knees weak again. David caught her, steadying her with hands that trembled slightly.

"We need tae talk," Euan said behind them. "All of us. About the auction. About Langley. About what happens next."

"Later." David didn't look away from Elinor. "Right now, I'm takin' care of me wife." The command in his voice silenced further protest. "Lock those bastards in the cells. Question them if ye want. But I'm takin' Elinor inside. We'll talk when she's been tended tae and is restin'."

He swept her up into his arms before she could protest, carrying her toward the castle entrance.

She closed her eyes, pressing her face against David's chest, and tried not to think about the explanations that would have to come.

About how close she'd come to losing everything she was just beginning to want.