Highland Burn (Guardians of Scotland Book 1)

by Victoria Zak

  Abigale winced when she bent down to slip on her winter shoes, reminding her how deliciously sore her body had become after her night with James. A bright smile crossed her face as she stood and smoothed out her dress. As she adjusted the gold knotted sash around her hips, she placed her hands on her stomach. She smiled. Just the thought of one day having a child of her own with the man she loved warmed her heart.

  It was going to be a beautiful morn.

  A knock on the door interrupted her daydream. Alice brought the girls into her bedchamber. “My lady, ye look stunning this morn.” Alice beamed.

  “Thank ye kindly, Alice.”

  The eldest girl with soft blond hair approached Abigale and curtsied. “Good morn, my lady.”

  Abigale smiled. “Good morn.”

  The eldest girl had been pleasant, but Abigale sensed the girl didn’t trust her fully.

  It was obvious Alice had cared for the girls. They were clean, hair perfectly plaited, and dressed in long-sleeved, brown wool dresses perfect for playing outdoors. The youngest, who had yet to speak, looked adorable in a white bonnet that sat on top of her blonde head and tied around her chin.

  Abigale bent down to the wee girl’s level and smiled. The girl peeked out from behind Alice’s skirts. The poor child seemed so timid, yet there was courage behind her blue eyes. “Ye know, I have been itching to go outside.” Abigale took the girl’s hands in hers. “Would ye like to come with me?” Abigale glanced up at the eldest girl and smiled.

  The girl returned her smile. “Yes, my lady.”

  As Abigale looked back to the wee one, dimples winked back at her as the child beamed from ear-to-ear. She nodded with enthusiasm. Abigale picked her up and held her close. The child wrapped her small, skinny arms around the mistress’s neck and squeezed, as if saying, I’ve missed you.

  They filed out of the bedchamber and into the long corridor. Before long Wee One wiggled and fidgeted to be released, so Abigale put her down. The girls skipped in front of her and Alice, laughing and giggling as they made their way through the castle. Abigale couldn’t have been any happier. Seeing the girls like this warmed her heart. She couldn’t stop smiling.

  “My lady, may I have a word with ye?” Alice asked.

  “Of course, Alice, ye may speak freely with me. There’s no need to be formal.” They joined arms and Abigale squeezed Alice close. "But first I must thank ye for taking such good care of me. Ye are a true friend.”

  “Och lass, ye know I love ye like my own.” Alice patted her hand and smiled. “I do have concerns, my lady, about the youngest lass. She hasn't spoken at all. The eldest won’t tell me her name or her sister’s.” Alice pursed her lips together. “I’m afraid the wee one can no speak.”

  “Alice, the girls need a little time and lots of love. Do no’ worry,” Abigale reassured her. “Has there been any word about their parents?"

  Deep down she hated to ask, but she knew there was a possibility of their mum or da returning for the girls. How could anyone raise a family in that filth? It angered her to think about the condition of the cottage and how undeserving their parents were. Nay, she would protect these girls and never allow anyone to hurt them again.

  Alice shook her head. “Nay, my lady, no’ a peep.”

  Abigale couldn’t help but feel relieved. “The laird has given me his word the girls can stay here until they are claimed. Do we have an empty chamber close to mine?”

  “Aye, I will have it prepared.”

  Suddenly the doors to the great hall opened wide. Rory and a few burly warriors entered, which gave the girls the perfect opportunity to race outdoors.

  As they reached the great hall, Alice excused herself to the kitchen and Abigale followed the girls.

  In passing, Rory nodded a greeting as Abigale flew past him. “Good morn, Rory.”

  “Aye, ‘tis a good morn, my lady.” Rory winked.

  A blast of cold air hit Abigale’s lungs as the sun warmed her body. Days like today would soon be few, for the sting of winter was approaching fast.

  Lennox and Mahboon raced across the grounds, almost knocking the girls down.

  Abigale called the girls to her. “How about we play hide and seek.”

  The girls wanted to play.

  “I’ll be the seeker,” Abigale offered, “and ye two hide.”

  The girls took off. The eldest called over her shoulder. “No peeking!”

  Abigale finished counting. “Ready or no’…here I come.”

  The sound of scampering feet caught Abigale’s attention and she started her search in that direction. Old oak trees with perfect nooks and crannies stood near the walls surrounding the castle, making for excellent hiding places. Abigale peeked behind an oak when the dogs charged past her and out of the gatehouse, barking as if there was an intruder.

  Abigale grew cautious as she hurried to find the girls. The eldest girl ran from her hiding spot and caught up with her. The girl must have sensed trouble by the way the dogs were reacting.

  “There ye are. Where is yer sister?”

  “I dinnae know.”

  They looked at each other as if they both realized why the dogs had taken off the way they had.

  “She must be in the forest,” Abigale said.

  Panicked, they ran from the secure walls and out into the open wilderness. Hopeful that Lennox and Mahboon had found the girl, Abigale called out, “Wee One!”

  With the eldest girl right on Abigail’s heels, they both came to a sudden stop. Marcus was bent down talking to Wee One. He stood up as soon as he saw Abigale approach. He grinned and released the child. “Ye should be more careful where ye roam."

  Relieved that she had found the girl, yet alarmed to see Marcus, Abigale called out to her. “Come here, lassie.”

  Never taking her eyes off Marcus, Abigale scooped Wee One up into her arms, making sure she wasn’t hurt.

  A gut feeling told Abigale to get the girls back to the safety of Black Stone. Not wanting to scare the girls, Abigale took a settling breath. “Girls, get back to the castle and find Alice. Take Lennox and Mahboon with ye.”

  The eldest girl hesitated and gazed at Marcus with a suspicious eye. “Is everything all right, Lady Abigale?”

  Marcus stepped closer to the girl. “There’s nothing to fear, lass, but ye should do as ye’re told.”

  Wee One grabbed her sister’s hand as they reluctantly followed the dogs back to Black Stone.

  “The lasses look good, Abigale. Much better than the last time I saw them,” Marcus observed.

  Abigale turned her attention back to Marcus. Dark circles shadowed his eyes as if he hadn’t slept in days. A red slash lingered over his right eye. He moved next to her but stopped when she took a step back. With his hands on his hips, he shook his head in disbelief. “He’s turned ye against me, hasn’t he?” It was more of a statement than a question.

  Abigale pretended she hadn’t heard him. “I’m sure James is out looking for me. I should be heading back.” She turned in the direction of the castle until Marcus grabbed her arm.

  She tried to shake free but he pulled her closer. “Release me, Marcus.”

  “Sorry lass, but ye must come with me.”

  “If James catches ye near me, he will kill ye. Please let me go. I will no’ say a word.”

  “Lass, he couldn’t kill me even if he wanted to.” He chuckled, then his expression turned serious. “No one is looking for ye and I saw yer husband leave earlier this morn. He can no help ye now.”

  Panic prickled up her spine. What was Marcus up to? If she stalled a little longer someone would come looking for her. James was gone, but Alice knew where she was. Perhaps the girls would alert her. She knew someone would be searching for her soon.

  “Marcus,” she said calmly. “Please release me. Ye’re hurting my arm."

  Marcus studied Abigale’s face for a moment, contemplating her request.

  “Please,” she begged.

  “Ye know, there’s something in
a way a lass begs that excites me.” He paused. “Kiss me like ye kiss him, Abigale. Want me like ye want him.” He nuzzled her neck and breathed in deeply. “Ye smell verra pretty.”

  Abigale began to tremble. She closed her eyes and wished he would let her go. At this point, she would make a run for it. It sickened her being this close to him, for she could smell the mead on his breath. A tear slipped down her cheek. Where was James?

  Abigale pulled from Marcus’s grip, turned, and looked for a way to escape, but she was cornered by five massive figures dressed in armor. The size of these men would make a grown man run to his mother and hide in her skirts. They stood around her with their arms folded across their plated chests, helms covered their faces, and evil gushed from their pores.

  “Marcus, what’s going on?”

  “My sweet Abigale—” He stopped mid-sentence as if he were warring with himself inside.

  Before Abigale knew what was happening, Marcus grabbed her waist and threw her over his shoulder. Kicking and screaming, Abigale fought hard to escape, but it was impossible. He was too big and powerful.

  “Put me down!” Abigale screamed and pounded her fists on his back. She wasn’t going without a fight. She bit down on his shoulder. Marcus grunted in pain and dropped her instantly. She fell on her back.

  Scrambling to her feet, she didn’t make it far before she was grabbed from behind. Cold steel bit into her neck. One of the soldiers had caught her, and a wrong move guaranteed he would slit her throat.

  Her chest rose and fell rapidly as Marcus approached. “Looks like we have a feisty one here.” He punched her face. Stars exploded behind her eyes and her body went limp.

  21

  Capture the princess, slay the dragon.

  Abigale lay motionless. Her heavy eyelids begged to open as throbbing pain slammed through her. Dampness from the ground seeped through her dress and settled deep in her bones. She blinked back the fog until iron bars came into view, causing her to panic. People argued in the distance. Where was she?

  As she slowly sat up, her surroundings started to spin and so did her stomach. Her cheek ached. As she tried to swallow, the taste of blood filled her mouth. She spat the blood out and wiped her lips with the back of her hand. Events were slowly coming back. She remembered being in the woods with Marcus and… Marcus had knocked her unconscious. He had taken her away, but where?

  She stood. Still unsteady, she stumbled against the bars behind her. She was in a cell only big enough for her to stand in. Torches hung on posts casting shadows upon the enclosure’s fabric. A tent. She must be inside a tent, and judging by the glow of the torches, it must be night.

  Feeling steadier on her feet, Abigale took a few steps to the front of the cage. She grabbed the bars and gave them a shake, testing their strength. They were solid. Two figures came into view outside the entrance of the tent. Although she couldn’t see them, their shadows indicated they were men. Abigale strained to listen, trying to recognize the voices. Aye, she did. One of the voices belonged to Marcus but the other voice was unfamiliar.

  “Ye promised if I brought ye the princess my sister would be returned to me. Now, where is she?” Marcus said.

  “I would watch that tongue of yers. Ye are in no position to be giving orders.” Rickert stabbed a finger at Marcus’s chest.

  Looking at the finger, then back at Rickert, Marcus had a grim feeling he had been deceived. “I want to see my sister.”

  “Sutton,” the sheriff called to his trusted second commander.

  “Aye, my lord.”

  Marcus looked at Rickert as he whispered a command to the burly man. As quick as Sutton came, he left to do his lord’s bidding.

  Placing his hands behind his back, Rickert stood in front of Marcus. “Ye should know who ye’re dealing with before ye trust them, fool. I told ye there would be a village raid. All ye had to do was tell us where to find the princess. Seems to me yer cock got the better of ye, aye?"

  “I did as ye ordered, I brought ye the princess. What more is there?” Marcus was beginning to lose his patience.

  “Aye.” The foul man stepped closer until his lips were lingering over Marcus’s ear. “I want the dragon.”

  This was the moment Rickert had been waiting for, his revenge on James. Now with Abigale in custody, the dragon would soon come and he would get his revenge. Slay the dragon.

  Sutton, now with a wooden box in his hand, came marching up. Handing the box over to his lord, he bowed and walked away.

  “Did ye really think ye would see yer beloved sister again? Ye’re as naive as yer whore-of-a-sister.”

  Sweat began to bead across Marcus’s forehead and his heart thundered in his chest as he looked at the box. Nay!

  The sheriff laughed evilly. He threw the box at Marcus’s feet. “Be proud, she put up one hell of a fight.” He then turned and began to walk away.

  The box landed with a soul-shaking thud. Its contents spilled out and a bloody heart lay in the dirt.

  Marcus cried out in agony and he dropped to his knees. With shaking hands, he picked up his sister’s heart and placed it back into the box. Her heart, her kind, good-natured, innocent heart. Marcus shook his head. “Nay!”

  Primal instincts suddenly exploded inside of him, sending Marcus into a rage. As he stood, he pulled a dirk from his boot. He glared at Rickert’s back as if he was mentally crushing the man. “Rickert!"

  Rickert turned only to find himself nose to nose with Marcus. Without flinching, Marcus drove his blade into Rickert’s stomach. Wide-eyed, the man fell to the ground, instantly dead.

  A fool no more, Marcus stood over the dead man. He should have known better than to trust an Englishman’s word. But did he really have a choice? Nay, he did what he had to do in order to save his sister and now look where it had gotten him. He’d betrayed his clan and he'd failed his sister.

  This was James’s fault. The bloody bastard cared only about himself. Marcus seethed inside. When James burned down the English garrison to reclaim Castle Douglas, he only made enemies. But instead of the enemy destroying James, it destroyed Marcus. It had always been about James, hadn’t it?

  Good thing Marcus had a sharp mind, for he knew Rickert to be a cheat and a master of trickery. But never fret, he reminded himself. His sister’s death would not be for naught. Everything became crystal clear. It had been woven into the fibers of his soul; this was what he was destined to do. All along he could hear the dragon cry, yet fate could not be rushed. Risky as it might be, he had a plan. Dragon blood would be spilled tonight and a kingdom would rise again.

  Abigale’s hand flew over her mouth in shock. She had just witnessed Marcus killing a man. Terror ripped through her as she began to pull at the bars, praying they would bend. She had to get out of there.

  The flaps of the tent flew open as Marcus’s body filled the entrance, causing her to step toward the back of the cage. Marcus glanced at her. “Ye saw me kill him, didnae ye?”

  Abigale stood silent. The hard-cold tone of his voice chilled her veins.

  “Dinnae fash yerself, Princess, I’m no’ going to kill ye.”

  “I need to know why, Marcus.” Her voice shook. “Why did ye kill that man?”

  “’Tis best ye stay quiet and dinnae draw attention to yerself.”

  “Why did ye bring me here? I trusted ye and ye deceived me.”

  Marcus strode to the cage. “Ye see, lass, that’s where ye went wrong.” He rubbed his hand through his brown curly hair as he paced back and forth in front of her. "James has made quite a few enemies. I told him not too long ago.” He looked far away as if he was remembering that day. “I’m afraid yer husband’s brutal ways have caught up with him.”

  “I dinnae understand.”

  Marcus stopped in front of her and grabbed the bars, causing her to flinch. “Abigale, that bastard I killed,” he paused like he was trying to rein in his anger, “wanted to kill James for the brutal way he massacred his men when yer husband reclaimed Castle Dougla
s. Ye were the bait to bring James here.”

  “And ye agreed to betray James. Why? Why would ye do such a thing?”

  Marcus looked down at the ground and shook his head. “’Tis none of yer business; it’s personal now. James will pay for what he has done to me, mark my words, Princess.”

  There was no room in that blasted cage. Like a wild animal trapped, she felt the need to run, but there was nowhere to go. Capture the Princess; slay the dragon, she thought. Gradually, she put the puzzle pieces together as she recalled Marcus asking the man about his sister. Marcus had brought her here to be exchanged for his sister, hadn’t he? Oh, dear God, he knew James would come for her and that’s when they would kill him. Fear pricked her skin and settled in the pit of her gut. This was a trap. She faced Marcus, "Ye don’t have to do this. James will forgive ye. Maybe he can help get yer sister back.”

  “My sister? My sister is of no concern to ye or James.”

  “But I heard ye talking to a man outside.” She motioned to the tent entrance. “She was to be returned to ye. Is she in some kind of trouble? It is why I'm here… aye? He’s holding yer sister against ye?”

  “Abigale, she’s—”

  “What?”

  Marcus said between clenched teeth, “She’s dead.”

  Abigale took a step back. “Nay, did that man—”

  “Murder her, aye. James caused her death and he will pay for it.” Every word he spoke dripped with hate.

  “Ye can no’ mean it.”

  “Aye, Abigale.” He held her stare. “Eye for an eye.” He turned and left the tent.

  Alice raced through the great hall. James had returned and barely had the time to brace himself before Alice rushed him. “My laird,” Alice panted. She could barely speak. “Lady Abigale…I’ve searched everywhere.”

  Overwhelming terror shot through him. He sensed something was wrong the moment he walked into the great hall. Normally he could feel Abigale even if she wasn’t in the room; his dragon knew his mate. He grabbed Alice’s shoulders in order to calm her down. "Lass, take a deep breath. Where is Lady Abigale?”