They rode for an hour before the man finally directed them to a small hut, his need to live outweighing his loyalty to this crazed clan of his. Cameron dismounted and drew his sword as he and some of the warriors approached the hut, his heart thudding in his ears. If there were people here, he might end this here and now.
Yet the hut was empty, and Cameron let out a frustrated breath, sheathing his sword. “Fan out and see what ye can find,” he told Trevor as he strode into the hut, finding a lantern and lighting it. The hut was simple, but there were signs that life had been there recently, the ashes in the fireplace still visible in the light. Cameron swung the lantern around, noting the cups on the table and little else. There was nothing that gave him any indication that the man had brought him to anywhere of significance, but he could feel it in his bones that he was close.
He just had to find something that would help him topple the leader and end this for his family, his future.
Sighing, he strode back to the door, something glinting off one of the walls as he walked past. Cameron moved closer and saw the brand that had been pressed into the wood, the blood marring some of the marks. His blood ran cold as he realized that there was one mark that still was yet to be drenched in blood.
The mark for Katherine.
A mark he had seen once before when he first arrived on McDougal land, and now things were starting to click into place.
Cameron stepped back, nearly stumbling into the table behind him. Katherine was still alive, yet he could feel in his bones that she wouldn’t be for long.
They were desperate to kill her, and he had just left his wife without his protection. She was in serious danger and would never see it coming.
Cameron strode out of the hut and straight to the man, grabbing him by the collar of his tunic and yanking him to the ground. “Tell me!” he roared, pulling out his sword and pressing it to the man’s neck. “Tell me who is going tae end the lady’s life!”
He grinned up at Cameron. “I dinnae know, but yer lady is all but dead by the time ye arrive home, mah lord. That is, if ye get home at all.”
Cameron sliced his sword over the man’s neck, not caring that he had just ended his life as the other men ran out of the forest, causing Cameron and the warriors to form a circle in order to fight them all. This had been a trap.
Cameron swung his sword at the charging Scot and cut him down in mid-stride, the man screaming in pain before Cameron ended his life with one swift jab. He normally had a thirst for the battle, but with every swing of his sword, he thought about Katherine back at the keep, awaiting his return.
Or she could be in danger.
Another caught him on the shoulder; Cameron cried out as the sword sliced open his skin, swinging around to divest the Scot of his head. Blood started to run down his arm, but he barely felt it, taking on another until there were no more left, the ground littered with the dying and dead.
“Are ye alright?” Trevor asked, breathing heavily as he lowered his sword. “Ye’re hurt.”
“I’m fine,” Cameron said, sheathing his bloody sword. “This was meant tae distract us, nothing more. The intruder had been a pawn in the plan to draw him out here, but for what?”
His blood ran cold and Cameron realized he knew why. It had been in front of him the entire time, and he had not seen it. “We need tae get back tae the keep,” he told Trevor, swinging himself up on the horse’s back.
“Cameron,” Trevor said softly, his eyes full of concern, “wot is it?”
“This was a trap,” he told the Scot. “A way tae draw me away from Katherine.” With him gone away from her, the other warriors would not be as alert to her and there was the thought that someone could get to her.
“She’s fine,” Trevor attempted to relieve Cameron of his concern.
“I know who it is,” Cameron stated tightly, clenching the reins.
“What if—”
“I dinnae want tae think aboot it,” he interrupted his second-in-command, his voice edged with desperation. “Get me back tae mah wife.” The man had been spouting nonsense the entire time, and he had failed to notice it as a trap.
A bloody trap.
“Aye,” Trevor responded before rounding up the rest of the warriors for a hard ride back to the keep. Cameron tamped down his rising panic as he urged the horse on, hoping that he was wrong about the feeling in his stomach, the one that was rarely wrong. He had let himself be blinded by the need to defend his wife, and because of it, Katherine could be in danger.
He just hoped it didn’t end with him losing Katherine, or he would never be able to live with himself.
She had her warriors to protect her and Cameron had to put his faith in the men he had trained himself.
“Hold on, love,” he urged as the horse raced back toward the keep, lightning flashing across the sky ahead of him.
20
“Ye know ye dinnae have tae sit with me.”
The young warrior looked over at her, giving her a wry smile that reminded her so much of her husband. “Nah, mah lady. My laird stated I must stay with ye at all times, and that is what I am going tae do until he returns.”
While she appreciated his loyalty, Katherine wanted a moment alone to break down. She wanted her husband back in the keep, knowing that he was safe and sound. He could be walking into a trap.
What had made it worse was that the skies had opened up not long after Cameron and the warriors left, the rain pouring down on the keep and the village.
Katherine patted the dagger tucked into her pocket, glad that Cameron had left her something with which to defend herself. Arran had made certain that she knew how to wield a dagger during her time with him, stating that all lasses should be able to defend themselves when the time came.
She hoped she didn’t have to use it.
The fire crackled in the fireplace, and Katherine heard William fidget for the tenth time in a few minutes, knowing that the young lad didn’t truly wish to watch her sit here. In fact, most of the warriors were either in or around the keep, even with the driving rain, doing their laird’s bidding.
Cameron was their laird. Katherine had no qualms as to her clan thinking of such. There was one time in her life that she thought having a husband who was perceived to be the laird would cause her to fade into the background, but she knew that Cameron would never allow that to happen. He truly wished for her to be in power first and foremost, and she loved him fiercely for it.
Her breath stuttered in her chest as she thought about her handsome warrior husband. Never had she thought they would be together in such a manner, but now that they were, she didn’t want to live her life without him. There were years ahead of them, years that would bring forth children and happiness.
She could be carrying his bairn right now.
Katherine cupped her flat stomach, a smile crossing her face wistfully. It would give her no greater excitement to have Cameron’s bairn, to see that happiness on his face as she gave him a son or a daughter.
“Let me through, ye arseholes!”
Katherine stood and looked over to the keep doors, where the warriors were blocking a soaking wet man. “’Tis alright,” she stated, waving at them. “’Tis only Ian. Let him through.”
Ian stumbled on the stone floor as the warriors parted. “I didnae know there was a reason tae have so many obstacles tae see ye, mah lady.”
“’Tis mah husband’s doing,” she answered with a shrug as the council member walked over tae the fire, sticking his hands out to warm them. “Wot brings ye here, Ian?”
He didn’t look at her, his profile turned toward the fire. “I have news that ye need tae hear.”
Katherine’s breathing ceased. Was it news of her husband?
“Wot news is it?”
Ian finally looked at her, glancing around at the warriors that crowded the great hall. “Not here, mah lady. ’Tis only fitting for the lady of the keep tae hear.”
Katherine glanced around as well, noting that
there was more than one eye cast in their direction. Cameron didn’t know who was betraying her own clan, and it could be anyone. “Of course,” she stated, gathering her skirts. “We will go into the study.”
Ian inclined his head and Katherine led the way, William close behind them. “Mah lady,” he stammered as she was prepared to enter the room. “Yer husband, I mean, mah laird, err, mah lord told me tae keep ye in mah sight at all times.”
“Come now, lad,” Ian stated. “I am a member of the council, and wot I have tae say is only fitting for the lady’s ears.”
Katherine was nearly beside herself with worry now. “’Tis alright, William,” she stated softly. “I won’t be but a moment. Ye can stand outside the door if ye like.”
William glowered at Ian, but he didn’t try to force his way into the study, allowing Katherine to move through and Ian to follow. Ian shut the door behind him as Katherine turned to face the man. “Wot is it?” she asked anxiously, twisting her hands together. “Is it the warrior party? Did something happen?”
“Dinnae concern yerself with them,” Ian said, leaning against the door. “They are all dead.”
Katherine felt the floor fall out from under her feet.
Dead.
No, she would know if Cameron was gone from this earth. He was part of her heart, and she felt as if her heart was still intact.
“Ye must be mistaken,” she said faintly, pressing her hand to her beating heart. “I would know.”
“Well, if they aren’t, they will be soon.”
His casual words caused Katherine to look at him sharply, feeling the first frisson of concern thread through her breast. “Wot?”
Ian pushed away from the door, his eyes glittering with rage. “I have tried tae kill ye repeatedly, yet each time ye get away from me. Well, no more!”
Katherine flinched at the sound of his voice. He was the one who had been after her death? “But ye are a member of mah council,” she said, taking a step back as he advanced. “Ye have a voice in this clan.”
“Not enough,” he bit out, clenching his hands together. “Ye should never have been a ruler! Ye are too soft, not willing tae spill the blood that is meant tae be spilt so that we can be the clan that we are meant tae be!”
Katherine was still finding it hard to believe that Ian had been the traitor. “Why? “ she asked, her hands gripping the edge of the desk she had backed into. “Why not fight for peace?”
He chuckled darkly, his eyes wild. “Peace? Ye cannae become the superior clan by peace! Open yer eyes, mah lady. What ye need is tae be eliminated so this clan can thrive.”
Tamping down her panic, Katherine reached into her skirt and touched the dagger that Cameron had given her hours before. If she could distract him, then perhaps she would get out of this place alive. “Wot if I step down?” she asked.
His brown furrowed, clearly not expecting her to throw out the words. “Step down?”
She nodded, sliding the dagger out of the sheath and hiding the blade in the cloth of her skirts. “I can, ye know. I can hand over the clan tae those that are more deserving than me—like ye, Ian. I can allow ye tae take over, and I will leave.”
His confusion was what she needed, and she took a step forward. “Think aboot it. Ye could be laird.”
“Laird,” he repeated. “Ye would do that?”
She nodded once more, closing the distance between them. All she had to do was get past him and get to the door where a multitude of warriors were waiting for her to appear. “If the council thinks I am not worthy, then I will step down.”
He visibly swallowed, his eyes wild. “Think aboot it,” she urged, gripping the dagger tightly in her sweaty palm.
He rubbed a hand over his face, and that was Katherine’s cue to get away, raising the dagger to stab him in the shoulder so she could.
Unfortunately, Ian saw her impending attack and grabbed her wrist, turning it hard so that she cried out and dropped the dagger.
“Mah lady!” William banged on the door, hearing Katherine’s cry of alarm.
Ian wrenched her to him, so close that she could smell his fetid breath. “That was a mistake, mah lady. Now ye will die for yer insolence.”
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Ian pulled Katherine against him as Cameron rushed into the study, muddied and wet from the hard ride. “Cameron!” Katherine cried out in relief, struggling to get to her husband.
He gave her a once-over, rage evident on his face. “Let mah wife go and fight me like a man.”
Ian tightened his hold on Katherine. “Nay. I know ye will kill me.”
“’Tis wot ye deserve,” Cameron raged. “Ye’re a traitor tae yer own kind! We have slaughtered yer group. Ye are the only one left.”
Ian laughed. “Do ye really think that ye can defeat us? There are too many that will rise up against clans like this and make things right!” He then pointed at Cameron. “Starting with the death of the likes of ye.”
Katherine had seen and heard enough. She brought her boot down on Ian’s foot, and he howled, causing his arm to loosen on her midsection. Katherine pushed away from him, and Cameron advanced, pushing her aside and into the waiting arms of Trevor as he went after Ian.
In a matter of moments, Ian was dead, and Cameron was breathing hard as he stood over his body. “Cameron!” Katherine cried out, running into her husband’s arms.
He crushed her against his wet tunic, burying his face in her hair. “I thought I lost ye,” he whispered.
“Nay,” she replied, encircling her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly.
Cameron drew in a long, shuddering breath before he tucked her under his arm. “See tae the body,” he told Trevor as the warriors parted for the couple to walk past. “See that it is known that he was a traitor tae his own kind.”
“Aye,” Trevor stated.
Katherine allowed Cameron to lead her out of the great hall and up the stairs to their chamber, waiting until the door was shut behind him before she fell into his arms once more. “I was so bleedin’ scared,” he told her.
Katherine pressed her lips to the underside of his chin, not caring that his wet clothing was seeping through hers. He was alive. He was not dead.
They had found the man responsible for the deaths of his own clan and nearly their deaths as well. “’Tis alright,” she told him, hugging him close. “We are fine.”
Cameron pulled back, his eyes searching hers. “Did he hurt ye?”
“Nay,” she breathed, seeing the tenderness and love for her reflected in his eyes. “Nay, Cameron.”
He brushed a thumb over her cheek. “I’m sorry I left ye, lass. It was mah fault.”
Katherine pressed her finger to his lips. “’Tis over with, Cameron.”
He nodded and stepped back, pulling his sodden tunic over his head. “I need ye, Katherine.”
Her body warmed at his words and the sight of his bare chest, her cheeks flushing as his hands started at the laces of his breeks. “Cameron.”
He grinned. “Are ye going tae join me?”
Yes, she was. Katherine started working on the laces of her bodice, cursing as the leather ties seemed to knot themselves together.
Cameron pushed her hands away and unknotted the laces, a chuckle escaping him. “We have all night.”
Katherine met his eyes and she gave him a small smile. “I love ye.”
He reached up and cupped her cheek, brushing his lips over hers. “And I love ye. There is nothing I love more than ye.”
His words tore through her very soul, and Katherine knew this was what her life was supposed to be filled with. Love, laughter, happiness, and a bit of tears.
This was where she was meant to be.
Together they removed her dress, and Cameron carried her to their bed, laying her down on the mattress gently before covering her body with his. There were no words needed, only the touch of his hand on her body, his lips on her skin, to have Katherine calling out her husband’s name.
> And when it was over, they curled up against each other, their bodies cooling in the warm chamber. “Well,” Cameron said, his hand roaming over her body lazily, “wot do we do now?”
She turned toward him, a smile on her lips. “We move forward.”
He smiled down at her. “We move forward.”
21
Cameron watched as his wife rearranged her hair once more. “Come now, lass. Do ye really think that Ainslee is going tae care about wot yer hair looks like?”
She shot him a look through the mirror. “’Tis important, Cameron. I need tae look like a married woman.”
Cameron just shook his head, thinking that she did look like a married woman more every day. It had been a week since they had taken down Ian and his group, and they had spent much of it in this chamber, just enjoying each other.
But word had come this morning that there was a caravan of wagons and horses approaching the keep, and Cameron knew it was likely Arran from the missive he had sent letting them know about their marriage and that they had found the traitors.
He wasn’t ready to face Arran on the marriage bit. Even though he knew that Katherine loved him, he didn’t feel like he deserved her and wondered if he would ever feel like he did.
She had brought him happiness that he thought he never needed, laughter when he didn’t feel like laughing.
When in his life had he thought that he could be happy without her?
“That’s it,” he finally said as she touched the braid. “Enough, Katherine. They will have already come and gone by the time ye are satisfied.”
“Fine,” she said in a huff, pushing out of the chair, eyeing his clothing. “Ye’re not wearing yer warrior garb.”
Cameron shook his head, uncrossing his arms and smoothing down the tunic. “Nay. I am no longer a warrior. I’m a husband. Yer husband.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “Och, ye are going tae make me cry again. Truly? Are ye done with the warriors?”
He took her hands, squeezing them gently. “I will always be a warrior. ’Tis in my blood, but I wish tae be by yer side more, and I cannae do that and ride away from this keep.” Trevor would be a fine leader of the warriors, and Cameron could still visit the sparring ring from time to time to keep up his skills. He didn’t need the excitement of the battles any longer.
Highlander’s Royal Blood: A Steamy Scottish Medieval Historical Romance Page 13
