Highlander's Moonlight Seduction (Scottish Medieval Historical Romance)
Page 19
The fighting stopped instantly, and there was a mix of emotions on the men’s faces. Most of them looked relieved, but some just stared at him in disbelief, as though he were mad to think they would ever declare their loyalties to him.
One by one, they dropped their swords. It was enough for now. “Who takes responsibility for these men now?”
A hulking man with dark hair and an angry scowl stepped forward. “I’m Kane.”
“Kane. Come with me. I want a tour of these lands. Everyone else, gather the people. I’ll address everyone when I am ready.”
He didn’t look pleased, but Kane did as Alec asked. Silently, they rode side by side through the lands with Shane, Jamie, and Stephen behind them.
“I donnae want this transition to be difficult,” Alec said quietly. “I want ye to know that this has nothing to do with transgressions in the past. I mean to strengthen this clan, and I’ll need yer help to do that. So tell me, Kane. Will ye be fighting me every step of the way, or do ye care enough about yer clan to help me?”
“Seth was no prince, but ye have no right to step in. A MacKay should rule. To abide another is unthinkable,” Kane said shortly.
“’Tis not my choice to be here. I have been summoned by the King, and ye will step aside for the verra same reason. Be the bridge that I need, Kane. Help me.”
Before the man could respond, they were quickly joined by a dozen warriors who didn’t wear the MacKay colors. Alec recognized their leader and immediately curled his lip in disgust. “Innes Campbell. What might ye be doing here?”
“The MacKays are our allies. If ye have slain Seth MacKay, it will be the last thing ye ever do,” Innes growled. He was the younger brother of Mac Campbell, laird, but Alec knew his kind well. When he spoke on behalf of the laird, he was most likely interjecting his own wishes in the decree.
“I’m here by order of King Edward. We gave Seth MacKay a chance to ride peacefully to court. He rather violently declined the offer. I would not make a move against us if I were ye,” Alec said coldly. While Innes’s older brother Mac was a respectable laird, Innes was just as much of a weasel as his friend Seth. King Edward made it clear that if Alec could not take the clan in hand, the job would be given to Innes.
It was just as clear that King Edward didn’t want that, so Alec could only imagine the King’s anger if he failed.
Innes held out his hand expectantly, and Alec reluctantly gave him the letter. He didn’t want Innes to get his grubby hands on the paper much less on the clan itself. Although they were MacKay allies, the people deserved better.
The vile man grunted his disapproval and handed the letter back. “Fine. But that doesn’t mean that I have to leave. The MacKays will continue to have the Campbells as allies, but donnae expect that loyalty to extend to ye.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Alec muttered as he put the letter safely back in his satchel. “Do as ye will. I’m trying to discern how much damage yer friend has wreaked on his people. Feel free to join me. Perhaps ye can explain just what the hell Seth MacKay was thinking.”
Innes narrowed his eyes in anger, but he urged his horse into step with Alec and his men.
Alec ignored him completely. His first step to win over the clan was with Kane, and that was his only focus.
The water trickled down the walls as it mocked her. Cora’s throat was so dry, and yet, in Alec’s last bout of cruelty, he’d chained her to the middle of the prison so that she couldn’t reach the walls.
It was demeaning to lick the walls like an animal, but she would have done it in a heartbeat. There were days when she thought that if dying was her only means of escape, she would gladly take it. Then she thought of her family, her sister, and knew that she couldn’t give up. She needed to protect them.
Seth and Innes were careful. When they came to visit her, they made it very clear what would happen if she made a sound, and they never left a mark that could be seen outside her dress. She didn’t know why they would take such care unless they were afraid of what would happen if word got out that the two men were regularly beating on a prisoner, and a female one at that. She didn’t even know what they’d told the guards she’d done.
At the very least, they hadn’t taken her virtue. For all of Innes’s cruelty, it was apparent that he wanted a virgin on his wedding night. A shudder of disgust ran down her spine as she remembered the last thing he’d whispered in her ear.
Soon.
Obviously they’d thought that enough time had passed that no one would suspect her to be Cora Isles. Soon she’d be wedded to Innes. Her torture would continue, but at the very least, she’d be out of the prison.
She could plot her escape. She could make sure that her sister was safe, and they’d live out their lives far away from Scotland. If she’d learned one thing in the past six months, it was that highlanders were never to be trusted.
Rolling her shoulders, she winced. She was quickly losing feeling in her hands and arms as they hung above her head. They stretched the muscles in her back, and she was aware of every bruise and cut on her skin, every crack in her ribs.
Seth had chained her up hours ago. When did he expect to return? Her hands and arms were going numb.
There was a sudden flicker of light around the corner, and she stiffened. As much as she wanted to be released from the chains, she knew that Seth would find some reason to beat her more.
“How many prisoners are currently housed down here?” a strange voice asked.
“Who the bloody hell are you? Where is Laird MacKay?”
The voices lowered, and Cora strained to hear what they had to say. Finally, the light moved around the corner, and Cora’s eyes opened.
Seth wasn’t with them, but Innes Campbell was, and there was a deadly coldness in his eyes. Whatever was happening, Innes was not pleased about it.
The man clearly in charge was a big man, but that was nothing new. It seemed that all highlanders were big men. The better to beat women for.
Long dark hair framed his large rugged face, and there was blood splattered on his shirt and the tartan of his kilt. Even through her pain and exhaustion, she noted that he did not wear the MacKay colors or the Campbell colors.
Had Seth and Innes sent someone new to torture her?
His face was different though. Cora couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was something strange in his dark eyes. Perhaps kindness? Pity? Would she even recognize it if she saw it again? He looked over her curiously, and his lips pressed into a thin line.
“She’s a thief you say? What’s her name?” he asked slowly.
Her guard shrugged. “No idea. I’m not to speak to her.”
“What did she steal?”
“I doonae know that either.”
Alec growled angrily. “Do you happen to know how long she’s been strung up like that?”
“Several hours. Laird MacKay is punishing her.”
“How long has she been here?”
“Six months.”
“Then what could she possibly have done to warrant this?” The new man shook his head. “Release her. Now,” he ordered.
The guard hesitated, but the hard look that the new man gave him was enough for him to fumble with the keys. Once the bars were open, all three men stepped into her prison. The guard unlocked the chains around her wrist, and her arms dropped heavily by her side. Immediately, she stumbled and fell.
The new man stepped forward and caught her. “Easy,” he murmured in her ear. “I’ve got ye.”
Cora couldn’t help it. Even though the arms around her were gentle, she still stiffened. He noticed, but he didn’t let her go.
“Seth MacKay is dead,” he said softly.
Relief swept through her, but it was short-lived. Her eyes fell on Innes, and she knew it wasn’t over. Just because one of her captors was dead didn’t mean that the other one was any less deadly.
“My name is Alec Sinclair,” he continued, still speaking as though he were afraid that he�
�d scare her. “I am current acting laird of the MacKays. Can ye tell me yer name, lass?”
She opened her mouth to tell him the truth, but suddenly, all she could see was Innes. He shook his head slowly and mouthed a single word to her.
Lana.
Her stomach twisted, and she squeezed her eyes shut. “Claire,” she said finally. “My name is Claire.”
Thanks for reading the preview! Excited?
Click Here to read “Highlander’s Beautiful Liar”
Also by the author
Other Novels by Adamina:
* * *
Click here to read Adamina’s other novels
* * *
Thank you for making this possible!
* * *
Adamina Young
Get your Free book
TAP HERE to get your free book!
* * *
Or use this link directly in your browser.
* * *
go.adaminayoung.com/free
* * *
Thank you for making this possible!
❤
About the Author
Since she was a child, Adamina was inspired by stories of true love overcoming every obstacle! So, she started writing her first book at the age of 23!
A few years later, she met her own “Highlander” During their honeymoon, they decided to travel to Scotland. And then everything changed...
* * *
Adamina LOVES to connect with her readers, and reads all the messages she gets!
Connect with her on Facebook by pressing the button below, and get a FREE book and a chance to win one of her books for free!
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright Adamina Young Publications © 2019
This book may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the publisher. In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher.
Amazon: Adamina Young
DISCLAIMER:
This book is a work of fiction. Some of the characters are real historical figures, but the others exist only in the imagination of the author. All events in this book are fictional and for entertainment purposes only.