MacLeod’s keep.”
“I said before, I’m not who you think I am. Although after meeting you, I can understand why your fiancée left. You’re a brute who probably hit her a little too hard and made her disappearance permanent.”
He snarled. “Ye still have a mouth on ye that needs to be shut. Perhaps I ought to put ye on your knees and make ye mute by other means.”
She gasped. “Go ahead, but don’t expect your dick to be on your person afterward, you bastard.”
He punched her in the stomach, and she dropped to her knees. She gasped for breath, unable to get enough air into her lungs. A cold sweat broke out on her skin, and she clasped at the grass beneath her hands while trying to calm herself.
“Ye will be my wife and you’ll keep your mouth shut, less something dreadful happens to ye precious laird’s sister. I’d hate for the bonny lass Gwen to break her neck while out riding her horse. Do ye understand, Coira?”
She met his gaze and stood, her legs far from steady. “You touch one hair on Gwen’s head, and you’ll be dead before you cross the castle’s threshold.”
“You hold the laird’s abilities against mine too high, lass. Do you not remember ye life back at Gladdis Castle? I’ll have to ensure when you return with me that you’re reacquainted with dizzying speed.”
“I will never go there with you.” She finally took a full breath, the action making her queasy. “If you weren’t so blind with anger, you’d see I’m not who you seek.”
“’Tis you, and I’ll not be leaving here without ye. I’ll also ensure the Laird MacLeod will feel my full wrath by taking in and hiding one of my own.”
“I will not stay quiet about your treatment of me today. I suggest you leave before you cannot.”
He crossed his arms, his manner one of mocking confidence. “I’m not known for my kindness. If ye want to keep those who’ve given ye shelter safe from impaling themselves on my sword, I’d keep your mouth shut.” He pulled her close, his putrid breath turning her stomach. “Do ye understand now, lass? Or do I need to show you in other ways to secure your belief.”
She nodded, the burn of tears threatening behind her lids. Damn bastard. Never had she been handled in such a way. “I understand. Now let me go.”
He did, and staggering to stand, she walked back toward where Gwen sat watching the event. She checked her gown, making sure there were no signs of the struggle she’d been in. Her arm ached, and she rubbed it without giving away what had occurred.
Taking a deep breath, she struggled to calm her rapid heartbeat. Gwen smiled in welcome and patted the bench beside her to sit. Aedan walked past and caught her eye, throwing her one of his wicked smiles and she grinned back, not wishing to alert him to the trouble she now found herself. Why the laird of Kirk would think she was his ex-fiancée was too bizarre to even contemplate, but contemplate she should. This could turn into a very bad situation.
“Gwen, when do you think I can go home?” Gwen looked at her in alarm and she read the hurt her question caused, but what other option did she have? Rory Kirk wasn’t of sound mind, and the awful threats he’d promised her didn’t bear thinking about.
“I’ve been meaning to speak to you about that.” Gwen looked about, ensuring their privacy. “For the last few days I’ve not been able to see the aura that accompanied the magic around ye. I think it’d be safe for ye to return home whenever you like.”
“Really?” Hope welled up within her, followed by despair. She wasn’t ready to go home yet, but that choice now seemed out of her hands. To keep Gwen safe and Aedan from fighting with the barbaric Rory Kirk, she’d have to go. Or she could tell them what he’d threatened. At least toward them. “So I could leave today if I liked.”
Gwen frowned, but nodded. “Aye. Today, if it pleases ye.”
It didn’t please her. Not at all. Just the thought of leaving made her heart ache. Rory walked past, his salacious smirk leaving her cold, no matter that the warm sun beat down on her back. “I think it’s time I leave. As much as I’ve come to love you all, I can’t stay any longer, not when I can return to my own time and leave