fleeing clan in the gully beyond. He stopped his men, looking to see if he could recognize Abigail among the many men. Not seeing her, a paralysing fear that he was too late gripped him.
He looked farther up the ridge and spotted an old crofter’s cottage, movement near the door said there was a man there, but he couldn’t make out much more than that. Aedan urged his mount on, knowing that if they didn’t act soon, Abigail’s life would be in danger should they cross into O’Cain ground.
If Rory had hurt Abigail, he’d ensure his death was long and painful. Nothing would stop him from having his revenge on a man who was a blight on Scottish soil.
He yelled to his men as they barrelled into the enemy’s camp. “No prisoners. Kill them all.” His men shouted their agreement as they surrounded Clan Kirk. Aedan pulled his sword and sliced into a man as he rode past with no thought or care that the man’s last hours on earth would be long or painful. All that mattered was Abigail. Her safety.
The battle was bloody, swords clashed, and horses screamed. Aedan fell from his mount and fought with his clansmen to avenge their honor and home. The fight seemed to last forever, each stroke jarring his already injured arm, blood oozed from his wounds.
He looked up to the cottage and realized that from here, whoever was up there with Abigail, should she even be there, wouldn’t know the clan had been attacked. He headed in that direction. Sweat poured down his face, and he rubbed his eyes to clear his vision. He stopped, halting his men as Rory stood, surrounded by a few remaining clansmen, the snarl on his face making the blood in his veins turn cold. The bastard would pay for this, no matter what came out of his mouth in the next few minutes.
“You’ll lose this battle, Aedan. The woman isn’t yours, and she’ll do to you what she’s done to me, no matter what promises she makes. I’m only taking back what is mine and making her repent.”
Anger thrummed through Aedan, and he clenched his jaw. The urge to gut the man, spill his body parts, and let the dogs eat him alive, was tempting. “She’s not who you seek. Wherever your betrothed went was not to my keep. Your actions this past day have brought nothing but dishonor to your family and yourself. It ends here. Now.”
“You’re too late, in any case. I’ve already taken your sweet woman’s body.” He laughed. “She liked it, too. Begged for more, scraped her nails down me back.” Rory’s men joined in with his mirth and Aedan’s temper snapped.
He charged the man, his sword raised to chop off his head, anything, as long as the man died. Abigail would never have gone willingly to this traitor’s bed, and it left him enraged that she’d been raped.
Shock registered on Rory’s face, but it wasn’t from Aedan’s strike. The spike of a silver arrow protruded through the man’s chest, and he looked down on it for a moment in awe, before his eyes glazed over in death and he fell forward. MacLeod clansmen took care of the last remaining Kirk men as Aedan looked around for who it was that had shot the arrow.
“Are ye alright?”
His attention flicked up the ridge to a copse of trees, and he met his sister’s gaze. He swore. “What are ye doing here, Gwen? How did ye get out of yer room with Braxton at ye door?”
“You forget my room also has a hidden passageway. Braxton didn’t let me out; in fact, he’s no doubt snoring against my door right at this very moment, none the wiser.”
“We’ll be having words about this when we return home, I can assure ye.” He stood. “Now, what are ye doing here? Explain yourself.”
His sister smiled and gestured to the trees a little way away. “I was behind the tapestry in Abigail’s room when he took off with her. I followed him and knew you’d catch up, eventually. But when I saw you were going to fight him after he goaded you, I had to shoot. Your sword skills have never been the very best when you’re angry. And he angered ye on purpose.”
Shocked mute for a moment, he stared at Gwen, not believing what she was saying. “You push me this day, sister, but I’m glad of it. It seems your aim is true.”
Gwen smiled. “Are ye proud