The Scot's Pursuit - Keira Montclair Page 0,43

with all his land. Once the old goat dies, you can warm my bed and no one will care. I’d be pleased to have a sweet taste of you.”

She gave him her back, crossing her arms in a fury. Men. They all thought alike. They all thought it was so easy to live as a woman, but they had little idea what it was like. “Where are you taking me?”

“To the castle. Your sire is out looking for you.” Wiley led her inside the gates, dismounted, then helped her down. Two guards came forward from the door, two she hated. They each took one of her arms and led her forward, though she kicked one in the shin and bit the other’s hand.

That earned her a slap. “Foolish wench,” sneered the one who’d hit her. “You deserve what you have coming.”

They dragged her down into the darkest part of the cellars, where prisoners had been held long ago. Very rarely did they hold any of late, but the cells were always there as a reminder.

She couldn’t have been more surprised. “What are you doing? I’ll go to my chamber. Take your hands off me.”

The taller one grinned. “You’re no longer a member of this clan. You ran away. Your sire said you are to be kept as a prisoner until he returns.”

The door locked behind her. The chamber was empty except for a stool and a chamber pot. One guard returned, unlocked the door, and brought in a pallet, a plaid, and a pitcher of water. “You do get special treatment the others don’t get. You get a pallet.”

Shocked, she had nothing to say. Staring at the pallet and the plaid, she realized she was in the exact position she’d always been in with her father.

Powerless. Utterly powerless until he returned.

Chapter Thirteen

Alick ran toward the door but was stopped by a bellowing voice he knew very well. “Alick!”

Grandsire.

“Clan Grant is basically under attack. You will go nowhere alone. Please come back while we plan who is to go where.” No one said a word, waiting for Alick to speak.

“Grandsire, I must go after my mother.” After reviewing everything in his mind, he’d made the only decision he could—going after his mother. Branwen was his wife—they’d been married by a priest who could attest to it—and she’d be safe at Thane Castle. No one would harm her. While he wished to return to her immediately, he had to do what he could to save his dear mother first.

He couldn’t believe his grandfather had stopped him. He was so furious that someone had had the bollocks to go after his mother that he would kill the English bastards for sure.

“I think you’re missing an important detail, lad.”

“What?” he asked, turning around and striding back to the man who held everyone’s attention.

“Where is your mother?” His voice lacked any judgment—it was calm and rational, inviting Alick to weigh his options carefully and not neglect the obvious.

Something he did too often.

He hung his head, knowing his grandfather was right. Again. “I don’t know. I planned to ask Magnus. Surely he has an idea.”

Magnus came in from the kitchen, chewing on a meat pie. “We don’t know where she is. We tried following her, but the tracking fell apart when they crossed a ravine. They must have gone down the burn through water. But either way, the message isn’t coming to us—we’re meant to go to them. ’Tis why your sire and Jamie will be here on the morrow. They’re gathering forces to bring to Glasgow. That’s the location they set to make the trade. Alex for Kyla.”

“You mean we’re to wait here until they arrive?” Alick said in disbelief.

“Aye, and you’ll not be going off on your own. We need you as part of the Highland Swords,” Grandsire reminded him. “You know both your mother and your father would tell you not to run off blindly searching when you’ve no idea where to look.”

Hell, but he’d forgotten about the swords. They had helped the Grants defeat the group of English in the courtyard and John’s kidnappers in Ayr. Perhaps they would help now too.

Grandsire was right—he couldn’t ride off in search of his mother, but mayhap he could check on Branwen.

“I think I’ll go to Thane Castle. Papa will not be here until the morrow, and we won’t leave for Glasgow for two days. I have more than enough time to travel to Thane Castle and back. I’d feel better if I brought my