Chapter 14
Logan and Brody were waiting with horses.
Logan had a brooding look on his face, unsure how he felt about the previous night.
In the fury of their passion he hadn’t thought about anything.
He’d only given in to his feelings and there was nothing in the world that mattered other than her.
He’d awoken with Beitris’ arm draped over his chest and her hair lank against his cheek.
Scratch marks peppered his back, wounds from a triumphant battle where both he and Beitris had emerged victors.
But it hadn’t changed what waited for them. It hadn’t changed what he needed to do.
“I’m glad ye listened tae me,” Brody said.
Logan glowered. “We’re nae capturing her.”
“What? But it’s the perfect plan!”
“We cannae guarantee that Ryan would come alone. He could send an army after us,” Logan said, although he was grasping for reasons that made sense.
“They will be busy arming themselves for the assault. Besides, he will nae risk Beitris being hurt. All we need dae is tell him that at the first sight of an army her throat will be slit.”
Logan visibly winced at the notion. That was the throat he had kissed last night, the throat from which the sweetest sounds he had ever heard emerged.
“It will nae work. I will kill Ryan myself. Beitris hae nae part of it.”
Brody narrowed his eyes, and there was nothing cheery about him in this moment.
“I never thought a lass would be able tae shake yer resolve, the daughter of the man ye swore tae kill at that. Why hae ye let yerself become weak at this last hurdle? All the times ye could hae let loose… and now ye decide that it’s a good idea. ”
“I never said it was a good idea. I never chose this.”
“But it’s happening, aye?” Brody huffed and shook his head, putting his hands on his hips. “After all I hae done for ye, this is the way it ends up? I hae stood by yer side all this time. Ye need tae get a hold of yerself. I feel as though I dinnae ken ye. Listen tae me, nae her,” he said.
“I only need listen tae myself. Ye dinnae need tae fear anything, Brody. I still intend tae gae through with my plan, but there is nae reason for Beitris tae suffer.”
Brody laughed and turned towards his horse. “Ye think she will still be affectionate when ye kill Ryan? Ye are a fool, Logan.”
Beitris came striding up to them, thanking them for preparing the horses.
Brody grunted towards her and then mounted his, riding away.
Logan sighed and mounted his own horse. He and Beitris rode off at the same pace.
His wound was no longer causing him as much trouble, although he assumed this was because of the euphoria he’d experienced the night before.
An echo of it flared when he saw Beitris again.
A hunger growled in the pit of his stomach, one that could not be sated with food.
“What’s the matter with him?” Beitris asked.
“I think he is annoyed tae be on patrol,” Logan said, not wishing to speak about the real reason.
Beitris’ eyes glowed with affection, but he could not enjoy it fully.
He knew that one day that expression would change and instead she would look at him with hatred.
He’d indulged his heart for one night, but he could not allow it to happen again.
Ryan needed to die, and Beitris would never forgive him for that.
But what was his love compared to the justice that Abigail needed?
She had given so much to make sure he was safe, and he could not allow himself to be selfish now.
They rode out to the hills. Logan felt a little calmer out here, as though he had space to breathe. He sensed something though, a presence. His gaze darted across the hills, searching the shadows, waiting for it to reveal itself. His instincts were sharp.
There, near some heather. The slight shift of a head that went unnoticed by the others. It couldn’t have been anything other than Warnock’s hand reaching farther than it should.
“Over there, by the ravine. I think I saw something. Ye gae and check. I will stay here in case there are any others,” Logan said.
Beitris wore a concerned look, although she did not say anything. Brody just glared at him. Logan had to trust that he wouldn’t go rogue and capture Beitris himself.
As they headed towards the ravine, Logan made his way towards the heather, although not directly.
He swung his head, acting as though he were still patrolling.
Out of the corner of his eye he kept watch on the heather, making sure that the spy did not elude him.
Logan moved into the trees and then slipped off his horse.
His footsteps were light as he stole through the forest, moving like the wind.
He made no noise and came up behind the spy.
The man had a crooked nose and beady eyes.
Logan drew his sword.
“Halt, surrender yerself. I ken who is yer master. Ye will be my prisoner,” Logan said.
The man turned and wore a sneering smile.
“And I ken ye, Master Logan,” he hissed. “Yer Da is pleased ye hae infiltrated the enemy camp, but he requires yer presence at home.”
Logan bristled at the words. Anxiety lined his throat. Whenever his father was mentioned, he thought about the pit, the taunts, the insults. He had forged himself into a powerful warrior over the years, but that traumatized child remained inside him.
“I will nae dae anything he says,” Logan rasped.
“Then ye will be punished. He hae eyes everywhere. He kens who ye ride with. And I’m sure everyone in that Keep will love tae ken the truth of yer blood.”
Logan saw red. The thought of Beitris being hurt, coupled with the threat of revealing his secret, meant that he had no other choice.
He swung his sword through the air and the spy had no chance to react.
The blade cut through his tunic and neck, sending him crashing to the ground, dark blood staining the green, lush heather.
It trickled towards Logan’s boots. He stepped back and stared at the dead man, knowing that he was just the first of many.
Logan returned to his horse. He didn’t have to wait long for Brody and Beitris to return. He breathed a sigh of relief, although his countenance was grim.
“There wasn’t anything there,” Brody said.
“I must hae been mistaken. Let’s continue, although I dinnae think we are gaeing tae find anything. Even Warnock cannae be stupid enough tae send his men this far into our territory,” Logan said.
This time he pretended there was a problem with his horse and held back, asking Brody for help. Beitris was out of earshot. Logan kept his voice low.
“There was a spy. Warnock kens I’m here. I must gae tae him.”
Brody stared at him with utter bewilderment on his face. “All the way back there?”
“It’s the only way. The army is coming tae him anyway. I can lie in wait there and strike when Ryan least expects it.”
“I dinnae ken what is gaeing on with ye, but if that’s what we must dae…”
“Nae, I must gae alone. I need ye tae stay here. Watch over Beitris. Keep her safe.”
“Logan, ye ask too much of me. This is madness. Ye hae lost sight of everything.”
“I ken I hae asked much of ye over the years, but indulge me one more time,” Logan said with an imploring look in his eyes.
Brody cursed under his breath but knew there was no point arguing with Logan when he was like this. Logan made sure to lead them away from the heather so Beitris wouldn’t ask questions. They didn’t find sign of any intruders, of course, and returned to the Keep.
When they dismounted, Beitris asked Logan if he wanted to go for a walk.
“I cannae,” he said gruffly, unable to look at her. “There is too much tae dae.”
Beitris furrowed her brow and closed the distance between them, her gaze sharp and unwavering.
He felt the same pull as he had the night before, and it took all his willpower to stop himself from giving in to his instincts.
But if he didn’t go and see his father then she would die, and at the moment keeping her alive was more of a pressing matter than killing Ryan.
“Logan, I thought after last night things changed between us.”
“I am still the same man,” he almost choked on his words. “I can come tae yer chamber again taenight, but until then I must train.”
Beitris shrank back and he could tell that he had offended her yet again Her eyes grew narrow and her lips became thin.
“I cannae believe ye would act like this again. I thought ye were brave, but now ye are retreating when things become real.”
“I am nae retreating from ye,” he rasped, and then grabbed her and kissed her because he couldn’t help himself. He was too weak to resist. “I will see ye taenight,” he said as he summoned his willpower for a brief moment and was able to tear himself away from her.
He would have to do the same thing soon enough, and it might well be the end of things because the next time he saw Ryan Knox the truth would be revealed. Beitris would know him to be the son of her enemy and the slayer of her father.