Chapter 27
Their sword fight was like a dance. Lily’s sword fell to the ground when Killian clashed his with hers, and she responded by thrusting her right leg forward to kick him right in the gut.
He caught her ankle, but she swung her body around, flipped in the air, and jumped on him. They both crashed to the ground. Killian groaned as his back hit the ground and her body pressed harder against his.
He protected her hands from hitting the ground by stretching out his hands, too. Lily sat on top of him, panting, and struggling to breathe, because his hardness pressed against her.
Heat pooled between her legs, and she shivered because of it. Niamh lay forgotten to her. Lily knew Killian must have forgotten that his sister was there, too. His hands moved up to her hips and he held her steady on top of him, slightly grinding himself against her.
Lily gasped as his erection pressed into her core. This wasn’t the usual brush. This time, she felt its strength, and she drowned in the desire that rushed through her.
Heart thumping too loud for her to hear anything, Lily stared deep into his eyes.
“A moment,” Killian rasped as his fingers dug deeper into her waist. Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Lily couldn’t tell how much time had passed before Niamh cleared her throat. “Is anyone interested in teachin’ me?”
Lily immediately regained her senses. She jerked away from Killian and rolled farther away from him on the ground. She was sure she was blushing. When she got on her feet, he did the same and straightened his clothes.
Lily picked up her sword, wrapped her fingers around the hilt, and then feigned a cough so she could be certain she would speak without sounding husky.
“Show me your form,” she said to Niamh, picking up where they had left off. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Killian turn away from them and comb his fingers through his hair.
Niamh had the perfect form when she showed it to Lily, and Lily showed her a few moves before pausing to watch her repeat them.
“Great,” Lily praised as Niamh got her first try perfectly. “You will be perfect in little time.”
“Aye.” Niamh pumped her fist in the air, then rushed to hug her. “Thank ye, Lily.”
Killian turned to them again, and Niamh flung herself into his arms. Lily watched him hug his sister, drop his chin to the top of her head and snuggle her close. His gaze however held hers while he hugged his sister.
Lily didn’t know why she could never bring herself to look away from him.
Killian released Niamh just then, and they all heard the rumble in the sky before Lily glanced up to see the gathering clouds. “A storm’s coming,” she announced.
“Aye. Let us get back to the keep before it begins.”
Killian led the way this time, and they marched back to the castle. Lily and Niamh murmured about their sword fighting while they walked, but Lily kept stealing glances at him. She wondered what went on in his mind as he walked alone, his head hung low.
When they arrived at the keep, Fletcher and some other men met them at the entrance.
“Richard Easton has arrived, m’laird,” Fletcher announced. “Shall I bring him to yer study?”
“Aye,” Killian said with a nod. “I want to speak with him now. Where is he?”
“He’s waitin’ in the grand hall with his entourage. He never travels alone.”
“All right… I shall go to him, then.”
Fletcher nodded and led the way. Lily followed, and Killian did not say a word to Lily as Niamh departed from them and headed for the stairway instead.
When they entered the grand hall, Richard Easton turned to the doorway to face them.
“Laird MacColl,” he greeted, and Lily saw the smile etched into the corners of his blue eyes.
“I heard about the late Laird MacColl’s passing, and I knew I had to pay my respects the next time I visited the Highlands.
He was, indeed, a good man. The world has lost a lot with his death. ”
Richard’s kind words and smile made Lily’s instincts stir awake. She knew wealthy Englishmen like Richard could be dubious. Richard was the key to proving Laird McLennan’s innocence, so this was an important moment.
“Thank ye for yer condolences, Mr. Easton,” Killian said before shaking Richard’s extended hand.
“He was a good friend to me. Not just a business partner.”
“Then ye must understand how it pains me that he was murdered,” Killian answered.
Lily noticed how Richard’s eyes widened a little in shock.
He did not know it was murder?
“Murder?” Richard asked as if reading her thoughts.
“Aye. Murdered by the last business partner he trusted to work with. I understand that ye can lead me to who that is. The last time ye did business with my brother… who did he introduce to ye?”
Richard’s eyes darted from side to side as he slightly withdrew from Killian and heaved out a deep sigh. “I knew there was something suspicious about that night when I met your brother and his—”
An explosion erupted around them before he could finish his sentence. The ground at their feet shook, and the force tossed Lily off balance.
The windows around them burst open as she landed on the ground, and masked men dressed in black jumped in through the shattering glass to attack them.
Killian and Fletcher drew their swords and charged into battle while Richard Easton’s men surrounded him for his protection.
Lily recovered from her fall in time, drew out her sword, and stabbed the man aiming at her with a dirk. She sprang into action, swinging her sword over her head in defensive mode.
These men were skilled, and even as Killian’s men filed into the hall to join and help in the fight, their attackers still edged on, killing as many of Killian’s men as they could, alongside Richard Easton’s men.
“Lily,” Killian yelled when one of the masked men got to Richard and thrust his sword into his gut.
“No!” Lily yelled and leaped towards Richard, but she was too late.
Richard Easton coughed out blood. His attacker withdrew his blade, then thrust it again, twisting it deeper this time.
Lily got to him, sliced him down, then tossed her sword to the ground so she could crouch down beside Richard.
Their attackers began escaping, and she heard Killian yell for his men to follow. Fletcher led them, and Killian rushed down to her side.
“Richard,” Killian called in an insistent tone, gently lifting the man off the ground.
Lily pressed both hands to the gushing wound in Richard’s abdomen. His warm blood soaked her hands already.
“The… the—” Richard coughed as he tried to say something.
“Dinnae speak,” Killian urged him. “My healer will care for yer wounds. Ye will be all right.”
Richard coughed again, harder this time. Lily saw him raise a finger before his eyes fluttered shut.
“I’ll get the healer,” Killian said in a rush and dashed out of the hall before she could stop him.
Alone with Richard now, Lily pressed her hands harder against his wound.
“My ledgers,” Richard gasped, coughing harder. “My… The man with him that night—” He struggled to speak, but there was not much he could say, as blood spluttered from his lips. “It was not…”
“Richard… Richard!” Lily yelled as he gasped one last time, his eyes wide open. “No… No!” She shook his lifeless body as he sighed one last time. “No…”
“Richard,” Killian called as he rushed into the grand hall with the healer.
Lily turned to him slowly, tears in her eyes as she shook her head. “He’s gone,” she sobbed just before Killian dropped to his knees at Richard’s side.
She saw Killian’s torn expression of anguish as he squeezed his eyes shut and lowered his head. This had been their one chance of ending all of this for good. Lily had been sure Richard Easton would clarify who the real culprit was and put an end to their doubts.
Her nerves slowly twisted into a mix of anger and agony as she held the man’s lifeless body on the ground.
An innocent man just died.
Her heart grew heavy, and while suppressing her tiny sobs, she gently closed Richard’s eyes.
The heavens released a heavy downpour on their lands still, and Lily hoped Fletcher and his men would catch the men responsible for this. Every last one of them.
It wasn’t just Killian’s brother who deserved justice. Every man, woman, and child who had died in every raid on the McColl villages. Every soldier who had lost his life. They all deserved justice.