Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Let me go!”
Liam’s eyes snapped to the form approaching from the forest. In his arms, a dagger pressed to her chest, was Katherine. She was struggling as much as she could with her wrists still bound though it seemed that the blade was doing its job in keeping her from causing too many problems.
“Drop her now,” Liam commanded, grabbing his sword from the ground and taking a few steps forward. “If ye value yer life, ye will let her go.”
“I am nae like any of me men,” the man said, finally stepping out of the shadows. “And I havenae a match for me strength yet.”
It cannae be.
“Then ye will meet yer match today,” Liam countered, his grip tightening.
“I daenae think I will, Laird MacDougal,” the man replied, the tip of his knife pressing harder against Katherine’s skin. “I have been trainin’ for years to find ye and right the wrongs that yer father inflicted on me. I am here to avenge me sister’s death, and willnae leave until I do.”
Blackbeard Jack Kidd, the Pirate Laird.
“I was wonderin’ when ye’d arrive, Kidd,” Liam spat, inching closer.
He needed to get Katherine out of the man’s grasp. If he could create an opening for her, she could duck away. Then, he could kill this man and put an end to the constant worry of their arrival. He could stop the war that he had inherited.
“But before I end yer life…” Kidd said as he moved in closer. His chin was pressed against Katherine’s temple, keeping her so close she couldn’t possibly find an opening to escape him. “… I will end her life. Ye care about her, do ye nae? It’s an eye for an eye.”
Something in Liam broke at his declaration. He refused to be the reason that Katherine lost her life. All of his control seemed to vanish, and the only thing he cared about was killing the pirate for threatening his wife’s life.
Liam took a slow, deliberate step forward. His grip shifted on his hilt, no longer defensive. He intended to attack Blackbeard Jack Kidd and end his life. He would sacrifice himself before letting the other man even scratch Katherine.
“Nay!” Katherine cried, her voice echoing through the glen as Kidd’s grip on her tightened.
“Daenae come any closer,” the pirate warned as he pressed his dagger more firmly against Katherine’s chest. “If ye do, that will be the end of her.”
Before Liam could make another move, there was a great crashing noise coming from the trees behind him. A horse whinnied, crying out even louder than the men had during their struggle with Liam. Then, bursting forth with fire in his eyes and his hooves slamming into the dirt, Brimstone appeared.
The animal ran straight toward them, looking as if he were possessed. His attention appeared to be solely on Kidd and the hold he had on Katherine. He didn’t slow down, not even as he got closer to Liam.
Thinking quickly, Liam rolled out of the way, getting back to his feet just in time to see Brimstone rearing at the pirate. Brimstone practically roared, the sound of pure, animalistic rage echoing through the glen. He was determined, it seemed, to save his favorite person.
Kidd had no option other than to release Katherine, his arms coming up to shield his face as Brimstone continued his assault. She shuffled away, taking every bit of space that the horse was creating for her.
When Katherine had moved far enough away, Brimstone’s hooves returned to the ground. As though he’d been trained for war, the animal placed himself between her and the pirate. His nostrils flared as he stomped his foot, snorting and grunting in an obvious effort to get the man to back off.
Liam took the opening, surging forward while the Pirate Laird was distracted by the horse.
He moved like a storm rolling in over the Highland hills, invading Kidd’s space so quickly he didn’t have a chance to react until Liam was already swinging.
By some stroke of luck, Kidd pulled his sword just in time to keep himself from losing a limb.
“Ye really think ye can defeat me?” he demanded, pressing forward aggressively, guided by years of burning, festering anger. “I will slaughter ye and that horse and the lass.”
“I willnae let ye,” Liam spat as the steel of their weapons collided once more.
Kidd let out a savage growl, his movements becoming wilder as he continued his assault. Liam kept himself steady, his anger sharpening him into a living, breathing weapon. For each unpredictable strike Kidd dealt, Liam countered it with a precise block.
“Ye bastard,” Kidd cried, throwing an elbow toward Liam as he reared back once more.
The hard edge of bone collided with Liam’s forearm, throwing him off for half a second. He recovered quickly, jumping back just as Kidd lunged at him again. His footing was solid, his heels digging into the mud as he poised himself to strike back.
Kidd overcorrected, his balance thrown off by the wild swing. Taking the opportunity he was given, Liam made his move. Raising his sword and leading with his shoulder, Liam shot forward.
When the blade connected with the Pirate Laird’s neck, the man jerked back.
Somehow, he remained standing though he was losing blood quickly, the entire front of his shirt soaked and sticking to him.
But, as his arms slowly lifted, he toppled over, landing on the wet ground and folding into himself as his skin grew paler and paler.
“Ye made a mistake comin’ onto me land,” Liam scoffed, watching as the last bit of life faded from the body before him.
Once he was sure the fight was over and that all four men who had tried to abduct and kill Katherine were truly dead, he turned to check on her.
Brimstone was still firmly in place, standing in front of Katherine and eyeing the dead pirate. He’d stopped his thrashing, seeming to understand that the danger had passed. When Liam approached, he took a few steps away, letting him walk toward the woman they were both protecting.
* * *
Katherine took a few unsteady steps toward Liam. She could feel the frantic energy of the day catching up with her. Just as her knees gave out, his arms came around her, holding her tightly against his chest.
“I’ve got ye,” he said, one arm wrapped around her waist, the other resting on the center of her back. “Just breathe.”
“I…” she began, not having enough air in her lungs to say anything more.
“I ken,” Liam told her, his voice low and velvety. “We must get ye to the healer as soon as ye feel a wee bit steadier. I will get ye on Brimstone’s back.”
Katherine nodded, reluctant to leave the warmth of his embrace. Somehow, despite everything, he remained the one constant in her life. Even if he pulled away, he would still protect her. He would face even the toughest odds for her.
“I cannae stop shakin’,” she murmured against his chest. “But I’m nae cold. I am just... I daenae ken.”
“It is the shock,” he told her, slowly urging her back.
His hands stayed on her, keeping her steady. It was almost as if he refused to see her on the ground again. His eyes cataloged her appearance, and she blushed when she realized the state she must be in.
The dress that the seamstress had worked so hard on was soaked through. Mud was caked on the hem and up her back. It was even stuck in her hair, and she was sure that she had cuts on her face, neck, and chest.
It is so foolish to be concerned about me appearance. He’s just checkin’ me for injuries.
Quickly, he pulled out his dagger and sawed through the rope binding her wrists. Once her hands were free, he rubbed the angry red spots, trying to ease some of the soreness. He knew these would need attention from the healer, too, she was sure.
After he tucked the knife away, his arms came up to steady her once more.
She couldn’t tell how much time passed as he drank her in.
Part of her wanted to squirm away, but the other, more exhausted part of her knew that it would be of no use.
She’d only be restarting the cycle that had pained both of them.
I want him near me, as near as possible.
“Ye are the most bonnie lass I have ever seen in me life,” he said finally, keeping one hand on her waist as he tucked a strand of her muddied hair behind her ear.
“Liam,” she said, her words failing her for the first time in her life. It was as if all she could utter was his name, the word feeling like a prayer between them. “Liam.”
“Katherine,” he said, sounding just as reverent. The birds were slowly starting to sing again, and the sun filtered in through the leaves above. It seemed as though, in that moment, that all of his reservations had been stripped away. “I would marry ye again, just like this. Right here in the mud.”
“Liam,” she said again, a little laugh bubbling from her chest. She rested her forehead against his shoulder, breathing in his scent as she tried to will her head to stop spinning. “Thank ye for comin’ to me rescue. I wouldnae have survived if ye hadnae arrived when ye did.”
“I will always keep ye safe,” he said as his hand came up to cradle the back of her head. “Nae matter what happens, Katherine. I vow that I will never let anythin’ happen to ye. And I will make anyone that touches ye pay.”
“Well, I hope ye daenae have to,” she said with a huff. For a beat, they stayed like that, quiet and breathing in each other’s presence. When he gently pushed her back once more, she murmured, “What is it?”
Instead of responding with words, Liam closed the gap between them with a kiss.
The kiss was gentle, but an undeniable heat simmered beneath it.
Katherine reciprocated, pressing herself against his strong frame.
It felt as if the kiss itself was giving her the strength she needed to make it back to the castle.
As they parted, Liam said, “Let me put ye on Brimstone’s back. I will tie him to me mare then I will take ye back to the castle. After ye visit with the healer, perhaps ye’ll allow me to introduce ye to everyone as me wife. Properly.”
She nodded, unable to find the words to respond. His fierce declaration was so unlike the kisses they shared behind closed doors and the private looks she’d indulged. It was overwhelming in a way that she didn’t think she disliked.
But I’m lookin’ forward to gettin’ used to it.