Page 100 of Taken By the Vicious Highlander
Sebastian was breathing heavily now, his fingers digging frantically into the ground for some sort of release before Damon could get to him.
“Nay escape now, old man,” Damon drawled as he knelt down next to him.
“Ye think killin’ me will fix any of this? The people still hate ye. Magnus’s men willneverfollow ye. It’s already in motion—ye cannae stop it.”
Damon shrugged. “I dinnae ken.” He looked around at the makeshift army behind him before his eyes met Sebastian’s once more. “I reckon I’ll be just fine.”
Then, he drove his dagger into Sebastian’s torso, before wrenching it out and slitting his throat.
Silence fell over the glen. A festival turned battleground turned execution arena.
The remaining attackers fled, the villagers chasing them in hot pursuit.
It was over.
“Collect the others. Bring them to the dungeons,” Damon ordered quietly.
Finley, quickly noticing Ryder’s absence, turned and gathered the idle men to carry out the orders.
“What will ye have us do, Me Laird?” the Parrish brothers asked in near unison.
“We need to clean this up. Cameron. Kerry?” Damon called, casting a glance at both village leaders.
Without another word, all four men got to work, calling for the support of others standing nearby.
“Me Laird?” Tristan said between heaving breaths. He looked like he was about to vomit.
“Ye didnae kill him.Idid,” Damon grunted before standing up and offering the man a hand.
“I couldnae find Ariah. I dinnae ken if she’s safe or nae,” Tristan panted, fear flashing in his eyes.
“She’s… fine. She’s back at the keep.”
Tristan’s face contorted with confusion as Damon’s eyes fell on Sebastian’s limp body and then met his again, and unfiltered realization tore through his expression.
“Wha—” he started to exclaim, but Damon clapped a strong hand on his shoulder and then walked away.
Still not trusting the man’s intentions—unsure if the battle was all for show or not—Damon decided to keep him at bay.
“Stay close, Gunn. We’ll need to discuss it later,” he called over his shoulder and left him standing alone in the glen.
Serves him right. If he has anything to do with this, he’ll bleed just as well.
He crossed the threshold of the Great Hall, commanding the room with controlled ferocity. The staff moved about with sharp understanding until, finally, his eyes landed on Smith.
“Where is she?” he demanded.
The housekeeper bowed, before answering him and stepping aside.
Damon found his wife sitting stiffly in his study, her hands clenched tightly in her lap, which made his jaw tick.
If she continues to harm herself, I swear to Christ I’ll lock her in the surgery.
The darkness faded from the corners of his vision as the thrill of the fight ebbed, and he nodded at Ryder to leave them.
“Ye’ll do permanent damage, clenchin’ yer broken hand like that, lass.” Damon pointed at her purple hand with a raised eyebrow.
Lilith’s eyes left his momentarily, roaming over his blood-stained tunic, and widened with concern.
