Page 21 of Kilted Abduction
“Ye pack quite a punch, lass,” he said.
Kai burst out of the bushes and gaped at them for a moment as he took in the scene before him. He quickly straightened up and grinned.
“Looks like ye found her then, eh?” he asked.
“Get the bleedin’ ropes,” Magnus ordered.
“Aye.”
Kai dashed ahead of them as Magnus half-carried a writhing, struggling Ciara back to the clearing she’d escaped from before. After he checked her more thoroughly for additional weapons and finding none, he sat her down on the log and Kai handed him the ropes. Using a more intricate knot, he wrapped both her hands tight, pulling hard on them to make sure there was no give no matter how hard she struggled.
“Why are ye doin’ this?” she hissed. “If ye’re bein’ true and ye dinnae ken me faither, why and where are ye takin’ me?”
Magnus turned away, ignoring her as best he could. She was attractive to him in ways that other women were not, and he found it difficult to keep his gaze off of her. While still keeping an eye on her so she didn’t slip her bonds again, Magnus led Kai far enough away so she couldn’t overhear him. He was determined to avoid giving her information he didn’t want her to have.
“We need tae get her back tae Dunvegan,” Magnus said. “Ye ride ahead?—”
“I’m nae leavin’ ye here alone with her, braither.”
“I need ye tae tell Domhnall that we found her and tae send more riders tae make sure I can get her back,” he said. “There may be several men out there lookin’ fer her. Bring me things from the inn and take me horse with ye. We’ll be goin’ on foot.”
“That’s madness.”
“I can’t take the horses on the path we’re takin’. I will stick tae the back trails and little used roads tae get back tae our lands, but I’d feel a lot better if some of our men were out here tae help us if needed,” he said. “But that’s only goin’ tae happen if ye go on ahead of us and rally the men.”
Kai sighed, a frown crossing his lips, clearly not liking the plan. Truth be told, Magnus wasn’t thrilled with it either, but there was nothing to be done for it. If Ciara did, in fact, have people who would come looking for her, he was going to need help to get her back to Dunvegan. A cold breeze swept through the forest, drawing Magnus’ eyes skyward.
“Ride quickly, Kai,” he said. “Those clouds comin’ in are likely bringin’ snow with ‘em.”
“Aye. Looks that way. All the more reason fer me tae stay with ye?—”
“I’ll be takin’ the lass along the Graystone Trail,” Magnus cut him off.
Kai stared into his brother’s eyes for a long moment then finally nodded.
“That’s where we’ll be comin’ from then,” Magnus said. “Rally the men and make haste comin’ tae get us.”
“Ye be careful out there, braither,” Kai said.
“I will. Make all haste, Kai.”
“Aye. I’ll see ye soon.”
Magnus watched his brother dash away, heading back for the village to where their horses were stabled. When he disappeared among the trees, he turned back to Ciara. She sat on the log struggling with the ropes, her face red and lined with frustration at not being able to break her bonds. Magnus was once again struck by her beauty but he stuffed it all down deep inside of him knowing those thoughts had no place in his mind given the current situation.
He walked over and helped Ciara to her feet. She glowered at him and struggled to shrug his hand off her. Once she was standing, he complied and let her be.
“Come on, lass,” he said gruffly. “We’ve got a long walk ahead of us.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
After Kai had brought Magnus what he needed, he and Ciara had headed off towards the trail. They had been walking for what felt like hours already and it was growing colder. Ciara’s breath coming out in plumes of steam and hands still bound at her waist, she trudged through the forest with the large man at her back. Her sword hung on his back beneath the pack slung over his shoulder and her dagger had been tucked away in his boot. If she was going to escape, she’d have to do it without her familiar blades, which meant she was going to have to find a weapon in the woods around her and wait for her opportunity to strike.
“Ye’ve nae told me why ye’re doin’ this tae me,” she said over her shoulder.
The man said nothing. He wouldn’t even meet her eyes. He just kept walking along, head down, brooding. Ciara’s eyes lingered on him for a moment and she felt a rush of warmth fill her heart as her stomach turned over on itself. She’d felt that same thingwhen they’d grappled earlier, and she’d been pressed against him.
Ciara struggled to understand it now as much as she had then. Perhaps even more now. He was the enemy, somebody who sought to abduct and spirit her off to parts unknown to do only God knew what with her. She should be terrified—and she was. But beneath that current of fear was something else, something warm. Something she didn’t understand. All Ciara knew was that she should not be feeling any sort of warmth toward a man taking her away at the tip of a blade. And yet, as she looked at the large man with the broad shoulders and crystalline blue eyes, she couldn’t deny the flutter that rippled through her heart all the same.
