Page 84 of Kilted Abduction
The man sighed heavily. “When we’ve recovered me daughter, we’ll drag her back in chains if we have tae.”
“You had better hope we can recover her, Laird MacDougal. Your previous attempt, as I recall, was an abject failure,” Fairfax said in a clipped, curt tone. “Everything we have been planning and working toward requires your daughter to be my bride. I should not have to remind you of this one simple fact.”
“It is not necessary tae remind me. I ken, and I assure ye, we’ll get her back,” MacDougal said. “The bleedin’ MacLeods will never see what hit them, I have a plan. And by the time they figure it out, it’ll be tae late.”
“I certainly hope you are correct this time,” Fairfax said. “I assure you that the price for failure will be severe. Very severe.”
Magnus paused and let their words sink into his mind. They were obviously going to overwhelm Dunvegan’s defenses and take Ciara by force. Their clan risked being wiped out and their lands would in all likelihood, be given to Fairfax. They already had a vast army in the valley though.
“Hey! You there!”
Magnus looked up and saw the guard rushing toward him, blade bared and a snarl on his lips. He got to his feet and started to draw his own blade when an arrow streaked out of the darkness and caught the man in the neck. The guard dropped his blade as he stumbled clutching the arrow that had gone in one side of his neck and come out the other. His eyes were wide and when he opened his mouth, a wet gurgle was accompanied by a rush of crimson. The man fell.
“Intruders!” the voice rang out.
“Bleedin’ hell,” Magnus muttered.
He turned and sprinted up the hill, a pair of arrows whistling by him as he made his way up to Ciara. The screams of agony behind him told Magnus her shots had hit their mark. The valley floor was suddenly a hive of activity with men shouting and giving chase. Arrows thumped into the trees and skittered across the ground around him as Magnus picked his way to the top of the ridge.
When he finally reached Ciara, he risked a look back and saw dozens of men moving up the hill behind them. His biggest fear was what was going to happen to Ciara if they were overtaken. Grabbing her by the hand, he turned to her.
“We need tae go,” he said. “Now.”
“Ye read me mind.”
Together, they plunged into the darkness of the woods, running for their lives.
CHAPTER 44
Her heart racing and her legs burning as much as her lungs from the exertion, Ciara ran, doing her best to keep up with Magnus’ longer stride. She could hear the clash of steel and shouting voices of the men behind them. It sounded like the entire army they’d seen in the valley was hot on their heels. Ciara had never been as terrified as she was but, at the same time, she felt a rush of exhilaration unlike anything she’d ever known before. She’d never felt more… alive.
“Why are ye smilin’?” Magnus asked.
“I’m nae,” she said with a giggle.
“Ye’re bleedin’ mad.”
The cold air whipped at her skin as they ran, jumping over logs and dodging around piles of rocks, moving in perfect unison. They were wo much in sync, with Magnus boosting her over fallen logs and helping her up onto rocky ledgeswithout breaking stride, it was as if their movements had been scripted. Or as if they were moving through some perfectly choreographed dance together. It made Ciara smile even wider as they ran. Perhaps she was mad, but it felt as if they were connected by some invisible bond that was guiding their bodies.
“We need tae stop,” she said. “I need tae catch me breath.”
He slowed down then stopped and turned around. The sound of the soldiers in pursuit had faded slightly, but they weren’t far behind. Magnus looked pensive but acknowledged the need to stop and catch their winds again with a nod.
“We cannae linger long,” he said.
“Aye.”
Ciara bent over, putting her hands on her knees, and drew in long, deep breaths. Magnus put his hands on his hips and turned his face to the sky, his breath coming out in steamy plumes. Every muscle in Ciara’s body seemed to be aching and she wanted nothing more than to sit down for a while. A long while. But the sound of heavy footsteps crushing branches and dry leaves filled the air around them.
“They’re close,” Magnus said, sounding alarmed.
“Bleedin’ hell,” she said.
Through the light fog that had formed among the trees around them, Ciara saw the glow of torches coming their way. The soldiers were closer than they thought. Magnus looked around, tension on his face.
“Here,” he said.
He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her into a crevice in a rocky outcropping hidden amongst the trees. There wasn’t much room, and their bodies were pressed tightly together. Magnus’ hands were around her waist from behind and his breath was warm on the back of her neck. It tickled her but at the same time, felt sensual. Ciara silently cursed herself for having such inappropriate thoughts at such a bad time, but when she felt his arousal pressed firmly to her backside, she smiled knowing she wasn’t alone in that.
