Page 89 of The Highlander's Accidental Wife
“You know that you cannot defeat Damien,” she said. “That’s why you’ve run and tried these tricks. That’s why you kidnapped me.” Her heart soared in her chest, and she smiled at him. “You will not win.”
Her smile seemed to undo him, and he lashed out, striking her hard enough that she fell. Glaring up at him through her hair, her cheek stinging, she pushed herself up as his lip curled.
“We shall see,” he said. “Tie her up.”
“No,” Helena said and struggled as men yanked her to her feet.
They dragged her to a mast and lashed her there, while the ship heaved and rolled.
Lachlan sauntered over and smirked at her, then leaned against the side of the ship, staring at the shore.
“Now what?” she spat.
Lachlan gave her an amused look. “Now, pet?” He leaned forward and smirked into the darkness. “Now, we wait.”
CHAPTER 34
Mayhem filled the yard,shouts of his men and the pounding of hooves as the search parties swept out. Word had spread like wildfire, and womenfolk huddled in the doorways, some weeping, lamenting, and calling out prayers of strength.
Damien heard none of it. Everything had gone quiet inside his head. All he could focus on was each next step, each next breath, even though it allhurt.His breath burned, and his chest felt as though it were cracking in two. All he could picture was Helena, trussed to some beast, with Lachlan laughing in the distance.
As he swung himself onto his horse, he tightened his gloves and felt the familiar weight of the blades, trying to pull himself out of his fears. Somewhere inside of him was that warrior who fought his way off a ship after endless torture, who took back Morighe after losing his father, and who would face this next battle much the same.
The alternative did not bear thinking of. He couldnotthink of it.
Or he feared he might finally break.
Urging his warhorse forward—a snappish and temperamental young beast that was fast as the wind—Damien was about to ride out the gates when a rider burst in. For a moment, his heart soared, thinking it might be good news, but then his heart fell twice as quickly.
Hair in disarray, a bleeding wound on his shoulder, and a frantic look in his eyes, Orrick’s gaze swept over the crowd until it landed on Damien. Agony flitted across his face, and Damien’s heart stopped, his hands loose on the reins.
Everything felt unreal.
“Damien,Damien.” Orrick rode up and grasped his shoulder, shaking him. “Her braither wasnae there. The foolish man sold her out and led Lachlan here—I was too late.” He bowed his head and squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m so sorry.” He pulled in a breath and shook himself. “But the villagers are canny. They searched wide and found tracks that led north.”
That jolted Damien out of his stupor. For a moment, he’d believed that all was lost, but now fresh energy surged through him, and he gripped Orrick’s arm, giving him a grateful look.
Then, he tensed. “North?” He shook his head. “But there’s nothing north but our folk and the wilderness…” He sucked in a breath. “That bloody fool.”
“Aye, ‘tis the only thing that makes sense—and why they kept appearin’ in the north.” Orrick gave him a grim look as he straightened and nodded toward the gate. “Lachlan means to barter his fate with the Reaper and Helena’s in the Shipmaw.”
Of all things, Damien did not think he’d have to fear his cousin harming Helena out of vengeance and foolishness. All he could hope for was that their constant presence in these waters meant that one of the pirates had somehow figured out the tides.
The only problem was that the tides could change in a heartbeat and swallow a ship whole.
Damien had seen it happen—and nearly every soul lost with it.
He was waiting in a shadowed copse of trees, eyeing the road ahead, and waiting for Orrick. As though summoning him, Orrick appeared and reined his horse in. His face was grim, drawn in hard lines, but his eyes shone with battle lust.
“The men say that there are pirates all along the coast, lying in wait,” Orrick whispered. “We shall clear the way for ye, Milaird.”
Damien nodded and pulled out his father’s dirk—the last thing he had from the former Laird after the blade had shattered. Orrick’s eyes went wide as Damien handed it over.
“Keep it safe for me—and use it well,” Damien instructed.
Orrick started to shake his head, and Damien gripped his arm.
“After this battle, ye are to go home and do whatever Gwennie asks of ye. Start a family.”
