Page 84 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
The crowd bayed, screaming incoherent words at the tops of their voices, their torches held aloft. Cruel expressions twisted their features into monstrous forms in the dim light.
Noah stood his ground, staying utterly still as he surveyed the people before him.
He had seen enough conflicts to know that he could not escape bloodshed tonight. The crowd was rabid with fury, and that kind of tension could only spill over into fighting. It was up to him to contain it however he could.
He did not wish to harm any of the people who had gathered. They were not to blame for the lies this wicked man was spreading, but he could not avoid defending his own keep, and that meant setting trained soldiers against farmers with sticks in their hands.
This is goin’ to be a terrible night,he thought bitterly.And I would risk it all twice overto save her.
“Why do ye want her?” he shouted.
The crowd was silenced. Lucas was not. “Did ye nae hear? She is a witch, just as I told ye when ye thwarted our attempts to capture her before. We have nae quarrel with the MacAllen clan. In truth, many of yer own residents are standing here today, and they are only here in support of God’s work.”
His smile curled over his face as though he had played his winning hand already.
“Then I suggest ye leave,” Noah shouted. “Ye willnae get yer hands on her tonight. Oranynight.”
Noah could see the bodies of his guards moving slowly along the walls, out of sight of the crowd. With a slight nod of his head, they all stilled, waiting for his next command.
He did not wish for the crowd to see how well-defended his castle was or to see hundreds of soldiers gathered to fight them just yet, but he had to be prepared.
No one threatens the people I care for and faces nae consequences.
The priest turned to the crowds.
“As ye can see,” Lucas cried, his hands raised over his head, as though giving a sermon. “Keira Young has bewitched yer good laird into believin’ her lies with her magic. He will do her biddin’ until she is gone from this world, and the spell she has cast over his mind has been broken.”
Noah’s jaw flexed, and Callum scoffed under his breath beside him.
“What magic is it she has used on ye? All I have seen is her care and mastery of healin’. He is quite mad.”
“Aye. He is.”
“This could get ugly,” Callum said gently, his eyes flicking to Noah’s and back to the crowd. “Are ye sure this is what ye wish to do?”
“They have come to me. They are threatenin’ me and me clan, all on the say of one man. I dinnae ken how to explain how wrong they are without a battle, but I wouldnae choose one.”
“Perhaps we can make an example of this MacPhee,” Callum said, his fingers tightening on his sword.
“I wouldnae wish to kill a man of god in front of his congregation either,” Noah said grimly.
His father's hatred and violence had created enough pain for them all to live by. Noah had always vowed he wouldn’t lower himself to the same degree.
That had been before Keira.
Now I would strike down any man who threatened her without a second thought. When did I become so like him?
They both paused as the priest raised his hands higher, looking monstrous in the half-light.
“What say ye?” MacPhee shouted as the murmurings of the crown began to reach a crescendo. Angry eyes watched them from all sides as the torches crept in closer. “Shall we liberate this man from her dark powers?”
A great shout went up as the crowd advanced.
“Kill the witch!”
Noah watched their approach, one hand on his sword—waiting, biding his time.
The main gates of the castle were open, but he doubted that the crowd would be foolish enough to charge. What theycouldreach were the many barrels and carts around the perimeter. After a pause, as though the whole crowd were holding their breath, someone threw a torch.
