Page 89 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
It was in that moment that madness overtook the priest. He screamed in fury as he raised his knife above his head, his teeth gnashing together, his eyes wild as he charged forward.
Noah felt no regret as he plunged his sword deep into Lucas’s heart. The priest’s mouth gaped open as he looked down at the blade lodged in his chest, the knife falling from his fingers as it tumbled to the earth.
“Ye have yer wish,” Noah whispered, “be with God.”
CHAPTER33
Noah stepped back,pulling the blade free of the man’s body, watching as Lucas’s thin frame collapsed to the earth.
He felt no pleasure or glory at the man’s death, only relief.
Callum appeared at Noah’s side, breathing heavily and covered in ash, his own sword held loosely in his grip, the blade stained with blood.
Callum laid a hand gently on Noah’s shoulder. They both looked down at the priest until a low moan came from behind them. Noah turned to see Scott lying on the ground, his chest soaked in blood.
“Nay!” he whispered, running forward.
“Noah, please! Cut me free!” Keira begged as she squirmed to get to her feet with her hands still bound behind her.
Noah sprang to her side, slicing through her bonds, and Keira was kneeling by her brother in moments.
She lifted his shirt frantically, the fabric sticking to his flesh as blood oozed from the long cut that stretched right across his torso. Keira was utterly silent as she assessed the damage. Scott’s quiet moans were the only sound as Noah and Callum stared down at them both, praying that it was not as it seemed.
Finally, after an agonizing wait, Keira sat back on her heels. Her fingers were stained with blood but looked relieved.
“It isnae deep,” she said to Scott, running her fingers through his hair, staining the copper strands with streaks of deep red. “Ye will be alright.”
Keira’s eyes then took in the body of the priest beside her.
Noah stood silently watching, wondering what thoughts were going through her mind. Would she blame him? Would she regret that he was dead?
Slowly, Keira’s tear-stained face turned to him, and her expression was certain and calm.
“Thank ye,” she whispered.
Noah opened his mouth to speak but was stayed by a hand on his arm.
“Me laird. Look.”
Callum’s voice cut through his relief and Noah turned around as he finally noticed a sudden silence had descended over the battlefield.
The whole crowd had stilled, all eyes on the body of the priest.
Many bodies littered the ground, some bloody and bruised, others utterly still.
“He has killed him,” said a man at the front of the crowd in disbelief. “Laird MacAllen has killed Father MacPhee!”
An ominous shouting began in the crowd, and many of the men still holding weapons and torches began to bunch together threateningly.
Callum instantly stepped forward, his sword drawn. Noah unsheathed his own sword, wishing he could reason with the crowds, but there were too many. They were too angry. At least now their ire was directed at him instead of Kiera.
“Murderer!” someone shouted, and then the whole crowd appeared to merge into one hostile force.
“Murderer! He killed the priest!” came incoherent shouts from all sides as they began to advance on them, one slow step at a time.
“Me laird?” Callum muttered. “We cannae fight them all, not without a bloodbath.”
“I ken,” Noah replied, thinking feverishly as to how he could prevent all-out war. The anger in the crowd was growing. “Keira,” he said quickly as he looked back at her. “Take Scott inside.”
