Page 80 of The Highlander's Auctioned Hellion
She glanced behind her, pulling Eilis toward her so that the girl could rest against her skirts.
“Are there any more of them?”
“I cannae see. I dinnae think so, but ye shouldnae have come here.”
Lydia watched Alexander drag his captive behind a copse of trees and closed her eyes as there was a wail of pain and then silence.
The man-at-arms emerged, his sword still drawn but stained with blood.
“Where did they come from?” she asked.
“Laird McCarthy, they must be his men,” Callum muttered darkly.
This was a different man from the Laird she had come to know. Lydia had never seen him as a soldier before in the heat of battle.
His pupils were almost black, his gaze sharp and assessing as though every blade of grass were an enemy. He looked effortless, fearless, and confident, despite the danger all around them.
“Are ye injured?” he asked her.
“No. I’m all right. Eilis, are you hurt?”
Eilis was a tiny shape beside them, cowering into the earth, reaching for her sister. Callum moved out of the way as thoughto allow the twins to reach each other, but instead, both girls gravitated toward him.
Lydia smiled as two pairs of hands gripped Callum’s jacket as the twins plastered themselves to his sides.
His eyebrows almost reached his hairline as he stared down at them in confusion.
Then, moving slowly as if he did not believe they really wanted comfort from him, Callum’s arms went around the girls. They buried their faces in the crook of each arm as he gathered them into a tight hug, his big head lowering between them as they all came together.
Lydia’s chest tightened at the sight, this little family coming together in a way it never had before.
How I wish I could be a real part of it all.
At that thought, Callum’s blue eyes found hers, and her breath hitched as he reached out an arm and gathered her against him in a close embrace.
“Ye’re safe now,” Callum murmured, and Lydia wasn’t sure who he was addressing as his big hand caressed Eilis’s hair. “I willnae let anythin’ happen to ye. Nae ever again.”
Alexander returned, standing over them, sword still raised, but it seemed the threat had passed for now.
“Come,” Callum said finally. “Let us get ye back to the carriage. We should return to the castle as soon as we can.”
Lydia rose from the ground, picking Amy up as the girl’s little arms went around her neck.
They all trooped back toward the church, Callum and Alexander never taking their eyes off their surroundings for a moment.
There was a look of profound relief on her mother’s face as she rushed forward, Tommy clinging to her skirts.
“Are you all right?” the Duchess asked.
“The threat has been dealt with, Duchess,” Callum said solemnly.
“But who were those men?” she asked frantically, and Lydia looked at Callum, his eyes growing cold with hate.
What happened? Why is someone sending men to snatch the girls from under our noses?
“A neighboring clan. We should all get into the carriage and return as soon as possible.”
Callum looked down at Tommy.
