Page 16 of Bride of Fire
“The devil I will!” Jenefer declared, struggling anew. “The bastard came at me with a claymore!”
“Ye see?” Morgan said as he saw Colban inch closer.
“I do,” Feiyan said, lowering her brows and giving him a curious look of regret. “But don’t say I didn’t give you fair warning.”
Just as Colban loomed over the lass, about to spring, Feiyan suddenly bent forward and spun round. She swung her leg in a powerful arc, clipping Colban’s chiseled jaw with surprising accuracy and force.
So unexpected was the violent outburst that Morgan almost dropped Jenefer.
“Feiyan, nay!” Hallidis shouted.
But demure Feiyan paid no heed. No sooner did Colban recoil from the blow than the lass dropped to the ground and swept both legs forward toward Morgan, catching the back of his calves and bowling him over like a wooden pin.
Chivalry was ingrained in Morgan, even in circumstances like these. As he fell, he took care not to crush the naked lass in his arms. But he needn’t have worried. As soon as he hit the sod, Jenefer sprang loose from his grip with a cry of victory.
Now hedefinitelycouldn’t let them escape. Three lasses besting Morgan was bad enough. But three lasses making fools of Morganandhis right hand man…
That was insufferable.
With a roar, he righted himself and lunged toward Feiyan. But she was lightning fast. She dodged out of the way. Twice.
“Feiyan!” Hallidis barked again.
Colban gave his head a shake to restore his senses and then brought his arms together, attempting to grab the elusive Feiyan. She seemed to disappear into the darkness. Colban’s arms crossed, empty.
Before Morgan could comprehend what had happened, Feiyan stepped in and elbowed him in the stomach. His padded cotun absorbed most of the blow. But he was knocked enough off-balance that she managed to get in a jab with the heel of her hand, this one to the point of his chin.
Tiny lights burst in his vision like stars streaking across the heavens, fading into the black sky. He had one brief instant to wonder what the hell was happening.
Then, several yards away, he spied Jenefer swooping up his claymore. In the next moment, she came barreling toward him with the gleaming sword held aloft, like a naked avenging angel.
“Jen!” the other two lasses screamed.
But Jenefer wasn’t listening. She had fire in her eyes and vengeance in her heart. She clearly meant to slay him.
In a tiny, dark corner of his soul, he almost wished she would.
Then that bitter thought vanished, and his survival instincts kicked in.
Chapter 9
Jenefer didn’t intend to kill the Highlander. Of course she didn’t.
She might be hotheaded. Short-tempered. Impulsive. Likely to act first and explain later.
But she was no murderer.
She only meant to frighten the brute, the way he’d frightened her.
The problem was her cousins didn’t believe that. They didn’t trust her. They thought she intended to cut down an unarmed man.
Their doubt troubled and distracted her. So much so that when she charged forward, wielding his claymore, she didn’t notice the Highlander’s fair-haired clansman bolting to intercept her.
Feiyan noticed. She reached into her bodice and pulled out one of her wicked steel stars. With a flick of her wrist, she fired it at the man.
Time seemed to slow as the star whirred through the air, catching the light of the full moon on its sharp points. Jen watched in breathless horror as it sailed straight for the man’s heart.
With an audible thunk, it lodged in its target.
