Page 71 of The Cruel Highlander's Healer
“It’s simple,” Alistair answered with a shrug, wild eyes fixed on Eliza’s face. “I will tell the Laird I’ll give him ye if he releases his maither.”
The shadows behind Alistair grew nearer with each word that he spoke, and Eliza sent up a quick prayer that the horse didn’t spook or that Alistair didn’t turn.
“If he releases her, I’ll take her. She and I will ride away, and he’ll never have to deal with her again. She told me so.”
“When did she tell ye?” Eliza asked.
She had to keep him talking. The shadows were growing closer. The time to act was coming soon. At least, she thought it was.
“I’ve been guardin’ her for a while now,” Alistair explained, his chest puffing up with pride. “The Laird trusted me to guard her. The fool! And we’ve been talkin’. We fell in love.”
Eliza couldn’t stop the snort she let out, and Alistair’s eyes flared wide.
“Daenae laugh!” His voice rose with hysteria, flashing in the brightening moonlight. “It’s true. She loves me.”
He marched forward, bringing himself closer to where Eliza sat on the ground. She smiled up at him, a feral flashing of teeth.
“She loves me!” Alistair insisted again, spittle flying from his mouth as he screeched. “She told me so! She told me that if I get her out, we’ll run away together. I just need to use ye first. The Laird will make the exchange. Ye’ll see.”
“That will nae be happenin’.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
“There will be nay exchange,” Conall said, the words echoing through the night as he glared at Alistair.
His stomach soured as he stared at the man before him, rage and regret warring within him.
Conall had trusted Alistair. For years the man had been one of Conall’s most trusted. He had been one of his father’s most trusted. And now?
The thought of the years of resentment left to fester just below the surface turned his stomach as he glared at the man.
“If ye want this one,” Alistair whirled a finger back, pointing to Eliza where she rested on the ground, “to be safe, then there will be an exchange.”
Conall took a step forward. The rustling of leaves and the sound of footsteps behind him let Conall know that Eliot had moved forward as well, deciding to reveal himself.
Conall signaled to Eliot behind his back, and his guard started moving a few paces to the right. In a practiced move, they would flank Alistair, ensuring that they surrounded him and could act if he moved toward Eliza.
Alistair’s eyes went wide as he noticed it, and he took several quick steps.
“Stop movin’!” he yelled, and in one quick motion, he drew a long, wicked looking dagger from his belt.
Conall wasn’t entirely sure what happened next, it all occurred so quickly. And whether it was Alistair’s scream or Eliot’s approach that did it, he did not know. But something spooked Alistair’s horse.
It let out a loud, high-pitched whinny and reared on its hind legs. Eliot was close to it, and he lifted his arms to shield himself as the horse's hooves lashed out.
It clipped his cheek, sending Eliot tumbling toward the ground. Conall was distracted by Eliot’s fall, so he did not see it when Alistair moved.
He heard Eliza scream and Conall whirled again. Alistair had her now, his arm wrapped around her from behind and lifting her up off the ground. Alistair’s dagger was pressed to her throat.
“Daenae move!” the guard screeched again, the sound filling the space.
The horse let out another whinny, but it did not rear again. From the corner of his eye, Conall saw Eliot begin to stir.
“Eliot!” Conall called, but he kept his eyes fixed on Alistair and Eliza. “Eliot, answer me!”
“I’m alright,” Eliot groaned. “It just clipped me cheek. I’ll be alright.”
Conall nodded, but he kept watching Eliza’s every movement. Her eyes were wide with fear, and they were fixed on him. Silently begging him to save her.
