Page 79 of Married to the Highland Devil
The Duke stood behind Malcolm, his chin hard. Duncan held his sword tight and waited, counting the seconds until he could attack Malcolm.
He noticed Arran’s eyes on him at first and realized his friend was trying to tell him something.
“Ye are a vile man, Faither,” Arran said, and Duncan saw the tight veins in the sides of his head bulge. “And dinnae act as if this is about my maither’s death. Ye never loved her… Ye always treated her worse than a human would.”
Arran’s voice was low and menacing as he spoke, and he shook his head before swallowing hard.
Malcolm’s expression did not change from the sneer that it was as Arran continued in a louder tone, “Ye have done nothing but lie yer whole life. To all of us.”
Arran was shaking in anger now. The men holding him in place released him, and when he took a forward step, Malcolm tightened his grip around Amelia’s neck, making her cry out in pain.
“Ye ken the truth then, lad. Should I tell ye a little story too?” Malcolm’s eyes gleamed as he turned towards Duncan. “Yer faither didnae have anythin’ to do with my wife’s death, but of course, ye knew that. The wench had fallen ill that winter and died a natural death before I got the chance to kill her myself. At least her death came at the right time. I needed yer father to turn against Laird McCabe, the one man he considered his ally, and seeing me act like the heartbroken husband… Well, yer father couldn’t resist helping me.”
Arran lurched forward with more intent and anger this time, but Duncan grabbed his wrist to keep him in place. He could not let his friend bear the burden of killing his father.
“Be still, lad!” Malcolm yelled. “Ye betrayed me for this family a long time ago, but I shouldnae be surprised. Yer mother was a traitor like ye. So, stay quiet and watch me kill every last one of them like I killed yer friend’s faither.”
Arran was quiet the entire time Malcolm spewed his madness. Everyone in the room had the same tense look on their faces, and as Duncan’s gaze moved around the room, it settled on the Duke, who also looked like he could barely hold back his anger.
Malcolm laughed again as he said the words, and the look of madness in his eyes only made Duncan’s nerves tighten more.
Duncan’s jaw hardened, and he sucked in a deep breath. The only way he could get to Malcolm now was by risking Amelia.
He met her eyes, and she was staring right at him even though he knew she could not see. Duncan tried to figure out the next step to take.
“After I kill this little English wench, then I will kill everyone else!”
Duncan shook his head, hoping that Arran would understand what he meant. He only needed a distraction, and thank goodness, one came.
In the next second, Amelia shoved her elbow into Malcolm’s stomach, and even though the move was not strong enough, it was all Duncan needed.
Amelia broke free from Malcolm’s grasp and fell down as Duncan rushed forward, took a swing at Malcolm with his sword, and stuck it into his gut.
Malcolm coughed out blood first then he slowly dropped to the floor. At that moment, Arran helped Amelia to her feet as Duncan spun around.
He could breathe easily now that it was over, and the only thought on his mind was going to Amelia. He rushed to her, hugged her tight, and buried his face in the crook of her neck, so he could inhale her scent.
He met his friend’s gaze over Amelia’s shoulder and mouthed the words he truly felt. “I am sorry.”
No matter how horrible Malcolm was, he was Arran’s father, and Duncan knew he cared about him.
Arran nodded.
Duncan whispered in Amelia’s ear, “I love ye,” as they hugged tight, and he was certain he would never let her go.
The Duke broke free and rushed forward, and Duncan let him hug Amelia before he walked to Arran and hugged him too. The war was over, and all that was left was getting the rest of the MacGregor army to back down.
“Let me handle the army,” Arran said to him then walked out of the chamber.
A servant came to take Amelia away, but Duncan wanted to be with her, so he lifted her off her feet and carried her to her bedchamber. Once inside, he locked the door then lowered her to the bed.
“Duncan,” Amelia whispered, but he hushed her by pressing a finger to her lips then leaned down and kissed her.
Duncan sent for hot water from the kitchen, and when it arrived, he carried Amelia to the bathtub, helped her take off her clothes slowly, then soaked a washcloth in the water and began running it down her body.
Amelia moaned as the hot water ran down her body. Duncan let his fingers run over every arch of her spine, and as he drew his fingers down, he felt his own body harden with need for her.
“Thank goodness, ye werenae hurt today,” he whispered after he spent time washing her body.
