Page 57 of A Virgin for the Highland Beast
“What’s goin’ on?” Lydia asked, craning her neck towards the window.
For a moment, Hunter wondered if what he was witnessing was real, or some horrific trick of the light. But the closer Nora got to the castle, the more her screams pierced his heart.
Jumping out of his chair, Hunter rushed to the main entrance. Every step felt as if his feet would sink into mud at any moment. There was no telling what the danger was, all he knew was that when he pulled the doors open, only Nora came rushing to him.
“What’s happened?” Hunter demanded as Nora collapsed into his arms. “Where’s Emma?”
The panic and terror were more than Hunter had ever experienced. Not even when he was fleeing his captors and wondering if they were hunting him down had he been so petrified.
Nora, desperate for air, glanced up at him before settling her eyes on her sisters. Lydia and Isobel rushed over to her and pulled her from Hunter’s grasp.
“Nora, where is she?” Lydia asked, the panic in her voice matching Hunter’s.
“Gone” was the only word Nora managed to get out as she struggled to catch her breath.
“What do ye mean, gone?” Hunter growled as he scanned the vast courtyard, searching for any signs of Emma.
“We were…” Nora started as she dragged her parched tongue over the roof of her mouth.
Before Hunter could call for water, Isobel had a pitcher in hand and was pouring a glass to give to her sister.
Patience wasn’t one of Hunter’s strongest traits. And with every passing moment, he grew more and more frustrated. He wanted answers.
Nora gulped down every last bit of water from the cup and handed it back to Isobel. With the dryness quenched, she turned her attention back to Hunter.
“We were pickin’ herbs out by the tree line,” Nora explained. “I’d seen one that I needed, and Emma offered to get it for me. Thinkin’ nothin’ of it, I reached down to pick a daisy, and when I lifted me head, Emma was gone. She didnae even let out a scream. It was as if she’d just disappeared.”
“Archie,” Hunter bellowed, his voice echoing through the hollowed halls.
“He’s upstairs,” a servant said in a meek tone.
Pursing his lips, Hunter glared at the woman. Although he had no reason to be mad at her, he couldn’t control the rage that tainted all his emotions.
“Fetch me horse,” Hunter demanded. “I’m goin’ after me wife.”
“M’Laird?” Archie called as he scrambled down the stairs. “What’s happened?”
“Emma’s been taken,” Hunter snapped as he squared off with Archie. “I thought ye said there was nay danger. Ye told me that Geoffrey and his men were past the border.”
Archie flinched at the warning. Glancing at the sisters, he seemed confused.
“Our men saw them go,” Archie insisted. “There should have been a few still patrolling the area, though.”
Hunter’s attention snapped back at Nora. “Where were ye when she was taken?”
“The west side,” Nora answerI
Lydia wrapped her arms around Nora. The tears welling up in their eyes only added to Hunter’s rage.
Without another word, Hunter bolted out of the castle. With his leg muscles burning, he pushed himself to the edge of the courtyard.
“Over here,” Archie shouted.
Hunter glanced over his shoulder and noticed Archie waving him over.
“What is it?” Hunter asked, returning his attention to the forest, hunting for signs of struggle or a direction.
“The guard,” Archie said. “He’s still alive.”
