Page 36 of The Highland Curse
Running his thumb lightly along her jaw, he left a trail of fire along her skin. “I’m glad that we had our time together, lass.” His soft words went straight to her heart, squeezing it. “I willnae forget ye.”
Dinnae leave me!she wanted to shout. But instead, she took in a staggering breath, and said, “For your own safety, ‘tis wise nae tae reveal anything tae Fingal, Duncan. I prefer that he disnae hurt ye.”
“Dinnae worry about me,” he said. “I can take care of myself as well.”
“Then ‘tis farewell,” she said, her throat tightening around the words.
“Aye, ‘tis farewell,” he said, but didn’t move.
Tearing her gaze from his beautiful green eyes, she couldn’t bear to witness the compassion reflected there. Nor could she trust herself to say anything else. If anything, she wanted to embrace him, to feel the comfort and protection of his strong arms, the solidness of his chest. But she remained motionless. It was too dangerous to do anything else. And with a heavy heart, she realized that she loved him too much to ever put him in jeopardy.
“Ye should leave now.” Adrina let out a jagged breath. “Fingal and his men are watching us.” At her words, she noted Duncan’s compact frame becoming tense. Even if he was under Fingal’s control, he must have realized that his life was in peril. This was all her fault, she realized. If only he knew the truth. But then it was likely that he would regret ever becoming acquainted with her. Most of all, he would be sorry that he had made love to her. A sudden sorrow filled her chest. And before she could stop herself, her palm slid along his steely arm. But the muscles there jerked at her unexpected contact.
She withdrew her trembling hand, and reached for the brooch. However, her fingers encountered the hole in the plaid. For an instant, her hand clutched at the empty spot before it fell to her side. He watched her movements, a slight frown marring his firm lips.
“I’ll return for ye, Adrina,” Duncan said, his voice low and urgent.
“Of course ye will,” she said, smiling bravely. She knew that the further away he went from MacGill territory, his memory of her and the moments they shared would fade like the mountain mist.
He paused and looked as if he was about to say something. But the pleasant, vacant expression returned to his face.
“Be well, lass,” he said aloud. He adjusted his sword belt over his shoulder, and then pivoted on his heels, and walked back to the other men.
Adrina trailed after him even as she felt a heavy exhaustion pressing down on her. From the moment that the bloodstone was taken away, a weighty fatigue had washed over her as if she wore thick chains around her neck, wrists and ankles. For the most part she had ignored it. But now with sadness in her heart, she felt even more tired and weak, as if her energy was sucked out of her soul.
She clenched her teeth, trying to fight the weariness. Somehow she had to get the bloodstone back. At least then the heavy fog that imprisoned her would lift. And once that happened, she stood a better chance at breaking the curse that enslaved her people.
“The war is coming, and there’s nothing else I can tell ye about that,” Duncan said when he reached Fingal. “I must make my journey home. But before I leave, I desire tae replenish my supplies.”
“My men will take ye tae into town,” Fingal said, nodding at the two guards that stood beside him. His voice no longer sounded civil but was cool and unfriendly. “Ye can get what ye need there.”
CHAPTER 17
As soon as Duncan’s strapping form left the great hall with the guards, it felt as if he had taken all hope with him. Adrina’s heart squeezed in her chest, and she tried to blink back the tears. She had experienced love for the first time, and she lost it. It was useless to dwell on the fact that she would no longer hear the rumble of his brogue, or smell the unique masculine scent that clung to him. Nor would she ever experience his heated kisses, or feel his hard, muscular frame pressed against her. He was better off exiting from her life, and fighting in his noble war. Even though he was a cunning, bold warrior, he had little defense against an evil sorcerer. She was doing him a favor by letting him go.
Adrina turned to retreat within the castle, to wallow in her misery when Fingal’s grabbed her by the shoulder.
“Where do ye think ye are going?” he said, his fingers digging into her flesh.
“Let me go,” she said tightly. “I’m the daughter of a laird. I dinnae see why ye feel that ye can accost me.” She pulled at his hand, trying to free herself from his grip. But he only held her tighter, and a sudden alarm gripped her.
“Release me this instant!” she demanded, allowing the echo of authority to ring in her voice. But even as she tried to sound brave, her heart thudded frantically in her chest. Fingal had never dared to touch her in public, yet he was doing so now. His treatment of her was callous and bold. Why?
In the distance, she saw two female servants carrying linen across the courtyard. At her cry, one of them paused, and turned to look nervously over at Adrina’s direction.
“Help me!” Adrina pleaded. But the young woman continued to hesitate, as if she was torn as to what she should do. Her older companion spoke sharply at the lass, and quickly ushered her out of sight.
Fingal watched the women leave, a satisfied expression on his countenance. “Ye see? Ye have nay authority here,” he said, letting out an ugly chuckle. “Nay one cares whether ye live or die.”
“My parents care,” Adrina said, swallowing the lump of fear.
He bared his teeth at her. “That’s what ye think,” he said, and began to pull her behind him.
Adrina dug her heels into the ground, leaning her weight back in an attempt to prevent him from dragging her with him. But he gave a violent yank, and she fell forward, losing her balance. When she found her footing again, he latched onto her wrist, and dragged her after him as if she was little more than a corn husk doll.
A sob formed at the base of her throat. He was right, she thought wildly. With her parents away, and with the clan members still under the advisor’s influence, she was all alone. Fingal could very well lock her up in the solar, and no one would care what happened to her. But she only had to stay in the solar until her parents returned home. After that, Fingal would have a hard time justifying his brazen conduct.
But then he led her through the great hall, and climbing the serpentine stairs, they passing the family quarters. All at once, a new sense of panic gripped her.
