Page 64 of Kilted Hate

Walking down the cobbled street that ran through the village, Katherine was alert to anyone seeing her, and she pulled her cloak even further forward to cover her face. There were few about at such a time, that was until she neared the tavern, where the rowdy sounds and lively music danced through the windows and out onto the night air. Moving across the street, she kept to the shadows, praying that the drunken men stumbling about outside would not notice her.

Her trick worked, and with the sounds fading behind her, she carried on, now leaving the village and heading up to the well, where she had instructed Reginald to meet her.

This journey does seem far longer than the last time I travelled it in a cart. Of course, it does.

Veering off the path, she took the small track that led to the well, and no sooner had she arrived, than Reginald and two others emerged from the trees, just as they had last time.

Even by the small light of the moon, however, she could see his cold, disdainful expression. Knowing her brother, she felt her heart sink and her stomach clench. Any hope of reasoning with him swiftly disappeared along with the idea that he might even consider what she had to say.

“Katherine,” he snapped, clearly not happy to see her.

“Hello, Reginald. Thank you for meeting me.”

Baring his teeth, he said, “I am surprised you are fit for such a visit after your stupidity the other day. What could you possibly have hoped to achieve, running into a fight of such ferocity with grown men? And to what end? To save the laird?” He glared at her. “Am I to be taken for a fool? Clearly, we are not aiming for the same result, sister.”

Given that he had raised the subject, Katherine took her opportunity for fear she might not get it again.

“You don’t understand,” she began. “Things have changed. I tried to tell you the other day, but you would not listen. I do notbelieve that Domhnall killed our father. We have grown closer over?—”

“You do not believe,” he spat. “And what evidence are you going to produce to verify such a claim, or is it simply your heart taking over your common sense?”

“Reginald—”

“Silence,” he bellowed. “I have not spent copious amounts of time and money to listen to the whinings of a woman who has been blinded by the charms of a wretched Scotsman. I can hardly believe your words, sister. You would choose this man over your own family? After everything I have done for you, you would now betray me and our family name?”

Katherine was so astonished at Reginald’s raging anger that she had no words with which to reply. With her eyes wide and her mouth open, she could only stare at him, partly shocked, partly frightened. Never before had she seen such anger, and particularly, not aimed at her.

For as long as she could remember, he had been cold, distant, unaffectionate, but this was a completely different side of him. She was also feeling confusion. Why was he so determined to destroy Domhnall and his entire family? Why would he not take one moment to consider that the man she had grown to love might actually be innocent?

“Rest assured, Katherine. If you do not follow through with this plan, I will make certain that Laird MacLeod is made fully awareof your part in all of this. He and all his siblings will discover that while you have been in the castle, playing happy families, your real reason for being there has been to spy on them all.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Katherine gasped, now dreading what all of them might think of her if they ever discovered the truth.

“Oh, but I would. I assume, given the circumstances of their parent’s death, that they are already not fond of the English. Imagine how they will react when they discover that you are spilling their secrets to the king.”

“That isn’t true,” she hissed.

“And who do you think they will believe? You, or a letter from a concerned noble, worrying for their safety?” he spat.

He had her to rights, and she knew it. Domhnall had already stated his hatred of the attack. That, coupled with the guilt he suffered over his parent’s death was like wood doused in oil. It would take only a spark to set him ablaze. A spark her brother was clearly willing to ignite.

Katherine gazed at her brother with new eyes, as though he were a stranger standing in front of her. For how long had she veiled his true identity? How long had she ignored what she truly knew? Even in her frightened stupor, it occurred to her that this was her brother’s true state. A cruel, evil man who would sell out his own sister to get his way.

And yet, what was she to do? She was in love with Domhnall, and the wedding was now only days away. Add to that the connections she had made with the twins, and the affection she had grown to have for Magnus. Reginald was willing to sacrifice all of that to get his own way. They would never look at her the same way again. And in truth, could she really deny that she was there to spy on them?

No. I cannot.

While her thoughts were a cascading mess, voices carried across the night air. Voices that were heading in their direction.

Grabbing her arm so tightly that Katherine winced, Reginald pulled her close to his face, and gritting his teeth, he whispered angrily. “You know what will happen if you do not do as I ask, Katherine. The choice is yours. Your time is running out.”

Roughly, he pushed her away again. While she panted and rubbed her arm to try and ease the pain, Reginald and his men hurried into the trees and out of sight. Taking a moment to gather herself, Katherine eventually left the well, and walked out onto the path.

As she was nearing the castle walls and Katherine was wondering if she could get back in with the same excuse a before, she heard some approaching horses.

“Katherine?”

Spinning at the sound of Kai’s voice, Katherine could hardly believe her ears. The twins had told her he had left to collect a friend who was attending the wedding, but what were the chances that it would be his approach that had scared her brother away?

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