Page 114 of Highlander Lord Of Vengeance

One of Roland’s men spun, too slow.

Dru flew through the air like a hawk diving on prey, her arms snapping around the warrior’s neck, legs locked at his waist. He shouted, flailed, and stumbled backward into a tree as she tightened her grip, fury in every muscle.

Esme gasped. “Dru?”

The warrior slammed against the trunk, trying to dislodge her, but she held on, growling, “You’ll not get my brother’s wife!”

Another warrior turned to rush her?—

A vicious roarechoed through the trees.

Knox barreled in from the side, sword high, eyes wild. He cut the first man down with one sweeping blow, then ducked beneath the second’s swing to drive his blade into the man’s ribs.

“Dru!” he shouted.

She released the warrior with a final jerk of his neck, and he collapsed. Dru dropped lightly to the ground, winded but grinning.

Knox delivered a fast blow to a warrior who stepped between him and Dru while Hakon and Una saw to the last two.

“Did I or did I not order you to remain home?” Knox said annoyed as he stepped over the fallen warrior toward his wife.

Dru rested her hands on her hips. “Sounds like you don’t know for sure what you told me. So, it’s a good thing I followed you.”

Knox shook his head and grabbed his petite wife around the waist to haul her up against him when a shout rang out and he turned with her in his arms.

“Enough!” Roland’s grip tightened on Esme.

Hakon went and stood beside Una and saw that her hand bled.

“You are hurt?” he asked.

“A scratch,” she said, her eyes on Esme and yelled, “We won’t let you take her.”

He dragged her backward, panic beginning to slip into his voice seeing his men had fallen around him. “I’ll kill her. Don’t think I won’t.”

A voice, deep and deadly calm, rang out. “You won’t get the chance.”

Esme’s heart lurched.

Ryland stepped from the trees like a shadow given form, his sword already drawn, blood staining the blade from the battle. His gaze locked on Roland, dark and merciless.

Roland’s smirked though it faltered.

“I should’ve cut your throat the day you attacked me at the celebration,” Ryland said.

“You would have if you were Torrance. I didn’t understand your generosity that day, though I appreciated it, and I understand it now,Ryland.” He continued to grip Esme, keep her close, keep the dagger pressed against her. “Clan Glencairn belongs to me. With Torrance dead, it left only you and Esme to kill. I was thrilled to hear earlier that you made it that much easier for me with Torrance dead.”

Ryland stood still, his eyes locked on him, wanting to keep him talking until he could figure out a way to get Esme free of him without her being harmed.

“What makes you think you have a right to rule Clan Glencairn?” Ryland demanded.

“I am a distant cousin to Torrance’s father. With Torrance gone and you, too make sure you were no threat to my claim—no relationship—which it appears you are, I would be heir to Clan Glencairn. But if I cannot have it, I won’t let you have what you obviously want.”

Roland moved the blade to Esme’s throat.

Ryland raised his hand. “Stop! Fight me for it. Win, and Glencairn is yours. You have my word on it and those around me witness to my promise. You will rule and Esme will return with me to Clan MacLeish.”

“And you will claim allegiance to me for all to hear,” Roland said as if he already tasted victory.

---