Page 65 of Rescued By the Highland Warrior
They reached the central chamber and Roderick didn’t wait for permission— with one sharp motion, he flung open the heavy wooden doors, revealing Lennox sitting at a large table surrounded by his own men.
His cold eyes met Roderick’s as he realized what was going on.
“Well, well,” Lennox sneered, breaking the quiet with a chuckle that made Roderick’s blood boil. “The mighty Laird Fraser comes tae me door in the middle o’ the night, with his hands full o’ the Council’s wrath”
“It’s over Lennox,” Roderick snarled, raising his sword. “Yer time has run out.”
Lennox’s expression darkened, and without another word, he signaled his men. They moved in, drawing their weapons.
A battle cry sounded from Roderick’s lips as his men met with Lennox’s, the explosions of clashing swords and cutting axes filling the air.
Amid the chaos, Roderick’s gaze remained fixed on Lennox. As he clashed his sword with those around him, he saw him getting away.
“Lennox,” he yelled, chasing after him out the door. “Ye’re nae goin’ tae get away wi’ this.”
Lennox smirked at him, as he ran down the hallway— Roderick following quickly behind. This time, he wasn’t going to let him escape.
Lennox’s footsteps echoed down the hallway as he sprinted, his smirk slowly fading as he realized the distance between him and Roderick was closing.
Roderick’s breath was heavy, adrenaline coursing through him as he pursued.
Soon the chaos from the battle faded into the background, and only the sounds of Roderick and Lennox’s footsteps filled the air.
As they rounded a corner, Lennox whipped around, sword in hand, ready to strike. He lunged at Roderick, but Roderick side-stepped him with a sharp turn.
He brought his sword up to clash with Lennox’s, the two weapons locking with a screech of metal.
“Ye should have thought this through, Lennox,” Roderick gritted out, using his power to shove Lennox back. “There’s nay escape now.”
Lennox’s chest heaved as he staggered backward, eyes wide with panic.
“Ye’re nae better than I, Roderick, nay matter how good ye think ye are.”
“Yer words are worthless,” Roderick snarled, charging forward. He brought his sword down in a sweeping arc, aiming for Lennox’s midsection.
Lennox side-stepped quickly out the way. He was old and unwell, but years of experience let him retain an edge, even in battle with a much younger man. But it was short-lived.
“Ye’re nae stronger than yer faither,” he spat, his sword raised, though he was shaking. There was little Lennox could ultimately do against Roderick, and Roderick knew that well.
“Give it up, Lennox,” Roderick spat.
“Mak’ me,” he snarled. “Ye dinnae have the stomach fer it, young bairn.”
With a roar, Roderick pressed his attack, forcing Lennox back. He struck fiercely and Lennox’s sword fell from his hands sliding across the floor.
Lennox took another step back, his eyes wide with panic. There was nowhere for him to run. He was trapped.
“If ye had just used some common sense, damn boy, and married Fiona instead of droolin’ after that other lass, none of this would ever have happened!” He shouted at Roderick, knowing his time had come. “But nay… all ye could think of was tae bed that lassie, even when the Council tried tae change yer mind. There would have been nay need tae start those fires or tae write the letter if ye had been thinking with yer head… But ye insisted on stayin’ with that girl, so I had tae find a way tae get rid of her. I had tae send me men tae steal arrows from Malcom’s estate… but the damn lass managed tae survive the attack!”
Roderick listened, red and panting, a fury invading him that he had never known. Not only had this man killed his adored father, but he had also tried to kill the woman he was in love with!
“And what about the letters?”
“I kenned ye were on tae something that night in the secret passages. I kenned ye were searching fer evidence and that eventually ye would go lookin’ in the hunting lodge. It was one of the last places yer faither had been. So where better tae hide those letters… a last attempt tae get ye tae dae yer duty and marry me niece. But nae even that could pull ye away from what was between that girl’s legs.”
Roderick had heard enough and that last insult to the woman he loved was too much to bear. He lunged at the old man.
“This is fer me faither,” Roderick yelled, spittle flying from his lips. “And fer Moira!”
