Page 81 of The Highlander's Illicit Bride
“And what is it ye think is yers?”
“Yer daughter,” he said. “Isolde’s mine.”
“Lucky fer me, she’s nae yers,” Murdoch said smoothly. “I was able tae rescue her from ye before ye filthy Camerons could defile her.”
Struan’s mind spun wildly for a moment.
He daesnae ken. Murdoch daesnae ken I’ve married Isolde.
The only way was if Isolde had not told him. A slow grin quirked the corner of his mouth upward.
Clever lass.
If her father had known that they’d been together, that he’d claimed her maidenhead, he likely would have killed her for being sullied and unfit to wed Dougal. She’d been smart and kept herself alive.
“Isolde and I wed. And our union was consummated,” Struan said and took a step closer to where Murdoch was sitting. “So, I guess that makes ye me faither in law, eh?”
Murdoch paled and his eyes grew wide as a look of disbelief crossed his face. “’Tis a lie.”
“’Tis nae a lie,” Struan said with a grin. “She’s me wife and she’s been, as ye put it, sullied by a filthy Cameron. We’ve got witnesses tae our nuptials.”
With a howl of rage, Murdoch launched himself out of his chair, pulling a dagger from beneath his tunic in one fluid movement. He hacked and slashed at Struan, growling in rage the entire time. Struan easily deflected the blows and bounced backward, getting outside the man’s reach.
Breathing hard and red-faced, Murdoch glared at him. “I’m goin’ tae kill her,” he seethed. “And Dougal is goin’ tae slice yer braither’s throat. Ye’re goin’ tae lose everythin’ ye love in one night.”
He followed his words with another vicious flurry of slashes. Struan laughed as he parried the blows. He’d been hoping Murdoch would bring up Dougal. He turned aside Murdoch’s last slash with his sword, then stepped forward and threw a punch. His fist crashed into Murdoch’s nose, sending him stumbling backward as blood flowed down his face.
“Oh, by the way,” Struan said and lurched forward. “Ye should probably ken that I already paid Dougal a visit. He’s dead andme braither is free. Ye lose again, Murdoch. Yer ambition always did outstrip yer ability. So now I’m goin’ tae take all ye have left—yer life.”
With a screech of fury, Murdoch threw his chair at Struan. He had to duck to avoid being hit. When he stood up again, he saw the man disappearing through a hidden door behind one of his bookcases. Struan’s heart jumped into his throat knowing the man was going for Isolde.
He’ll kill her, now that he kens the truth.
He pounded down the stairs, hearing Murdoch’s footsteps ahead of him. Struan reached the ground floor then ran forward, pushing through a heavy wooden door. He entered the dungeons in time to see Murdoch at the far end. The man grinned maniacally as he pulled a door open and reached in, yanking Isolde out by the hair. She squealed in pain as he jerked her to her feet violently. Her hands were bound, cheeks stained with tears, eyes wild and filled with terror.
Murdoch pulled his daughter in front of him like a shield and held the edge of his dagger to her throat. That slow, evil grin returned to the man’s lips.
“Daes this seem familiar tae ye, Cameron?” Murdoch hissed.
Struan sheathed his sword and held his hands up, palms facing Murdoch. “Let her go.”
“Ye dae remember this, dinnae ye? I took yer bleedin’ sister’s head like this, remember?” Murdoch mocked.
“Murdoch, let go of her.”
“Ye ruined me daughter, Cameron,” he growled, his voice low and cold. “Now ye’re goin’ tae watch me take her from ye.”
“Please, Faither,” Isolde cried. “Dinnae dae this.”
“I’ll give ye whatever ye want. I’ll give ye me lands. Me title. I’ll give ye me entire birthright,” Struan said, determined to leave everything if it meant Isolde would live. “Just… let her go.”
Isolde struggled in his grasp so Murdoch yanked her hair hard, pulling her head back. He pressed the edge of his dagger against her neck. Struan watched in horror as several drops of blood spilled down her ivory skin. His heart raced and his stomach churned wildly.
“Everythin’ I have is yers. Just let her go. Kill me, if that is what ye want.”
“Ye’d really dae that? Ye’d give up everythin’? For her?”
“In a heartbeat,” Struan said.
