Page 7 of The Ruthless Highlander's Hellion
“Quiet yerself, lass,” Nicholas muttered under his breath, irritated by her constant insults. “Keep that mouth of yers shut, or I’ll tie a handkerchief round it and make sure ye cannae speak at all.” He knew it was a threat she wouldn’t take lightly, but her defiance only drove him further.
Alexandra raised her chin defiantly and hissed, "Try it, and I’ll make ye regret it." Her words, filled with venom, only made him smirk.
Marcus, who had been riding beside them, couldn’t help but chuckle at the exchange. He laughed, the sound deep and rich, but Nicholas wasn’t amused. His gaze shot over to Marcus, a sharp look of anger crossing his face. "What’s so bloody funny?" Nicholas snapped, his jaw clenched tight.
Marcus held up his hands, still chuckling but now in full control of himself. "Nothin'. Just thinkin' that the lass has spirit—like yerself."
His voice held a teasing tone, but he quickly wiped the smirk off his face as Nicholas narrowed his eyes. Nicholas didn’t respond,but his grip on Alexandra tightened ever so slightly. She gasped, feeling the pressure, but still didn’t give in to the intimidation.
"Ye’ll learn quickly enough, lass," Nicholas muttered to her, his voice low and dangerous. "There’s nay way out of this. Ye’ll behave, or I’ll make ye wish ye did." His words hung in the air, thick with threat, but Alexandra didn’t flinch. Instead, she turned her head slightly, glaring at him with all the fury she could muster.
Their journey continued, the sound of hooves echoing through the quiet countryside. Nicholas made sure to stay off the main roads, using back paths that cut through tall forests so they would not be seen.
As they rode closer to the imposing silhouette of O'Donnell Castle, Nicholas felt a pang of unease, though he hid it well. The castle loomed ahead, its stone walls towering against the backdrop of a stormy sky, the wind howling through the hills.
Alexandra, still bound and perched on Apollo in front of him, was silent, her body tense under his grip. He could sense her unease, her breath quickening as the fortress drew nearer, but he said nothing, letting the silence stretch between them.
When they finally reached the gates, the guards recognized Nicholas at once and stepped aside, allowing them entry. The horses trotted up the long path to the castle. Nicholas guided Apollo through the gates, his thoughts racing, unsure of how Alexandra would react to the truth he’d kept hidden for so long.
As he dismounted, Alexandra’s eyes widened, taking in the grandeur of the castle. He watched as her gaze darted around, absorbing the high walls and the sweeping towers that seemed to touch the very heavens.
"Why’ve ye brought me here?" she asked, her voice trembling with shock. "This place flies the flags of the O'Donnell clan."
Nicholas’s heart stilled for a moment, but he didn’t let his gaze waver. His hand, still firm on Alexandra’s arm, tightened involuntarily as she looked up at him, suspicion and fear mixed in her eyes. He stood silently for a moment, watching her as she tried to process what she was seeing.
"Aye," he said finally, his voice low but steady.
She blinked, confusion painting her face. "But… but is this O'Donnell Castle, then?" she whispered, the words leaving her lips in disbelief. "Why have ye brought me here of all places, bandit?"
“'Cause it's me home. And lass, I am nae a bandit," he said.
"Then who are ye?" She took another step back, as if trying to put more distance between them, and her eyes searched his face.
He stood still, knowing he could no longer hide the truth from her. "I am Laird O'Donnell," he said, the words heavy as they left his mouth. "Nicholas Robertson, the one ye’ve cursed sinceye met me." He took a deep breath, watching her face twist with shock and confusion, feeling the weight of her gaze on him.
Alexandra’s expression shifted from disbelief to something colder, more calculating. Her eyes narrowed, and her mouth set into a tight line. "Ye’re the Laird?" she asked again, as if needing to hear it a second time to make sense of it all. "And ye thought to bring me here, to yer castle, as if this is some sort of game?"
His heart hammered against his chest, the realization that he could lose her tightening like a vise. "It’s nae a game, lass," he said, his voice rough with a mix of frustration and something darker, more primal. "This is me life—ye’re part of it now, whether ye like it or not." He could see her eyes flicker with anger, but there was something else there too—a glimmer of something he couldn’t quite place.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the air between them thick with tension. He watched as Alexandra seemed to be processing his words, her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to make sense of this revelation. He waited for her to admit that her brother had taken his son, but she said nothing.
He glanced up at the castle once more, his fortress of power, his home, and felt the weight of its walls pressing down on him. This was no longer just about him—it was about what came next. He knew he had placed himself at her mercy, just as much as she was at his.
CHAPTER FIVE
Alexandra’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fear; her thoughts scattered like the falling rain that began to pour down upon them. She had never imagined herself here, in this place, facing the very man who had kidnapped her.
Why has he taken me? What does the Laird O'Donnell want?
There was no clear answer, and the uncertainty gnawed at her insides, leaving her with a sick feeling she couldn’t shake.
She looked to Erica, who was with another man, and their guard tied to a horse behind him. Erica had not said a word the entire journey, which worried Alexandra as she knew her maid to be a fragile sort.
Thunder cracked and lightning lit the sky. A storm hit with sudden fury, the sky darkening as the wind howled through the stone walls of the castle.
The rain came down in sheets, soaking them all in moments. Alexandra flinched, her hair plastered to her face, but her thoughts remained sharp, desperate for answers. She glanced at Nicholas, whose face remained stoic, unaffected by the storm, as if this was all just another part of the plan.
“Ye’ve got me here, O'Donnell, so now ye can tell me what ye want,” Alexandra snapped, the anger in her voice rising above the roar of the storm. “Why did ye bring me to yer castle? What is it ye want with me? Ye cannae just take me and expect me to sit here quiet!” Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her frustration bubbling over.
