Page 48 of Tempting the Highland Devil
Yvaine saw they had slain five out of six men that captured her, leaving only one wounded and on his knees pleading for mercy. The one who looked their leader took off the cloak covering his face, and she got a better look at him.
“I ken ye,” Yvaine said in a shaky voice as he took his sword and placed it on the survivor’s neck.
“Tell me who sent ye, and I shall make yer death painless.”
The man on his knees stayed silent for a long time, and Yvaine’s pulse roared as she waited for his reply. The pain in her entire body meant nothing else right then.
“Laird Macmicking,” he finally replied then the other man sliced his sword through his neck in one clean cut.
Yvaine shut her eyes, unable to take in the horrific sight. Her body trembled violently, and her fear consumed her completely.
She heard the ruffling of leaves as the leader walked towards her, and when she peered at him again, she saw his outstretched hand.
“Laird O’Neil,” he said, sticking a hand out to her. “It is a pleasure to meet ye again, me lady.”
Yvaine realized where she had met him then. He competed at her brother’s games for her hand. They had enjoyed each other’s company for a time and even shared some fun memories together before the start of the games. He did not make it to the final games, but Yvaine recalled seeing him at the wedding anyway.
He is an ally,she thought and sucked in another deep breath to steady her insides.
His smile stayed steady, and his eyes softened as he waited for her to place her hand in his.
“I am so sorry that ye got hurt, me lady,” he said when she hesitated. “But ye are safe now, and ye have naythin’ to worry about. I shall make sure ye get back to yer castle and husband safely. I promise ye.”
Yvaine did not have any choice in that moment. Slowly, she put her hand in his larger palm and let him kiss the back of her palm as he said, “Ye are safe now.”
“How did ye ken?” Yvaine stammered. “How did ye find me?”
“This is O’Neil land, me lady. I am sure they were headed farther north to Macmicking. I was huntin’ on these grounds when I heard ye scream. Ye have naythin’ to be afraid of. I shall make sure to take ye home safely.”
Yvaine had no other option than to trust him for now. She relaxed a little as he bowed his head and kissed her hand again.
“Thank ye,” she whispered to him, and he still held her hand as she smiled.
Just then, another intense command cut through the air, and Yvaine saw men dressed in MacGregor colors lurch forward for an attack before she saw Arran galloping towards them, his hair swaying around him in a fearsome look as he drew his sword to attack Laird O’Neil.
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Arran heard Yvaine yelling for him to stop before he attacked the man holding her hand. He brought his horse to an abrupt stop and dropped his sword as James also yelled for his men to fall back.
“He saved me,” Yvaine said as she panted. “These men took me, but Laird O’Neil killed them all and saved my life.”
He had considered splitting the man in two with his sword when he saw him touch Yvaine. Arran was still mad with his fury and struggling to control the pounding in his veins.
Yvaine stepped forward, and besides all the dirt in her hair and on her clothes, he could see that she was all right. His pulse slowed, and he dismounted from his horse, ignored everyone else, and went to her.
“Are ye all right?” he asked, his eyes sweeping down her body to take in all of her. “Are ye hurt? Did ye get stabbed, or did anyone touch ye? Tell me, and I will make sure they dinnae live to tell anyone what they did to ye!”
There was dirt on her and a bruise on her cheek. “Who struck ye? Which of them did this to ye, Yvaine!” Arran convulsed with the rush of his fury and forgot every other thought.
Yvaine touched his hand, and the warmth of her hands on his made his heart’s pace slow. He hated to see the bruises on her, and his heart ached at the thought of what she has been through.
“I should have protected ye,” he said in a pained voice and shook his head. “I am so sorry, Yvaine.”
“Ye have naythin’ to be sorry for, Arran,” she said to him in a gentle voice, her eyes shimmering with tears as she took his hand and placed it on her cheek. “See? I am all right.”
Arran indeed needed to touch her to see for himself. His hand cupped her face delicately, and his eyes bored into hers as he slid that same hand down her arm, then pulled her to him and hugged her tight.
He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent, feeling the heaviness in his chest subside now that she was in his arms again. He would have raged war on whoever took her if he did not find her. Only one night had passed since she was captured, and it felt like his life crumbled before him.
