Page 68 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
He swung his sword at Laird Cullen's arm, and the man cried out in pain.
"Lana was the one who saved ye," he continued. The fight was almost too easy, with Laird Cullen tripping over his own feet and losing balance with each parry. "She told me to have mercy on ye."
"Aye, Me Laird," Laird Cullen said, his voice filled with panic. "And I am grateful to her."
"Grateful?" Daniel scoffed. He swung at the man's leg and heard him scream in pain. "Ye have a poor way of showing it. This time, I willnae go so easy on ye."
Daniel pushed Laird Cullen backward, further and further into the woods. His blood pumped through his veins, making every inch of him feel alive.
Seeing Laird Cullen gripping Lana made every ounce of him infuriated. He knew MacDougal wouldn’t hurt Skye, but Cullen surely planned to hurt Lana. For touching her alone, Daniel wanted to wrap his hands around the man's neck and watch him stare death in the face.
Daniel swung his sword wide and watched Laird Cullen swerve. The man lost his balance and fell to the ground.
"Beg for mercy," Daniel growled, pressing the tip of his sword to the man's throat.
"Please," Laird Cullen croaked.
There it was, the terror as he realized his life was in someone else's hands.
"Tell me ye learned yer lesson. No one touches what's mine."
"Daniel, he isnae worth it."
Laird Cullen looked over Daniel's shoulder as Lana spoke. His face hardened into a vicious glare, full of hatred and disgust as he looked back at her. She was trying to save him, but he couldn't recognize it.
"I never wanted ye!" he screamed, and Daniel glanced over to see Lana standing a few feet away, watching them as tears welled up in her eyes. "Ye arenae worthy of Clan Cullen!"
"Watch it," Daniel warned. He pressed the tip of his sword harder to Laird Cullen's throat, causing blood to trickle down the man's neck.
"Ye are a tease!" Laird Cullen cried. "A harlot! A wench!"
With a decisive move, Daniel swiped his sword across the man's throat. Laird Cullen's eyes grew wide as he realized he had brought on his own death. Blood spewed from his throat, hitting Daniel across the chest as he watched Lana drop to her knees, sobbing.
Daniel watched the light leave the man's eyes as his body crumpled to the ground. He couldn't stop. He could still hear the clashing of swords behind him as Cameron fought to save Skye.
He spun around and noticed the guard lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. Cameron was holding Skye with one arm while he fought Laird MacDougal with the other, pushing the man further back into the woods.
Daniel rushed over, Lana close beside him. She was instantly next to Cameron, pulling the child from his arms as Laird MacDougal swung his sword wildly.
"Papa!" Skye cried as Lana pulled her away from the fighting.
But Daniel didn't have time to comfort her. He took his spot beside Cameron and slammed his sword against Laird MacDougal's with such force that the old man lost his grip, and his sword flew through the air before tumbling to the ground.
Daniel pointed his sword toward Laird MacDougal, blocking his path so he couldn't retrieve his weapon. Laird MacDougal took in the gasping, angry men in front of him, and then he slowly lifted his hands before dropping to his knees. He knew he was bested.
"If ye werenae me daughter's grandfaither, I would have killed ye right now," Daniel hissed. He and Cameron pointed their swords to the old man's face.
"Apologies, Laird MacCrawford." Laird MacDougal dropped his head, and Daniel was shocked to hear him cry. "Ye must see… she is me only family."
"And this is how ye treat family?" Cameron scoffed. "If so, she is better off without ye."
"Take pity on an old man," Laird MacDougal cried. He looked up at Daniel, begging for mercy. "Ye ken how hard it was to lose me only child."
"Then ye should ken nae to take mine," Daniel spat. "Ye see what happened to Cullen. I willnae hesitate to do the same to ye if ye ever try to take either one of them away again."
"I only want the child in me life," Laird MacDougal pleaded.
Daniel hesitated as he saw the loving glance Laird MacDougal cast in Skye's direction. Lana was holding the child's head against her shoulder, clearly shielding her from the death and violence around her. Daniel thought of Evelyn and how her death had upended his life. It was not hard to guess what her death had done to her father.
