Page 121 of Dark Seduction

Claire held on, hard.

He held on as tightly.

She couldn’t speak. She had never loved anyone this way and she never would. He didn’t speak, either, holding her so tightly it was hard to breathe. Thank the gods yer all right.

Claire looked up. “Moray abducted me from our chamber at court.”

“Aye. I ken. How did ye escape, Claire?” His eyes were wide and worried.

“Malcolm, I leaped out of a tower. I should have died. I didn’t.” She touched his face. “Ironheart is my father.”

Malcolm actually gasped. “He told ye that? How can ye trust a word from the Deamhan’s tongue?”

“He told me, and I know it’s true.” She suddenly stiffened, shivering from the cold, which had intensified. Fear began. “We need to get out of here, please, now. Let’s leap to the Sanctuary.”

Malcolm eased his hold on her, his gaze not on her but beyond.

Claire whirled and saw a hundred knights above on the northwestern ridge to their right. And then she saw one man riding across the field. Moray slowly approached.

“Malcolm!”

His eyes burned with the need for vengeance and destruction, for death. He had eyes only for the demon. “Give me yer hand. I will send ye back alone.”

Horror began. “You cannot defeat him!”

“Give me yer hand,” he ordered as Moray rode past the first stones, looking very pleased. “Ye go to the Sanctuary. I failed to avenge Mairead and Brogan, Now, I avenge ye all.”

He was going to die. He knew it and didn’t care. He was determined to take Moray with him, somehow.

She did not give him her hand.

He briefly turned an incredulous gaze on her. “Claire. Ye gave me yer word. Ye swore to obey me in battle.”

“I know. But I can’t let you face him alone.”

“I want ye to live!” Malcolm cried, seizing her hand.

Claire steeled herself against him.

“A lover’s quarrel?” Moray asked softly. “Hallo a Chaluim. Has she told ye what I intend?”

Malcolm faced Moray, moving to stand in front of Claire. “Get off o’ yer horse.”

Moray dismounted, laughing.

“Malcolm, please, leap away with me!” Claire begged.

He ignored her, unsheathing his longsword. Moray slid his blade free, as well. And Claire felt the blast of his power as she stood right behind Malcolm. Malcolm was shoved back a dozen steps, as she was. It was like being thrown back by a tornado.

Malcolm recovered. “A Bhrogain!” But he spoke softly, and he did not move.

Moray grunted, being forced three steps back. His eyes gleamed red. “You can’t match my power, Calum.”

“Nay?” Malcolm strode forward, sword raised.

Claire cut off her cry as Moray easily parried the blow. As the swords rang, she looked around for a weapon. She found a jagged stone with a point that she intended to be lethal. The swords rang again and then again. Claire tensed, because from Malcolm’s expression, she saw that he was using all of his strength to battle Moray. His face was drawn into a hundred lines, his arms and legs bulged with muscle, and sweat drenched his body. The demon was fighting back, using great effort, but Malcolm’s power was still less than Moray’s.

Claire dropped her stone. Thinking to use it was absurd. She looked at Moray and tried to focus any power she might have on him like a dagger, into his back.