Page 73 of Deception of a Highlander

CHAPTER 27

Mariel stared into Kieran’s enraged glare with more courage than she felt. Her pulse raced and left the blood pounding in her ears. “Kieran, I—”

“Do ye have information on the battle?” His dark look rippled her confidence.

Mariel pursed her lips and shook her head. “No.”

His gaze bore into her. “Then this is a discussion that can wait.”

He turned to go, but she grabbed his elbow. “Please,” she begged. She had to do this now.

He pulled back from her, a deep frown evident on the hard lines of his face. “I havena got a minute, Mariel. I’ll be back before dawn. We can talk then.”

The lie hung in the air between them. Mariel knew the fight would take him past morning, and time was a luxury she did not have.

“You have no idea how important this is.” She drew herself closer to him.

“And ye have no idea how dangerous it is to be out here. Get downstairs with the women.”

Her voice trembled with desperation. “Let me fight alongside you.”

He gave her an incredulous look. “Ye dinna know what ye say. This is no’ a fight for a woman like ye.” He glanced over his shoulder into the darkness and turned back to her. “Ye need to leave. Now.”

“I need to tell you—”

“Ye need to learn yer place as a woman and listen when yer man speaks to ye. I’m telling ye to go into the cellar with the rest of the women.”

Mariel gaped at him, her pride shriveling under the weight of his words.

He caught her around the waist and jerked her against his hard body. “Damn it, Mariel, dinna ye understand?” His hand cradled the back of her head, and his thumb braced against her cheek. “I love ye too much to see ye hurt.” He pressed his lips against hers in an urgent kiss that left her reeling.

Before Mariel could react, a clash of swords rang out behind Kieran. He shoved her toward the castle entrance. “Go and dinna look back!”

He turned toward the sounds of battle but stood his ground in front of her. Defending her.

Dozens of men leapt from the darkness and clambered over the castle walls with swords brandished and crazed looks upon their faces. Mariel stood in place; her mind stunned in horror. Their battle cry rang out over the force of the wind and sent a chill of fear racing down her spine.

Ahead of her, Kieran’s body tensed as the mass of men swarmed toward the line of MacDonald warriors who waited at the ready.

There were so many men attacking, and far too few defending.

The forces collided with the deafening dissonance of clanging metal and low curses. Her feet were immobile, transfixed as she watched a man with wild hair lunge at Kieran. The wicked blade of his battle-axe swung with frightening accuracy.

Mariel tensed in preparation to rush forward in Kieran’s defense when a large hand caught her around the waist and forcefully pulled her back.

* * *

The scent of rose mingled with the heavy copper odor of blood, and Kieran knew that despite his warnings, Mariel remained. He flexed the muscles of his arms as though making himself larger would create a stronger barrier between the hell in front of him and the woman he fought for behind him.

The icy wind howled through the battle and added an ethereal element to their world of pandemonium. The moon was a sliver of light in the black sky, hiding her face from the horrors that ensued below. Energy pulsed in the thin air as warriors wrestled in a macabre dance that dictated who lived and who died.

Many would die that night.

Kieran tightened his grip on the pommel of his sword, his palm molding against the smooth leather. The smell of unwashed body pulled his awareness to the massive man in front of him. The MacLeod warrior’s shout rose above the sounds of battle as he charged Kieran in a spray of spittle. Kieran deflected the impact with his blade, his hand vibrating with the force of the man’s blow.

Had Mariel made it to safety?

Kieran chanced a look behind him and saw nothing in the darkness. A path of fire seared along the side of his arm, and he realized his mistake too late. The MacLeod’s dirk caught Kieran in his moment of distraction.