Page 156 of Highland Spy

Her instincts lurched into action and she managed to jerk away from his face, but he caught the chain tethering her hands together before she could escape.

The darkness of the room became less impenetrable as her vision adjusted, and Murdoch’s wild blond braids and hard face came into view.

His eyes narrowed with hatred. “How did ye know I was working with the king?”

She glanced around the room, confirming several other guards were in there with them. Were it just the two of them, she would have already managed to flee.

“No’ feeling much like answering?” He snorted. “Ye’ll be spending some time with me tonight and can answer then.”

His hands gripped her shoulders and spun her around so her back faced him. “I’m verra proud of how it all worked out.” The sour odor of liquor bathed over her neck and cheek. “But first I need to check ye. The lot of ye think ye’re so clever, hiding yer weapons everywhere.” His hands slid over her arms and down her waist. “I’m sure I’ll find at least one.”

Ariana closed her eyes against the assault of his greedy hands, but it only made her concentrate on his touch more. His fingers glided down her legs and slid across her thigh, where it was obvious no blade had been strapped.

He paused a little too long at her waist and pulled her back against him, where his enjoyment of his search was evident.

Ariana gritted her teeth and couldn’t stop wondering at her own odds of defeating four people.

Murdoch’s hands slid over her chest and danced over the top of her bodice.

The hidden dagger there.

Damn.

She straightened before he could notice it. “That is about enough. A woman can only endure so much offense upon her person.”

Murdoch grabbed her by the throat in a painful squeeze and shoved his hand in to the confines between her breasts. His fingers were cold and rough.

He’d clumsily bumped the dagger several times and yet he allowed his probing fingers to prod within her bodice.

The cur.

With all the strength Ariana could muster, she exploded forward and used her head as a battering ram against his face. Pain blossomed over the front of her forehead and Murdoch jerked back from her with a curse.

His hand had clung to her dagger and tugged it free from her bodice with a savage rending that echoed around them.

Blood coursed down his mouth and chin. He held his free hand to the bridge of his nose. “Ye broke by dose, ye bitch.” His ms came out like bs and his ns like ds, evidence that he was most likely correct.

Ariana glared at him and let all the hatred and anger within her radiate in his direction. “I’d have broken more had you not bound my arms behind me, you coward.”

Murdoch looked behind Ariana to where the guards stood. “Get the hell out.” His gaze shifted to her and a chill moved down her spine. “I’ve got her from here.”

The men’s echoing footsteps thunked out of the narrow cell and left the prison disconcertingly quiet.

Ariana bent her knees slightly and braced herself for a blow.

She wasn’t disappointed.

Murdoch rushed upon her with such speed, even her preparation for the impact was not enough to keep her upright. His body slammed into her and she fell back against the hard floor.

She twisted herself when she landed so the solid part of her upper arm slapped against the stone rather than the back of her head.

The way Connor had taught her.

Murdoch grabbed her other arm and dragged her backward. She tried to drop her weight to the ground and make herself heavy, but he lifted her with ease regardless. Her feet kicked helplessly beneath her until she was shoved back against the wall.

“Ye found a way to save him today.” Murdoch’s broken nose made his speech difficult to discern. “Ye’ll no’ be here to save him next time.”

Ariana twisted and fought against his hold. To no avail. If only her arms hadn’t been bound. If only she were free. “Why? Why are you doing this to him? You both survived the attack at Urquhart. You stayed with him all these years, and now this?”