Page 82 of Highland Spy

Connor snorted. “This bastard punched her in the face. He’s lucky as hell she’s even helping him now and no’ leaving his arse for the beasts.”

Ariana lowered her head to hide her face lest any expression give them away. She only hoped they took her action for shame.

One of the guards chortled. “Ach, well, make sure ye punch him well and good when he rises to teach him a lesson.”

Connor gave a grunt of agreement and then they were turning, away from the manor and the soldiers and the threat of danger.

Ariana’s relief was short-lived. The farther they walked, the more reality sank into her awareness. A swell of panic washed over her in suffocating waves until she was drowning.

Her heart pounded too quickly.

Her lips were too numb.

Her breath too shallow.

Don’t scream.

The voice was getting harder to heed. Pinpricks of moisture gathered on her forehead.

“Ariana.” Connor’s voice sounded on the other side of the man.

The man.

His hand was no longer warm against her grip.

Oh God, the man.

She’d killed him.

Something whooshed in her ears.

Her own breathing.

She’d killed a man and he’d landed on her, bleeding on her.

She was covered in his blood.

A low whimper bubbled up from her throat and she pitched forward.

Chapter 20

Ariana was not well.

Connor observed her with concern. She stood by the fire, her eyes staring wide and blank at nothing in particular, her hands folded serenely in front of her despite the dark stains of blood.

He dipped his fingers into the pot of water over the fire. Still cold.

He flicked the excess water from his hand and regarded Ariana once more.

Her expression was entirely empty.

“Ariana,” he called.

She did not respond.

A hearty crack of thunder sounded overhead, so powerful it nearly split Connor’s already aching head.

Ariana did not flinch, nor did she blink. She issued no response whatsoever.