Page 7 of Passion

Anger rammed through her. She had buried a brother. She would not lose Arabelle. “I will give ye one more piece of information. Then you release my sister,” she said.

“When ye have information—”

“I have information now,” she cut in.

He waited.

She shoved her hands into her pockets to hide their tremble. “We are in agreement?”

“Depends on the information,” he replied.

“You can finish off another large number of MacLeods,” she said.

He hesitated, then nodded.

“In five days, the MacLeods plan to attack Castle Borthal.”

He frowned. “That is a three-day ride to the south.” His eyes narrowed. “Why did ye no’ tell me this before?”

“Caeleb has grounded the birds. I had no way of contacting ye. I came here tonight in hopes you would contact me. Ye can be there when they arrive and kill them all.”

He nodded. “Well done.”

She hardened her stare. “I have done my part. Produce my sister by tomorrow or I will retrieve her myself.”

He grinned. “There is the spirited lass I know.”

“Tomorrow, Malcolm. Maggie’s inn. If ye dinnae bring Arabelle, your head will be the first I put on a spike.”

His eyes jerked onto something behind her, then he lunged into the woods.

Her heart pounded. Sweet God in heaven. Gwen whirled to face the intruder.

Tommen.

Had he heard their conversation? She remained rooted to the spot.

Tommen stared, his stunned expression easily visible in the moonlight. Then anger tightened his features. “What have ye done?” He started toward her.

Gwen retreated. He halted.

“ ‘Tis no’ what you think,” she said.

“Nae? You mean to tell me, you were not talking to our enemy? Ye will return with me to Dunvegan to face Caeleb.”

Her heart thundered. What could she say? I’m sorry, I’m a spy, but I lied to them. I didn’t betray you—not really. Even she wouldn’t believe that. Tommen took a step forward. She retreated.She needed to run, but he was a giant of a man. His long legs would outpace her in seconds.

“Forgive me, Tommen.”

His mouth contorted with anger. “Forgive ye—”

Gwen took a step toward him, dropped to a squat and yanked his ankle with her booted foot. He crashed into the brush. With a curse, he started to shove to his feet. She scooped up dirt and threw it at his face. He bellowed and clawed at his eyes.

Gwendolyn spun and raced up the hill. As she neared the cliffs, she unfastened her cloak pin and allowed the cloak to fall to the ground. Taking a deep breath, she leapt off the cliff.