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This time, Rogene didn’t hesitate. She caught the weapon and pressed the edge against the other woman’s throat.

“It’s over, you bitch.” She spat her enemy’s blood on the floor. “You taste like shit, by the way.”

Euphemia was holding her wrist with her other hand and staring at Rogene like she was ready to kill her.

Yeah. She saw Rogene meant business this time. And inside, Rogene knew she wouldn’t hesitate again.

“Key,” she said. “Now.”

Euphemia didn’t move, only breathed angrily in and out.

“Now.” Rogene pressed the dagger and, just as Euphemia had done to Rogene a few minutes ago, broke the skin on her neck. Euphemia raised her chin, trying to get away from the weapon. “Now!”

Euphemia went into the pocket of her dress and retrieved the key. Rogene took it and threw it to Angus. It landed on his chest. He had enough space between his hands to be able to open the handcuffs by himself. Then he undid the cuffs on his ankles and stood from the bed, rubbing his wrists.

“Let me,” he said to Rogene, and took the dagger from her hands. Rogene was momentarily blinded by his nakedness—his gorgeous cock hung right before her, and despite the danger and the adrenaline rushing through her body, she remembered their lovemaking the night he was kidnapped.

He bent down and pressed the knife to Euphemia’s throat. “Get on the bed, ye evil bitch,” he spat. “Undress.”

Rogene expected Euphemia to make more jokes about being naked with him, but Euphemia didn’t say a word. A muscle ticked on her cheekbone as she began unfastening her dress. She let it slide down and the woman’s white body flashed before Rogene.

“Get on the bed,” Angus said.

Euphemia raised her chin, perhaps waiting for a look a naked man might give a naked woman. But Angus’s eyes stayed on her face, and there was not a hint of appreciation. Only disgust. And anger. So much anger.

“Ye wilna get out of this castle alive,” Euphemia said. “Ye ken that, right? There are hundreds of warriors, and ye have a band of what…ten men?”

Angus’s jaw clenched tightly. “I’ll take my chances. ’Tis better to die of a blade than to stay tied in iron at yer mercy. Climb. On. The. Bed.”

Euphemia’s face darkened. She did as he told her. He approached her and pressed the blade against the woman’s throat.

“Rogene, cuff her.”

Rogene took the handcuffs and put them on the woman’s wrists. Euphemia looked full of venom, like a snake ready to sink in her fangs for the kill.

When both cuffs were on Euphemia, Angus returned the dagger to Rogene, found some clothes in the chests, and dressed.

He took the key from Rogene, went to the window, and threw it as far as he could.

“I’m sparing ye yer life, which is more than ye deserve. But if ye come for Kintail,” he said to Euphemia, “I wilna be so forgiving.”

He took Rogene’s hand, his callused palm warm against hers, and pulled her after him. With Euphemia thrashing and screaming, they stepped into the dark corridor where the sounds of battle came somewhere from the floors below.

Chapter 28

The ringing of metal against metal echoed off the rough, torchlit stone walls. Stepping down the stairs, Angus held the most precious hand in his, that of the woman who’d risked everything for him. Something no one else had done in his life.

Ever.

She’d gathered a band of warriors, she’d teamed up with his brother and sister, and she’d come to rescue him. Without knowing how to fight, with no money or any other advantage. Being an outlander in this time hadn’t stopped her.

As they descended the stairs, he turned to her and looked into her big, warm eyes. “Thank ye, lass. Ye saved my life. Ye were my shield.”

She blinked, and her eyes watered. “It’s not just me, Angus. Your brother and sister came, too. Your warriors.”

“Aye. I ken. But I dinna ken if that would have happened without ye.”

“Of course they’d have come for you without me. I just couldn’t—”