others, Marguerite went
with him into the underground passageway beneath the fortress. For now, they
would hide from the invaders. And if the worst happened, she knew he would use
every last breath to defend them.
* * *
Callum worked with Nairna to find the secret tunnel that
led outside the fortress. The damp smell of earth permeated the space and he
could sense the fear of the women and children behind him. Though most men would
be afraid of the impending battle, inwardly he felt a sense of calm. Once he
found a bow, he could strike down any man who dared to attack the women. In
this, he would not fail. And if he died this day, at least he would keep
Marguerite safe.
The taste of her lips lingered upon his mouth. He still
couldn’t believe that she’d allowed him to touch her again. She’d welcomed him
into her arms, until his thoughts went well beyond a kiss. He could imagine her
creamy naked skin, the flush of arousal rising on her face. God above, what he
wouldn’t give to spend a night pleasuring her. This woman, who had given him a
path out of darkness, made him want to live.
The acrid scent of smoke caught his attention only seconds
before his brother’s wife Nairna sensed it. The invaders had set fire to the
keep and it was only a matter of time before it spread below. ‘We can’t stay
here,’ she insisted, staring at him with horror. ‘We have to evacuate the
others.’
Callum moved to examine the underground chamber, knowing that
his older brother would have more weapons hidden somewhere. Behind him, he heard
Alex’s wife speaking with Nairna, both arguing about whether to stay or go. He
kept searching until, at last, he found the weapons. There were two longbows
with arrows and a crossbow, as well as a few dull knives and one sword.
He claimed one of the bows for himself, along with a quiver of
arrows. Though he still had the sword Alex had given him, he preferred to fight
from a distance, since he lacked stamina.
His younger brother Dougal, who was only four and ten, looked
uneasy at the prospect of fighting, but he’d agreed to help defend the women and
children. Callum emerged from the darkness, holding out a bow for Dougal and
more arrows. When Nairna tried to take his weapon, Callum shook his head,
keeping his grip tight upon the bow.
In her eyes, he saw the lack of trust. ‘Can you defend us?’
He stared back at her and gave a single nod, hoping she would
understand that this battle was his to face, not hers. Nairna stepped back, as
if she were still wary of him. He gave no reaction, for she would see his skills
soon enough.
Marguerite gathered the women together while Dougal cleared the
exit to the outside. Callum reached for her hand and felt the cold soft skin of
her palm.
He held it for a time, watching her, trying to let her know the
words trapped inside of him. I’ll do everything in my power
to keep you safe.
A blush transformed her face as she nodded. ‘I know.’ She
remained at his side as they moved towards the exit. The sunlight reflected the
rainwater within the ditch. They would have to cross through the water and up
the opposite hillside to reach the sanctuary of the trees and the dwellings
hidden in the forest.
When Nairna started to move forward, Marguerite stopped her. ‘I
know the way to your house, Nairna. I’ll go first and lead them, if you’ll help
Laren gather the others. I don’t know them as well as you do.’
Callum slung his quiver of arrows over one shoulder. Though he
understood Marguerite’s desire to help, he wouldn’t let her go anywhere without
him. He chose a single arrow from the quiver, while Nairna returned to the store
of weapons, choosing a crossbow. The young woman’s face was pale with fear, but
Callum admired her willingness to fight.
The smoke grew worse, and when the children began coughing,
Laren picked up her own daughters, one over each hip, as the women gathered
together. Marguerite moved to the front of the passageway, but
with him into the underground passageway beneath the fortress. For now, they
would hide from the invaders. And if the worst happened, she knew he would use
every last breath to defend them.
* * *
Callum worked with Nairna to find the secret tunnel that
led outside the fortress. The damp smell of earth permeated the space and he
could sense the fear of the women and children behind him. Though most men would
be afraid of the impending battle, inwardly he felt a sense of calm. Once he
found a bow, he could strike down any man who dared to attack the women. In
this, he would not fail. And if he died this day, at least he would keep
Marguerite safe.
The taste of her lips lingered upon his mouth. He still
couldn’t believe that she’d allowed him to touch her again. She’d welcomed him
into her arms, until his thoughts went well beyond a kiss. He could imagine her
creamy naked skin, the flush of arousal rising on her face. God above, what he
wouldn’t give to spend a night pleasuring her. This woman, who had given him a
path out of darkness, made him want to live.
The acrid scent of smoke caught his attention only seconds
before his brother’s wife Nairna sensed it. The invaders had set fire to the
keep and it was only a matter of time before it spread below. ‘We can’t stay
here,’ she insisted, staring at him with horror. ‘We have to evacuate the
others.’
Callum moved to examine the underground chamber, knowing that
his older brother would have more weapons hidden somewhere. Behind him, he heard
Alex’s wife speaking with Nairna, both arguing about whether to stay or go. He
kept searching until, at last, he found the weapons. There were two longbows
with arrows and a crossbow, as well as a few dull knives and one sword.
He claimed one of the bows for himself, along with a quiver of
arrows. Though he still had the sword Alex had given him, he preferred to fight
from a distance, since he lacked stamina.
His younger brother Dougal, who was only four and ten, looked
uneasy at the prospect of fighting, but he’d agreed to help defend the women and
children. Callum emerged from the darkness, holding out a bow for Dougal and
more arrows. When Nairna tried to take his weapon, Callum shook his head,
keeping his grip tight upon the bow.
In her eyes, he saw the lack of trust. ‘Can you defend us?’
He stared back at her and gave a single nod, hoping she would
understand that this battle was his to face, not hers. Nairna stepped back, as
if she were still wary of him. He gave no reaction, for she would see his skills
soon enough.
Marguerite gathered the women together while Dougal cleared the
exit to the outside. Callum reached for her hand and felt the cold soft skin of
her palm.
He held it for a time, watching her, trying to let her know the
words trapped inside of him. I’ll do everything in my power
to keep you safe.
A blush transformed her face as she nodded. ‘I know.’ She
remained at his side as they moved towards the exit. The sunlight reflected the
rainwater within the ditch. They would have to cross through the water and up
the opposite hillside to reach the sanctuary of the trees and the dwellings
hidden in the forest.
When Nairna started to move forward, Marguerite stopped her. ‘I
know the way to your house, Nairna. I’ll go first and lead them, if you’ll help
Laren gather the others. I don’t know them as well as you do.’
Callum slung his quiver of arrows over one shoulder. Though he
understood Marguerite’s desire to help, he wouldn’t let her go anywhere without
him. He chose a single arrow from the quiver, while Nairna returned to the store
of weapons, choosing a crossbow. The young woman’s face was pale with fear, but
Callum admired her willingness to fight.
The smoke grew worse, and when the children began coughing,
Laren picked up her own daughters, one over each hip, as the women gathered
together. Marguerite moved to the front of the passageway, but
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