“’Twas not Haldane who compromised you; ’twas that one there.” Her father sent a sharp, lethal glare at Keegan.

Seona held her breath, waiting for a battle to break out. But everyone remained silent and still.

“How did Haldane MacKay capture you?” her father asked. “You had to be outside the castle walls. We know the guards were drunk on whisky and not at their posts. You slipped out, did you not?”

“Nay.”

“You’re lying, you little whore,” he muttered, too low for Keegan to hear. “One of the maids saw you slipping out of the kitchen with Rebbinglen. And six of my men saw you in the chamber upstairs with Keegan MacKay. Naked. You sicken me.”

We are married. I love him. He is my husband, she almost said. But she couldn’t yet. She had to take her sister to safety first.

“Where is Talia?”

“There.” He swung his thumb toward an alcove with a closed door. “Get her to come out.”

Seona approached the rough door, made of wide planks. “Talia? Are you in there?”

Silence.

Seona knocked. “Talia? ’Tis me, Seona.”

“Where is Father?” Talia asked, her voice muffled behind the thick wood.

“Here in the room behind me.”

“I’m not coming out,” she said in a stubborn tone.

“You cannot stay in there,” Seona said.

“I can. There is food in here. I’ll let you in and you can stay with me. We won’t have to marry the beasts.”

Footsteps approached, and Seona turned to find her father striding closer, a murderous gleam in his eyes. “What is that on your finger?” he yelled.

The wedding band. Fear paralyzed her for a moment, but then she drew in a deep breath for courage, her gaze connecting with Keegan’s—intense blue and arrow sharp. Silently, he and his friends moved closer.

“’Tis a ring,” she said. “I am married.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

“Married?” Chief Murray’s hand flew up and struck Seona’s face.

Fury blasted through Keegan’s veins. He snagged the back of Murray’s collar and yanked him away. The man made a choking sound just before Keegan punched him in the face. The older man bounced off the wall and sprawled to the tavern floor, blood pouring from his nose, curses spewing from his mouth.

Keegan drew his sword to cut down Murray’s guards, for they were sure to attack. But Rebbie, Fraser and Dermott were one step ahead of him on that count. Each of them held blades at the ready.

“Halt!” Rebbie commanded the guards.

“Kill them!” Murray snarled, trying to push up on his elbows.

“I wouldn’t risk it if I were you,” Rebbie warned the guards with a menacing grin and they froze.

Keegan snatched Murray’s sword and dirk from their sheaths and tossed them across the room, then stood on the man’s scabbard, holding him down. “How many times have you hit Seona?” Keegan demanded.

“You bastard,” Murray seethed. “I’m going to kill you.”

“I hope you’ll try.” Keegan went to Seona who still stood by the storeroom door. Her cheek was red and her eyes glinting with fury. “Did he hurt you badly?”

She shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”

“Hold it right there,” Rebbie ordered, drawing Keegan’s attention.

But Murray didn’t obey. He’d crawled to his feet. “Give me your dirk,” he roared at one of his guards.

“Hell,” Keegan muttered.

Rebbie, Fraser and Dermott launched into action, each of them engaging one of the guards, while two charged Keegan. Dodging out of the way, he grabbed a stoneware jug from a nearby table and knocked one on the head. He collapsed to the floor. When the other switched direction and came back for him, Keegan ran him through with his sword. Then shoved him down onto Murray. Keegan kicked the dying guard’s sword away, then grabbed his dirk. Glancing around to see who else might be on the attack, he found the other three either knocked out or dead on the floor. None of them moved.

“You lads are lethal,” Keegan said, battle rage still coursing through his veins.

Murray struggled from underneath the dead guard and surveyed the scene. His eyes grew wide and his mouth hung open when he looked up at Keegan. Was the man ready to beg for his life? He appeared on the verge. Never had Keegan felt such a sense of victory. But he wouldn’t kill Seona’s father while she watched, unless he had to. It might prove too much for her to handle.

“Anyone have rope? We’ll tie him up,” Keegan said. “Them, too.” He motioned to the three guards who still showed signs of life. “They’ll awaken eventually.”

Keegan turned to Seona. “Tell your sister to come out of the storeroom. We’re leaving.”

Seona banged on the door with renewed vigor. “Talia, come out. Keegan and his friends are taking us. We’re running away.”

“You damned blackguard,” Murray seethed as Fraser tied his hands behind his back. “I will see you dead! All of you!”

“Do you remember who my father is?” Rebbie asked.

Murray merely glowered up at him.

“In case you’ve forgotten, he’s the Marquess of Kilverntay. And, trust me, he has the king’s ear. I would hate for you to lose this glorious estate.”

“Dare you threaten me, you—?”

Fraser forced a gag into Murray’s mouth, then tied it behind his head.

“I’m glad you shut him up,” Rebbie muttered.

Keegan turned to see Seona and a dark-haired lass who resembled her a great deal standing with their arms around each other. “Are you both ready to leave this place?”

“Aye.” They nodded, eyes wide with eagerness.

Happiness replacing his battle rage, Keegan smiled.

After the four of them dragged Murray and his men into the storeroom, then pilfered some supplies, they headed out the back door and mounted. Seona rode behind Keegan and Talia behind Fraser.

The MacKay and MacKenzie guards awaiting them outside joined them. Keegan could only assume the rest of Murray’s men were either still passed out from the whisky or suffering headaches and sickness from overindulging. Of course, the ones who’d sustained injuries during their earlier sword fights had likely gone back to the castle for the healer’s assistance.

“Murray and his men will give chase once the tavern keeper discovers them tied up,” Dermott said, riding beside him.

“Aye,” Keegan said. “We’ll ride north for a while to throw them off our trail.”

“’Tis a good plan,” Rebbie said.

“But we do need to turn west again soon and head back to Teasairg,” Dermott said. “Cyrus has a large force of men and the MacKenzies will be glad to help.”

“I appreciate it, Dermott,” Keegan said.

If they could’ve slipped away during the night, they would’ve split up and gone three different directions as planned, but now Keegan thought it best they all stick together because they didn’t have much lead time.

During the morning, they stopped once to rest the horses and to eat the tough brown bread and hard yellow cheese they’d lifted from the storeroom. But they didn’t tarry too long. They wanted to make good time. Since they were circling around, it would take longer to reach Dornie.

Mid-afternoon, as they rode along a ridge with wide views all around, one of the guards spied a group of riders following in the distance about a half mile back.

“Damnation! They’ve caught up,” Rebbie said.

“Aye, but they’ll not get the ladies back.” Keegan glanced around, spying a crofter’s whitewashed cottage down a short incline and hidden from the view of those approaching. He dismounted and helped Seona to the ground. “Come. Bring Lady Talia.” Keegan motioned to Fraser. “MacMillan and Boyce, come with us.” The two most trusted MacKay guards and Fraser would protect the women should any of the Murrays get past them. He hastened toward the cottage with Seona and knocked on the rough wood door.

A crofter’s wife opened the door, her eyes wide.