“Nay! Nay! I willna let ye do this. Ye’ll be fucking ma dead body before I let ye rape me. Kill me now before I kill ye!” As she flailed her arms and legs, she was able to distract Robert enough to draw one of her dirks from her boots. No one had thought to check her even once during her entire imprisonment. She grabbed the dagger and thrust backwards just as the tip of Robert’s prick began to gain entry into her bottom. She looked over her shoulder as she swung her arm back. She managed to graze the side of his cock. He howled and recoiled in pain. It gave Siùsan enough time to straighten her skirts and jump onto the bed. Robert grabbed one of her ankles and tugged her back towards him. He flipped her over and curled his hand into a fist. It landed across her cheekbone sending a searing pain throughout her entire face. He balled up his other fist and struck her in the left eye. He was about to punch her again when she raised both legs and pushed her feet into his stomach. He stepped back with a woosh and then laughed maliciously. He grabbed her feet and pulled them apart.
“Even better. Now I will enjoy yer cunny, and I’ll be able to watch yer face every moment of yer submission to me. Yer cunt and yer land will be mine soon enough.”
Siùsan screamed again with every ounce that she had. Just as Robert was about to push into her, the door slammed open. An angry James stood in the entrance.
“What the bluidy hell do ye think ye are doing? Elizabeth just told me ye were trying to seduce Siùsan. Then I hear her screaming bloody murder. Now I come in to find ye about to rape ma woman. Step back, Mackenzie before this little partnership comes to an abrupt end.” James surged into the room with murder in his eyes. Siùsan screamed once more before making a dash for the open door.
Chapter Thirty-One
Callum and Tavish surged forward with their swords and dirks drawn. They barely stopped before impaling two older boys. They skidded to a halt when the boys raised their hands in surrender. Callum looked at the boys closely. Even though the passageway was dimly lit, it was clear that both boys were clean and well dressed. Their leines and plaids were made of fine quality. Their boots were fairly new and had fur lining. Callum knew these had to be the laird’s sons which meant Siùsan’s younger brothers.
“Yer Siùsan’s brothers,” Tavish blurted out before Callum had a chance.
“Aye, we are. We ken ye’ve come for her. We ken where she is. She’s here in the keep. Nae one else kens that she’s here but us. We saw her being dragged in to the far tower a few nights ago. We were supposed to be abed, but we were returning from night fishing at the loch. We saw Mother’s brother, Sir James, and Robert taking her into the tower that is nae used for anything but storage. We havenae been able to get close to her as there is a guard posted at the bottom and we believe the top of the stairs, but we have heard her calling out for help. At least the first day she did,” said the one who was clearly the elder.
“She screamed for help much of the first day. She wasnae loud enough for anyone outside the tower to hear. We snook in when the guards were changing posts. We couldnae get any closer because we didna want to alert the guards.” The younger one explained.
“Ye didna think to tell yer father or mother?”
The boys exchanged a look before the elder one answered.
“We werenae sure that Mother and Father werenae involved in her capture. If they are, we didna want to let on that we ken. If they arenae responsible, well, we dinna think they would come to her rescue. At best, they might set her outside the wall alone and unprotected.”
“What are yer names, lads.”
“I’m Seamus and he’s Magnus,” the older boy puffed out his chest proudly.
At five and ten, he was on the cusp of manhood.
“I am Callum and this is ma younger brother Tavish. We also have a brother named Magnus. Do ye ken who I am?”
“Nae. Just that ye’re looking for Siùsan and are angrier than a starving bull.”
“That I am. Siùsan is ma wife, and she’s been taken from me. That’s how she came to be here again. I vera much want ma wife back.”
The boys looked at the two giant men standing in front of them in their customary stance. The boys looked at one another and mirrored the men’s poses, they crossed their arms and spread their feet.
“How do we ken ye willna mistreat her? Even though she is the best sister in the world, people arenae kind to her because she had the wrong mother,” stated Magnus, who Callum reasoned was about three and ten.
Callum swallowed when he heard the last part. So, they were meant to be turned against her, too.
“I love yer sister more than anything and vera much want to take her home with me. She is wanted and needed by me and ma clan.”
Seamus and Magnus once again looked at each other. Callum wanted to smile as the boys’ silent communication reminded him so much of how he was with his own brothers and particularly Alexander who was much like a twin brother.
The young men nodded their heads and gestured for Callum and Tavish to follow them. Instead of walking towards the stairs to the Great Hall, the boys led them to a chamber that they had already searched.
“This is ma father’s chamber.” Magnus whispered. “We must be vera quiet as Mother is still in her solar.” Magnus walked over to a large tapestry that hung next to the laird’s bed. He pushed it aside and pressed against two stones that were just above his head.
“There are secret passageways thoughout the keep. There is one that joins this tower with the older one. It will bring us out under the stairs on the second floor. Siùsan is being held on the fourth at the vera top.” Seamus explained quietly.
The secret door swung open and the two older brothers followed the two younger brothers into the dark. Fortunately, Tavish thought to grab a torch from a wall sconce outside the laird’s chambers before they entered the hidden corridor. He now held it overhead to light their way. Seamus and Magnus moved through the darkened passageway with the ease of ones who were very familiar with their surroundings. Callum and Tavish followed them as the passageway twisted, turned, and branched out. Finally, the boys came to a stop before what appeared to be a solid wall. Seamus reached out his foot and tapped the bottom of the wall. A small latch released, and he slowly pushed against the unmarked door. Magnus stepped forward followed by Seamus. They looked around and then waved Callum and Tavish out.
“There are the stairs that lead—” Magnus was unable to finish as a blood curdling scream wrent the air.
“Siùsan!” Callum roared. He saw red.
He was not going to wait any longer. He drew his sword and began taking the stairs three at a time. He heard Tavish tell the boys to wait there. His footsteps could be heard as he followed Callum up the stairs.
As he made it to the next floor, Siùsan’s screams only became louder. He could hear two angry male voices and knew them to be Robert’s and Sir James’s. He pushed himself to climb the remaining stairs even faster. The noise of their climb reached the guardsman who was posted outside of Siùsan’s chamber. He barreled down the stairs to stop Callum. It took little effort to sidestep him and push him down the stairs. The guard stumbled and fell forwards as he met Tavish coming up. Tavish threw a punch into the man’s stomach and pushed him further down the stairs.
Callum thought the sight that had greeted him and his brothers when they found their sister was the worst thing he could ever see, but what met his eyes as he entered Siùsan’s prison was far worse than he could have ever imagined.
He took in everything as though it was happening in slow motion. He saw the cramped space, he smelled the days old chamber pot, he heard the two men yelling, but nothing prepared him for the sight of Siùsan stripped naked with Robert standing before her and James behind. Even while the men bellowed at her, they fondled Siùsan. Both men were holding and stroking their cocks. Just as Tavish arrived at the door, Robert and James rocked forward as they attempted to enter Siùsan from the front and the behind. Siùsan’s scream rang through the small chamber and snapped Callum int
o action.
Callum roared with a white hot furry that gave him tunnel vision. No longer was he aware of anything or anyone other than the two men about to rape his wife. He charged into the room and grabbed Siùsan’s arm. He pulled her away from the men and shoved her behind him.
“Tavish!”
Callum swung his sword at the two unsuspecting and unprepared men. His sword sliced through the side of one then the other. Both men were mortally wounded, but Callum was not nearly done. As Robert and James stood staring at each other, Callum dropped his sword and yanked out a dirk in each hand. He swiped one across each of their throats. Blood sprang from their wounds coating the walls and Callum’s chest. He was prepared to geld both men vaguely thinking that he wished he had done that first. He looked first at James and then Robert as he tried to decide what to cut or stab next. When a small hand pulled at his arm, he swung around prepared to cut down anyone near him. It was only seconds before thrusting his dirk that he realized that it was Siùsan and not another threat who had stopped him. He had been an unleashed beserker.
Callum dropped his daggers and pulled his shaking wife into his arms. He held her as tightly as he dared. He felt shaking. At first, he thought it was her. Soon realized that it was him, and he was crying for the first time since his mother died when he was a child. Tears poured forth from both Siùsan and Callum. She clung to him and pressed against him as though she wanted to share the same space as him.
It was only a very loud clearing of the throat, a sound that was becoming annoyingly familiar to them, that finally made them look around. Tavish stood at the door with his back turned towards them. He held a leine in his hand which he reached out behind him. It took Callum a moment to understand why his brother had taken off his shirt and was holding it out, but Siùsan had immediately snatched it and put it on. Callum looked down at himself and realized that Tavish had been smart to offer his leine. Callum’s was covered with blood and was not something that he would want to use to cover his naked wife.
“I’ll just take these two out of here and leave ye both alone. I should also check on Seamus and Magnus to be sure they dinna see aught of this.” Tavish pulled both men to the door and then shut it behind him.
Callum quickly unfastened the extra length of plaid and pulled his leine off tossing the latter in a corner. He picked Siùsan up and cradled her in his arms as he walked over to the tiny cot. He took one look at it and knew that he would crush it. He walked to the wall next to it and slid down to the ground. He held Siùsan in his lap and she gratefully rested her head against his broad chest. She had never been so relieved to see someone as she had been when Callum crashed through the door. She finally felt safe after two weeks of the unknown.
“Lass?” Callum asked quietly.
“Aye, Callum. I’m alright now. Ye came. Ye got here in time.”
“In time to stop that attack, but I didna get to ye in time to protect ye from them.” He gently kissed the top of her head and stroked her back.
“Ye rescued me. That is what matters. I didna think that ye would find me soon enough. They made me look out the arrow slit before they stripped me naked. They pointed out the men in the bailey and said that ye had come looking for me but were giving up since ye couldnae find me. They taunted me that ye were so close but would never get to me. I feared they were right.”
“I kenned ye were here somewhere. I wouldnae ever leave without finding ye. I would never leave ye here.”
Siùsan looked up at Callum and gently pulled him close for a kiss. It started gently and grew in intensity until Siùsan was shifting in Callum’s lap to better press herself against him. Callum’s hand tangled in her hair as he held her close. It was only the tenderness in Siùsan’s scalp that made her pull away.
“What is it, Siùsan?”
“It is naught really. Ma head is just a bit tender from Robert yanking on ma hair.” She absentmindedly rubbed her head and turned back towards Callum. She leaned in, but this time it was Callum who pulled away. He gently kissed her battered face. He kissed the bruises around her eyes and along her jaw and cheeks. He ran his hands over her shoulders and across her front and back. Siùsan winced in a few places as Callum lifted the leine to get a better look at her injuries. In his rage and haste, Callum had not been able to take in the bruising that covered much of Siùsan’s face and body.
“Which one of them did this to ye?” he grounded out.
“Does it really matter? They’re both dead now.”
“Aye, it matters to me. I would ken the whole of it. I would ken exactly what they did to ye every moment that we were apart. I failed ye, lass. I would ken what I need to atone for.”
“Why punish yeself like that? What is there to gain from me reliving this and ye learning all the details? Callum, ye didna fail me. Ever. Just the opposite. Ye saved me when I needed ye most.”
“Siùsan, ye can tell me any and everything. I willna turn ye away because of what ye tell me or what they did. None of this was yer fault. Naught was by yer doing.”
Siùsan looked into the eyes of the man she had grown to adore and trust above all others. She saw the pain and recrimination in his eyes. She believed what he said but was afraid to test the strength of that promise. She stroked his cheek and kissed his stubbled chin.
“Ye arrived before they were able to do aught to me. They didna harm me more than some bruises.”
“I saw what they were about to do. I just saw the bruises on yer breasts. They clearly did more than ye’re telling me. What happened?” Callum was growing impatient. He knew that Siùsan was scared to speak of it, and he did not want to traumatize her more, but his mind would not rest until he knew what happened.
“Vera well. This isnae what I want to be doing right now, but I ken ye willna give me peace until ye’re satisfied.”
Her words were like a jump into a winter’s cold loch. Callum shook his head. He could not believe what an inconsiderate eejit he was being. He was about to make his wife relive the terror that her tormentors put her through just to punish himself with the guilt he felt.
“Shhh. Not now. Not any time if ye dinna want to speak of it. I’m sorry. I shouldnae pushed ye. I’m an arse. Please forgive me.”
Siùsan heard the plea in Callum’s voice and the fear in his eyes. She knew he was asking for forgiveness for more than just his pushiness. Just as she feared telling him the entire truth, she could see that he feared she would not forgive him.
“Callum, there is naught in ma mind to forgive. If ye truly believe there is, then ken that I do. I dinna hold aught against ye at all.” She needed space. She needed room to sort out her thoughts. She pushed against him and stood up. “I dinna ken if ye would feel the same way about me.” She looked over her shoulder at him as she walked to the far wall. It was only five paces away, but it was just enough for her to breathe.
“What do ye mean, mo ghaol?”
“Will I still be your love if I tell ye the full truth?”
“Of course. Siùsan, do ye fear that I will put ye aside if ye tell me that either of them violated ye?” Callum saw the truth in her eyes before she looked at the floor. He did not need to see her nod her head to tell that she was deeply frightened of just that. He slowly approached as he would a wounded animal.
“What happened, Siùsan?” he whispered. “Ye’re ma wife. I have already killed two men who got between us. I will do the same to anyone else. I canna kill memories though. I can only help ye work through them and reassure ye that naught, nae a bluidy thing, will make me shun ye or turn from ye. Nae after what I have been through to get ye back.”
Siùsan slowly nodded her head as large, fat tears began trailing down her cheeks. She took a deep breath before starting to retell the events of that day.
“Robert and James both decided that they didna want to bed me until they kenned if I carried yer bairn. Neither wanted to be cuckholded into raising yer bairn, and neither wanted any confusion as to whose bairn I carried. I dinna think
either of them realized until today just how much the other desired control of me or rather what they thought I could gain them. Neither of them touched me until today. They had each pushed me about and slapped me, but they never did aught before today to defile me.” Siùsan paused to see if Callum believed her. He nodded his head and gave her a small smile to encourage her to continue.
“Robert and Elizabeth came in here earlier.” At Callum’s shocked expression, she laughed quietly. “Oh aye, there is much to tell about her part in this.”
“Yer stepmother was a part of this? I kenned it when I spoke to the bitch.” Callum grimaced in disgust.
“Nay! Well mayhap, but I didna mean Lady Elizabeth. I meant yer Elizabeth.”
Callum shook his head furiously.
“She isnae mine! I swear to ye, she isnae mine.”
“Callum, calm yerself. I ken ye arenae involved with her anymore. I just meant it to not confuse the two women. Anyway, she and Robert came in here. She has been the one to deliver ma meager rations. She used every opportunity to taunt me. She relished in ma capture. She was conniving enough to think she would get ye back now that I was no longer with ye. I thought I might distract them by creating a rift among them. When Robert came in here today, he did so to try to tempt me by making me watch him pleasure Elizabeth. Instead it gave me the opportunity to taunt her. I reminded her that every mon she has would rather have me. I reminded her that ye, Robert, and James have either already or will put her aside for me. I told her she was never anyone’s first choice.
“She left in a huff and I assume went to complain to James. Already aroused and with no outlet once Elizabeth left, Robert turned on me. He slapped me and punched me when I fought back. It angered him even more.” Siùsan paused here. She did not want to tell him more. When Callum nodded slightly and squeezed her hand, which she had not even noticed he was holding, she continued.
His Bonnie Highland Temptation (The Clan Sinclair Book 2) Page 24