Cara was mortified. She had just sent Alice to see to Ramsey, and he was to be her own husband. Why did it not bother her? She only felt relief that it was Alice and not herself that would endure him this night. She frowned over it until she was forced to dress for the evening meal.
Ramsey sneered at Alice when she came to him.
“Where is Lady Cara?”
Alice smiled coyly, “she has sent me my laird. She told me to pleasure ye as you wish. Do I not please ye my laird?”
“We shall see. I doubt you’ll last long enough to do me much good,” he said and threw her roughly to the bed.
Alice struggled only because she wished to get out of her gown before he ripped it. It earned her a hard smack to the jaw.
“Be still, you little wench. If I wanted a fight I would go grab a lass from the village. You came here willing enough, so be still while I take what was given to me by my future wife.” He began to rip her dress from her body. He pinched and groped her body until she cried out in pain.
“Please, my laird, I am most willing. Must you treat me so ill?”
“Aye. I will do what I please with you, as you were a gift to me. You may thank your lady for the pleasure you receive tonight and all the other nights I am here without her in my bed. You will come to me every night before I bathe. And as my gift I may share you as I please.”
She shivered and he laughed uproaringly at the fear that made her eyes glassy pools in her face. Then he plunged into her and her words to Lady Cara rushed back to haunt her. Pain encased her as Ramsey continued to plunge into her. She tried to wiggle free of him, but he only slapped her harder and continued to ravage her body. He took his pleasure on her for what seemed like hours. When she finally collapsed on her she was so grateful that she didn’t pay heed to his words, she only thanked her maker that he was finished with her. Her womb burned like fire, but with the other pains attacking her body she paid little heed to it. He then stood from the bed and commanded her to see to his now cool bath. She stood on quivering legs and complied as best she could, but her body refused and she collapsed before she was done. He kicked her out of his way and finished on his own.
When he was finished he dressed and simply dragged her to the door and shoved her naked form from his chamber. When she realized where she was she was horrified. Her body was sore and she burned deep in her belly where he had deposited his seed. A wave of dizziness almost over took her as she stumbled slowly to her quarters. She collapsed on her small cot and fell asleep.
Alice awoke several hours later to the feel of a cool cloth on her forehead.
“What has happened to ye wee Alice?” Old Sara asked.
“Och, just a bit of sport. Nothin’ to worry over.”
“Nay Lass, ‘tis more’n that I fear. Who was it that did this to ye then?”
“Lady Cara sent me to her intended. I took care of him right proper too.”
Old Sara pulled back the quilt and pointed to Alice’s thigh. “That is not normal, lass, you’d do well to stay away from the McKenzie.”
Alice gasped at the blisters that coated her thighs. It looked as if she’d been burned with hot grease. She remembered the McKenzie muttering about not leaving her with too much of him inside for fear she wouldn’t be of any use later. She hadn’t understood at the time, but now she feared what his seed had done to her body. “What could cause such a thing?”
“Evil lass. Pure evil. Stay clear of him. Hear?”
Alice only nodded and watched old Sara leave the room.
She tried to pull herself from her cot and fell back gasping in pain as she tried to sit up. She simply laid there unable to move for the pain that shot fiery fingers through her legs and her womb. What could be wrong with a man that could cause such pain in a woman he’d bedded? Could it simply be evil as Sara had said? She didn’t know and was soon taken again by sleep.
3
The welcoming glow of Westley Keep came into view three days after Liam’s departure from Castle Stewart. Liam had pushed the lads hard to arrive this night, but the hospitality of Laird Kingston would be worth their troubles.
Liam hadn’t seen Lauchlan Kingston in eighteen years, since before the destruction of Clan McIntosh. He knew he would be welcomed though for he had always allied with Kingston and they had been friendly years before, despite Lauchlan only being human. He was a good man and Liam respected him. He also hoped that Lauchlan would have information about Cara and Eva.
As they neared the keep a sense of dread settled upon Liam and he knew the Lady Charlotte warned him.
“Have a care lads,” he warned. “I feel something is amiss here tonight.”
“Should we not move on then, Liam?” Deaglan spoke quietly. “We need naught of trouble with so few of us.”
“Nay, Deaglan. I feel we are needed here, but have a care with yer tempers lads. Our wits may be our salvation this night.”
“Aye, Liam I can feel it too,” Darren spoke. “Feels evil here. Are you sure we will be welcomed?”
“Aye, the evil does not dwell here. There is something though.” Liam felt the Lady pushing him toward the Keep. Whomever thought Lady Charlotte to be a simple human was a fool. “What are you?” He silently asked only to feel her laughter warm his mind and he heard her voice as if from a great distance.
“I am many things Liam, but none of which I will share at this time. You must trust me now. She waits for you. Keep your eyes aloft, Liam.” Then her voice faded away.
“Keep on your guard, lads and we will leave at first light. We will not linger here, but we must enter and find out what we can.” He met Darren’s dark amber eyes and found them glowing almost red in the torch light. Darren nodded and Liam knew that if there was anyone in the keep who had knowledge of Cara or Eva Darren would find them and extricate it.
The men moved cautiously toward the towering outer gates. They were closed for the night, but they were opened as soon as Lauchlan was summoned. The gates were raised and Lauchlan rushed forward to meet his guests, feeling as if his prayers were answered. He knew that Cara was significant to Liam McNeal and that the mammoth Highlander would see to her safety. He felt the heavy load lift from him as he met Liam’s oddly colored amber eyes. Even knowing Liam for many years did not stop the icy fingers of fear crawling up Lauchlan’s spine at the predatory look in his eyes.
“What goes on here Lauchlan? There is a foul smell about the place and the feel of evil. What have you gotten into?”
“Much, I fear Liam. Ye have come to us in a dire time indeed. I am thankful to ye, but we must appear merry. I will explain all in time.”
Liam was puzzled, but he nodded and handed the reigns of his horse to a lad before he began to follow Lauchlan.
Cara stood at her window and watched the six heavily armed Scotsmen ride through the gates of Westley Keep. Their dress led her to believe they were warriors along with the enormous claymores they traveled with.
Hope flared in her chest and she felt drawn to the dark haired stranger at the front of the group. She tried to make out their plaid, but the light was too dim to allow her to see it clearly. She couldn’t look away from them though and the feeling that her future would be decided by them was heavy upon her.
The leader drew her interest as he spoke so friendly with her father. He was very large even for a Highlander, he stood a head taller than her father who towered over her. She feared she would seem a wee bairn to a man of his size. His dark hair was secured at his nape and he wore his tartan proudly.
She needed to be near him with an almost uncontrollable fierceness. Then he looked up and she could feel his glowing amber eyes on her flesh as if they were a flame. Her heart raced at the same time it reached for him. She felt as if she were the sea and he the land and the only desire in her heart was to reach him. She curled her fingers tightly over the window’s edge to keep from leaping out it to reach him. She felt everything in her cry out to comfort the soul deep anguish she somehow knew he felt. His loneline
ss engulfed her and a painful sob was torn from her chest.
Liam felt bombarded with emotions upon entering the gates. He felt the evil, but also a craving he could not understand or identify. He looked up and his eyes were drawn to a woman standing in the window of the keep. He froze. His heart swelled in his chest. MATE. The word echoed through his brain as he stared at the vision in the window. Her fiery hair was caught by the wind and blew around her catching the light from her fire so she looked as if she were made of flame. He felt his body stir in ways it had not in many years. He felt her then, only subtly, but she reached out to comfort him. He felt her grief for him and his mind almost exploded with recognition. He could not call her name, but he knew her spirit and her heart. Who was this woman who called to him with her heart? His breath caught in his chest so he was taken unaware when Lauchlan spoke.
“Aye, Laird McNeal. Ye’ve come just in time to help us celebrate the marriage of my daughter,” he said watching Liam closely. He’d seen the look on the Laird’s face when he’d seen Cara in her window. This man had sworn to protect her before her birth and somehow he seemed to know she was the same lass. Lauchlan shook his head at the absurdity of the thought and continued.
“Cara will marry on the morrow.” Lauchlan continued still watching Liam. At the name Liam’s men exchanged puzzled looks. It had been well known that Laird Kingston had married only once and lost his wife and child at the birth. His heir was a nephew and a fine warrior. From where had this lass come?
Darren reached out with his mind to search Lauchlan’s. the answers were all there. He shot a look at Liam to see if he too had found this intriguing piece of information.
“Cara.” The name was a sigh from Liam’s lips. “Cara is yer daughter ye say? Red of hair is she then?” Liam lifted his brow. “Reminds me of another lass who was lost to us many years ago.”
Darren held his tongue. Few had the strength of mind that he possessed and he knew Liam would not appreciate his interruption. Liam would discern the truth soon enough. Best to keep his strength a secret for now. Deaglan looked at him questioningly though and he nodded slightly. Deaglan stiffened and frowned darkly.
“Aye, as well she should too.” Lauchlan spoke softly. Liam felt hope blossom in his chest like a flower in spring and Lauchlan continued. “There is much we will talk of this night. Much that has been too long held at bay.”
Liam’s heart skipped a beat. “Is she the bairn then Lauchlan? The one I have sworn to protect with my very life?”
Lauchlan dropped his eyes.
“Speak man! I have feared for these eighteen years that she was lost to me. If she is not I will know it now,” Liam demanded.
“She is not lost. Not yet.”
“Why in Hell would ye agree to marry her off with out my knowing?”
“I cannot speak of it here,” Lauchlan insisted noticing several McKenzie men nearby. “We will speak after we dine. Would you like to bathe first?”
“Aye we would. We thank ye for your hospitality Laird Kingston and we will talk with ye later,” Liam spoke reluctantly.
“Aye we will Liam. We have much need of yer help.”
Liam saw the fear and resignation in his friend’s eyes and knew there would be much trouble before this night ended.
“Alice,” Lauchlan called.
A young woman hurried to be of service, but her progress was slow. Lauchlan smiled reassuringly at the lass and nodded. When she drew near Liam saw the horrible bruises that marred her young flesh, some were several days old and some were fresh, and smelled the stench that covered her and felt his dread increase. Her skin held an odd pallor under the bruises and he felt that her death would soon be upon them. He had seen women like this before and the memory of their anguish before death stirred his heart.
“Yes, my Laird?”
“Alice, these lads have traveled far and require our hospitality,” at his words a look of horror crossed her face. “Alice, they require baths and they will dine with us. Make the arrangements. Get some of the other girls to see to the baths if you wish.”
“Thank ye, my Laird.” Her relief was apparent. “I fear I would nay be adequate to see to their needs tonight.”
“No need, lass,” Liam spoke. “The water is all we need. We’ll not linger in our baths. We just seek to wash away the dust before we dine.” Then he looked her in the eye and compelled her to trust in him. “You have no need to fear us. Not all men get pleasure from the pain of others. Rest easy Lass.”
“As you say then.” Alice turned disbelieving and led the men to a small bathing room. Liam was astonished by her strength of mind. She hadn’t even thought to trust him. Her mistreatment had been so severe that she had closed her mind to everyone without even knowing it.
She gave orders for water to be brought and turned to leave. Deaglan’s low words stopped her.
“There is a foul stench in this place Liam.”
“Aye, Lad I ken it. Smells of wet dog,” Liam said with a look to Deaglan.
“Say there lass, who is to marry the Lady on the morrow? Deaglan asked.
Alice shuttered and rubbed at her purple cheek. “’Tis Ramsey McKenzie.”
At her words Liam froze in horror. “Nay. She’ll not wed that monster,” Liam declared. “’Twill be the death of the lass.”
“Aye she will. ‘Tis the wedding or he’s vowed to kill us all. I heard it from his own lips not an hour ago. He means to have her. I fear for the lass. That man is evil. He is poison to any woman. He is the vilest of all the creatures from hell.” She shuttered and barely stayed on her feet. Liam felt it was more from fever than fear.
“That he is, was it he who struck ye then?” This from Euan. He detested the mistreatment of females. He and Evan had lived through the torture of their mother and the murder of their father at the age of seven and then had to watch as she lost her mind due to the loss of their father. They both felt the crawling need to kill and they wanted Ramsey McKenzie.
“Aye,” she said and blushed. “He said I could not please him well enough. I think it is more that he enjoys the suffering of others.”
Evan clenched his fists and tried to control his beast. “Stay clear of him Lass.”
“That I will try to do, but I fear he has done me in as it is. ‘Tis death to be near him. Death is better than his touch though, I think I would prefer it.”
Alice left them to bathe.
“He had killed the young Alice,” Euan stated plainly, his words little more than a low growl.
“That he has and she doesn’t yet know it, I fear her anguish has just begun too. ‘twould be kinder to slit her throat before we leave here.” Deaglan put in.
“There has to be a way to save her from his evil. We cannay just leave her here to die like that, Liam. We must tell someone. Something could be done to ease her pain at least,” Balor pleaded. He had seen a woman slowly die of McKenzie’s poison and he did not wish it on another. Her insides slowly rotting away as his evil ate at her from the inside.
“There is no time, lads. She will not last long any way, if he keeps at her. Her suffering will be short. We cannot arouse any suspicion.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I feel for the lass, and I ken what she will face if she lives for long, but I will not put Cara at risk to save her.”
The men nodded their agreement, however reluctantly and made short work of their baths.
After refusing the service of several voluptuous wenches the men bathed, dressed, and made their way to the hall to dine. They would be able to assess the situation better from there and later they would be able to plan what they needed to do.
“Use all your wits tonight lads. Gather all the information ye can. I feel we’ll need it to escape this place before mornin’.” Liam instructed.
The men nodded before they left. Only Darren met Liam’s eyes.
“Some one here knows of Eva. I have felt him searching us out. He is not one of Lauchlan’s men,” which meant he was a wolf and with
McKenzie.
Liam nodded his understanding and said, “Do as ye must. I trust in your strength, both in arm and mind. I will follow yer council in this. If you can be led to trust in his information then I will trust in it as well.”
Darren was touched by Liam’s faith in him. Few knew that Eva was Darren’s mate, but Liam knew and he respected Darren’s need to seek her out. Eva was Liam’s sister so it was hard for him to turn her protection over to another, but that was what he was doing now. Darren knew that if he failed he would earn Liam’s disappointment and fury and he knew he would deserve them both.
“I will find her Liam. I will or I will give my life in the effort.”
Liam clapped him on the back then. “Och, I ken it well, Darren. Else wise I would not have trusted you to the task.”
They made their way slowly to the Hall and took their seats. Each man found a place that he felt was most advantageous for him to gain information. Euan and Evan sat together as they often did. They were stronger together and each possessed strengths that were strengthened by the other’s. They were seldom far apart.
Deaglan and Balor sat together. Balors jolly demeanor offset the severity of Deaglan’s. It was usually thought, by others, that Deaglan was simply annoyed by his cheerful friend and generally overlooked.
Darren made his way to the far end of the table so he could view all of the hall. He began to softly touch the minds of those around him until he felt someone reach for him. He scowled, but allowed the contact.
Highland Tigress (Tiger Series) Page 2