Highland Vengeance

by Saydee Bennett

  “This is so Laird MacKay. You will get your sister in exchange for my husband’s safe return. But before we make this bargain, I wish to see Laird Sinclair to know that he is well,” Olivia insisted.

  Malcolm had a bone-chilling laugh and the smirk he gave Olivia would frighten most men. He stared at Olivia and sized her up from head to toe. She was certainly as beautiful as Ian’s men had described, in fact, they had not done the woman justice and Malcolm wondered what she looked like with her clothes off. He was certain that body would be flawless and the evil man wanted to find out sooner rather than later.

  “And so you think to just strut into my home, my castle, and make your demands?” Malcolm said harshly as he moved towards her.

  “Your sister’s life depends on the exchange?”

  “You silly English wench, I was to kill Lorna myself. Why would I care now if she is dead or alive? Besides, she wasn’t worth much to bargain with,” he said callously, “I assume that since you hold Lorna captive, your little soldiers must have taken the Sinclair holding back. Well, where is that misfit army now? It must feel dreadful knowing you walked in here unarmed for nothing.”

  Malcolm turned to one of his soldiers and instructed him to bring Laird Sinclair. The evil man wanted this temptress to see what had become of her Highland warrior. He also wanted Camden to witness his assault on Olivia. The MacKay men left and then brought Camden from his dirty cell below the earth. Laird Sinclair kept his head down and his body slumped. Going without food had only slightly fatigued the warrior but he was still prepared for the opportunity to escape.

  Olivia watched as the soldiers brought Camden in the room towards Malcolm. The sight of her husband bruised and bloody made her knees weak but Olivia knew better than to react to her husband’s condition. She could not look at him any more for fear her emotions would give her away. Olivia focused on Malcolm and his evil smile. Laird MacKay noticed her stare and wondered how deeply the English woman’s feelings for Camden really were.

  “Lady Sinclair, you can see that your husband lives but I am afraid you did not bring much to negotiate a trade with.”

  The instant that Laird Sinclair heard Malcolm address his wife, Camden’s head shot up and he saw Olivia standing there. She looked pale to him and he immediately wanted to touch her. The rage that built inside him was unlike anything he had ever felt before. Camden’s blood began to pump rapidly through his body and he started to inhale deep breaths of air to awaken his muscles. Seeing Olivia in this dark and dingy place intensified his body’s recovery and Camden became instantly aware that his love for her would carry him through anything.

  The countess could see her husband’s fury building and she did not want the silly man doing anything to make matters worse. For the first time, Camden and Olivia made eye contact and it took everything in her power to not run to him and kiss his beautiful face. She knew Malcolm was watching them carefully and so Olivia turned her head back to their evil captor.

  Camden’s glare to Olivia was evident and he tried to get his wife to keep her mouth closed. He was afraid of her playing right into the hands of Malcolm. Laird Sinclair could see the bruises on Olivia’s face and it made his blood began to boil with fury. He thought of every scenario possible as he tried to plan an escape for them. Nothing that kept his wife from danger came to mind. They were in the belly of the beast and Malcolm had control.

  “Lady Sinclair, since you know that I will not be trading my sister for your husband, it stands to reason that you too, have now become my captive. I assure you though that I will treat you with much better care than I have of Camden,” Malcolm vowed.

  Camden tried hard to contain his anger. The low growls he made as Malcolm walked to stand by Olivia, easily gave Camden’s emotions away. The sinister MacKay man slowly ran his fingers down the side of Olivia’s face and then rubbed his thumb against her bottom lip. The countess instantly opened her mouth and bit down hard on Malcolm’s finger, making the man scream out in pain. He instantly swung his hand back towards Olivia’s face and she bent back enough to miss his attack. Malcolm was impressed with her reflexes and her feisty temper. She would be a hard one to break, he thought, but then maybe I do not want her tamed.

  “She has spirit in her Camden. Is that what you love about her? Is that what draws you to her?” Malcolm taunted.

  The Highland warrior knew to keep his silence. Olivia was already a pawn in this game and the stakes were too high for Camden to lose.

  “Lady Sinclair, you aren’t aware of this but I have offered Camden his freedom at least three times since he has been here but the crazed man has refused my offers,” Malcolm explained, “I have only asked for a simple thing in return. The Sinclairs.”

  For the first time since he had arrived, Camden spoke to Malcolm.

  “You ask of me what I cannot give you.”

  “Oh come now Camden, you and I both know that all you have to do is say the words and it will be over. Show the Sinclairs that you were never good enough to be their laird and tell them to bow to me,” Malcolm demanded.

  “Never!” Laird Sinclair said defiantly.

  “What a shame. I was hoping your arrogance would not get in the way but I can see that your Highland pride is going to cost you greatly,” Malcolm boasted and then turned to his guards, “now get him out of my sight and make sure that pays for his defiance.”

  The men began to drag the tied laird back to his cell and one soldier kicked him with each step he took. Olivia screamed out for them to stop but the filthy men just laughed at her pleas. When her husband was gone, Olivia turned to Malcolm and started to move closer to the man. His guards immediately took hold of her arms and stopped her from going any closer. Malcolm was intrigued by the brave woman’s actions and her feminine appeal was starting to drive him mad with desire.

  “It seems you obviously have feelings for Laird Sinclair. Does his power entice you my little temptress? Does my power do anything for you? When Camden is no longer laird will you still desire him?” Malcolm questioned.

  Olivia stood still as he moved closer to stand behind her and his warm breath on her neck had a stench that made her nauseous. The countess noticed the change in his voice and it reminded her of the conceited aristocrats in England that tried to court her. Malcolm circled around her and Olivia decided to play his game and see where it took her.

  “You are obviously perceptive Laird MacKay. Coming from English royalty, I have always held a bit of power with my title but when the king wed me off to Camden, I am afraid the Highland wife has no say. I think my feelings for Laird Sinclair are more of jealousy than anything else. His power does entice me and I believe your power is rather alluring as well,” she whispered.

  Malcolm was sure she was jesting but when he looked into her eyes and Olivia smiled, the evil man was captivated. His erection instantly pounded for the she-devil and he wanted her alone. Maybe she was being truthful, he thought, after all that smile of hers is genuine.

  “Perhaps maybe I should rethink my plans for now Lady Sinclair. I think I have found something that I may want far greater than the Sinclair clan,” Malcolm admitted.

  Olivia new the idiot man would not continue to think with his head. She felt a little more comfortable knowing that he would be easily turned on and Olivia hoped she could use this to her advantage. Malcolm’s constant gaze burned straight through her and Olivia tried hard to return his lustful look.

  “Take Lady Sinclair to my chamber until I have decided what to do with her,” Malcolm ordered, “and tie her up tightly so there will be no escaping.”

  Time seemed to pass by faster in the Highlands, Olivia thought to herself as she started to fall asleep in the chair that she was tied to. The countess had ridden through the night to reach the MacKay holding and her tired worn out body gave into the rest as soon as she was alone in the chamber. Malcolm had been away from Lady Sinclair for almost an hour and already the evil man was missing the sight of her. When the MacKay laird entered hi
s chamber and found the English beauty sleeping soundly, he thought she looked like a present tied up just for him.

  He stood in front of Olivia and slowly touched the soft skin of her face. Malcolm gently ran his fingers through her hair and brought his lips close to hers. Remembering her bite from earlier, the villain became even more turned on. He would much rather have an aggressive woman to bed than a limp body under him. Malcolm thought of how much he would enjoy this temptress and carefully pressed his lips to hers. He moved his mouth down her neck and then Malcolm let his hands squeeze her full breasts. The mad man knew to stop soon enough for he wanted her awake and looking at him with her emerald eyes when he took her. He would have to be patient a little longer.

  Olivia had no idea how long she had been in Malcolm’s chamber when the MacKay soldiers had come to get her. The countess realized she must have been tied there longer than she first thought because her arms were numb from the elbows down. As she stood to follow the soldiers, pain shot through her side and Olivia tried desperately to fight the lightheaded feeling that came with the throbbing. Soon, she stood in front of Malcolm again and the excitement she saw in his eyes for her was a bit startling. Olivia gave her captor a small smile and then watched the man instantly relax.

  “Bring the Sinclair man to me, I have a new offer to make him,” Malcolm demanded.

  The English woman was persistent in the game she played with Malcolm. She knew what the man wanted and it was now, that her years of training at the abbey were paying off. Olivia’s mind wondered back to the time she spent growing up in the convent. As a young woman, she never would have imagined herself married to a Scottish laird let alone being held captive in an evil man’s crumbling castle. Olivia thought back to all the times she had obeyed when she needed to but defiantly got what she wanted from everyone. Whether it was with the nuns or her brother, Olivia felt as if she were the puppet master of all the conflicts between them. Now, the countess would use her skill to make Malcolm believe her every word.

  While standing in front of Malcolm, Olivia heard the soldiers reporting to him what they thought was happening outside. The MacKay men had heard rumors that several other clans had joined the one that Camden trained and they were all coming to fight. The warrior woman believed she saw a hint of defeat in Malcolm’s eyes but she knew the crazed man would never give in.

  “Has anyone actually seen the other clans?” Malcolm asked frantically.

  “Nay m’laird.”

  “Well, keep the men posted and watch for any movement in the forest,” he ordered.

  Within a few moments, Camden was brought in to stand before Malcolm and the married couple stood side by side in front of their captor. Olivia fought hard to mask her emotions when she saw her husband even bloodier than before. Laird Sinclair tried to make eye contact with his wife but he could tell that Olivia was not going to look at him.

  “Laird Sinclair, I have given you multiple opportunities to bow to me and give me your clan. You do realize that with my army, I will take it from you anyway. What I have wanted most from you was to hear the words from your mouth. Well that has changed, I have found something that I want far greater than your humble words,” Malcolm continued, “ I suppose I could still bargain this item with you but the price will be steep. What do you say Laird Camden Sinclair, will you make a deal to trade your people, land and the new army you have trained in exchange for your wife?”

  The roar was deafening as Camden screamed out loud. The Highland laird had always been told that love would make a man weak and now he understood why. Olivia immediately knew the inner turmoil that Camden faced. He was first a Highland laird and that meant protecting his people. She knew her husband’s valor and he would never let his people be slaves to Malcolm just to save her. Olivia decided not to give Camden the chance to make any other decision.

  “Laird MacKay,” Olivia interrupted, “may add my thoughts to this conversation?”

  “Of course, my little temptress,” Malcolm smirked.

  Camden watched as his wife moved her hips ever so slightly towards her captor before she spoke to him. Her face seemed to have a faint smile and Olivia looked as though she were attempting to seduce the man.

  “I am afraid that Laird Sinclair seems rather weak at the moment and I fear he may make the wrong choice, Laird MacKay. He is not thinking rationally and if he gives you all that you ask for, then I have to leave with him. I do not wish to be bargained for. Let him go to his people and I will stay willingly here with a powerful laird.”

  “No!” Camden yelled.

  Malcolm stared into her eyes and he understood exactly what she meant. He feared Camden would not make the trade and then he would miss out on the English beauty. The elation that ran through Malcolm’s body had never been so great. The villainous man had just heard Lady Sinclair say that she wanted to be here with him.

  When Olivia turned back towards her husband, Camden noticed that Malcolm was beaming and he wanted to knock the smug look right off his face.

  “Camden, my good friend, it seems we no longer have any means to fight at least for now. I have decided that I do not want your clan or your land. My men will be escorting you off of the MacKay land,” Malcolm said calmly.

  “What is your game Olivia?” Camden snarled.

  “What do you mean?” She said innocently.

  Malcolm had not heard her first name before but he thought it fit her perfectly. He could hardly wait to yell her name when he fought her in bed. He decided that keeping the beauty here was worth losing the Sinclair clan, for now.

  “You will not stay here Olivia. You are my wife and you will leave with me,” Camden argued.

  “I no longer wish to be something that is bargained with, like a piece of land. I made it clear that I wish to stay here him,” she replied.

  Camden’s eyes met Olivia’s and he could see the love she had for him burning inside the emerald crystals. He was not sure what his wife was up to but if Laird Sinclair knew one thing for certain, Olivia would never stay freely with Malcolm. Camden tried to imagine what her plan was, for the woman was always calculating something. He knew she could not deny the love they shared for one another. As the husband and wife continued to stare at one another, Olivia added more to her statement.

  “I want to stay with a laird that can keep his power unlike you that has lost it twice in such a short time. Go running back to your clan, I doubt they will accept you anyhow after you abandoned them before,” she said trying to make Malcolm believe her façade further.

  Malcolm was thrilled with the feisty woman and her harsh comments to Camden. He thought she was brilliant for coming to him and she was correct about Camden’s people, which would make taking over the Sinclair’s land even easier than before. Malcolm’s lust for Olivia was almost overwhelming and he pictured himself ruling with her by his side.

  Laird Sinclair tried to figure out what his wife was doing and it nearly killed him to let her follow through with her scheme. Camden hoped to God that she had a plan and the warrior could only go by the faith he had in Olivia’s abilities. The MacKay soldiers grabbed Camden, keeping him tied up and threw him on the back of a horse. The men rode out to the distance to where they knew the rest of the Sinclair warriors waited and dumped their laird onto the frozen ground.

  Chapter Ten

  Not far from the walls of the MacKay holding, the four Sinclair warriors knew that something must have gone wrong and that the plan in motion was an apparent failure. It had been hours since Olivia had been taken into Malcolm’s eroded holding. Broderick was getting more anxious by the minute and he wanted to storm the castle to get Camden and Olivia out of there but he was unsure of what was happening inside. The other three clans that were prepared to fight for Laird Sinclair and his wife had come with their uninjured men and waited for Broderick to give the battle commands. The new laird was faced with a huge dilemma, as he stood there with a massive army ready to attack. Broderick knew moving in on the castle would pu
t the captives lives in danger so Laird Kincaid only choice was to wait impatiently with the others. Broderick prayed to God and wished that Camden were there to make the next decision instead of him.

  As if the Lord answered Broderick’s personal plea, the warrior witnessed Camden being dumped onto the dirt below the cliff. He watched as the MacKay men rode away from the body and everyone held their breath while they waited for any movement from Laird Sinclair. Instantly, Camden began to struggle getting the ropes off his hands and he used his strength to stand up. Relief flooded through the Sinclair warriors as they realized their laird was alive and each one raced to help free Camden.

  “M’laird, are you well?” Stephan yelled, as he got closer.

  Camden looked up to see his men riding towards him and he was grateful that help was close by. He noticed Broderick wearing his own family’s colors and Laird Sinclair was proud of the command that his friend had taken.

  “I am so sorry m’laird. It is all my fault. I should not have listened to Lady Sinclair but it is hard to argue with her,” Liam said with sorrow.

  “Hell, I should have known this was her idea,” Camden swore.

  “It made sense to us laird and Lady Sinclair said it is what you would have done. She made us go to the Sinclair holding first to save your people before coming here,” Keith explained.

  Camden smiled for the first time since he had been taken captive.

  “She is right, I would have done the same thing.”

  “And then she thought to trade Lorna’s life for yours, m’laird,” Keith added.

  “My wife does not know Malcolm and he could care less about his sister’s life. Why did she go in there unarmed? What the hell was she thinking?”

  It was Broderick that first questioned Camden as to where Olivia was.

  “Where is Lady Sinclair? Is she safe m’laird?”

  “The daft woman has given herself freely to the bastard MacKay,” Camden snapped.