Pledged to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy 1)

He turned to Trevor and as he did he was glad to see the leper was gone. He didn’t want to see Brother Noble hurt when he had bravely protected Oria.

“I need to get my horse and a tracker,” Royden told Trevor.

“You need to wait here. Both will be here soon, the tracker exceptional, the horse well trained, warriors to help you fight, and the Beast who will not rest until he finds his sister.”

Royden didn’t argue. All that mattered was that he got his wife back safely and if he had to rely on the man who had caused all the heartache and damage to his family and clan, then so be it. He would do whatever it took to get his wife back without her suffering any more harm.

He didn’t bother to look to the sky when he thought it was a roll of thunder he heard. He knew what it was—horses, lots of them.

The Beast was about to arrive.

Chapter 30

Royden stood, his feet planted firmly on the ground, his sword in his hand, ready to meet the man who had brought endless heartache to his family, but now was the one person who could help save his wife.

Warriors fanned out along the edge of the woods, circling the clearing, some wore helmets, some didn’t. A section parted and into the clearing rode the Beast.

He sat his horse tall and straight, not a slump to his body. A fur cloak was draped over broad shoulders and some type of leather hide covered his chest. He wore a helmet, a narrow piece running down the center to cover his nose, leaving a portion of his cheeks and beard-covered jaw exposed. Long black hair fell from under his helmet to rest past his shoulders. But it was his eyes that drew the most attention. They appeared as black as the darkest night, not a spark or twinkle of light to them, empty eyes, soulless eyes, and Royden understood why men feared him.

Royden, however, was not one of them. He had suffered enough because of him. He would suffer no more.

“I need a horse and your tracker, now!” Royden ordered.

Every single one of the Beast’s warriors drew their weapons.

Royden cared little for their display of strength. He knew the Beast would not hurt him, for if he did, he’d be hurting his sister as well.

“A horse, now!” Royden demanded again.

Trevor stepped forward. “They left only moments ago. If we pursue now, there’s a good chance we’ll catch them.”

“Firth demands coins in exchange for my wife’s life, though he doesn’t know what condition he’ll return her in,” Royden said. “We don’t have time to waste. Oria has suffered three wounds. She needs a healer.”

The Beast snapped his hand and one of his warriors disappeared and reappeared quickly with two horses in tow.

“Firth is mine,” the Beast commanded, his deep voice full of strength and the confidence he’d be obeyed without question.

“We’ll see about that,” Royden said and took the reins of the horse handed to him and mounted quickly. He didn’t wait for orders or instructions. He took off after his wife.

Oria’s arm pounded with pain with every hoof beat of the horse. The wound needed serious attention. Her shift and tunic had served as a good covering to stop the bleeding of her chest wound. She didn’t believe it as serious as her arm wound and for that she was grateful. She had been shocked and beyond thrilled when she had laid eyes on Royden when he had returned home, but it couldn’t compare with the relief she felt when her husband had walked out of the woods. Seeing him, she knew all would be well. Even though Firth had spirited her away, she had no doubt her husband would follow and find her. Her only hope was that it didn’t take him long. She feared what Firth would do to her.

Firth brought his horse to a sudden stop and the jolt sent a pain shooting through her arm. It didn’t help when she was yanked off the horse and placed on another to ride alone. Her first thought was that it gave her a chance to escape.

Firth brought his horse next to hers. “I can almost hear your mind thinking on how you can escape. Try it and I promise you that you will be caught and when I get done with you, your husband will never want to look upon you again.”

The thought sent a shudder through her, remembering the pain of healing from the slash to her jaw that he had given her. But what fate awaited her if she didn’t try to escape?

“Any attempt not to keep pace and you’ll suffer for it,” Firth ordered.

She watched as he rode over to a group of warriors. A slim warrior hurried to a horse that a warrior already sat and mounted behind him. They talked with Firth briefly then took off with several other warriors following.