Entrusted to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy 2)

Her decision was a quick one. She had to send Princess to get King. “Find, King,” she ordered in a whisper and the big dog took off, disappearing into the woods.

“Well that problem was solved easily enough,” Owen said with a laugh.

“Not likely, if she sends the animal for help,” Quiver said.

The skinny man wasn’t as foolish as the other two men believed, but there was little time to think on that. The men would make their move soon enough and she would have to survive until help found its way to her.

Owen stepped toward her.

“Don’t hurt her or we’ll get less for her,” Reid warned.

“A few scrapes or bruises will heal well enough before we reach our destination,” Owen said.

Purity retrieved her dagger from her boot in a flash. “Mine might, but yours won’t.”

Reid stepped forward with a confident grin. “You think you can defend yourself against the two of us?”

“Maybe not, but in the end, I’ll leave you with wounds that won’t soon heal,” Purity threatened, and that stopped both men.

“What was that?” Quiver asked with a nervous jump.

Reid and Owen remained quiet and listened.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Owen said, annoyed.

“Either did I,” Reid agreed.

“I tell you I heard something,” Quiver insisted, his eyes darting rapidly around.

“You’re a coward, Quiver,” Owen said. “The woman is obviously one of those fools who thinks animals are worth caring about.”

“And you, Owen, are a fine example of why that is,” Purity said. “A dog is more trustworthy than the likes of you.”

Owen’s face raged red and he lunged at Purity. She stood her ground, knowing his temper ruled, leaving her the upper hand. When he got close enough, she lashed out with her dagger and he stumbled back to avoid the blade.

Reid’s laughter infuriated Owen all the more. “Let me show you how to corral a woman.”

His size and bulk alone would make it difficult for Purity to defend against. She had to keep her distance or chance him taking her dagger off her and possibly using it on her.

“Now lass, just calm yourself and you won’t be harmed,” Reid cajoled as he approached her. “There’s no way you’ll escape the three of us, so make it easy on yourself.”

The thought of being taken captive and removed from her beloved woods and King and Princess frightened and infuriated her. This was her home and she had no intention of leaving it. She’d die here if she had to, but she would never leave here.

“It’s a dead body you’ll be carrying, if you think to take me from my home,” she warned.

“Now, lass, why be like that?” Reid continued to cajole as he kept approaching her slowly. “Do what’s best and surrender.”

Purity glared at him. “NEVER!”

Purity realized what the two men intended and feared she wouldn’t be able to move fast enough, and she was right. The two men lunged at her and while she managed to keep Owen at a distance with her dagger, Reid came up fast behind her and his hand clamped down like an iron shackle on her arm, squeezing and twisting it so hard she was forced to drop the dagger. She didn’t let that stop her though from lashing out at him; punching, kicking, doing all she could to free herself.

Reid didn’t disappoint. He was exactly as Purity believed him to be, an uncaring, heartless soul. He raised his hand and swung with full force at her face. Her head snapped to the side, the horrific sting stunning her for a few moments.

“LET HER GO NOW!”

The venomous, intense command sent a shiver through Reid even before he turned and what he saw sent an icy chill clear down to his bones.

A Northman stood, dwarfing the substantial sapling oak beside him. He wore the hides and furs known to the fierce Northmen tribes across the North Sea and he carried several weapons that could do great harm with a single blow from a skilled hand.

“This doesn’t concern you,” Reid called out.

“I say it does. LET HER GO!” the Northman reiterated with a stinging command any fool would not ignore.

“She belongs to us,” Reid said with brash bravado.

“I think not,” the Northman said. “And make me repeat myself and you’ll find your head split in two.”

Purity shivered at the thought, and Reid stupidly ignored the warning.

Reid yanked Purity along with him as he stepped forward and she caught herself from stumbling. “She’s ours and she’ll be going with us.”

Purity didn’t even see the Northman reach for his axe. It simply landed deep in the middle of Reid’s skull as if slicing him in two. He stumbled back, his arm falling off Purity, and stared at her in disbelief before he fell to the ground dead.

Princess came charging out the woods then, King riding on her back. The large cat launched himself at Owen, his paws spread wide, and his sharp claws caught the man across his face nearly tearing his eyeball from his head.