Page 32

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The list idea had come to him in a moment of genius, but it wasn’t just so Domhnall could help Katherine complete it. The tension between them was becoming too much, and as much as he disliked the idea of being forced to marry, he knew if he was to keep his clan safe, he simply had no choice. There was no point bucking against it.

Besides, both Enya, Thora and his brothers were all giving him a hard time. Well, maybe not so much Kai, but that was only because he was too busy with his own lasses. That, and because since their parent’s deaths, he had dealt with it by hiding his true feelings and relying on jokes and humor. Domhnall hated that. Sooner or later, it was going to bite Kai in the arse, but for now, Domhnall had other things to worry about.

As mortified as Katherine obviously was when they talked about it, he was pleased that she had agreed to let him help her complete her list, and thinking of the easiest one to address, he had decided to take her horse-riding.

Admittedly, he had thought it would take her far longer to get the hang of it, but she was a quick learner, which had only impressed him more. In less than an hour, they had galloped across the glens, snow floating around them as the horses’ hooves kicked it up from the ground.

It hadn’t slipped his notice how invigorated she looked, how her perfectly pale skin had glowed, and how the cold air had brought a red blush to her cheeks.

She is a beauty. I cannae deny that.

But just as Katherine began apologizing for her words on the day they had sparred - something that hadn’t surprised him, for as feisty as she was, he could not imagine her as cruel - he heard a twig snap behind them.

“I dinnae think we’re alone,” Domhnall murmured, when Katherine asked why he had stopped so suddenly.

Even as he now looked back through the trees, he couldn’t see anything, but with the denseness of the forest, that meant little. It was the perfect place for an ambush. Plenty of cover meant they were an easy target, for it was not difficult to creep up on someone when they could run from tree to tree.

“We should go back,” Katherine said breathlessly, now looking behind her too.

“We’re nae far from the castle. These lands are full o’ my people. Still, I need ye tae ride back now as fast as ye can, dae ye hear me?”

But Katherine shook her head. “No. I won’t leave you. I can help.”

“Nae, Katherine. I want ye tae leave. If this is an ambush, I cannae have ye hurt, dae ye understand me?”

He now stared at her intently, and as brave as she was trying to be, he could see the fear dancing in her eyes. Of course, he could tell her that he could handle the situation with ease, but she could not know that. She could not know about his power.

“Go,” he demanded. “Go now.”

Katherine held his gaze for a few more seconds, and then, she tightened her grip on the reigns, turned ahead, and was about to leave.

Suddenly, five men jumped out from the trees, all of them surrounding both of them. As panic rose within him, Domhnall launched himself from his horse, grabbed Katherine, and sped through the trees with unnatural speed. She was going to realize, but he couldn’t think about that right now. He had to protect her.

Once he had placed her behind a huge boulder, he took hold of her shoulders and looked intently into her terrified eyes.

“Stay here. Dinnae move, dae ye understand?”

Trembling, she nodded her head eagerly.

“Ye cannae move from here, Katherine. Stay hidden. Stay hidden and dinnae look.”

Again, she speechlessly nodded, but then, she grabbed his hand.

“Please be careful.”

Domhnall nodded, and in another second, he raced back to the men who were currently running through the trees to reach him.

“Argh!” he screamed at the top of his voice, running at them with his sword held high.

If the war cry didn’t terrify them, the speed at which he ran towards them obviously did, and the men’s faces betrayed doubt in their ability. Still, they ventured forth.

As the gap between them closed, Domhnall swung his sword, knocking two men off their feet. These men were no match for him, and thus, he held no fear in his heart. He was angry though. Strangers on the land was bad enough, but men attacking him and Katherine would not be tolerated.

Two of the others put up a good fight, but in no time, they too, were knocked off their feet, and then, struck so hard theyfell unconscious. Only one remained, and even though with terror on his face, he still came at Domhnall. With one single, unnaturally fast strike, he put the brigand on his back, and with his sword held high, Domhnall stood over him, shaking with rage, and ready to slice him in two.

“No!” the man cried. “No. Please.”