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“I’m not leaving you,” Katherine retorted. “We just have to find a way out.”

Leaving him leaning heavily against the wall, she moved across the room, pushing aside sacks and old chests, clearly trying to find a door.

But she didn’t understand the danger she was in. Reginald was certain to kill her if he discovered her there. In fact, he could no longer be certain her brother would spare her life, even after Domhnall’s was taken from him. She needed to escape while she still had the chance.

“Katherine, please–”

“No,” she said firmly, turning to look at him. “If we’re leaving, we’re leaving together.”

He was too weak to run. He would only hold her back, and just as he was about to tell her that, the door at the top of the stairs burst open.

“Come tae me,” Domhnall croaked. “Quickly.”

Katherine did as she was bid, and by the time Reginald and his men reached the bottom of the staircase, she was stood beside him, her arms wrapped around his body, doing her best to keep him standing.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Reginald spat as he glared at Katherine.

“I might ask you the same,” she cried. “Why, Reginald? Why have you punished him so? He has done nothing to you. Not now. Not ever.”

“Of course, he has. He’s a Scot to begin with, and thus, his very existence irks me. I am with the king on this one. They need to be annihilated. Every single one of them. Besides, he has killed my men.”

“Because they attacked him,” Katherine retorted incredulously. “What did you expect was going to happen?”

“Move away from him now, or you will take his place in his grave.”

“No!” Katherine spat.

Reginald then looked at Domhnall. “My sister does not seem to understand the situation. You are too weak to fight me and my men, and thus, this is my proposal. Either you die, or she does.”

At those words, one of the men launched forward, and, grabbing Katherine by the wrist, he tore her away. Holding her against his body, he lifted a knife to her throat.

“Nay!” Domhnall growled, feeling both devastated and angry.

Using what little strength he had left, he pushed himself off the wall. A part of him knew he and Katherine were both going to die in that cellar, but he had to try and save her.

“Leave her be. If ye’re so determined tae kill someone, then kill me.”

“No!” Katherine sobbed, tears escaping down her cheeks. “Please.”

Domhnall took one last long look at her. She truly was the best thing that had happened to him, and now he would go to his grave knowing what love truly meant, and how it felt. She had given him more than she could ever know. And it was that lovethat impelled him to save her. She might have a chance at life. He had to hold onto that.

Looking back at Reginald, he lifted his head, pushed his shoulders back, and stared directly into his eyes. He would not show fear. He would not tremble. He would die with honor and dignity.

“I’m ready,” he said evenly.

A smirk grew on Reginald’s lips, the evident and obvious delight that he was finally going to get what he wanted after all this time beaming from him. The smile grew even wider as he looked from Domhnall to Katherine.

“Before I smite you, there is one thing you both need to know. All this time, my sister has believed you were the man who killed our father.”

Katherine shook her head, but Reginald ignored her.

“But, as a matter of fact, it was I, who arranged his murder.”

Domhnall’s jaw fell at those words, but Katherine’s screams broke through his astonishment, paining his heart as he witnessed her utter despair.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

As Reginald’s words sunk in, the truth of them Katherine struck her like a physical blow, the betrayal cutting deeper than any blade could.