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“Is that a letter?” Aileen said. “Pass it tae me.”

Séamus, who found reading and writing to be unnecessarily difficult and had never really bothered to learn, passed the folded piece to Aileen. She smoothed it on the table and studied the hand-written note.

As she read, she sucked in a startled breath.

Finn shot her a wary look. “Is something wrong?”

Aileen let fly a string of curses. “God’s blood!” She slammed a fist on the table. “By all the devils in hell. We’ve got ourselves the wrong man. This isnae Everard MacNeil, but his braither, Maxwell. War Chief of Clan MacNeil.”

She ground her teeth. No wonder this man had had such an easy victory over her when they had sparred. His name was known far and wide. He was a great warrior, a leader, and a man who wasfeared throughout the Highlands and beyond. And every one of those inked images she’d glimpsed – that no doubt covered his entire body – represented a foe he had killed in battle.

Grabbing handfuls of her hair with both hands she rocked back in her chair, her mind reeling with the potential consequences of such a grave error.

It was Finn who put into words the thoughts that were rioting in Aileen’s head. “Oh, me God. The Laird Sutherland will be on fire when he discovers this.” She raised a hand to her mouth, her eyes suddenly wide with fear. “His punishment fer this error will be harsh.”

Séamus leaped to his feet, his hand already on his dirk.

“I can end the MacNeil now, Captain, if ye wish it. There’s none will ken. We can still capture his braither.”

His words hung in the air while Aileen wrestled with the impossible dilemma she found herself in.

It was in that moment an ear-splitting sound, somewhere between a groan and a roar, drew her attention to Maxwell’s prone figure.

His eyes shot open and he grimaced as he faced her. “Jesus Christ and all the saints in heaven, lass.” He struggled into a sitting position, his eyes darting from Aileen to Finn and then to Séamus. “Did ye have to hit me so damned hard?”

Her eyes roamed over the humbled but still defiant figure, observing the contours of his broad shoulders, his burly chest, and the strong arms now held fast in shackles.

She met his ice-blue gaze, sensing his rage simmering fit to boil. A shiver ran through her, at once heating and freezing her blood. For all his helplessness, Maxwell MacNeil remained a powerful man.

At that she made up her mind.

“Nay Séamus, we will spare him. Mayhap he will prove tae be of some use tae us, after all.”

Finn drew in a sharp breath. “Captain, is that wise? This will send a message to the MacNeil whereas before this he had nay sense of danger from us.”

Aileen allowed herself a moment to mull over Finn’s warning.

“Nay, Finn.” She shook her head. “’Tis too late tae undae what’s done. Sooner or later, Everard MacNeil will come after us. When he does, we’ll be ready.”

She turned to Maxwell. “Ye’re the prisoner of Pirate Captain Aileen MacAlpin.” She grinned. “Ye’re mine now, me fine big lad, and I’ll dae with ye as I wish.”

Maxwell’s eyes were riveted on her face, studying her with an intensity that made her quiver under his gaze and look away momentarily.

He laughed. A bold, brazen sound of ridicule that rang through the cabin.How dare he laugh at me when he is me prisoner.She half-raised a hand, wishing to slap away his mirth and the merriment written on his handsome face.

CHAPTER THREE

“Lass, ye’ve bested me after all. But nae by fair means.”

“Be silent ye foolish rogue.” Her face was burning and Maxwell took some small satisfaction in observing how his contempt unsettled her.

“Ah. I understand now.” He grinned, snatching a deep breath, hiding the surge of rage threatening to set him on fire, casting his glance over the other two, who stood in silence beside their Captain, seemingly unsure of what she might wish them to do. “Ye desire tae keep me by yer side, tae toy wi’ me and use me as yer bedmate whenever ye wish.” He laughed again, softly and with menace. “While, I’m happy tae oblige yer whims lass, I’ll be requiring that feather bed ye spoke of if I’m tae dae what ye ask of me.”

Aileen glared at him, huffing loudly. She opened her mouth and it seemed she was about to make a retort, when a shudder rippled through the cabin.

“We’ve raised the anchor Captain.” Séamus rested his hand on the table as the ship rolled. “We’re already moving into mid-stream.”

Maxwell swore under his breath. Once the damned ship sailed, he had little hope of getting away. At least until they made their next landfall.