Page 34 of Highlander Lord Of Vengeance (Highland Revenge Trilogy #3)

“Aye, I did pass near Clan Stott,” he said at last, eyes darting between Torrance and Brack. “But only to see if they had any word of strangers in the area. Chieftain Eagan caught sight of me and summoned me. What was I to do? Refuse a chieftain and raise suspicion?”

Brack frowned but said nothing.

Torrance’s jaw tightened. He stepped around the table, slow and deliberate, his boots thudding on the packed dirt floor. “I ordered you to return home and report what happened to Brack. Yet you saw fit to trail mercenaries and to pause long enough to chat with Chieftain Eagan.?”

Gavin drew himself up. “I serve Clan Glencairn. I did what I thought best.”

Torrance halted in front of him, close enough to see the sheen of sweat beginning to bead at Gavin’s brow. “Nay, you did what served you. And I want to know why.”

Gavin’s breath caught. “My lord?—”

“Who gave the order?” Torrance barked. “Who bought your loyalty? Tell me who stands behind this betrayal!”

Gavin’s face contorted. “Someone wiser than you is what I heard.” His voice cracked with something twisted—bitterness, regret, guilt. “I followed orders same as every man there. You were never meant to survive the battle with Clan MacLeish.”

Brack moved, startled, but Torrance’s hand went up, stopping him as his eyes narrowed dangerously.

Gavin gave a bitter laugh. “You should have died. That’s what was promised. A clean end to a burdened legacy. But you lived. Damn you, you lived.”

A heavy silence dropped, broken only by the slow, measured sound of Torrance’s breathing.

Then he moved, seizing Gavin by the front of his tunic and slamming him back against the table. “Who gave that promise?” he snarled, his face close. “Who?”

Gavin stared at him, defiant, even in fear. “Ask your noble allies. Ask those who smile to your face and sharpen blades behind your back. You have no idea how deep this hate for you runs.”

Fury raged in Torrance’s voice. “I’ll find them, every last one of them. And you’ll tell me all you know, or I’ll leave your bones for the crows.”

Brack stepped forward, uncertain. “Torrance?—”

“Secure him in a dwelling surrounded by trustworthy guards,” Torrance ordered, his voice like ice. “He’ll talk by the time I get done with him.”

Gavin spat at the floor. “It doesn’t matter what you do to me. I can’t tell you what I don’t know. And it won’t change anything. You were meant to die… and some still mean to see it done.”

Torrance didn’t look at him again. His gaze was distant, fixed, as if seeing the battlefield all over again. Had he missed something? Had the answer been there in front of him all along?

Brack moved quickly, signaling two guards to seize Gavin.

Torrance turned away, jaw clenched, rage simmering beneath his skin. He meant to know who wanted Torrance dead. He had given the man his word and he would keep it. But what mattered the most to him was getting the chance to have a good life with Esme.

Brack fell in step beside Torrance as they left the meeting house. “You believe him?”

Torrance’s mouth twisted. “Not a word. His lies were layered thick enough to drown in. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was meeting with that group of mercenaries.”

“He named no one.”

“He didn’t need to. He confirmed enough.” Torrance’s tone sharpened. “Someone wants me dead, and this person is using others to see it done… those who hate me and we both know there are many.”

They walked a few paces before Brack said, “What now?”

“I find out who gave the order. And then I break every bond of loyalty that holds this treachery together.”

Brack nodded once, grim. “You’ll have my sword when the time comes.”

Torrance paused at the edge of the path, his expression hard as flint. “I’ll need more than swords, Brack, only the truth will see this done.”

With that, he turned and headed toward the cottage as snow began to fall in faint, drifting flakes. The two warriors were as Torrance had left them, standing guard at either side of the door.

“One of you go and warm yourself with drink in front of the fire at the meeting house while the other remains here. When that one returns the other may leave and warm himself and rest. Do that throughout the night so neither one of you freeze,” Torrance ordered and rapped hard on the door. “Open the door, wife, it is me.”

The two guards stared at Torrance’s back as the door opened and shut behind him.

Then they stared at each other until the younger of the two smiled and nodded at the older warrior to go.

With a nod of appreciation, he left, and the younger warrior shook his head, not understanding Lord Torrance’s generosity.

Esme found herself taking a quick step away from Torrance when he entered, a shadow of anger on his handsome face that startled and frightened her.

It hurt Ryland’s heart to see the fear in Esme’s eyes as she hurried to step away from him.

He silently cursed the resemblance to Torrance, but then if there hadn’t been he would never have had this opportunity to be with Esme, to make her his wife.

He would need to give her time, be patient, and show her that he wasn’t Torrance.

A sudden spark in her eyes and a slight shake of her head, as if realization struck, had Esme saying, “Ryland.”

“Aye, Esme,” he said, tossing his cloak aside as he took a slow step toward her, aching to take her in his arms.

He didn’t need to take another step, she rushed at him, throwing her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

His arms held her pinned against him.

She glanced at him. “You must tell me everything.” She took his hand and hurried him toward the bed. “I tied the curtain back so, the heat could warm the bed for us.”

He thought of a better and more satisfying way to warm the bed, but he didn’t say, knowing how curious she was to hear what he had learned.

Esme got into bed and held the blanket back for him to join her.

Ryland didn’t think twice, he shed his garments since he wanted her to get used to seeing him naked. Something he intended to do often when they were alone in their bedchamber.

She looked down at her own garment, but she didn’t remove it and that was alright with Ryland.

Time.

In time she would learn and feel comfortable donning her garments in front of him.

Ryland got in bed, turning on his side to face Esme who lay on her side, and he hooked his hand at her waist and drew her closer to him.

“Tell me,” she said, her hand going to rest on his arm. “I am impatient to hear.”

“Someone definitely wants Torrance dead, but Gavin insists he doesn’t know who the person is behind it all,” Ryland said and went on to explain all of what he had learned from Gavin.

Esme listened, commenting now and again or asking a pertinent question.

“What will you do?” she asked when Ryland had finished.

“Torture is the only thing left to me.”

Esme frowned and moved away from him to lie on her back.

That disturbed Ryland. “What’s wrong?”

“I hate when you must be so like Torrance.”

“I have little choice if I am to see this plan through and even less choice if I want to make sure we are never separated and—” he leaned over her. “I will do what I must to make sure that doesn’t happen.” He kissed her as if his remark was a vow and the kiss sealed it.

Esme rested her hand on his cheek. “I fear Torrance’s cruelty will stain you like it has me and I don’t want that for you.”

“Torrance could never stain such a beautiful soul. You may have been in his shadow, but you are now free of him. He can never harm you again.”

“Yet his cruelty lingers, and he knew it would when he had you give your word to revenge him. You do as he would have done, what everyone expects of Torrance.”

“Not in everything, but this one I have no choice. I must know who hunts Torrance.” He moved away from her to lie on his back. “I would have it different if I could, but there is no other way.”

Esme could not help but think that part of Torrance continued to live in Ryland and that troubled her. How could she help Ryland fight that?

Love.

The thought startled her. Evil had difficulty surviving against love. All she had to do was love Ryland and the evil Torrance left behind would die away and be no more. And loving Ryland would be the easiest thing for her to do since she already felt him deep in her heart.

She turned on her side and wrapped herself around him, pressing her body snug against him. She couldn’t speak to him of love just yet. Her heart had more healing to do but it would come in time. For now…

“Together, Ryland. We do whatever must be done together,” she said.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, his heart thumping since it felt as if she told him she loved him, words he had no trouble saying.

“I love you, Esme, and always will.”

“And I will forever cherish that love.” She smiled. “Do you think I could pester you or are you too tired?”

Ryland chuckled. “I was about to ask you the same.”

He rolled her on her back, and it wasn’t long before gentle touches and kisses turned to moans and demands until their passions exploded together and once again, they lay satisfied and tired in each other’s arms.

Ryland drifted off to sleep soon after and Esme’s eyes grew heavy, though busy thoughts kept her from sleeping… until an idea struck her. It would work. She was sure of it. She would only need to get her husband to agree.