Page 88 of Highlander's Wild Lass

He gripped his knife tightly in his hand, just as Koll raised his foot behind him. Celestia was too stunned to see the kick coming. He was aiming right for her abdomen.

Anthony grabbed a fistful of Koll’s hair, ripped him backward, and buried his dirk into his neck. Blood flowed heavily from the wound in Koll’s neck, gurgling and fighting for air as he fell to the floor.

Anthony pulled the dirk from his neck, slowly, the blood pouring out after it. The color drained from Koll’s face as he struggled, hand clumsily fluttering to his neck.

“Celestia,” Anthony said, rushing to pull her up. “Are ye hurt?”

She shook her head, staring down at Koll whose head was resting on the floor now, the fight leaving him. “Is he dead?”

Anthony glanced back at the man. “Soon.”

“Auralia?”

“In the back.”

Celestia took off toward the back. “Auralia!”

Auralia rushed forth, straight into Celestia’s arms.

“Everythin’ is alright,” Celestia said, running a comforting hand down the length of her sister’s back. “We’re goin’ to be alright.”

On the way home, to Castle Ferguson, Anthony rode with Auralia, dead asleep, saddled in front of him, while Sebastian led the way. Celestia trotted alongside him.

“Thank ye, Anthony,” she said, loosening the reins as Grannus fell into step with Anthony’s horse. “I ken today wasnae easy for ye. I ken I can be massively stubborn.”

Anthony swept a sarcastic, side-eyed glance at her before smiling. “Ye mean pig-headed, right? Yer far worse than simply stubborn.”

Celestia frowned for a moment before a smile lit her features. “I promise I’ll go easy from now on... until the bairn is born.”

Anthony shook his head. “I highly doubt that lass, but ye will at least try nae to fight and chase after men?”

“Ye have my word,” she said with a smile.

He reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. “I love ye, lass. Truly.”

“I ken, Anthony.”

The End?