Page 31 of Strachan (Hostage Brides #2)

Cecily shivered violently.

Her hands ached from clutching the reins as she followed the men along a path through the woods.

They seemed to ride forever, and it was hard not to be spotted.

She feared losing sight of them by falling too far behind, but eventually, they veered off the path and into the undergrowth.

She could no longer see them, but Black Eaden’s voice carried through the trees as he barked orders at this men.

Dusk was coming on.

Soon, it would be freezing.

Cecily pulled her horse into a thicket and crept closer.

A hint of smoke carried in the wind.

Good.

If they made a fire, they were settled for the night.

A carpet of pine needles cushioned Cecily’s steps, and she prayed she would not give herself away.

Oh, this was madness. She should have ridden home at once and brought men back to search. But then, Lowri might be lost forever.

Cecily was almost upon them when a dark bulk rose from the woods – walls, or the ruins of them, ivy-strangled and mildewed.

They were huge, rising to the sky and holding aloft the bones of long, arched windows.

Lumps of stone were strewn around, and Lowri was seated on one before a small fire with Eaden.

It was unnerving, the way he stared at her so intently.

Cecily crept closer through thick ferns, using the cover of a tumbledown wall.

She had to strain her ears to hear what they were saying.

To her credit, Lowri showed no fear, even though her hands were tied behind her back, and she was helpless before an animal.

Her voice carried in the breeze.

‘I wonder that you can set foot in this holy place and not burst into flames, you devil,’ she said.

Eaden looked like a devil – his eyes were black and hungry as they roamed over Lowri.

‘Ah, the monks of Dunet Abbey were not so holy,’ said Eaden. ‘

They indulged all manner of pleasures. They’d lift their cassocks and take their pleasure of local lasses up against the abbey walls. There’s many a bastard that’s sprung from holy loins, lass.’

‘You are disgusting,’ said Lowri

‘So I am told. Yet you liked me well enough, once,’ said Eaden, his voice tinged with sadness.

Lowri glared. ‘I was young and did not know you well.’

Eaden laughed and took hold of her arm. ‘I could have won you if it weren’t for your brother. I was kind, was I not?’

‘Let go of me,’ hissed Lowri.

He must have tightened his grip, for Lowri flinched. ‘Why did you have to tell Peyton about us back then?’ said Eaden.

‘Because you frightened me.’

‘You didn’t seem frightened when I put my hands between your legs in the woods. Ah, I remember it clear as day – you, so young and eager, ripe for the plucking. But I did not take your innocence. I thought, ‘Eaden, this one is special. If you take your time to woo her, you can capture Lowri’s heart as well as her maidenhead. Her surrender will be fierce, hard-won, and thus all the sweeter.’

One of his men walked over, and Cecily shrank back into the ferns. ‘We are all set here, Eaden. There’s plenty of cover and wood to keep the fire going.’

‘I know. That is why I chose this place, fool,’ he bellowed.

The man retreated a few steps. ‘Are you done with the lass? If you want privacy, we can…’

‘Fetch my horse, and get Armstrong to come and guard this lass before I put a boot up your arse. And if you lay a hand on her, I will cut it off. She is mine to pluck. Understood?’

The man hurried away, and Cecily peered out again.

Eaden let go of Lowri’s arm and stood up. ‘I had time for softness back then,’ he said. ‘But I’ve no time for it now. When I come back, your brother will no longer stand between me and my desires. So, reconcile yourself to sharing my bed, Lowri. You know you’ve always wanted to.’

Lowri stood up. ‘What are you going to do?’

He walked away, but she stumbled after him. ‘Tell me,’ she shouted.

Eaden turned around and took her by the throat, glaring into her eyes. He thrust a hand down her bosom, ripped out a pendant of some kind and held it before her eyes. The metal glinted in the dying light. ‘I am going to humiliate Peyton before all his clansmen, and then I am going to kill him,’ he said.

Eaden mounted his horse and rode away. Cecily leaned back against the cold wall to steady herself. She wanted to be sick. Peyton was in danger. She had to warn him, but first, she had to get Lowri away from these cutthroats.