Page 118 of Taken By the Vicious Highlander

They had no time to lose. Both men were already moving.

He moved swiftly through the halls, his boots striking the stone floor hard, his blood boiling beneath his skin.

He didn’t hesitate. Didn’t even stop to tell the guards what was happening. It was Ryder who barked orders ahead of him, already halfway down the corridor.

He needed his horse. Needed to find her.

The moment he burst into the courtyard, Ryder tore past him, already on his horse, heading straight for the road to Branloch.

Damon’s chest tightened as his intrusive thoughts ripped through his resolve.

Had she been taken? Had the Sinclairs stolen her away while I was sittin’ in that damned study all night, worryin’ about matters that suddenly meant nothing?

The thoughts sent a bolt of pure terror through him.

But then Finely’s voice broke through the haze as Damon started to jog toward the stables.

“Me Laird!”

Damon didn’t stop.

“Damon! Stop!”

Finley had never used his given name, and Damon knew the man used it sparingly.

“What is it?” he asked, twisting around abruptly to face the man.

He skidded to a halt just before running straight into him, his face pale, his breathing ragged. He barely stopped himself from grabbing him by the collar, desperation threatening to take over his restraint.

“Tell me where she is. Do ye ken? Tell me everything ye ken, man!”

Finley exhaled sharply, his hands splaying between them in surrender. “I dinnae ken anything, but listen.”

Damon growled in frustration, but the rare desperation in Finley’s expression made him pause.

“I never left her door,” Finley continued, his voice rough, frantic. “She wasnae taken. At least, nae through the main halls.”

Damon felt his blood pounding in his ears. “Then how?”

Finley swallowed hard. “She escaped through the tunnels.”

Damon’s world spun.

The sealed tunnels? But how?

His hands curled into fists. “I thought they were sealed.”

“So did I,” Finley admitted, his expression dark. “Magnus swore he closed them up, but…” He exhaled sharply. “He used them, Damon. Constantly. He snuck men in and out of the castle at all hours. If anyone still alive kenned about them, it was Sebastian.”

Damned SebastianMorris.

Damon’s jaw clenched.

“Ye said it yerself,” Finley continued. “Sebastian told ye things were already in motion.”

Damon’s stomach twisted.

“They willnae stop until they get what they want…”