Page 35 of The Highlander’s Enchanted Healer (Spellbound Hearts #2)

Late-afternoon sun gilded the treetops as I urged my mount onward, hooves striking sparks of dust from the forest road.

Behind me, my clansmen, along with the Fergusson warriors, thundered toward the distant silhouette of the Gordon stronghold.

Its stone towers rose like gray ghosts on the horizon, spires and ramparts etched against a tapestry of bruised purples and gold.

Suddenly, rounding a bend in the winding woodland trail, I glimpsed a lone rider emerging from shadow onto sunlit earth.

Allan?

“Laird!” Thor called, his voice cutting sharp through the air.

“Aye, I see,” I replied, blood surging. I shifted in the saddle and spurred my horse, catching Allan at a furious gallop.

Roger and Thor came up close behind, their breaths ragged.

We leaped from our saddles, and dust-clouded beneath a fading sky, I clasped my brother to me, checking him for broken bones and wounds.

Grime smeared his tunic, hardship hollowed the fine lines of his cheeks, but beyond bruises and shallow cuts he bore no mortal wound. He would live.

“How did ye escape?” I demanded, though my voice trembled.

Allan wiped sweat and dirt from his forehead. “Ari—” He shook his head, as if wrestling the words free. “Elena Gordon. This morn she came to my cage, struck down one of her own clansmen, then led me through a secret tunnel beneath the castle walls.”

My blood ran cold. Elena had done as she promised my sister, had risked everything to set him free. My heart leaped with relief and sank with dread at what she must now face. A storm of loyalty and doubt churned inside me.

“I stole the steed from a patrolling Gordon,” Allan continued, unaware of my inner battle. “I was riding toward ye because Elena told me ye were coming and she bade me to relay a message to ye.”

“What is it?” I asked, my blood rushing through my veins.

“She’s trying to put power back in good hands. She begs ye nae to attack if a white flag is rising, because that means she’s been successful.”

The lass was mad. God above, how did she think she could defeat Ramsey and return power to an honorable ruler?

And why was she so foolish to risk herself this way!

Alba’s claim that Elena truly did love me resounded in my head, but I tried to shove it away.

If that were true, then I had sent the woman I loved to her certain death.

I squeezed my eyes shut and inhaled deeply before opening them to find Allan, Roger, and Thor staring at me.

“And if there is nae a white flag?” I demanded.

“She said then ye should storm the castle and kill Gordon, but she begged that ye spare the lives of as many of her clansmen as possible. She said they are good people led by a deceitful ruler.”

Rage and fear swept through me. Aye, she had lied to me. Aye, she had plotted against me, but she had believed Gordon’s lies and simply had wanted to avenge her family. I understood that. I could have listened, but I was hurt and stubborn and a fool. “Did she say anything else?”

Allan nodded as he leaned toward me and dropped his voice low. “She wanted me to tell ye she loves ye. And she’s sorry.”

I turned toward my horse, swinging up on it, when Allan said, “Do we ride to attack?”

“Aye,” I said, black fright for Elena gripping me. “We ride for retribution. And we ride to save Elena.” If it was not too late.