Page 29 of The Icy Highlander’s Virgin (Highlanders’ Feisty Brides #4)

Duncan had little Hayden by the front of his shirt, the boy's feet barely touching the ground as he dangled from the man's grip. Hayden was struggling desperately, his small hands pushing against Duncan's chest, tears streaming down his face.

"Ye think ye can run wild through this castle like ye own it?" Duncan was snarling, giving the boy a violent shake. "Gettin' under everyone's feet, makin' noise when decent folk are tryin' to conduct business?"

"I was just playin'!" Hayden sobbed. "I wasnae hurtin' anyone!"

"Liar!" Duncan drew back his free hand.

"Nay!" Erica cried out, running forward as fast as her skirts would allow.

But she was too far away. Duncan's hand cracked across the small boy's face with vicious force, snapping Hayden's head to the side and sending a fresh wave of tears down his cheeks.

"Stop!" Erica shouted, still running. "Stop this instant!"

Duncan looked up at the sound of her voice, but instead of releasing the child, his grip tightened. "And what do ye think ye're goin' to do about it?" he sneered.

"Let him go, Duncan!" She was close enough now to see the red mark blooming on Hayden's pale cheek, close enough to hear his frightened whimpers. "Let him go this instant!"

"Or what?" Duncan gave Hayden another cruel shake, making the boy cry out. "Ye'll run to yer husband again? Tell him more lies about me?"

Erica reached them and immediately tried to grab Hayden, but Duncan twisted away, keeping the child out of her reach.

"Put him down!" she demanded, her voice shaking with fury. "Hayden is nae a servant for ye to discipline! He's a child!"

"He's a pest who needs to learn his place," Duncan spat back. "Just like his mother, always thinkin' they're above their station because the laird shows them kindness."

"Ye have nay right?—"

"I have every right!" Duncan's face was flushed red with rage. "I'm next in line for this clan, or have ye forgotten? These people will answer to me someday!"

"Then God help them all," Erica shot back, still trying to get closer to Hayden. "If this is how ye treat children, I cannae imagine what kind of laird ye'd make."

"The kind this clan needs!" Duncan raised his hand again, and Hayden flinched away with a terrified whimper.

Erica threw herself forward without thinking, grabbing Duncan's raised arm with both hands. "Daenae ye dare strike him again!"

"Get off me!" Duncan shoved her back with his elbow, sending her stumbling.

"Please," Hayden whispered through his tears. "Please, I want me mam..."

The broken plea from such a small voice made Erica's protective instincts flare white-hot. She stepped forward again, this time positioning herself directly between Duncan and any escape route.

"Let him go, Duncan. This is yer last warnin'."

"Warnin'?" Duncan laughed harshly. "From who? A woman who's been here barely a month and thinks she can order me about?"

"From the Lady of this castle," she said, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "Release that child immediately, or face the consequences."

"Consequences?" Duncan's grip shifted, and for a horrible moment Erica thought he might actually hurt Hayden worse just to spite her. "Ye want to ken about consequences? This is all yer fault!"

"What's me fault?"

"Everythin'!" The word exploded from him like a curse. "I had respect in this clan before ye arrived! I had influence, power! Now Lachlan has me on a short leash like some common dog, all because his precious wife cannae mind her own affairs!"

"Me fault or nae," Erica said, her voice growing stronger, "I'll never stand by and watch ye abuse anyone in this castle. Especially nae an innocent lad who's done nothin' but exist in the same space as yer foul temper."

"Innocent?" Duncan's laugh was ugly. "He's a kitchen brat who thinks he can run wherever he pleases because his fat mam feeds cooks for the entire castle."

"That's enough!" Erica's voice cracked like a whip. "Ye'll nae speak of Mairi that way, and ye'll nae take yer anger at me out on a defenseless child!"

"I'll do whatever I please!" Duncan finally released Hayden, but only to grab Erica's arm in a grip so tight she gasped. "And if ye think yer precious husband can protect ye from everythin’, ye're more fool than I thought!"

Hayden stumbled backward, free but too terrified to run, his small body shaking as he watched the adults fight.

"Let go of me," Erica said, trying to pull away from Duncan's painful grip.

"Nae until ye understand somethin'," he hissed, his face inches from hers. "This clan belonged to me family long before ye arrived, and it'll belong to us long after ye're gone. Ye’re just a political convenience, nothin' more."

"If that's true, then why are ye so threatened by me presence?"

The question hit home. Duncan's face contorted with rage, and his free hand drew back.

"Shut up!" The words exploded from Duncan's lips an instant before his hand whipped across her face.

The slap cracked like thunder in the morning air, the force of it snapping her head to the side and sending her staggering. Pain bloomed across her cheek, sharp and immediate, and she tasted blood where her teeth had cut the inside of her mouth.

Behind her, Hayden whimpered in terror.

"What do ye think ye're doin' to me bride?"

The voice that cut through the garden was cold as winter death. Erica looked up through watering eyes to see Lachlan emerging from the shadows between the outbuildings, his face a mask of lethal calm.

Duncan went white as fresh snow.