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Broc

Broc got the one fool who Merryn kicked in the bollocks, but there were two men to replace him, both reaching for the bairns she held.

He battled the two, spearing one with his weapon, pulling it out, and lifting his sword over his head to come down hard on the next man’s arm, knocking his small sword from his hands.

That attacker ran to the wall. Broc spun to follow him, but his gut dropped to his toes.

One burly man punched his mother in the face, knocking her out, then he tossed her over his shoulder and retraced his steps.

Broc wanted to vomit. Merryn was behind him, his mother in front of him, but he made a quick assessment, heard a whistle that called all the attackers back to the boat and chased after the men going over the wall—one with his mother, one with Shealee, and two others with Magni and Tora.

Lia suddenly appeared next to the two bairns and jumped down, presumably to stay with the kidnappers.

Here we go again .

Kelvan stopped at the highest point of the stone border and waved to Merryn who promptly screamed.

Broc went after him, grabbing the rope before he could pull it back up, and scaled the wall.

He landed hard on the other side and raced down the hill in time to see the men leap into three different boats and take off faster than he could reach the coastline.

There were Grant warriors everywhere behind him, but none could reach the boats before they got away.

His mother was on the boat along with four others.

Shealee, with Lia right behind her.

Magni.

Tora.

Who else did they have?

He scanned the boats, looking for other captives, but didn’t see any. Then he made his way back to the front gates. “Open up. They’re gone.”

Trudging back inside, he wiped the sweat from his brow.

He’d failed again. When was he going to be strong enough to protect someone?

Visions of a boar racing at him, its tusk coming at his face overpowered his mind.

He shoved it back into the recesses of his brain, wishing the awful memories would leave him be.

Merryn came flying toward him, launching herself at him, still holding both bairns.

His father came out of the keep. “Kyla? Where the hell is Kyla?”

Broc closed his eyes and took Sylvi from Merryn while she kept hold of Sandor. Then he strode toward his sire, who took one look at his face and roared. Derric was behind him, Dyna next, and they tore over to grab their two bairns.

Dyna asked, “Tora again?”

Broc nodded.

Derric said, “I was coming from the other side, but I couldn’t get to her fast enough. I saw Merryn grab Sandor and Sylvi, and Broc protected them.”

His father said, “What about your mother? Did you try to protect her?”

Derric said, “Finlay, Broc was protecting a woman holding two bairns. He couldn’t leave them to go after Kyla. There were men everywhere.”

Merryn said, “But he did. Once he took care of the three men after us, he went after the man who had his mother. There were so many of them.”

Finlay hugged his son. “Forgive me. I know you fought hard. I can see the blood on you and the bodies of the men you stopped. Your mother is strong. She’ll survive. Is Lia with them?”

“Aye, and Magni. Shealee, Tora, Lia, Magni, and Mama are all on the ships.”

“Ships?” Derric asked.

“Aye. Three of them.”

Dyna said, “And they must have been lying in wait. As soon as the guards arrived with the horses who were unsettled from the ship, plus Micheil and Aunt Brenna, everyone was distracted from all the new arrivals. Many came outside with the bairns. We made it perfect for them. We weren’t thinking.”

“But he said a sennight. It’s only been two days.” Broc shook his head. “Never believe anything he says.”

Finlay clasped his son’s shoulder and said, “Let’s go into the hall. Plan our next steps.”

Merryn looked up at Broc. How she prayed he wouldn’t consider going after them. But if she were to guess, he was already plotting. “Broc, it was Kelvan. I saw him with Shealee. He’s the one who stole her in front of me.”

Dyna, Derric, and Finlay all stared at them. Derric mumbled, “Damn. Diamond, we have to stop them. He won’t quit.”

Then Merryn made a quick decision.

When Broc left, she was going with him.

Fire raged through her at all the travesties one man had committed. He’d killed her sister, his own wife, the mother of his wee bairn.

Then he’d killed both her parents and all their neighbors.

His new wife had attempted to kill Logan.

And now they’d kidnapped four bairns and Kyla Grant.

“I’m going with you when you go after them, Broc. I don’t care who goes.”

Broc said, “I’m not sure if you are ready yet, Merryn.”

Dyna said, “She’s ready. She had the sense to grab my two bairns and kick one attacker in the bollocks, did she not? She saved Sandor and Sylvi.”

Broc tipped his head and said, “So true. I’ll take you along if the others agree.”

“Good. Because I’m going to kill that bastard. I’ve seen enough of his sick, twisted deeds. If I have to put a dagger in his eye, I’ll do it.”

He had Shealee, and she’d vowed to protect the wee lass.

She owed it to her sister.