“I thank ye,” Jane replied in as level a voice as she could manage. She stepped toward the woods. A pang went through her. The pain became so unbearable with each step that she thought she might die.
As she walked through the woods, she could hear a horse neighing in the distance. She came to a complete stop when she saw the mare. She couldn't move for a long time and felt so numb that she wasn't sure she could even manage the short distance to the animal that would take her out of these lands.
She sobbed quietly to herself as she mountedit. The trees were barren. Even the birds were not singing. She hadn't even put her foot in the stirrup when she heard leaves crunch under a boot.
She turned around, but before she could react, a hand snaked out and grabbed her wrist, yanking her towards one of the trees. She screamed and attempted to defend herself by pushing against the body, but her wrists were clasped in a brutal grip. She kicked at her attacker, but he was expecting it. He flipped her around with enough force to take her breath away, and she recognized what was happening through her hazy senses.
She had seen her assailant before.
It was the same person who attacked Darach. He was dressed in the same dark hood, only this time, there was no effort to hide himself from her. Kenn McTavish had no care whether she saw him or not. It had probably been his advice to send her alone to these woods; however, he was probably unaware Lorna was within range. As soon as his eyes met hers, she opened her mouth to scream, only to have his hand clamp over it with bruising force.
“I couldnae believe my luck when yer doting Darach agreed tae send ye away like I advised,” he chuckled wickedly as he stared down at her. “‘Tis always been his drawback, his constantly foolish trust. I’ve waited years for this moment, lass. Ye’ll nae ruin my work so easily.”
Jane pushed at his hand and staggered away from him. “He’ll find ye out,” she gasped. “Darach would see ye for who ye are soon enough.”
He laughed wickedly and took a step closer to her. “He’d never find out. He never even did when I poisoned his wife. He thought it was his fight with her earlier in the day that finished her, but it was me. It has always been me.”
He was the reason Darach was broken. He was the reason the laird considered himself cursed, and he believed he had inherited his father’s beastly possession. It was all the handiwork of Kenn McTavish, that fool, and the smirk on his face proved that it had all been intentional.
Jane stared in horror at the man. He was despicable. But he didn’t seem to care in the least or even feel fazed by what he was saying. When he saw the look on her face, he took another step toward her, and she backed away but tripped. Her bottom hit the ground hard, and she stared up at him.
Does he intend tae murder me too?
“There is naewhere for ye tae run, lass. There is nae help for ye. Tell me, how did ye ken my plans for the expedition were false?”
His free hand reached toward her, and she jerked her knee into his groin with all her might. When he dropped his hands down to clutch himself in agony, she shoved hard, and he stumbled back and went down on his arse. Jane turned toward the horse and clambered on it, fumbling with the reins, desperate to get the steed going and ride off. But she found out the beast was securely tied to a tree, all a part of the madman’s plan.
Jane yelled hoarsely just as the man grabbed her by the hair and threw her across the ground. She landed in a heap on the floor, all her breath knocked painfully from her chest. Kenn stood over her, his eyes glittering with rage. Spit frothed on his lips, and his cheeks were red with fury.
“Ye little wench. Ye’ll pay for yer defiance. I’d figured ye arenae valuable tae anyone, including yer faither. It is yer sister that the king wants, ye useless lass. That’s why I was lurking in yer faither’s study, trying tae make a plan for how tae take yer silly sister and send her to my master.”
Her eyes narrowed in a fury, and she flew at him. She hit him as hard as she could, watching the shock on his features as he staggered back. He held up his arms to ward her off, but her rage propelled her on. The slovenly little bastard sickened her. For years he’d tormented the man she loved and betrayed his trust.
“Ye’re a pathetic coward who hides behind falsehoods,” she hissed. “And I ken it was ye who attacked Darach .”
She balled her fist and swung. Her knuckles exploded in pain as she connected with his nose.Damn it.Blood splattered, and his head jerked back, his hand scrambling to his face. He bellowed with rage and struck out at her. She ducked but not in time to keep him from striking her cheek. She reeled and tripped over a root.
“I should inscribe his name on yer dead skin with the dagger I wounded him with,” he spat as he advanced, unsheathing a blade and punching out at her with his other hand.
And then, several things happened at once.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
As his blow connected, pain erupted in her head. Kenn's eyes widened with fear as a noise exploded from behind the trees in the forest. Suddenly, a figure flew through the woods, lifting him away from her and smacking him against a tree. Darach advanced on the man, his entire body bristling with rage, and Jane stared in awe. She rose, hoisting herself to see what was going on.
Her eyes caught Darach hauling Kenn to his feet and then flattened him with a fist. Never had she seen him so angry. She felt Darach might kill the other man with his bare fists if she didn't intervene. There was a bristling noise of other people in the woods now, but she ignored them and moved toward Darach.
“Darach,” she took a step forward hurriedly, and a wave of dizziness caught her.
Everything went dark as she collapsed towards the earth.
* * *
Darach rushed towards Jane after dropping Kenn McTavish's limp body, barreling past a few of the councilmen Morven had also brought to witness Kenn's betrayal. He noticed Kenn trying to gather himself. Morven stabbed him again, and he collapsed once more. ButDarach's sole concern was her—Kenn had hurt hurt, she was not moving. His heart stopped.
“Jane,” he called out softly, his heart constricting in pain. “Jane, please heed me. I love ye, Jane, I’m so sorry I didnae believe ye,” he whispered. “Dinnae leave me, love, nae now when ye have helped me find out who I am. I’m a fool in love with ye.”
“Darach.” Morven’s soft voice intruded on his grief, and he glanced up at his brother’s face. Morven had warned him for days that something looked out of turn with Kenn, but Darach had chosen not to see it. After Jane’s confession, Morven had planned this whole scene to confirm Kenn’s betrayal. Looking at his brother’s face now, there was no judgment or resentment, only understanding.