Chapter 32

32

" G ood mornin', Emily."

James took one step into the room, and Emily glanced behind her for an escape. He had a sword in hand, his massive shoulders hunched forward as though ready to lunge at her.

Emily stood still, making no sound. She knew he had the upper hand, and if he chose to kill her, she was defenseless. But she also knew he didn't like to lose. Seeing her fear would be a triumph, and she refused to play his game.

"James," she said softly. "Have ye misplaced yerself? This isnae yer castle."

James smirked. "Nae yet."

Behind her, thundering footsteps suddenly approached, and Emily turned around as Adam skidded up to the doorway. His sword raised, he burst into the room.

He flew across the floor at lightning speed, his sword pointed at James, steady and sure as he sized him up.

His blue eyes were locked on James as he came to stand in front of her, one arm stretched out, no doubt trying to protect her. Emily felt her anger spike again. She didn't want his protection—she wanted to kill James for what he had done to her father.

"Before ye try anythin', MacNiall, me soldiers are right outside this castle. I told them their Lady will be very upset if anythin' happens to me." James said threateningly. His hazel eyes flicked to Emily, and the smirk never left his face. "I wanted to ensure that ye received me gift."

Adam stiffened, unconsciously leaning back toward Emily as she sucked in a sharp breath and prepared to gouge out the man's eyes.

Adam considered his options.

He had a dirk at his belt. One well-placed throw and Stewart would have a dagger in his throat. Laura's letter felt like a beacon of light in his pocket—he knew his sister was safe, and that meant he could kill James without consequence.

Emily would be safe from him forever.

He shifted his weight, moving further in front of her, but Emily had other plans. His heart leaped to his throat as she pushed past him without a trace of fear, walking closer to James and pointing an accusatory finger at him, only a few feet separating them.

"I am nae afraid of ye. Ye live yer life to make people afraid, and I will never fear ye again. I am happy ye came because now I can watch me husband kill ye."

"But if ye kill me, how will ye find yer braither?" James asked, a scowl on his face.

Emily's whole body went rigid, and Adam felt a surge of satisfaction that he was able to protect and reassure her all at once.

"He's lyin'," he said.

Emily turned to him, her face pale.

"I have men watchin' yer faither and braither," he continued. "I ken they're safe, I made sure of it."

For the briefest of moments, their eyes met. The gratitude in Emily's eyes took Adam's breath away, and he felt such a surge of happiness to be able to finally help her that it overwhelmed everything else.

"Such a thoughtful husband," James said as he moved closer to them. "If he really was one."

Adam's stomach twisted at the glint in the man's eyes.

"But from what I hear, ye are sleepin' in separate bedrooms, and ye have barely spoken to one another since yer weddin'." James cast a pitying glance at Adam. "Which means that this marriage isnae bindin' and nae legal. So here's what we are goin' to do."

He took another step forward. Adam held his ground. A few feet still separated them, but Emily's position put her out of his reach. A cold drop of sweat ran down his spine.

"Ye're goin' to come with me," James said conversationally, looking down at Emily as though she were his property. "Ye'll marry me, and then all of yer families will survive like nothin' happened." His fingers gripped his sword more tightly as he looked at her, and Adam could see her shoulders shake. "But if ye dinnae, then yer faither and braither will die."

James looked up at him, and the mask finally fell away completely. Adam had met him a few times in his life, and James had been polite and courteous, but now the real man was revealed. He was calculating, cold, and cruel.

"If she doesnae marry me, ye will never see yer sister again."

Emily turned back to look at Adam, and the resignation on her face filled him with fresh rage. This was what she had considered all along—that she might have to return to Stewart to protect her family.

She will leave this castle over me cold corpse.

Emily's eyes were filled with uncertainty as Adam stared at her. But it only took that small break in his concentration for James to take the opportunity to pounce.

Emily shrieked as his burly arm went around her delicate neck, and he pressed her against him. His sword was pointed at Adam, his fingernails digging into her throat. Emily was immobilized and rigid against him, crushed to his torso, struggling to breathe.

Adam sprang forward but stopped instantly as the tip of James's sword moved gently over Emily's legs and up her dress. James pulled it up until it hovered over her stomach. One sharp thrust and Adam would lose her forever.

"Dinnae make me kill her, MacNiall. I've been waitin' for me wife for a long time, and I'd rather take her home with me. But if ye force me hand, I can find another."

Adam snarled at him and paced to his right, keeping his eyes trained on the man, watching for any tensing of his muscles to ensure that Emily would not come to harm.

James watched him, mirroring his movements and walking to his left. His eyes were narrowed, as though he were waiting to see what Adam would do.

As James came level with the first tapestry, the great cascade of color behind him a strange contrast to the dark clothes that he wore, his fingers tightened around Emily's throat.

Emily struggled to breathe, scratching at James's hand, her face a mottled patchwork of pink and red. Adam had to act.

He watched her, the fear in his heart reaching a crescendo that he had never experienced before. It was at that moment that he knew he would die for her a thousand times over if he could just keep her safe.

With a swift movement, he pulled the little knife out from his sleeve. The tiny blade fell into his palm like an old friend, and with a skillful flick of his wrist, he let it fly.

The blade sailed through the air, high above Emily's smaller form, slicing James's ear in two as it flew in a perfect line behind him and buried itself in the tapestry.

James bellowed, releasing Emily, his hand going to his ear, which was now bleeding.

Adam sprang forth, gripping Emily's wrist and dragging her behind him, ensuring she was safe before he brought his blade down upon James.

Although his face was drenched in blood, James rallied quickly. Adam had injured him at the wedding and knew his shoulder was not fully healed. Using his advantage, he focused all his blows on his weaker side, but James was stronger than he looked.

The other man fought back, slicing through the air with renewed vigor as their blades clashed. The sound of steel clashing against steel echoed through the wide corridor.

James backed toward the wall, protecting himself against Adam, whose fluid movements transitioned into a cold precision as he narrowed his focus on the man before him.

Adam struck for Laura's honor and the terrible ordeal this man had put her through. He struck to protect his family and clan. But mostly, his sword came down for his wife—the strong, determined, beautiful woman he had never expected to grow to need so much and now would do anything to protect.

James parried, pulling a dirk from his boot and slashing at Adam wildly, his teeth bared, almost demonic. Blood ran down to his shoulder and soaked the fabric of his tunic.

With cold fury in his veins, Adam adjusted his grip, lifted his blade high, and stabbed his sword deep into the man's shoulder. The blade sliced through bone and flesh, emerging on the other side.

James screamed, wrenching himself away. Blood poured from the wound, but before Adam could strike the final blow, the man darted to the door to the rear passages and sprinted away.

Unsurprised, Adam sprinted after him into the tunnel. Light footsteps echoed off the walls as Emily followed.

"Go back to the castle!" he shouted.

"I am nae leavin' ye," she insisted.

Adam couldn't suppress the joy that those words brought him, even as he feared for her safety.

As he ran after James's shadowy bulk, he cursed himself inwardly.

Why did I nae man every exit in the tunnels, too?

No one outside Clan MacNiall was supposed to know that they existed, but clearly, James did, and he knew his way around them. He ran confidently down each passage as though he had navigated them many times.

But his route was easy to follow, as the pools of blood were getting thicker by the second. Finally, the passage led to an outer door, and Adam burst through it, finding himself in the lower stone courtyard, with his father's statue in the center.

The sky was black, unleashing a torrential downpour. Everything was a mass of shadows and rain.

Looking around him, Adam saw James running ahead of him.

His pace was slowing, and Adam saw that the guards on the parapet were raising their bows, ready to strike him down. He ran after him, raising a hand into the rain to stop the guards from firing.

James Stewart is mine and mine alone.

The rain was coming down in sheets, and Adam slowed his pace to a walk as James struggled to remain on his feet. He had lost a lot of blood; he must know the game was over.

But at the last second, James lurched sideways, bringing his sword around and almost slicing into Adam's arm. Adam jumped back at Emily's scream and pushed her back as he swung his blade forward.

James's shriek of rage reverberated around the courtyard as he fell back against the statue of the pegasus, glaring at Adam with pure hatred.

"She is mine!" he screamed. "Ye willnae ever have her—she doesnae want ye."

The possible truth in those words cut deeply, but Adam towered over the man, determined to silence him once and for all.

James's sword clattered to the ground as his arm lost its grip and rain mixed with his blood on the ground.

"This is the same garden where I first kissed her," Adam said softly as James's eyes widened. "And it is where I'll kill ye."

With one last effort, James pulled another dirk from his belt and threw himself at Adam, but Adam was ready for him. He plunged his sword deep into James Stewart's heart, finally ensuring that his wife would never have to deal with this man again.

Even if she doesnae want me, at least now she is free.

He pulled back his sword as the light left James's eyes, and with a soft sigh, the man collapsed onto the ground in a crumpled ball.

Adam's breath fogged the night air as he stared down at the bloodied corpse of the man who had caused his family and his wife so much pain.

Finally.

Then he turned around, his eyes falling on Emily, and they stood together in the rain, getting drenched as they breathed heavily.