Chapter 20

20

When the door shut behind Phillip and Emily, the air grew progressively thicker, pressing down on Alison like stones. She was frozen, muscles locked up stiff with indecision. Should she try to have a go at making it to the window? She didn’t have the strength to fight Bain off should he prove violent, and not hearing any footsteps going by made Alison think there was more going on than she previously thought. There should have been someone to stop by, if only to stoke the fire in the hearth and ensure it remained warm.

“Stop this madness, Bain. Let me go.”

Bain narrowed his eyes. Even with the situation at hand, Alison still saw fit to push him. It was enraging that she still couldn’t see the reality of the situation right in front of her. Liam needed to go, and she needed to accept her place on Bain’s arm.

“You make demands like you have a choice here,” he said finally, not loosening his grip on her arm. He didn’t want her to go thinking she could run from him. If possible, he wanted to resolve things without violence, but he wouldn’t hesitate to subdue her should she prove unwilling to see reason.

Alison’s eyes narrowed at his words. “What do you mean? O’course I have a choice. I made my choice three years ago when I chose to marry Liam. I dinnae take those vows lightly.”

Hot rage nearly erupted in Bain’s chest at her unending loyalty. His throat burned with the need to scream. “You chose wrong then and you’re choosing wrong now.”

“You will never?—”

“Choose yer next words wisely,” he said, interrupting Alison before she could finish her sentence. Her mouth snapped shut with enough force to have her teeth clicking. When she didn’t say anything else, Bain sighed in frustration. This didn’t need to be complicated. Once Liam and the maid had been dealt with, he knew Alison would come to her senses. “This clan willnae survive without a strong lairdship and Liam isnae the one fer that.”

Alison turned her head, not wanting to hear the nonsense Bain was spouting. When a hand gripped her chin, she bit the inside of her cheek. Her head was forcefully turned back until her gaze met Bain’s.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you.” Bain’s voice was low and laced with anger. “We could be so good together, Alison. You’ll see once he’s gone. With the two of us, together, we’ll lead the clan with a strength they’ve ne’er seen before.”

“You’re mad,” Alison bit out, her mind a mess of half-fractured thoughts of escape. She wouldn’t give in to the fear that now coursed through her veins, but she wasn’t sure how to fight back in the face of Bain’s delusions. Clearly, his mind had been made up that this was the path forward and now knowing just how far he and Laird Cormac had gone with this plan, she doubted there was any dissuading him from it.

Bain smiled though it held no warmth. “Aye, that I may be. But I am also the future; your future, and the future of this clan.” His face moved closer, and when Bain’s gaze drifted down, Alison was alarmed to realize he was looking at her lips. That had her squirming in a renewed attempt to get away before she found out how far he was going to push this. When the door behind Bain slammed open, it gave her the opening she needed to finally wiggle away and she fell, her back hitting the bed.

Liam could hardly keep himself from lunging at Bain after hearing the words he’d spouted. After ignoring Phillip’s words, Liam had taken a chance at checking the maid’s room. She wasn’t one who had frequented Alison’s chambers and so he’d disregarded that location to check. When he’d reached the servants’ quarters, he’d been shocked at how desolate it was. He hadn’t made it a habit to visit, but whenever he had walked around the area, there were people flitting about. To have it be so utterly empty now let him know something was at play here. He’d been proven correct when he’d heard Bain’s voice and Alison’s higher tone.

When he’d slammed into the room, Liam hadn’t expected to see Bain with his hands on Alison as she tried to pull away.

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that, Bain,” he growled out. Molten rage flowed through Liam’s veins, and he clenched his fists in an attempt to hold himself back. He had to be smart about this, just like with their fight before. This time, there were no witnesses to keep Bain from using underhanded tactics and Liam couldn’t risk Alison getting hurt. “Clearly, you and yer father have been making plans long enough.”

Bain turned to glare at Liam, his lips split on a snarl. “You have no idea, nor will you.”

“Liam,” Alison cried out, putting the bed between them. “They killed yer father. Laird Cormac is the reason they’re dead.”

Liam’s mind went static at Alison’s words. Everything slowly slid into place. No wonder his uncle had been so quick to suggest Liam take time away to handle his grief. He had been slowly bleeding power away, and Liam had almost let him. Renewed, he threw his shoulders back, facing Bain with a stance of pure aggression.

“Bain,” he gritted out, jaw clenched in anger. “Leave before I drag you out myself.”

Bain’s laughter was full of malice, and he lowered his head to peer at Liam. “Don’t let our previous fight delude you into thinking you would beat me.” Bain glanced over his shoulder at Alison before looking back at Liam. “That lass is mine as is this clan. You and yers have no power here.”

The air crackled with tension as Liam slid his feet further apart. He hadn’t wanted to do this here, but he could tell that violence was the only thing Bain would understand. The time for talking was over. Now, he would let his hands decide on what was to come.

Bain’s gaze drifted over Liam as he saw him change his stance. “You really think you can beat me?” His voice was low and laced with contempt. “You have heart, I’ll give you that. But you lack the conviction needed to lead this clan.”

Liam didn’t answer immediately. His gaze flickered over Bain’s posture, looking for an opening, calculating and measuring just how much space he needed to keep Alison unharmed. He had fought before—often in the streets, or in fields with lots of space to move—but this was different. Bain wasn’t just some street brawler, and they weren’t outside. He was dangerous and far too close to Alison for Liam’s liking.

The first move came without warning. Bain lunged, tossing his fists like stones, and Liam barely managed to sidestep in time. The force of Bain’s blow grazed his shoulder, and he staggered back, but only for a second. Liam quickly regained his balance, his feet shifting, his movements fluid and controlled.

“Ye’re too slow,” Bain taunted, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of the fight. “I can see everything ye’re going to do before you do it.”

Despite the anger coursing through him, Liam didn’t rise to the bait. Bain was known for doing that—talking and taunting the other fighter until they reacted with emotion rather than a plan. Instead, he waited for Bain to make the next move. Adrenaline pulsed in Liam’s veins, but he knew better than to let his emotions cloud his judgment. This was about timing. Precision would be his greatest strength.

Bain’s anger grew with each moment that passed with Liam’s silence. He frowned but didn’t hesitate. With a roar, he charged again, fists flying in a wild flurry. This time, Liam didn’t dodge, instead ducking low and moving with the force of the punch. He used Bain’s own momentum against him. In one smooth motion, Liam swept his leg behind Bain’s and kicked forward, sending him sprawling to the floor with a loud thud. Before Bain could get up, Liam circled behind him, putting himself between Bain and Alison.

Anger now tinged with embarrassment, Bain recovered quickly, pushing himself up with a growl. There was a flash of fury in his familiar gray eyes now and the mocking words were gone. He was no longer underestimating Liam. The fight was real. Liam’s heart pounded wildly as Bain closed the distance again. This time, Bain feigned left, then swung his right fist, attempting to catch Liam’s cheek. His gaze narrowed in, tunnel vision showing him nothing of his surroundings, instead focused on Liam’s face. He wanted to see those eyes narrow in pain and hear Liam cry out. Instead, his own eyes widened when Liam dropped from view.

Liam had anticipated Bain going straight in for the incapacitating blow. In one fluid motion, he ducked under Bain’s arm, moving past him with the precision of a snake striking its prey. There was no time for hesitation or indecision. With a swift, powerful motion, he slammed his elbow into Bain’s ribs, enjoying the jarring crack of bone meeting bone. The sound rang out in the silence, and Bain’s breath huffed from his lungs as he gasped in pained shock. Liam didn’t give him any time to recover, grabbing him by the shoulders and delivering a sharp knee to the stomach. Bain’s knees buckled as he crumpled to the ground, the wind knocked from him. Liam followed him down, swinging his fist and delivering the punch that Bain had originally gone for. Pain shot through his hand, but when Bain’s head cracked back, satisfaction filled him.

Alison cried out in shock as she clutched the bedpost. She had seen men fight, but she had never seen Liam fight with such deadly force. She felt a sudden heat infuse her as her gaze flitted over Liam’s tense back. He seemed to forget she was there and yet, the first thing he had done was get between her and Bain. Something about that made her feel safe. Her eyes fell on Bain’s prone frame, and that admiration turned to disgust. If not for the bed between them, she might have fallen on him with fists of her own.

Liam stood over Bain, chest heaving, his focus unbroken as he gazed at the fallen man. Bain was gasping for air, clutching his side where the first blow had landed. His face was reddened, nose having been caught in the fray and leaking blood steadily onto the floor. He looked up at Liam with an expression that bordered on disbelief. His eyes weren’t mocking anymore—they were filled with something more primal, a flicker of fear that Liam hadn’t expected but wholly enjoyed.

“You’re done,” Liam said quietly, his voice cold and deadly. He let his hands fall open deceptively and forced his muscles to relax. “You and your father will be banished from the clan come sunrise. If I ever catch wind of either of you here, I won’t hesitate to end your life the same way your father ended my parents’.”

“You don’t have the power,” Bain ground out from between his teeth.

Liam stepped closer and the air seemed to grow colder. He leaned over Bain before snapping a hand out to grab him by the throat. Bain’s breath stuttered out in a wheeze as he reached up, clawing at Liam’s wrist. “When I take this to the council, do you think they will allow you to stay? I dinnae think that when they hear how you and your traitorous father robbed my parents of their lives, the council will care much about me watching you bleed out on my floor. Letting you live is mercy.”

Liam squeezed once more before letting Bain drop back to the floor. Bain didn’t argue as Liam took a step back. Alison took hesitant steps forward until she was at Liam’s side. She reached down, sliding her hand in his and gazed steadily when his eyes met hers. When he squeezed her hand, she squeezed back. She knew they still needed to get to Emily and ensure her safety. The council would need to be told at once of Laird Cormac’s and Bain’s treachery, but for now, the battle was over.

Liam exhaled slowly, his body still tense with the aftermath of so many revelations, but his mind clear. He had Alison and he had the truth. He had won and now it was time to get the future—their future—back on track. It was time for him to claim his place as chieftain of their clan.