Chapter 25

25

H unter stood on the battlefield outside the castle, the aftermath of the skirmish still ringing in his ears. The air was thick with the scent of blood and sweat, and the clash of steel had been replaced by the groans of the injured and dying.

Most of the attackers lay dead, their identities hidden behind dark cloaks and masks. His men stood grim-faced, swords in hand, as the final few intruders were subdued.

Calvin should be returnin’ soon .

He made to look up at the castle, but movement in the shadows caught his attention. It was one of his captains, a grizzled warrior named Alaric.

The man approached, his expression somber. “Me Laird, we’ve captured two attackers,” he said, his voice rough. “The rest are dead.”

Hunter’s jaw tightened as he surveyed the field. His anger simmered beneath the surface, a volatile mix of fury and guilt threatening to spill over.

“Dinnae kill them,” he growled, his gray eyes like cold steel. “Take them to the dungeons. I’ll deal with them meself.”

Alaric nodded and barked orders to his men.

As Hunter turned to head back toward the castle, one of the younger guards sprinted toward him, his face pale.

“Me Laird!” the man called, nearly stumbling in his haste. “Me Laird, it’s Lady MacKinnon. She says—she says the lass is gone. Miss Lily… they’ve taken her… she’s missin’.”

Hunter froze, the words hitting him like a blow to the chest. His heart thudded painfully, and for a moment, he couldn’t move. Then, the weight of what had happened crashed down on him.

Nay… nae Lily .

The world seemed to spin around him, but he forced his legs to move, breaking into a run. He tore through the castle halls, his boots echoing loudly against the stone floors. The fear twisting in his gut was suffocating, and every step felt like an eternity.

When he reached Lily’s room, the sight inside nearly brought him to his knees. The bed was empty, the sheets a tangled mess. Toys lay scattered across the floor, untouched. The window was wide open, a rope dangling from the ledge—that was how the intruders had made their escape.

Hunter’s chest heaved as he took in the scene. His throat felt tight, and his hands curled into fists. This wasn’t just an attack. It was a message, a cruel, calculated move to tear apart everything he held dear.

“Hunter…”

Erica’s voice was soft behind him, trembling with guilt and fear.

He turned sharply to find her standing in the doorway, her face pale, her green eyes wide and full of unshed tears.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, stepping into the room. Her hands were clasped in front of her, twisting nervously. “I-I should have noticed sooner. I should have come sooner?—”

“Nay,” he snapped, his voice harsh as he held up a hand in the air. “Dinnae say it.”

She flinched but didn’t back away. “Please, let me help?—”

“You think this can be fixed with an apology?” he barked, his voice rising. “She’s gone, Erica. They took her. While I was out there fightin’, thinkin’ I was protectin’ this family, they slipped past me and took her. Like they kenned what was goin’ to happen.”

Her lips parted, and he saw the pain in her eyes. It cut him deeply, more than he wanted to admit.

“Ye dinnae think I feel the same?” she said, her voice breaking. “I’m terrified for her. I want to help fix this, Hunter. Please, let me?—”

Hunter turned away, running a hand through his hair as he fought to keep his emotions in check. His heart ached with every beat, the guilt threatening to crush him. He had failed his family, failed his brother. He’d made promises to himself, to them, and now he stood in the wreckage of those vows.

Erica moved closer, her presence both grounding and irritating. “Hunter, we’ll find her. Together.”

“Together?” He whirled around to face her again, his fury spilling over. “This happened because of me. Because of me own failures. Ye cannae fix this, Erica. Nay one can but me.”

She swallowed hard, but her voice remained steady. “And yet here I am, tryin’ to stand by ye. Because ye arenae alone in this.”

Something in her voice cracked the wall of his anger, but he didn’t want to let her in. He couldn’t afford to. Not now.

He shook his head and strode past her, ignoring the sting in his chest when he heard her whisper his name again.

Hunter found himself in the dungeons a short while later, standing before the two captured attackers. They were bound and kneeling on the cold stone floor, their faces bloodied but defiant. His men stood around the cells, their weapons drawn, waiting for his command.

He stepped forward, his gaze cold and steely. “Ye are goin’ to tell me everything,” he said, his voice low and deadly. “Who sent ye. Where ye took her. And why.”

One of the attackers spat blood on the floor before glaring up at him. “Ye might as well kill us now. Ye will get nothin’ from us.”

Hunter’s hand shot out, grabbing the man by the collar and yanking him closer. “Ye think ye are brave?” he hissed. “Ye have kidnapped a child. That doesnae make ye a warrior—it makes ye a coward. And cowards dinnae last long in me dungeons.”

The other man shifted uncomfortably, his resolve wavering.

Hunter noticed and stepped toward him, his eyes narrowing. “Ye want to be brave?” he asked, his voice icy. “Then tell me where she is. Because if I dinnae get answers soon, I’ll make sure that ye wish ye had never been born.”

The man’s face paled, and he glanced at his companion, who shot him a warning glare. But Hunter could see the cracks forming.

He leaned in closer, his voice soft and menacing. “Tell me, and I’ll make it quick. Lie to me, and I’ll make it last.”

The man’s lip trembled, but he said nothing.

Hunter stepped back, his patience running thin. “Keep them alive,” he ordered his men. “For now.”

As he turned to leave, his thoughts turned back to Erica. He hated how her presence earlier had soothed him, even for a moment. He didn’t want to be soothed. He wanted his fury to fuel him, to keep him sharp. But she had a way of slipping past his defenses, and it terrified him.

Back in the castle, he found her waiting in the main hall. She looked up as he approached, her expression a mix of hope and fear.

“Did they say anythin’?” she asked.

“Nae yet,” he replied curtly, brushing past her.

“Hunter, please?—”

“Enough,” he snapped, stopping to glare at her. “Dinnae try to make this easier for me.”

“I’m nae tryin’ to make it easier,” she shot back, her voice rising. “I’m tryin’ to share the burden. Ye arenae the only one who cares about her.”

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself. When he opened them again, she was still there, her determination unwavering.

“Ye should rest,” he said finally, his voice softer. “I’ll find her.”

“I’m nae leavin’ ye,” she declared firmly.

Something in her voice made him pause. Despite his anger, despite the storm raging inside him, he felt a flicker of gratitude for her. But he couldn’t let it show. Not now.

“Then stay out of me way,” he said, before turning and walking away.

As he disappeared into the shadows of the castle, he vowed to himself that he would find Lily, no matter the cost. And when this was over, maybe—just maybe—he would find a way to make things right with Erica, too.

But for now, his focus was singular. Find Lily. Nothing else mattered.

Hours later, after he had scoured the castle grounds, he and Alaric poured over maps of the grounds and the surrounding lands in his study. A small knock interrupted them, and he looked up, expecting to see Erica.

“Kara? What is it?” he asked, standing taller and walking toward the maid.

Without saying a word, she thrust a letter into his hands and sprinted back into the corridor.

With a slight tilt of his head, he signaled to Calvin and Alaric to follow her. They silently twisted around him and disappeared into the darkness of the castle.

The handwriting on the back of this letter was different from the one on the other letter, and he knew that Kara had written it.

Unfolding it without delay, he scanned the page, digesting everything she needed to tell him.

Erica sat in the silence of her room, her hands trembling as she clutched the edge of the wooden table. The walls seemed to close in on her, heavy with the weight of her guilt.

The events of the evening played over and over in her mind—Lily’s kidnapping; Hunter’s furious, grief-stricken eyes as he ran from her. His words had been sharp, cutting deeper than she had thought possible, but they were nothing compared to the crushing guilt consuming her.

Hunter had lost Lily—the only family he had left, the one person he’d built his life around—and it was her fault. She had underestimated the danger, allowed herself to feel safe when she shouldn’t have. Her presence in his life had brought chaos, and now the consequences had spiraled out of control.

A tear slid down her cheek as she looked toward the bed. Her emotions were raw, her mind clouded by regret and helplessness. She nearly missed the envelope lying on the blanket. It hadn’t been there earlier.

Her heart leaped into her throat. She quickly wiped her tears and picked up the envelope with shaking hands. The handwriting on the back was the same one on the previous letter—precise and unyielding. It was the handwriting of the man who’d been tormenting her.

Her fingers trembled as she broke the seal and unfolded the letter.

If you want to save the brat, come to the lake where you gave yourself to another man. Come alone. No tricks, or you’ll never see her again.

The words made her stomach churn. She felt the air leave her lungs as a new wave of guilt washed over her. Lily. This was about Lily.

She had to go. There was no question.

Her fingers tightened around the letter as she paced her room, her mind racing. What other choice did she have? Staying here meant risking Lily’s life. Going to Hunter for help might only make the situation worse. She couldn’t cause him more pain—not after what he’d already suffered.

Erica made her decision. She folded the letter and tucked it into her bodice before throwing on a cloak. Her footsteps were light as she slipped into the hall, careful not to alert anyone.

The castle was quiet, the guards stationed outside and in the main corridors. She avoided them, taking the servants’ staircase down to the rear entrance.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she stepped into the cool night air. The stars were faint against the inky sky, and the wind carried a biting chill that seeped into her bones. She didn’t stop to look back. She couldn’t. She hurried toward the lake.

The moon cast a silvery glow over the water as she reached the clearing. Her breath misted in the cold air as she scanned the area, her nerves taut. For a moment, there was nothing—just the soft rustle of leaves and the gentle lap of the water against the shore. Then, she saw him.

James Morris stepped into the moonlight, a smug smile on his face. Erica’s blood ran cold. Of course, it was him. His obsession with her had always been unsettling, but this… this was monstrous.

“Ye,” she said, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and fury.

“Ach, Erica,” James drawled, opening his arms wide as if to embrace her. “I kenned ye’d come. Always the noble one, are you nae?”

Her hands curled into fists at her sides. “Where is she? Where’s Lily?”

James tilted his head, feigning innocence. “The child is safe—for now. But that depends on ye.”

“Take me to her,” Erica demanded, her voice firm despite the fear clawing at her chest.

James’s smile widened. “Of course. But first, let’s talk.”

“I dinnae have time for yer games, James!” she snapped. “Take me to Lily, or?—”

“Or what?” he interrupted, his tone mocking. “Ye’ll scream? Fight me? Ye’re in nay position to make demands, me dear.”

Erica’s jaw clenched, but she forced herself to stay calm. “I’m here, am I nae? I came alone, just like ye wanted. Now, take me to her.”

James studied her for a moment before gesturing for her to follow him. “This way.”

The shed was small and dilapidated, its roof sagging under the weight of years. James pushed open the door and stepped inside, motioning for Erica to follow him. Her heart raced as she entered, her eyes immediately searching for Lily.

“Lily!” she cried, her voice breaking as she spotted the girl huddled in the corner.

Lily’s tear-streaked face lit up at the sight of her. “Auntie!” she sobbed, scrambling to her feet.

Erica rushed to her, dropping to her knees and pulling the child in her arms. “I’m here,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I’m so sorry, me love. I’m here.”

The warmth of Lily’s small body against her own brought a sense of relief, but it was short-lived. She noticed another figure in the corner—a boy around Lily’s age, with striking features that seemed oddly familiar. But before she could dwell on it, James’s voice shattered the moment.

“How touchin’,” he sneered. “But I’m afraid this reunion willnae last.”

Erica turned to face him, her arms still around Lily. “You said she’d be safe if I came. I’m here, James. Let her go.”

James’s expression darkened. “Do ye think I’m a fool? If I let her go, she’ll tell Hunter everythin’. And then he’ll come after me.”

“Hunter doesnae care about me,” Erica hissed. “The only thing he cares about is Lily. If she’s safe, he willnae waste time chasin’ ye. He’ll stay with her.”

James hesitated, furrowing his brow.

Erica pressed on, her desperation giving her strength. “You ken I’m right. If ye kill her, he’ll hunt ye to the ends of the earth. But if she lives and I go with ye, he’ll have nay reason to come after ye. Ye’ll be free.”

James’s eyes narrowed as he considered her words. The silence stretched on, heavy and oppressive, and Erica held her breath.

Finally, he nodded.

“Fine,” he muttered begrudgingly. “She lives. But only because I’m feelin’ generous.”

Erica exhaled shakily, relief mingling with dread. “Thank ye.”