Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1)(91)

“You are dismissed,” Graeme called out, surprising his brothers. “Think on all that I’ve said. I’ll be willing to consider a more merciful punishment if you come to me now.”

Bowen strode toward him, clear question in his eyes. “What are you doing, Graeme? You did not even press them.”

Graeme held up his hand. “Bring Kierstan to me at once. Do not allow her out of the courtyard.”

Bowen’s eyes widened, and he glanced in the direction of the group of women who were moving with the crowd as they made to exit the courtyard. Without another word, he beckoned to Teague and they stalked quickly in Kierstan’s direction.

A moment later, Bowen grasped Kierstan’s arm, and she turned in alarm, fear radiating from her in waves. She didn’t fight Bowen, however, and she allowed him to lead her over to where Graeme stood.

Bowen and Teague flanked her, looming over her, their scowls enough to frighten the toughest warrior.

“Y-you wanted to s-see me, Laird?” she stammered out.

“I’ll only give you one opportunity to tell me the truth,” Graeme bit out. “If you do not tell me what you know, your sentence will be death.”

She went so white that Graeme feared she’d faint and be utterly useless.

“If I tell you what I know, do you vow to allow me to live?” she asked in a hoarse voice that cracked with fear.

“You do not bargain with me,” Graeme roared. “I make you no promises, but you had better pray Eveline is returned safely to me or you’ll sorely regret the mischief you’ve wrought.”

“I already do,” she said shakily.

She closed her eyes and swallowed deeply. When she opened them again, tears shone brightly.

“Ian McHugh has her.”

“What?” Graeme bellowed. “What have you done?”

“Please,” Kierstan begged. “I did not realize …”

“Do not lie,” Teague spat. “You realized exactly what would happen to Eveline. You bargained with the devil. ’Tis time to pay the price. Tell him all or I swear I’ll make you sorry.”

She looked away, tears shining on her cheeks. “I had help from three Montgomery warriors. They were angry, as was I, that we were being forced to accept an Armstrong into our clan. One of them brought word of a bargain he’d struck with Ian McHugh. I met with Ian and told him that Eveline had played the simpleton to avoid marriage to him. He wanted to take her away so that you would be blamed by Eveline’s kin. He intends to start war between you and the Armstrongs.”

Fear and rage knotted Graeme’s gut until he wanted to lay waste to an entire garrison of warriors. In that moment he had the strength and fury to be an unstoppable force.

Eveline, his precious, loving wife, was now in the hands of her worst tormentor. A man who’d described in exacting detail all that he’d make her suffer. His very blood froze in his veins, and suffocating dread made rational thought impossible for the space of several moments. All he could think was that he had to go to her. He had to save her.

“Laird! Laird! The Armstrongs approach!”

Graeme swiveled and looked up to the guard tower where his watchman was yelling out over the courtyard.

“They bear the entire might of their army!”

Graeme swore long and hard. Not now. Not when Eveline needed his complete attention. He turned the entire force of his rage on Kierstan.

“See what you have wrought? You’ll be the death of us all.”

Kierstan swayed unsteadily, her face completely devoid of blood.

“Don’t you dare faint,” Bowen hissed. “You’ll tell us what is left and I’ll have the names of the warriors who betrayed us.”

“Ian took her,” she blurted hastily. “I led her around the side of the keep where Ian waited. Shamus, Gregory, and Paul assisted Ian in leaving undetected.”

Graeme swore. Gregory and Paul were two of the men responsible for border patrol. It explained why Ian McHugh could have come and gone on Montgomery land without being apprehended.

“Have them imprisoned immediately,” Graeme said to Silas, who stood next to Graeme.

“ ’Tis my fault, Laird,” Silas said, his head bowed. “I should have known what was happening. They are under my command.”

“ ’Tis no one’s fault save their own,” Graeme snarled. “Find them. Imprison them. And her,” he said, gesturing toward Kierstan.

“Nay!” she cried out. “I told you all!”

“And think you that speaking freely of your betrayal pardons you from responsibility for your actions? You’ve betrayed us all, Kierstan. Not just Eveline. Not just me. You’ve betrayed all of your kin. If so much as one man, woman, or child loses their life in battle with the Armstrongs, it will be a mark on your soul.”

Kierstan burst into tears. “I did not know! I swear it, I did not know what would happen.”

“Save the tears,” Teague growled as he herded her toward one of the soldiers standing by Silas.

Graeme shouted up to the watchman. “How close?”

“They’re coming over the rise!”

“Come,” Graeme directed his brothers. “We’ll ride out to meet them.”

“Are you mad?” Bowen demanded. “We cannot ride alone to meet the might of their entire army.”