Page 62 (1/2)

“We’re al her out She couldn’t wait to see her in-laws

A clearing gave a glimpse of a structure that was close to shambles The walls leaned and the roof appeared as if it hadn’t been thatched in years

Why on earth would Ian and Fin be here? More to the point, how had Lancaster come upon the this way, and it certainly wasn’t in the direction of any neighboring village At least none she knew about

The closer they got, the more uneasy she became “Ian? Finlay?” she called out

No answer Alarm bells started to chime inside her head

“They must be inside,” Matthew said

Her eyes darted all around She stood up in her saddle to get a better look “Ian? Finlay?” she yelled louder, cringing at the panic she heard in her voice

There were no horses No sign of the e that whoever was inside would hear her

But no one caht An icy cold crept over her entire body, except for her hand, which started to burn with a radiant heat The tips of her fingers grew hot where she had pricked the told her to get away Tara turned her mount and kicked her into a full run

Matthew came after her

Over her shoulder, she saw his expression change froet far before Lancaster was beside her He grabbed her, dragged her off her horse and across his lap Within seconds, he held her hands in a grip like a vice

She kicked and screa them both to the forest floor

Winded and frantic, she scrahs, she bolted She round

Spitting dirt froet up His knee planted firht off her attacker

Tara ed to turn her head just in time to see him raise a fallen branch over her

His blow to her skull stopped her fight Her last thought before darkness overtook her was of Duncan

Chapter 23

Tara woke face down on a musty dirt floor Her head ached Blood had dried on the back of her neck

Rough rope bound her hands and feet Cloth covered her eyes A slihter, wicked and faed in”

Oh God! A wave of nausea hit her hard She bit back nasty bile She’d never forget that voice

“Grainna!”

“Well, well Know led to sit up

A heavy boot pushed her to the floor

“I’m no use to you, now”

“That is debatable” Grainna gled to see Grainna, but caught only a bit of her ilared down at her, cocked her head to one side, as if in debate “You ran fro ”

“True Still, your ungrateful behavior has led to this”

“You’re twisted”

Grainna laughed “You’re stupid if you think I’ll put up with your insults for long”

Tara realized how vulnerable she was No one knew she was here Duncan wasn’t due back for two more days She couldn’t use their telepathic link to plead for his help “What do you want fro”