He pulled back and brushed his hand over her swollen lips. “Watch over Morna until my return.”
“I will.”
His eyes hungry and tormented, he set her back on the stoop, then kicked his horse forward.
Callie watched him ride out of the bailey, her heart heavy. She had seen something in his eyes. Something dark and evil that scared her.
But she refused to doubt him. He loved her as much as she loved him. She was sure of it. And one day, she hoped he would realize it too.
Sin, Lochlan and Braden rode for two hours before they reached the hut. As quickly as possible, they dismounted and searched the dark cottage.
It was empty.
“Someone was here,” Lochlan said, his hand on the hearth. “It’s still warm.”
“Where would they be?” Braden asked.
Sin sighed. “There’s no telling.”
Disgusted and weary, Sin led them to the horses, then back in the direction of the MacNeely castle. They hadn’t gone far when they saw a tremendous blaze in the valley far below on the opposite side of the hill.
“Any idea what’s over there?” Sin asked Lochlan.
Lochlan shook his head. “None whatsoever, but it looks like a bad fire. Like an entire village is going up.”
They raced toward the fire as fast as they could.
As soon as they were close enough to see what was going on, Sin reined his horse to a stop. It was unbelievable. Bodies, both Scot and English, were lying everywhere.
This was no village. This was a battlefield.
“What the devil is this?” Lochlan asked, dismounting.
Sin couldn’t speak. He’d seen things much worse than this in life as a soldier. But what horrified him was the faces he knew so well on both sides of the conflict.
What he couldn’t figure out was how the Englishmen had gotten here without his knowing it.
“They’re royal guards and knights.” Sin slid from the saddle. His heart pounding, he looked to Braden and Lochlan. “Henry is here.”
“The king?” Braden asked.
He nodded.
Lochlan actually went pale at the news. “What do you think happened to cause this?”
Sin closed his eyes as he fought the rage swirling inside him. Unfortunately, he had a really good idea what had transpired this night.
“I would say Dermot led a sortie against the king. I can’t imagine why he would be so damned stupid. Nor do I know why Henry is here in Scotland right...” Sin paused as he recalled the notice from Oxley. The king had been riding to Scotland to survey the damage of the MacNeely rebels. Damn!
And Dermot had been there in the crowd to hear that announcement.
“Henry will want blood for this,” Braden said.
“I know.” And Sin did. Henry would never forgive a massacre like this. He would want to make an example out of everyone who had participated in it.
Lochlan came forward. “Why don’t we stand guard over the bodies while you return to get help so that we can either get these men home or?—”
“Nay,” Sin interrupted. “If any more of Henry’s forces return, they will kill you without question. All they will see are the English bodies and your plaid. We have to go back together and let me send word to Henry.”
